We were lucky to catch up with Elias Hendricks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Elias thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but the journey wasn’t instant—it was built step by step through performance, reinvention, and business-minded strategy. I began performing professionally at 19, making my opera debut in Italy and later performing in more than 20 operatic productions and international musical theater tours, including The Lion King and Motown the Musical. As the founder of Vox Fortura—semi-finalists on Britain’s Got Talent—I gained a global audience and a deeper understanding of how to package artistry for the world stage.

Over time, I transitioned from being “just the talent” to becoming a creator, producer, and entrepreneur. That meant establishing multiple revenue streams: cruise ship performances, vocal coaching, composing, producing events through my company Definitive Productions, launching community initiatives like Vox Academy, and opening spaces like the Harambe Room and Jake’s Soul Food Café. I now integrate music, business, wellness, and tech to create sustainable impact through art.

One of the pivotal career expansions for me was entering the cruise entertainment industry as a guest entertainer. It offered high pay, creative freedom, and international exposure—and it’s why I now teach other artists how to do the same through my online course, Sailing to Success. I wish I had this kind of roadmap early on, because it could’ve saved me years of trial and error.

So yes, I’ve made a full-time living from my creativity—but it took vision, versatility, and the willingness to evolve.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Elias Hendricks, and I’ve spent my life using music as a tool for connection, transformation, and empowerment. I began as a classically trained vocalist—making my opera debut in Italy at just 19 years old—and since then, I’ve had the privilege of performing in over 20 opera productions, major international musicals like The Lion King and Motown the Musical, and co-founding the classical crossover group Vox Fortura, who became semi-finalists on Britain’s Got Talent.

But I’ve never believed that music should exist in a vacuum. My calling has always been to blend genres, uplift communities, and build platforms that turn creativity into legacy. That’s how I developed Classical Soul—a genre-bending fusion of classical technique, gospel spirit, and soul storytelling—and why I’ve launched multiple ventures: Definitive Productions, my production and consulting firm; Vox Academy, a 10-day summer camp in Birmingham that teaches music, business, and wellness to middle schoolers; and Jake’s Soul Food Café and The Harambe Room, two community-rooted spaces I co-own that blend cultural expression, entrepreneurship, and celebration.

I also teach artists how to become profitable and mobile by entering the cruise entertainment industry. Through my online course, Sailing to Success: A Musician’s Guide to Performing on Cruise Ships, I show performers how to transition into high-paying, short-term guest entertainer roles that offer international exposure and creative freedom.

What sets me apart is the interdisciplinary nature of my work. I don’t just perform—I build systems. Whether that’s a summer camp curriculum that ends with students filming a professional music video, or creating a concert series that centers healing through sound, or designing a tech platform (Smooth Sailin’) that streamlines the cruise ship entertainment process—I think holistically and act locally, globally, and spiritually.

At the heart of it all is my belief that art is medicine, and that creative work should lead to freedom—financial, emotional, and spiritual. I’m most proud when I see a student gain confidence, an artist land their first paid tour, or a community rally around something we’ve built together.

If you follow my work, know that you’re not just following a performer—you’re partnering with a mission. My brand is about legacy, empowerment, and joy. Whether I’m at the piano in a candlelight concert, helping a student apply for a scholarship, or launching the next phase of a cultural business, my goal is to create a future where Black excellence, global artistry, and generational wealth walk hand in hand.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Absolutely. One of the biggest resources I wish I had earlier in my creative journey was a clear, accessible roadmap for how to actually make a sustainable living as a performer—not just artistically, but financially, mentally, and professionally. There were plenty of talented people around me, but very few who could explain how to turn that talent into consistent income without compromising your artistic integrity or burning out. Especially as a Black male vocalist trained in classical music, I had to carve out a lane that didn’t always exist.

That’s exactly why I created Sailing to Success: A Musician’s Guide to Performing on Cruise Ships—an online course designed to give artists what I wish someone had given me: a blueprint.

This course isn’t just about cruise ships. It’s about freedom. It’s about teaching artists, regardless of age, genre, or background, how to enter a global industry that pays well, values your talent, and gives you the flexibility to build the life you want. Whether you’re a soloist, a band, a classical musician, or a gospel singer, the guest entertainer market offers short-term, high-paying opportunities (often $1,000–$5,000 per week) with premium perks and creative control.

The course includes:
• Video lessons on everything from auditioning to setlist building
• Templates for contracts, tech riders, and press kits
• Guest expert interviews from real cruise pros
• Business insights to help you price and position yourself correctly
• Live Q&A sessions and a private community for support

You don’t need an agent. You don’t need to be famous. You just need your gift, some preparation, and a guide. Sailing to Success is that guide—and it’s designed so that any artist, at any stage, can gain clarity, tools, and confidence to get booked, get paid, and get moving.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Absolutely. One of the biggest pivots of my life happened when I realized that being a successful performer alone wasn’t enough to sustain me—financially or spiritually. I had spent years touring the world, singing in operas, musicals, and concerts, from The Lion King in Hong Kong to Motown the Musical in London’s West End. I’d even made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent with my group Vox Fortura. From the outside, it looked like I had “made it.”

But behind the scenes, I was realizing that applause doesn’t pay your medical bills or build generational wealth. And more than that—I felt called to create something that could outlive my time on the stage. That’s when I pivoted from being just a performer to becoming an entrepreneur, educator, and producer.

I started building systems: Vox Academy for youth music education. Jake’s Soul Food Café as a Black-owned food and culture hub. The Harambe Room as a venue for art and community. And I launched my online course, Sailing to Success, to teach artists how to turn their talent into travel, income, and freedom by performing as guest entertainers on cruise ships.

That pivot wasn’t easy. I had to learn business, branding, and budgeting in a way music school never taught me. I had to let go of the idea that my value was only onstage. But on the other side of that pivot, I found purpose. I found power. And I found peace in knowing that the work I do now—on and off the stage—creates opportunities for others, not just myself.

So yes, I’ve pivoted. And every time I do, I get closer to what I believe I’m really here to do: heal, build, and leave a legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.harambe205.com www.voxfortura.com www.eliashendricks.com jakessoulfoodcafe.com
• Instagram: @Eliashendricks
• Facebook: Buddy Hill