We were lucky to catch up with John Noel recently and have shared our conversation below.
John, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
As a Hip-Hop artist, there are a lot of preconceived notions regarding what I represent and what I do. My goal unlike the mainstream version of my occupation is to truly inspire anyone looking for inspiration to do what they love. I aim to encourage others to create opportunities for themselves and always continue seeking education. The idea of educating yourself and applying what you’ve learned to reach new levels is the Politics as Usual Brand in a nutshell. I am self-taught in videography, photography and Designing. To date I’ve produced over 300 music videos for almost 100 different artists; with many of these artists returning for several projects. I express my passion for what I do through my music and my words have been gradually reaching across the world including Africa and France.
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.
I began making music professionally in 2016 and began practicing videography and photography in 2017. After practicing with a friends camera, I realized I was naturally gifted to the composition of video and photo, as well as a quick study for the editing process. The same year I decided to get my own camera and start shooting my own music videos and taking my own photos in an attempt to save myself the expense of paying for those services outright, which can be expensive. After a year or two of practice with the camera creating awesome visuals for my own projects, other artists soon began to reach out to hire me to do their visuals. During this time I started the platform Politics as Usual where I interview local talent and create a live performance setup for them, which has amassed over 1 million views since 2018. I have been passionately mounted into the New Jersey creative arts scene for over 5 years now and in that time my clientele has continuously diversified. Since opening my physical studio location in 2020 I’ve taken on major projects for the City of Plainfield where I reside, did work for big names like the late Coolio, Dee Snider, New Jersey’s Naughty by Nature, Music Legend Ice-t and also did work for major corporations like Evonik. I am very proud of the resume I have built, especially being self-taught and I encourage others to embrace their inner ambitions to be creative and to not be afraid to fail. I began this all by borrowing a camera and now I provide visual services ranging from Music Videos to commercial photography and videography to maternity shoots to safety training videos. I stand out amongst other in my field because of my passion for each project. I look at every visual I provide as an opportunity to capture something that moves the client and brings emotions out of anyone that sees the work. For example a client of mine that wants to sell their t-shirt line; I would find the best way to stage the item so that its attractive to their audience. I really enjoy doing this work and I am always finding ways to get better.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I’ve built a reputation based on customer service, honesty, creativity and reputation. I have clients that absolutely love my work, so word of mouth has been amazing. I have clients that I’ve done 10 or more projects for that appreciate the instant chemistry I have with people. I hear that I have a trustworthy personality and I take pride in that, especially being that the entertainment world can be a scary place. Clients also mention that they feel heard after explaining to me their needs when they see the final outcome of the projects.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to learn no to take everything personal and to charge what you feel you’re worth. If you sell your work cheap, your client will treat you as such. If you offer high end services, you should charge as such. In the beginning of this journey I struggled with my pricing and often charged way less for projects that were deserved of a higher price. During this time I had clients that treated me like a rookie and with little respect, although I had already transitioned from amateur to professional. I shortly learned my value and began charging prices worthy of my time and efforts. Once I made this adjustment, I began attracting clients that had high levels of respect for what I do and my stress related to the work was alleviated as I felt like I was being compensated fairly for what I do. I overcame the fear of scaring away customers that thought I was too expensive when I realized that their lack of respect for my price and service stems from their lack of respect and confidence in their own project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paustudiosllc.business.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usualpolitics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paustudiosllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-noel-jr-b391341bb
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paustudiosllc/featured
- Other: https://www.paushop.com/
Image Credits
All images belong to my company P.A.U. Studios LLC