We were lucky to catch up with Emilie Marchand recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emilie, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I love my jobs. Make no mistake. I’ve been officially, fully self-employed for several years now but have spent most of my adult life pursuing my creative dreams. Of course, I’ve had to supplement this pursuit with jobs in retail, service industry, house cleaning… you name it. I finally worked up the courage to cut the cord with those jobs in order to fully devote myself to my goals as a small business owner and performer and have never looked back. Well… almost never.

There’s always going to be that little interior voice asking if I’ve made the right decision; asking what it would be like to have the security of a “regular” job. Sometimes I drive past construction sites and fantasize about the life of a person who works a scheduled 40+ hour a week job and fills in their free time with their hobbies and recreational activities. In my mind that world is uncomplicated and safe. And sometimes that is appealing. But there are two things that I know: the lives of others are never as they seem to us, and I would never ever be satisfied with uncomplicated and safe. I truly enjoy my unpredictable jobs.

Emilie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My livelihood is twofold.

Firstly, I am a singer/burlesque performer/producer/mentor. For me that all falls under the one category of “performer”. That side of me mostly does the work for the love of it. There is income involved but it isn’t the primary source. That work has had a major impact on my life and in some ways defines me. It has always been my first love and will always be a part of my life.

The other side of me is a small business owner. I am the founder, designer, and maker of Hi, Tiger!, a lingerie (and more) brand. I learned this craft through years of designing and making my performance costumes. Hi, Tiger! represents another side of my personal aesthetic that is less flashy than my performer self but gives a nod to it. This line is all about feeling luxurious and sexy without sacrificing comfort.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

What I cherish the most about being a creative is freedom! I have the freedom to explore my inspirations and see where they take me, which makes every day an adventure of some kind. I also love having the opportunity to collaborate with other artists, creative, and small business owners. I find that combining skills, talents, and aesthetics can be very exciting and a great way to expand the community. Connecting people brings me a lot of joy.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One of my main goals that drives me, is to make my ventures profitable. We are so often taught that being a creative means you have to struggle financially and I’d love to disprove that notion. I strive to learn as much about the business side of my work as possible so that I have the tools to make this possible. I encourage others to do the same and to take control of their destiny. It’s not the easiest thing for a lot of creatives, but I believe that staying in the dark about the not-so-fun side of creative work can limit your potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: hitigerlingerie.com mslolatorch.com
• Instagram: @hitigerlingerie @lolatorch

Image Credits
Lance Thorn Julius Schlosburg Velvet & Shadow