We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paula Jane Newman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paula Jane below.
Alright, Paula Jane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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?
Earning a living full time as an artist is getting harder and harder due to the social economic challenges and the wealth gaps globally. I have learned that equating my artistic value based on monetary compensation is ridiculous nowadays. One person maybe performing theatre nightly and another ate cereal for six hours in a commercial and is now making over six figures. I have learned that the key is to find all work in the creative field. Many people feel that it takes ten years to make your full time income in the arts. This is not true. If one lives in a major city it is almost impossible to survive on arts income.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am the founder of Rise Up Comedy – an extension of the non profit Aware Meditation Inc. Their mission is to help bring sustainable stress reduction techniques to all. Comedy and laughter have been proven to help with stress reduction and we offer a unique program – Stand Up Comedy for Healing or Conscious Comedy. It is innovative and cutting edge where the class isn’t ego driven but healing based. Participants have found remarkable results without even trying. The final show is intertwined with semi pro and pro comedians and comedy bookers have approached our course participants to perform for them after seeing their first ever comedy set. The purpose is to uplift everyone involved. The class is primarily on Zoom and when there are several participants in the same city we create an in person event. Proceeds go towards the non profit and we infuse wellness knowledge and resources as part of the experience.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My current mission to bring healing with my creative endeavors. Whether is be my own personal journey of healing through performing stand up comedy, the topics I share about or the laughter experienced in the room. I came back to comedy after the pandemic and discovered dramatic healing through speaking my truth. My doctors were amazed by the healing journey. Since then, it has been a journey now coming full circle now helping others.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being a creative individual is when the light in another ignites. Whether it is an audience member, a student or a fellow collaborative artist. One of the challenges of being a creative is the art of collaboration. This can be tricky but when it works, the thrill is amazing. The connection of creating and developing new ideas with others and being part of new innovations is beautiful. It is a rare experience to be involved in a career that fosters collaboration. This secret skill, I feel is needed around the globe and artists lead the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paulajanenewman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulajanenewman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulajanenewman
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ paulajanenewman
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulaJaneNewman
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@paulajanenewman