Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kara Greskovic. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kara, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I’ve been fortunate enough to make a full-time living doing music production for the past three years now. The question I get asked the most is how did I go from doing it as a hobby to creating a full-time living out of it.

I started out my business by doing a bunch of projects for free or for a very little fee. All I wanted to do was to get myself out there and prove to people that I can do this! This is the easiest part – it’s all about creating a portfolio and building up momentum as well as connections. I did have a part time job on the side that paid the bills while I built my catalog.

Once I started to have some good songs under my belt, I made the uncomfortable leap to start charging what I believed I was worth. This is the hardest part and this is the part that most people don’t get past. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling to go from doing creative work as a collaboration to more of a business partnership. To me, this phase was less about getting people to pay me, but more about believing in myself and taking a leap. Once I started to get some traction here, I took an even greater leap and went full-time, letting go of my part-time job cushion and taking a risk.

When I went full-time, I struggled for the first year or so, because I had no other job to help support me. It was music and music alone. But I had no doubt in my mind that I can make a comfortable and a more than comfortable living from my talent and doing what I love. The best part about this time was all the artists and other creatives I was meeting along the way. The best part of this job is the friends and people around you.

Knowing what I do now, I don’t think I could have sped up the process. I’m lucky enough to be doing this at just 25 years old, and I’ve been full time since I was 22. The only thing I would change about my experience is my view on self worth, and I would have given myself the confidence to go for bigger and more exciting projects early on.

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’m a dark pop, alt z music producer located in Nashville! Although I brand myself as a pop producer, I work on several genres from pop/rock to country to singer-songwriter, usually incorporating some darker sounds and modern sound design to these various genres. I moved to Nashville when I was 19 with the mere purpose of doing exactly what I do now. I now work with artists not only in Nashville but across the globe, from Los Angeles to London to Australia.

When I’m working with artists, producing the music is just a mere part of my job. It’s obviously super important, and we spend a lot of time experimenting and crafting their unique sound. However, my favorite part is getting to connect with the artist and helping them be the best they can be. Music is about a lot more than just the song itself, and I love to connect my artists with various industry peers to help elevate them and create their own team. Having a trustworthy circle is priceless in this industry, and I take pride in helping artists create that circle.

I think it’s important for a potential client or artist to know that we’ll only work together if it’s a good fit. If we chat and I feel you’ll be best suited working with one of my peers, I’ll let you know! If I feel that I can really help elevate you and your music to the next level, I’ll let you know that as well. Once we get started, we don’t stop working until you’re 100% happy with what we created, whether that is 2 weeks or 2 months or 2 years.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

The music industry is very tough and is an extremely competitive market. You need to have tough skin to make it. Because of this, I always try to be a kind and dependable companion for those who work with me. I truly believe that if there’s no sense of friendship or companionship in a creative relationship, it’ll never foster anything good. The main thing I hear from people who have never met me and want to work with me is that they have been told that I have a good vibe and great energy. The music is important, but it comes second to a great working relationship. If you are good to people, this will spread fast in your field, especially in the music industry.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Although I don’t have anyone on payroll, I do have a large team of contractors around me that help create the music I work on. The first tip for high morale is not one that people normally think of, but its organization and creating a good work environment. There is nothing worse than getting a project to work on and the files are messy or the vision isn’t clear. The best thing you can do for people on your team is to give them a clear sense of direction and organize their role as much as possible. This allows them to do their work easily and without too much complication. Another tip for creating high morale is to just be positive. Everything should be fun, even in difficult moments. Find what you like about something before giving constructive criticism as well as joke with them as a friend. When hiring people, don’t look at them as an employee but as a partner. You’re hiring them to do what they are great at – let them!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karagreskovic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karagreskovic/
• Other: Spotify Credit List – (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50BhvEqw1tTv3FUBnUpIh9?si=af0abffefc28426e)