We were lucky to catch up with Jake McVey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jake , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I have been able to earn a full-time living from for over 13 years. I will never forget the first step quitting the security of a day job and selling everything that wouldn’t fit into the tour bus and calling the road my home.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started out with a failure is not an option. Out work the next guy look at what they are not doing and do it. I was performing over 300 dates per year touring all over the US.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Every step of the way was difficult. From touring, booking, proving that you’re good enough to be where you are and then visiting stages of regrouping, rebuilding, reassessing, rebranding, realization and rebirth. I remember framing my first rejection letter from a record label. But just kept grinding forward.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In my opinion that question is backwards… It’s what can an artist do to create their own ecosystem to stand out within society!
You can’t really have a poor me or feel sorry for me attitude within this industry. The ones who make it though learn to be tough and learn to write about the “Poor Me”, “Lonesome” “The Grind” everyone is everyone but it take individuality to make up the music industry. So the old saying “Be the Best You that only You can be” definitely applies here.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jakemcveymusic.com
- Instagram: Jake.mcvey
- Facebook: jakemcveyofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-mcvey-979a256
- Twitter: @jakemcvey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jakemcvey
Image Credits
Purple Cow Records, Inc. Jake McVey