We recently connected with Eric Booth and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eric thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

I embrace the role of AI and LLM generative tools for generating and refining creative content. In hushed conversations and behind the scenes (at least in my network here in Austin, TX), a cadre of creatives is harnessing the power of AI to shape and refine their artistic endeavors. Yet, let’s be candid—some prefer to keep their dalliance with this digital muse under wraps. Why? Many feel that it is a threat to the marketability of their work or services, preserving copyright/ownership, undermines their comparative advantages due to finely-honed mastery and craftsmanship, or is an existential threat to the creative ethos.

This is not the first time that technological innovations have crossed paths with artists and artistic movements, many of which have eventually embraced aspects that foster innovation or alternatively weaved in or reacted to the innovation by elevating or augmenting their work. Consider the innovations in pre-AI digital music in the late 20th Century or the Cubists, who, in the face of photography’s ascent, embarked on a quest to reshape and redefine perception. Creatives/artists that I collaborate with that embrace AI are often motivated by efficiency, marketability or augmented quality of AI content, intrigue about new skills or tools, personalization of content, or possibly how it can help them explore new frontiers or push the boundaries of their creative genre.

My primary motivation for embracing algorithmic tools is that, in the long run, democratization of these tools opens artistic channels up to groups and perspectives that have not been a part of the conversation previously both in terms of creators and consumers. Artists from low resource environments with limited access to the expensive technology needed for some types of creative expression can now externalize the computing power needs onto cloud or server based tools and create high quality products using cheap or slow devices. Phones and library computers can be used to process and augment high definition video/photos, render realistic visual effects, create and mix high quality recordings, or code custom applications that allow audience and artist to interact or connect. Creative content, including avant-garde compositions that challenge conventional norms, can find and reach new audiences and allow them to contribute, interact, support, and build up on artist work. While these things may happen for the extant population of creatives, I am most optimistic about the younger generation of artists that will grow up with these tools, especially those who previously would have never had the chance to contribute their art to the world given access limitations.

Eric, 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?

By day I run a small statistical research consultancy that focuses on solving public policy challenges using empirical tools to understand program interventions, supports, and their effects on outcomes. I also run Barton Hollow Collective which is a constellation of creative endeavors by me and my collaborative partners that includes performing and recording music, photography and cinematography for local music artists, and studio recording. I focus on supporting artists that are low income and, where appropriate, providing pay-as-you-can services and support. I’m not an artistic juggernaut – most of my creative output is only possible because it’s sustained by collaboration with my network of (much more) talented, driven, and supportive artists here in Austin, TX.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I’ve got a stressful, highly technical “day job” in applied research and statistics. The reason I got into music, photography, and recording was all about turning off my left brain and burnishing a dolorous sound that reflects (and occasionally rejects) the (often times) brutal West Texas backdrop from which I came. As a middle aged musician, I came to live performance (comparatively) late in life, but I’ve slowly come to understand how creativity is a lifelong pursuit and it’s motivated by my attempts at self-actualization and learning more about myself in the process.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve had to unlearn was the idea that, in spinning up my business and music projects, I had to do everything myself and in doing so learned that if I focused on finding trustworthy and professional creatives I could better scaffold those around me towards success. I enjoy digging deep into my work and being committed to seeing work through to the end; yet, in hiring some former staff , I was solely focused on specific skills or talents they had. In doing so, I compromised on the aspect of building a reliable team that could provide a consistently high-quality product. As I learned about the consequences of my compromise, I believed I had to take on all aspects of the performance work myself which stretched me in unsustainable ways. At a certain point, I had to reset — to reorient my approach to work, focus on authentic partners, move on from untrustworthy staff, and remember that, in my current model, I can only create and meet client creative needs If am able to reliably collaborate in a way that amplifies and empower others. Once I started embracing this new approach, our studio began to thrive. Our projects became more diverse and innovative, and the team’s morale and productivity soared.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eric-booth.com and www.bartonhollowcollective.com
• Instagram: @eric_a_booth and @bartonhollowmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bartonhollowcollective
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-booth-746376a/
• Twitter: @eric_a_booth

Image Credits
All images shot by Eric A. Booth (Barton Hollow Collective)