Pursuing a creative or artistic career can certainly be fulfilling, but it’s far from certain. Over the years, we’ve heard about the struggles from thousands of artists and creatives – it’s incredibly challenging and it can be tempting to wonder – what if you hadn’t pursued this path. We asked artists and creatives from across the community if they’ve every had those doubts themselves.

Andrew Cremeans

That is a really interesting question. Yes, absolutely. Even though I totally love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for anything, there are times when I fantasize about getting a “normal” job. It’s usually when I’m feeling burned out and it often stems from one of two reasons: The first would be that ‘stability’ in commercial art can be almost non-existent at times, even if you are with a huge and generally reliable company. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to have the career that I have had but there have been many lean years. Read more>>

Alexander Crowley

I am very happy as a creative, I enjoy wrestling in front of crowds alongside my wife Lilith. We’re both creative people when it comes to a lot of things, gear(costumes), in ring, outside of the ring, writing scripts for our promotional videos where we speak about who we’re working for or who I am wrestling. Read more>>

Shantell Ogden.

I am happy – and I’m both a creative and a business professional. My ‘creative’ job is writing, recording, and performing music, as well as running my boutique sync company licensing music for film and TV. My ‘business’ job is working in internal change management at an international technology consulting company. The journey to admitting I had two jobs took me literally years to navigate. Read more>>

Rashad Wright

I’ll answer these questions in order. Yes, I am happy as an artist/creative. While I have held employment at multiple institutions, I’ve been an artist the entire time. Artistry is a lifestyle. I live in an artist commune called ProtoType 237. We’re all artist that live in, work in, and maintain a performance hall/gallery alongside one another. Most “jobs” stigmatized bringing your work home. As an artist I find myself at my happiest the less separated my professional life is from my social life. I live at my job, my life is my work, and my work makes me happy. Read more>>

J.D. Reager

No, I don’t wonder. I’ve had a few so-called “regular jobs” – some OK, some excruciating and toxic. None of them fulfilling. I lost a day job due to the pandemic in 2020, and despite the circumstances – it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me. I made a promise to myself when it happened to never again invest my energy in something that ultimately wasn’t mine or looking out for my best interests – and I’ve stuck to that. Read more>>

Avery Warner.

For most of my life I worked a 9-5 job. Prior to going on a popular reality TV show (90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days) which totally changed my life, I worked in Dentistry for 14 years. I was growing increasingly more unhappy in my profession. I wanted to work remote, I wanted more time to be a mother, I wanted to work for myself, I wanted to do something that I was passionate about, I wanted to use my creativity to express myself to the world and get paid for it. That was what I thought would provide me happiness. Read more>>

Terah Lynn

Like many others in the music industry, I don’t really have to wonder what it would be like to just have a regular job…because I have one of those too. The industry is saturated and cutthroat just as much as it’s cathartic for people like me. I’ve worked in manual labor most of my life and work in manufacturing for Gibson during the day now. As much as I love my day job, I am excited for the day my schedule is filled up with creative work only. Making music, encouraging others with the magazine, just doing what brings me the most fulfillment and joy. Read more>>

GBM GBEATS.

I am very happy as an artist . However, I still get discouraged sometimes through the process but I’ve learned to Trust God , put in work and persevere. I once thought about what would I be doing if music wasn’t apart of my life , but I can’t seem to find myself doing anything outside of music . Music is what I love , it’s my dream , it’s literally all I think about and it’s the only thing I have a strong passion for. I’ve had interest in other things before I took music serious , but since I’ve made that decision, I never looked back and can’t seem to see myself outside of it . Read more>>

Erika Wade

What if it isn’t worth it? The dreaded what ifs creep into our minds, slowly chewing away at I cans and even worse–I’ve won. They come when you experience failure, but they also come when success seems too good to be true. Choosing to pursue a journey of being a full-time creative is a gamble, but is that gamble worth it? Read more>>

Bobbi Rae.

I am very happy as an artist and creative, nothing compares to what I experience through this career choice. but I actually served in the Airforce 4 years, a technician at Apple, and many other “regular jobs” and I always find myself back to music, creating, and the stage! Yes sometimes I do wonder what life would have been like for me if I just worked a regular job, but in the midst of those thoughts I don’t think I would’ve been happy, I literally believe I was born to connect people creatively, evoke emotions. Read more>>

Nia Dinero

Wow! I’ve never been asked this question before! … What I’ve learned throughout my journey and in life is that most things aren’t “Black and White” and that two or more things can be true at the same time. I had an office job and hated it; but valued the role it played in that necessary season of my life. As a creative, I’m driven by the magic on the other side of my faith and action. I am most at peace when I live and love my life to the fullest and my purpose flows synonymously with my various forms of creativity. The magic can’t can’t always be narrowed down or put in a box; but is always felt on the inside when who I am aligns with what I do for myself and others. Read more>>

Asia Monae Carlton

This question couldn’t be more relevant in this current season of life. I recently relocated to Chicago and I am sincerely finding difficulty establishing myself here. Although it has only been a little over two weeks, I have often wrestled with the thoughts of finding a “survival job”. I value regular jobs and the people that work them but historically, when I am working them I am left unfulfilled. I feel like I am not authentically doing what I was purposed to do. Read more>>

Melissa Schainker

I switched from commercial art to fine art, and never looked back. I worked in agency, ran a non-profit design department and also freelanced as an art director/graphic designer for ten years. I found that it actually takes the same amount of risk to be a freelance designer as it does to run your own studio. Overall I am much happier with the work I get to do. The fulfillment I get from creating my own ideas versus someone else’s is immeasurable. Read more>>

Cassandra Hollis

I am happy to be able walk in my passion for acting and live the “life” of an Actress, which for me means auditioning and further developing my craft. And of course Booking is awesome when it happens. Right now I kind of have the best of both worlds in that my regular job is related to the film industry so I am still working within the realm of my passion every day. I think it’s highly beneficial to the artist who decides to or needs to also work a regular job to find work that relates in some way to your overall passion and goals. Read more>>

Phil Park

I’ve always been an artist and creative my whole life. As a kid I knew I wanted my future to involve creating music. I started taking guitar lessons from my mom’s best friend when I was 4 years old, and at the same time was taking piano lessons from my mom. I would occasionally not pay attention to my studies in the classroom and write song lyrics, then go home after school and put them to music or a drum beat. Read more>>