We were lucky to catch up with Tanner Spreer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanner, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned graphic design mostly just by winging it. I created a band when I was 19 with my best friend and we needed album art, merch, posters, etc. I had a foundation of drawing and digital art growing up so I thought I’d put those photoshop skills to the test. As we toured I was lucky enough to trick other bands into giving me a shot at designing their merch as well.

Although I’m mostly “self taught” (YouTube degree) I wish I would have finished college early on. In my younger days I thought art school was a scam but as I got older I realized how much I loved being in a classroom. During the pandemic I went back to school and really enjoyed myself. I have a feeling what I learned in 6-8 years could have been picked up in 4 years if I stuck with college.

The most essential skill I learned along the way was networking and connecting with others. I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it weren’t for all the wonderful people that’ve helped me along the way. There’s an incredible web of supportive musicians/artists throughout the states and I feel very lucky to call a lot of them buds.

As far as obstacles go I can safely say I’ve always the biggest one standing in my way. Whether it’s insecurity that stops me from pursuing projects or time wasted on distractions it’s wild how good we can be at holding ourselves back. There’s so many resources out there, why do I rationalize my free time away with doom scrolling vs learning a new skill? We have the world at our fingertips and I’d rather look at an orangutan driving a golf cart?

I take that back, the orangutan driving a golf cart video is enriching and motivational.

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

I’m a graphic designer with a focus on music design. I love to mix current trends and push boundaries while keeping a foot in traditional design principles that are tried and true. I’ve been lucky enough to work with local, regional, and national bands. I’ve been a part of 20+ album designs, created over 1000 posters, and helped actualize the branding style of a diverse range of clients and businesses. When I can, I love to volunteer for nonprofits and companies I believe in.

I pride myself in my ability to jump between a variety of design styles. I believe in bringing an empathetic approach to my work and I try to meet my clients not only where they’re at, but where they want to be in the future as well.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’m lucky in that the nature of designing for music lends itself to a lot of sharing. When I make a poster with a bunch of bands on it, those bands share to their followers, so does the venue, sponsors, fans, etc.

At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at a cloud: I’m not on social media at the time of this article being published and I encourage other creatives to take breaks from grinding out followers.

I think we all see how toxic social media can be and how it’s probably sucking out every bit of spiritual juice from society’s soul and feeding it to giant corporations. If your goal is followers then social media crushes your creativity into a box that’s packaged for algorithmic consumption. Maybe that’s not a good thing to focus on? I don’t know I’m certainly not one to speak, I’m just an id*ot behind a computer screen that makes PDF’s for a living. But maybe you’re an id*ot too and just maybe we can nudge this beast into a healthier direction together?

I know it’s possible to use social media in positive ways and I know it can be a super helpful tool for artists. I owe a lot of the opportunities I’ve been blessed with to social media. I’m just saying maybe take some inventory on how it’s affecting your motivation and be aware of how it’s influencing why you create the things you do. Maybe everything doesn’t need to be marketed through the capitalist hellscape we find ourselves in. Again, I make PDF’s.

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

Hmm, I’m not sure. I try to focus on creating as much as possible and letting the work speak for itself. I’m lucky to be a part of a music scene that has supported me through the years and I hope I can continue to give back as much as it’s given me.

Contact Info:

• Website: tannerspreer.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerspreer