We recently connected with Hayley Horn and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hayley, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I can finally say with confidence that I’ve built a full-time career out of my love and passion for music. It wasn’t an easy path—there’s no college course that truly prepares you or holds your hand when it comes to working in the music industry. I graduated with a Marketing degree, and my first job out of college wasn’t just something I wasn’t a fan of, I was truly unhappy. Waking up every day to a life that didn’t excite me was draining.

Then something in me shifted. I realized life is too short to wake up with excitement. So, I made the decision to quit my job, knowing in that moment that I was determined to do whatever it took to work in a creative field where I loved my job and my life. I wanted to wake up ready to work, to be challenged, to push my limits, and to grow both personally and professionally.

Leaving my hometown in Kentucky was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and even now, I struggle with being away from my family and friends. It still hurts every day, but I’m beyond grateful for the incredible support system that encouraged me to chase my dreams and cheered me on every step of the way.

My best friend, Lora, who has been a huge part of this journey, and I moved to Tampa after graduating, and we networked like crazy. We went to every music event we could just to introduce ourselves to the right people. I taught myself everything I could about social media, and together, we immersed ourselves in learning every genre and artist in the dance music scene that we had come to love. We manifested, journaled, and constantly talked about how one day, we’d be so consumed with music that we’d be up all night working on what we loved.

And now, with a huge smile on my face, I can say we’ve finally reached that point. Looking back at the journey—the hustle, the sacrifices, and the sheer determination—it’s overwhelming. Blessed is an understatement.

My advice? Find what you’re passionate about, set your mind to it, and be willing to do whatever it takes for however long it takes. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight, but when you finally get there, the feeling of knowing you worked for it and truly earned it, is beyond rewarding. Take every opportunity, even the unpaid ones, and go above and beyond what’s expected. Show how badly you want it and prove that you deserve your foot in the door.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Hayley Horn. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Lexington to attend the University of Kentucky. I have danced my entire life, starting at the age of two in studio dance and continuing through my time dancing for the University of Kentucky. This is where my love and passion for music truly began.

When I stopped dancing after college, I knew my journey with music was far from over—it was just shifting into a new outlet. Dance had given me self-love, confidence, and peace, and now I had the opportunity to share that with the world in a different way. Music is therapy, and I feel honored to create environments where people can connect through a universal love for sound. It’s a beautiful thing to build a safe space with no judgment—a place to meet new people, discover new music, create art, and truly be themselves.

I now work full-time for Club Space in Miami as their Social Media Manager, while also helping run Calculated Creative Agency—a music marketing agency working with artists, festivals, venues, and more across the scene. I couldn’t be more grateful for both of these opportunities. They allow me to step into full creativity while also applying strategy to help bring events to life. I’ve learned so much from both roles and can’t wait to see where they continue to take me in this industry.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Coming up with an idea from scratch and bringing it to life is an unmatched feeling—knowing that it all started with you. In many careers, success is measured by clear statistics and performance metrics. But in a creative role, validation isn’t always so straightforward. Instead, it’s in the moment you see your vision take shape, execute it, and witness the impact it has.

Creativity can be challenging, and it’s easy to feel discouraged. But once you see your first project truly shine, the rush is undeniable. It’s that adrenaline—knowing you created something meaningful—that fuels the fire to keep going. No ideas are bad ideas. I encourage you to brainstorm, dream big, think outside the box, and never stop creating.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience on social media, especially in the dance music scene, is a mix of strategy, consistency, and authenticity. Here are a few key tips to help you grow:

Find Your Niche and Own It – Figure out what makes you unique and build your brand around it. Whether it’s your sound, style, or personality, lean into what sets you apart and let that shape your identity.

Network Relentlessly – Whether you’re an artist, DJ, producer, influencer, manager, or any type of creative, introduce yourself to people and expand your circle. Don’t be afraid to connect on Instagram, DM industry people for advice, and build genuine relationships. Your network is everything in this industry.

Post, Post, and Post Again – Social media growth takes time, but consistency is key. Keep putting out content, engage with your audience, and stay active. The more you show up, the more your audience will grow.

Stay patient, stay consistent, and watch the momentum build :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://calculatedcreativeagency.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleybhorn?igsh=ZXVyOWloY2dteHp0&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/

Image Credits

Tabor Little (for the first picture of me holding up the heart)