We were lucky to catch up with Saeg Arts recently and have shared our conversation below.

Saeg, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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 have not yet earned a full-time living from my creative work. I’ve certainly had periods where I’ve made a decent amount of money—enough to live on and even some to save—but it hasn’t been consistent enough for me to quit my day job. That said, I’m finally on the way to getting there, and here’s how:

I think the biggest thing is that you need to be willing to take risks and experiment with different strategies. As a part of that, it’s important to cultivate yourself as a brand so that your own personal value isn’t dependent on any one avenue for income. For example, when I began songwriting, it was through the traditional route of writing and recording my own songs. While this can be great if you’re fortunate enough to get playlisted or discovered by an influencer, it can be difficult to earn money or get noticed off music alone. You still need to be able to make a living while you wait around for opportunities, so I quickly branched out into other freelance opportunities like blogging, ghostwriting, and editing.

When it comes to starting a creative business, the most important thing is to expect the unexpected. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you can’t enjoy the ride. Knowing what I know now, I would have started to invest in building up my own personal community first before starting out because it helps to learn from people who are on the same journey as you.

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

I’m a songwriter and Creative Director, but I didn’t start out that way. I was born in Newburgh, NY, and it’s not exactly a place known for its thriving arts culture. My parents were very conservative; they weren’t into the whole “be creative” thing. I was an only child, and we moved every year—sometimes more than once—because of money issues or family problems.

I started writing songs and creating art as a way to escape the harsh realities of my life. It wasn’t until later I realized art was my purpose for living—when it became clear there weren’t really any other options. If you’re from the country like me, you know: there aren’t many job opportunities unless you want to sell drugs, play sports, go to college, or get a job at some local warehouse (and even then…). The NBA and NFL aren’t in your future if you’re under six feet and play in the middle of nowhere. And local warehouses pay terribly! So I decided to go to college instead— a blessing and a curse.

When I was a kid, I thought poetry was just something old people did. In my freshman year at the University of Florida, I joined a spoken word group called Poets, Inc. on campus and started performing poetry at every open mic I could find—and eventually got paid to perform at special events! But, because of my upbringing, I didn’t see it as anything more than a hobby.

It wasn’t until years after graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and working several jobs that I realized going to college was a waste of time. On one hand, college allowed me to find a community and indulge in my passions. On the other, I was stuck in debt and in a life I hated. In 2015, I decided to make a change and take a risk for the first time in my life.

I’m a lover of all things artsy and design-y, so it’s no surprise that I found my way to Savannah, Georgia. I was studying sound design at SCAD when I first moved to the city in the summer of 2015. While there, I got involved with Blessings in a Book Bag, Inc., and Picasso Theatre Company, a hip-hop theatre group.

But life happens, right? So after my dad became seriously ill and needed me close by, I moved back to Jacksonville, Florida in 2016. For a couple of years, I worked several odd jobs and gigs until he got better and I got the nerve to take another risk.

I felt like my youth was passing me by—I didn’t want to accept a life without art, at least without trying one more time. So in 2018, I packed all my belongings and started driving westward toward Los Angeles. Which, to this day, was the best decision I ever made.

I’m a New Yorker at heart, but Los Angeles will always have a special place in my heart. LA was the first place where I truly felt like I belonged. I was surrounded by creatives and beautiful nature. It’s all I ever wanted. I started a catering business and spent the rest of my time working on music and making connections. I was beginning to get paid to perform and make art, and I was living on my own terms.

I could go on for days about the wonderful experiences I’ve had and the beautiful souls I met. Those four years in LA were the best times in my life, and then well… life happened again.

In 2020, as we all know, the world ended (okay maybe not that dramatic but at the time that’s what it felt like). I had to close my business down and eventually moved back to the east coast to live with family in 2021. These last few years have been extremely difficult and trying to say the least—I’ve suffered from depression since I was 13 and this situation only made it worse.

I’ve started getting addicted to drugs, alcohol, porn, gaming—you name it. And I’m not alone. Studies show that addiction is more common than we think: 25% of Americans have had a mental illness in the past year, and 40% have had one in their lifetime.

But I’m also an artist. And when my addictions became too much for me to handle on my own—when the drugs and alcohol started taking over my life and destroying everything I loved—I knew that I needed help. So I started seeing a therapist and tried antidepressants for depression—but nothing really worked until I got involved with an organization called HRDRV.

HRDRV is the first community-based record label that provides everything a music creator needs: resources like recording studios, financial backing, and even music therapy; motivation through events like showcases—and most importantly, friends who understand what you’re going through.

This brought me back to life because it gave me something to look forward to creating music again! I’ve been with HRDRV since 2019 and I’m truly grateful for everything it’s done for me. I’m currently building a live show with HRDRV to help showcase artists and connect creatives across the world.

Today, I’m a writer, creative consultant and copywriter who loves to help creators get their brands out into the world. I write blogs, newsletter copy, merch descriptions and more. I also offer website and graphic design services.

My life’s mission is to create a platform and provide services where all creatives can come together and find community wherever they are. I know what it’s like to be alone and misunderstood. I never want anybody to feel that, ever.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I believe our purpose in life is to leave the world better than how we found it. For me, this looks like helping artists harness their true greatness and power. I help them build communities around their brand and help them focus on what they love most – creating.

I’ve met so many talented creatives from photographers, singers, authors, and jugglers -you name it! Most of who don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve or feel they don’t have what it takes to become successful or make a full-time living with their art.

My calling is to help others. I’ve always been this way.

For too long I felt out of place. I was discouraged from being my true self and felt I lacked the resources to be without fear or shame about what people thought about me or my work. I know many artists that feel this way too!

My mission behind everything I do is to help others discover their identity as creators and create a world where EVERYONE can feel comfortable being their most authentic self.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn so many things in my life.

I grew up in a very poor family, both financially and mentally, and I didn’t have many people around me who could teach me how to be better. I was taught that if you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself—and asking for help was a sign of weakness.

As a result, I often envied people who labeled themselves “self-made” and spent my entire life trying to be like them. But then I realized: no one is self-made. There are so many experiences and people who come into our lives that form who we are and how we think. To say you accomplished everything on your own is not only false but ignorant.

As a business owner, I’ve learned that you can’t do it all yourself. You need to learn to delegate and communicate clearly what you want so that others can help you out.

We all meet the same end, death. There won’t be a gold star with your name on it just because you went through an unnecessary struggle to do things yourself. So ask for help, collaborate, and take chances with people. We are much stronger and more efficient together than we are alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wearesaeg.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearesaeg/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saegarts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredchesterii/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaegArts
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB0SJUQsLzzxChR0Aj7w0YQ
• Other: Join HRDRV – https://hrdrv.com/?via=saeg New live every Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday! Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/hrdrvtv

Image Credits
Laurel (“Laurel Shoots”) Miller Donovan Washington Alfred Chester