We were lucky to catch up with Josh McManus recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Josh thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I started playing in bands when I was just a kid, 13 years old. From the fabled no social media days to Myspace, then Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram, it’s been quite the ride. Finally, I stumbled into TikTok when I hit 30, and that’s when things really took off.

Before the pandemic, I was part of this band in Omaha, and we were doing pretty well. We were close to selling out local shows, and our single after our first album racked up over a million streams. Then the shutdown hit, and everything fell apart. We all went our separate ways, and I lost all my freelance marketing clients. I was forced into a corporate job as a director of marketing and working 50+ hours a week. I felt like all my dreams were slipping away, but I knew deep down that I wanted to be a full-time creative, and I wouldn’t be happy with any other outcome.

I started making TikToks in the emo/pop punk scene, and they went viral fast. I got this decent following, and I thought, “Why not make music again?”. I’m very impulsive, so I took a massive risk. I quit my job and started doing this full-time. It was a huge gamble.

I suddenly went from a stable salary to having one small client and a pile of debt. I even moved to a small apartment. Recently I moved across the country to a city where I’d find more opportunity. I also found people willing to invest in me, because of the relationships we had formed while I was in the corporate world.

The point is, I jumped in without a safety net, and if it weren’t for my side client, and the support from some incredible people in my life when I first made the jump, I would have crashed hard. Especially when Instagram stopped paying creators this year. I’m still recovering from that!

I wouldn’t tell anyone else to do it like I did. Have more security in place if you’re going to take that leap. But for me, it was all about fulfilling that creative part of my life, no matter the cost. I’m still nowhere near where I want to be or need to be to make this a lifelong reality, but I am trying my best. And that’s what will matter to me when this is all over.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a musician and content creator in the emo/pop punk/rock revival scene, and I’ve been playing in bands as long as I remember. It’s been a chaotic life of learning, growth, and exploration, with some major ups and downs.

I got into music because of my love for creativity and expression at a young age. My imagination was always running wild – I grew up on a chicken ranch with not a lot to do except go outside and “play”. I got my first drumset at ten years old after hearing MMMbop and realizing how young Zac was!

I am also a self taught marketer with over 12 years of experience, which I think gives me a unique advantage and approach to how I manage myself and my creative business. Having that background allows me to move quickly and confidently, and helps me save so much time and money on things I can do myself instead of outsourcing. I’m incredibly DIY and self dependent.

What I’m most proud of is my resilience and willingness to take risks. Leaving a secure job to pursue music full-time was a life changing decision. I’ve always lived my life this way (for better or worse). Moving from a band that was about to break through to becoming a solo artist wasn’t easy either. But I believe in what I do, and I’m committed to making my dream a reality.

I want potential fans, followers, and clients to know that my brand is about authenticity. I’m not just about memes and viral content; I create great music, and I’m very serious about my craft. I’m here to entertain, inspire, and spread positivity.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I will say, it was a bit of “right place, right time”. I joined TikTok right at the beginning of the recent emo scene revival. My “dated” style, music taste, and humor, was suddenly relevant again in a big way. I was able to jump right into a trending topic I was already an expert on, and used my marketing background to watch my analytics and adjust accordingly. My biggest piece of advice is this – while having a viral video (1m+ views) is a great way to start, they can also be detrimental. You get a lot of impulse followers who don’t end up engaging with your other content, forget who you are, and unfollow. Lots of times, I will see a substantial drop in reach and engagement after one of my videos goes super viral.

Take your time, build a strong fan base and following that cares, be personable. Don’t just aim to make viral content, it isn’t sustainable in the long run unless you are very very lucky.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being free of the 8-5 grind. Being free of the toxic corporate work environment. It was taking a serious toll on my mental health, and I was seeing a side of the world I don’t ever want to be a part of again. I work for myself, I set my own schedules and goals, and if I fail – it’s on me.

This has given me the freedom to do all the things I wanted to do in my life, while also exposing me to some of the greatest challenges I’ve ever faced. It’s been a chaotic ride, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Normalcy isn’t for me, I think.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.isitjosh.com
• Instagram: @isitjosh
• Twitter: isit_josh
• Youtube: isitjosh
• TikTok: isit_josh

Image Credits
Tyler Beekle