We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jon Marzette. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jon below.

Jon, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

As a creative, sometimes I find myself more mentally and spiritually taxed at the end of a long day more than I feel like someone with a “regular” job may have. I know everyone’s careers are unique and have their own sets of challenges and specific moments, but there’s something very personal about creative work that may come at a price that is not like other jobs.

I’ve worked many “normal” jobs from restaurants, retail, and bars/clubs. They all had their little moments of service industry ups and downs but I feel as though your “worth” in the job wasn’t connected to anyone’s taste or specific choices. Most of the time, the product the customer is looking for at a normal job is already ready, tailored and prepared for them to take. You’re just the middle man. But in a creative world, your choices can be questioned, broken down, or just rejected. Sometimes it’s difficult or you can take things personal and that can take a toll on someone day after day after day.

Sometimes with a normal job, you may not feel as personally connected or you may have the choice to just go home and feel as though you did your part and no part of you personally was tampered with or judged. Sometimes I think that may be an easier path but I don’t want to live in a world where I can’t express myself and try to help as many people as possible either.

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

As someone who wears many hats, I love being able to be a one-stop-shop for anyone and everyone. I was always drawing and sticking around extra late in art class and I also loved playing in various bands so that translated to my love of connecting art, music, learning ways this could all connect when I started working in bars/venues. Playing music live, DJing, making posters, and branding my friends new businesses is everything I love to do and continue to do to this day. If someone needs a flyer, t-shirt graphic, business card, logo branding system, a TikTok, a guitar riff over a song, a live bass player, a DJ for their rap show, a friend’s wedding DJ, you name it and I’m there.

I love bright, engaging, colorful design and I try to bring that into everything I do if I can help it. And, as I’ve learned over the last few years, I think my understanding of a LOT of different perspectives and views of people from all walks of life has really helped me. I love all different cultures, races, and subsets, and being to be able to understand that person from the hood, or from the country, or shy art school person, always helps me give them a personal touch of understanding in the work that I provide for them. The dream is always to be able to help you think through your idea, I can sketch your concepts, brand your business, make your Merch, and then DJ your grand opening party and see you through the whole way.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

This isn’t necessarily a form of media like a book or anything. But my mind was blown when I had been a DJ and designer for so long I had my mind stuck in being able to help the client. Something that really let me see the other side was hiring a DJ and a designer myself. You really get a brand new perspective on the way people handle things and the way that they do things when YOU’RE the customer and the client. I had never seen it from that angle because I’m always the one providing the services but you get to see what really works and doesn’t work when you’re hiring them to do something for you. It’s almost like going to a friend’s wedding and all of a sudden you have a ton of ideas for what you do and don’t want for your own wedding. However, it’s totally different when you just work at the same wedding venue all the time behind the bar. You’ve never gone to another bar for a wedding because you didn’t have to.

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

Honestly, I think this goes for creatives AND non-creatives in how I had to change in my mental thinking. I used to believe that everyone should be following their dream no matter what and everyone was an absolute “go-getter” and they may have just needed a little push to get there. The truth is, not everyone feels that way. Values, energy, and time changes depending on where people are in life and where they are may not align with what they choose to pursue anymore and that should be respected instead of judged and pushed around. Not everyone has that fiery desire to create or build something from scratch. Other’s enjoy being able to be consistent, thoughtful in their own way,

Contact Info:

• Website: jonmarzette.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jonisthenewblk
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonmarzette
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-marzette-0519018a/
• Twitter: twitter.com/jonisthenewblk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHhvdGitwRbMEM8SSxGiS0w