We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jonathan Wade a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I often find myself wishing I could have a ‘normal’ job. It seems that other jobs have answers and solutions to their problems while I’m scrounging for inspiration on what kind of art to create that represents “cheering in the dark”. In the past, Over the years I’ve considered going into a trade where I can work with my hands and still have some creative problem solving. I’ve bartended to get the immediate satisfaction of making something and seeing someone enjoy it. I see friends who wake up and go to work, come home, and enjoy their evenings doing whatever it is that people with normal jobs do. . . and I have no clue how I could ever make that happen.

As someone who is on the ADHD spectrum and seems to be on the “collects hobbies”, “needs to be constantly entertained” and “Maybe this new hobby I just invested a lot of money into can be monetized” part of the scale. . . I’ve found it extremely hard to focus on one thing and just go all in on it. I tend to get enthralled by people who are passionate and knowledgeable about a subject. People who have focus and drive and love talking about what they do. This is why I love YouTube. It’s filled with people who are building their careers doing the thing that they can’t stop talking about. Through this platform I’ve been able to learn and develop my skills as a photographer, video editor, graphic designer and actor.

My thirties so far have been all about solidifying and feeling stable in who I am and how I tick. I’ve started medicating for ADHD which has cleared up my mind so that I’m able to focus, commit to and execute goals. I have the brain space to create and break up my day as needed to keep the creativity coming. Utilizing lists and my calendar has helped me greatly keep my life and career organized which helps me prioritize and maximize my days to do all the things I want to accomplish. I find happiness in my ability to achieve so much in one day that I wouldn’t be able to do in a ‘regular job’. I know I wouldn’t be happy stuck in one spot doing one thing. I need to break up my day with house projects, emails, photography, design and throw in the occasional audition for a lottery commercial.

Jonathan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Jonathan Wade, I’m a creative in Atlanta, Georgia and have lived here for the past 9 years working various jobs. I’ve done everything from bartending to helping design elements for Zac Browns private airplane, acting in casino commercials and photographing nerds who body build to look like their favorite heroes all the while pursuing the entertainment industry. Initially it was acting. I took classes. I made short films. I found a community of people that shared similar interests all while developing my skills in photography and video work. I eventually had the idea to merge all these creative interests and utilize the people around me. I started taking headshots for friends and do design work for films. I learned about proper video formats and gave myself the opportunities to film some short films.

I went to school for Graphic Design. Although I’m still active with it, I’ve more so appreciated and utilized it as a skillset to take with me as a photographer and entrepreneur; developing my website, composing frames, film titles, and even designing graphic props for movies. I think it has also set me apart as someone who thinks about branding and application of photography, whether that’s an individual creating their visual brand with a headshot or portrait session or shooting editorial portraits for a magazine.

All of this has lead me to want to start something bigger than myself. This last year I met someone with a similar mindset. My friend Connor Christensen is a hugely inspirational creative. He’s a VFX artist, writer, editor and we just recently decided to start a production company together. Space Rodeo is going to be a creative production house. Our main goal is to create short stories that people can connect with. It will be as multi faceted as we are and pursue brand/commercial work in order to fund the films we want to create. Along with this will be a learning resource through YouTube that will be a community driven, behind the scenes and a way for us to show our personalities and help other people grow in their passions. All of this is currently in development and will launch with the release of our first film; Goo Darts. Be on the lookout.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2009 I graduated with an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design. . . for those that might remember. . . Not the greatest time to graduate as we were in the middle of a recession that greatly impacted my career goals, views on the industry and value of myself. I graduated college and went back to being a manager at a Dominos Pizza in Birmingham Alabama. Then I worked at Apple for 4 years as a ‘Genius’

I didn’t pivot.

I become complacent and although still a dreamer with big goals (I had already decided I wanted to act) I eventually met my now wife on spring break and we both moved to Atlanta.

This was a pivot. I had never moved away from Birmingham and it really kicked me into figuring things out for myself. 26 years in one place had me complacent and going through the motions. It’s from here where I was able to figure out how I work and also how I want my life in the entertainment industry could unfold.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When I bartended there was sense of immediate gratification. I got to know a lot about alcohol, inform other people about it, craft a beverage like a scientist and then serve it to someone and see them taste something they had never had before. IT WAS GREAT. Even if I didn’t make up the drink myself there was a joy in knowing all about it and being able to share that with someone and they appreciate it as much as I do. It’s my love language.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jrwade.com
• Instagram: @jrwade_photo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrwade/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/itsjonathanwade
• Other: @space_rodeo spacerodeo.io

Image Credits
Jonathan Wade – Photographer