We recently connected with Kirsten Heibert and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kirsten thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am much happier as an artist. My career has been developing for quite some time, and I actually took about 6 months off last year to see what it would be like to just work a regular job. Some extenuating circumstances in my personal life left me in a bad spot and I decided to shift my focus. Bartending and book selling became my career, and I stopped performing. This was the first time in my life I had ever taken a break. I moved from NYC back to my hometown and felt completely defeated. In that period of time, I had to rebuild my confidence and reconnect with why I started performing in the first place. I had to fall back in love with the craft.
I actually got fired from my (very stable) bartending job on St. Patrick’s Day because an underage person snuck into the bar. They were sent by the liquor control board and got past the bouncers. The bartenders weren’t carding at the bar, and I was the unlucky subject. It ended up being the best thing that could have happened to me. Without a steady stream of income, I had to learn to prioritize what I really want. It was nice to make the money from a regular job, to have the stability of a regular job…but it was not worth my mental health and how I felt about myself. Since then, I’ve been able to shift my focus and make my living as a full time artist and musician.

Kirsten, 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 am a singer/songwriter and have been performing since I could speak. In Kindergarten, I said I wanted to be a singer and a writer, and that’s never changed. Currently, I play with a four piece indie rock band at night, and play at retirement communities / teach children during the day. Music is a pure expression of the human experience and can provide healing on many levels. Paging Doctor Moon is the name of my business. We make music to heal a wounded heart, and put on shows that are a lot of fun. We record and distribute music independently, and provide opportunities in booking and performance to other artists that are just getting their start. Most importantly, I want our work to reach the people that could benefit from it. Raw expressions of humanity are important, and I just want to add mine into the mix. I’m proud of where we are and excited to see what we will be able to accomplish.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Your voice matters; your story is worth telling. I wrote songs for nearly a decade before I ever really showed them to anyone. Truthfully, I just didn’t think that I deserved to create a platform for myself. But everyone deserves the opportunity to express themselves. By telling your own story, you have the opportunity to claim it for yourself and to heal. That’s the most valuable thing that art can do.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Engage less with mass media and pour more attention into local artists and businesses. The big companies and artists don’t need your help. The small business down the street does. We should do our best to banish the lack/competition mindset and really be there to support our neighbors.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pagingdoctormoon.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/pagingdoctormoon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083851656885
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBIp6xFARAQJM5hPm3m-BA

Image Credits
Ben Prisbylla Abigail McNatt