We caught up with the brilliant and insightful JP Garcia Jr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
JP, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.
Back in November 2023, I lost my job as a Lead Designer for a home decor company in Littleton, CO. It wasn’t a total surprise, given the economic impact COVID had on the home improvement industry. Sadly, the company didn’t survive much longer after that.
Without a job and needing to cover my home, food, and pets, I had a decision to make: should I keep searching for an office position as a designer, or take the leap into self-employment?
As many people know, job hunting these days often leads to dead ends, with most applications going through recruiters just collecting information.
Frustrated with the lack of results, I eventually connected with an amazing group of people looking for a creative professional to take charge of their clients’ social media and online presence. I knew right away that this was the right path for me.
At first, it was uncomfortable handling things like negotiating my pay, managing taxes, and securing insurance. Not to mention stepping foot into an Industry I was unfamiliar with and needing to make a brand stand out. But every step of the way, my network of colleagues and friends helped guide me toward success. Of course with the help of studying endless hours on YouTube.
Now, after almost a year of self-employment, I couldn’t be happier. I enjoy the freedom to live life on my terms while helping my clients make a bigger impact online!
JP, 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?
My name is JP Garcia, and I’m a creative currently based in Fort Collins.
I proudly embrace my nerdy and quirky side! I first entered the design industry through the Denver music scene shortly after graduating high school in 2016.
Throughout my journey as a creative, I’ve had the privilege of working across a range of industries, including Tech, Music, Cannabis, Law, Apparel, and the Outdoors Industry. The connections I’ve made with brands, clients, and people have fueled my passion for what I do.
As a creative, my focus areas are diverse, as they should be! Some of these include merchandising, packaging, video editing, product photography, sourcing, and print. Nowadays, I primarily work in Graphic Design and Social Consulting. One of my favorite aspects of the job is analyzing social media algorithms to help propel my clients forward, while building a community where they can share meaningful and useful content.
My consulting and design services are adaptable to a wide variety of projects. I rarely say no because I believe there’s always a solution—and that’s what sets me apart from others.
The most rewarding part of what I do is bringing ideas to life and witnessing the joy and satisfaction on my clients’ faces!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
“You need to work for big brands to be successful as a Creative”
This single idea which many young artists or creatives get fed is a lie. Certainly you can be happy working with a big brand or client. But in the end, do you get paid and enjoy the people you help?
To me that is the key to a happy life. Stop focusing on working for the biggest brands or names. Find the smaller people who can become a lifelong friend or client.
Spend the time enjoying a life of working on designs for brands or people that you can center with. Not just for money.
“Fame and success are very different things.” – Enya
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Start early with schools. Too many education boards have cut funding for Art and Music programs.
If my high school hadn’t been fortunate enough to offer video production and other creative thinking classes, I honestly don’t know where I would have ended up. Society often emphasizes core subjects like Math, English, and History, which are undoubtedly important. But what about the kids like me, who thought outside the box and have a natural creative drive? Allowing students to express themselves through the Arts is essential for fostering innovative teaching methods. You can learn a lot about someone by what they enjoy creating!
I truly believe there are immense benefits to giving kids the freedom to express themselves in a school environment without slashing school budgets. It all starts with the younger generation, shaping a brighter future. Let’s stop diminishing their right to create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundsquadart.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesoundsquad/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soundsquadart
