We were lucky to catch up with Jessie May recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As a mom of two toddlers with a full time job, who struggles to keep the house running while also attending grad school… There are some days I wonder if I even have it in me to be a “creative” any more. But I have a few meaningful projects I think about that keep me from giving up…

One of those projects is my band Turkey Vulture, a punk/metal duo with my husband Jim Clegg. The rush of performing keeps us on the eye out for gigs and gives us a reason to continue being creative together.

Another meaningful project was writing Money Hacks for Metalheads and Old Millennials. (Volume II is out on Amazon now!) I wanted to share personal finance information in a way that might interest people who otherwise hadn’t thought much about the topic, along with discussing the financial aspects of being in an underground band — an expensive hobby!

As I approach middle age (who am I kidding, I’m here), I’m trying to get myself to do new things. One of these is visual art. I enjoy making collages, purely for fun and album art, and was happy to have three collages in a community art show this fall. Considering I nearly threw all my collage stuff in the trash a year ago because it was “silly” and “a waste of time,” it was a cool turnaround!

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.

How did I get into music and writing? I’ve been doing both since I was a kid. As an elementary school librarian, I remind myself that the things my students are interested in right now might stay with them for a very long time! As the saying goes, “It’s not a phase, Mom.”

I truly enjoy writing and editing, so I’ve turned this into a side hustle of writing resumes, band bios, and email newsletters for folks who don’t have the time themselves.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I loved the book Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins. His main premise is that you don’t need to make your entire living (or any money at all) from your art to be a “real artist.” The fact that you are making art is what makes you a “real artist.” In fact, your day job might be your biggest patron!

Another book that helped me refine my marketing was Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. The important takeaway is that when you are marketing a product or service, the message is not about you — it’s about your client, and how your widgets can help your client achieve their goals. You are not Luke Skywalker. Your client is Luke Skywalker, and you are Obi Wan Kenobi, guiding him towards his destiny.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The United States needs big changes that will benefit everyone, including creatives. Housing is unaffordable for many, maternity leave and health insurance are at the mercy of employers, the cost of childcare is a “shocking burden” as one news article put it…. Expanding social safety nets will give regular people more time and energy to focus on what makes them happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.metalheadmoney.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiemayontheweb
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalheadMoney
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHc9QxDEcd_vWArOMOxG1fw/videos

Image Credits
GingerSnaps Photography Jim Clegg myself