We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tyrel Davis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tyrel below.

Tyrel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

The key to earning a living as a full time creative is to be so good, that you can charge more, and work less.

If you’re good about, you’ll get past $1000 or less gigs, and you be found by clientele who don’t argue with pricing. They just want perfection.

This of course is done by continuously learning about your craft. The science of it, the human nature of it, the equipment and more. If you own a piece of equipment, you should be able to take it apart and put it back together. A mastery of your craft is necessary.

Having niche is a great way as well. In niche’s. They pay is higher. Bigger checks are given to apply emphasis to an industry for that product. For example, there are people who do product photography, they never leave their home. They get the products shipped to them, I’ve seen payouts for these gigs range $10-$20K.

If McDonald’s, Nike, or other companies want their product shot right, they will pay. For this they don’t hire they first photographer their friend recommends, they seek a professional who only focuses on making products look good on camera. Making the demand higher, and the payoff higher.

“A jack of all trades is a master of none”

A niche it focus simply pays better.

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 am a Creative Director (Freelancer). I am involved in the Visual, And Audio aspects of projects for multiple clients, production companies, and my own company, Cream Shows.

I got into this industry through opportunities I gained while working in ministry. I first worked AV tech, handling lighting, sound, video, and special effects for stage productions. I began to do this at the age of 12, but volunteering at my home church. This progressed to me getting involved in the media team as well, learning photography, graphic design, web design, but mostly Video editing and television broadcast. I served at my home church throughout my teenage years, learning from other workers and volunteers who were also industry professionals.

When I graduated high school, I attended Flashpoint, a Campus of Columbia of Hollywood where I earned my degree in the Associates in the applied science of Film and Broadcast. After college, I begin my career, working on movies, concert touring, & more.

By current businesses are Tyjdavis Media, my personal LLC in which I take on clients to help them curate projects in the form of digital media and live events. This composed of outsourcing teams of technicians and media creatives to work alongside with to achieve our clients vision.

My other business is Cream Shows. Cream Shows is an entertainment company that curates content and concerts based out of the Chicagoland Area and Northwest, Indiana. Our shows include artist show cases, documentaries, music videos, and more. The goal with Cream was to create righteous media that can be enjoyed by generations to come. This is done by giving resources to creativities so that we can support each other without leaning on the “industry”. This gives us the freedom of expression with our craft, while positioning us to have successful careers as professionals but sharpening our skills amongst each other.

My success in both of my businesses stems from practices learned in both ministry and industry. Industry taught me bussines practices, professional protocols and technical knowledge, while ministry helped me to shape my talents with the intention to change lives.

Bussines to me is both earthly and spiritual. It’s about taking your (or the client’s) vision (which is invisible and non existent), and making it a reality that’s as close as possible to the vision imagined. This is the philosophy I go by. Which is why my services only work, if the client is sure and confident in his/her vision. Uncertainty and insecurity can create confusion and disorganization among everyone involved with the project. In order to create an accurate painting of the artist vision, ( as in videos, websites, events etc.) I must have as much detail set in stone as possible. Of course I add my creativity twist, but the long term goal of the project comes first.

For my clients, I shape how their brand. company or product is viewed externally. This is basically media communications. The content and productions I curate are meant to express the vision of my client to its target audience in a way that is creative and get results.

I am most grateful for organizations. Churches, companies, restaurants, artist, etc. that I’ve been able to help. As a creative it can be very frustrating to wrestle with a vision, which is the image you’ve always played in your head. To bring that to life for a client to me, is to use my gift to give them the same joy I get from accomplishing milestones towards my vision and seeing it come to life.

In addition, to see my skill level evolve with each project, and to see the size of the check increase alongside that, is something else I am grateful for. Because I took a risk to become an entrepreneur using only my God-given gift. Although a content creator is a highly sought after hire, it wasn’t when I was exploring jobs in high school (2011-2015). I was told it wasn’t a well paying job. I was also warned that if I did manage to find a good paying job in media or tech, I’d have to stay under a larger production company to be financially stable, which puts me back in the rat race. Given that I was in a household that promotes entrepreneurship, settling for a job always felt like a betrayal of my faith and upbringing. Plus corporate American is draining…..

More than anything, I am proud I listened to the little voice in my head. Those warnings turned out to be co-workers, friends and family members projecting fear on to me. I’m proud that I didn’t, and still don’t accept it. I am also proud of my Company, Cream Shows. I’ve created a community of like minded people who love arts and creativity. Cream Shows has become a safe place for professional creatives.

What I want my current and future followers to know so that we have a creator, and he loves creativity. Don’t let fear of not having enough stop you from following the vision God has given you. The current workforce is a man made infrastructure that wasn’t manufactured to benefit you in the long term.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Being an entrepreneur and a full time creative is a test of faith. It’s placing a bet that your idea of doing things, will be more beneficial than the current man made construct.

There is no way to instantly begin with high class clientele, nor to get your business to financially stability. That comes with grind and time.

But to have resilience is to have faith. No matter the circumstances, you have to know that the vision is still going to happen.

Every time things take a left turn, I tell myself to be still and ride it out. Turbulence doesn’t change my mind about my destination. Faith and confidence is the key to resilience. Because if you knew for a fact that it would work out, nothing would stop you from doing it.

Every difficultly is a test, I consider every difficult test an opportunity to learn and grow. The catch is, it never gets to a point where it’s in auto pilot and runs smooth. There will always be obstacles, you always have to stay on your toes. Which is the reason you have to love what you do, or why else what you stay in it when it looks shaky?

This is a mindset shaped from the teaching of my Hebrew culture. Teachings of stories about Yeshua and other “heroes of faith” taught about in the Torah. That is a benefit of growing my gift alongside ministry.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

During my career I learned a lot of lessons and I’m still learning, mostly around the “No sleep culture”. The theory that you have to press through exhaustion to become materially successful. It may seem like common sense, but it’s easy to get carried away it the hype.

Lessons I’ve learned as a creative and business owner. Firstly, is to protect my peace. The amount of time I obsess over work will not bring me a peace.

I learned that the size of a ministry, business or client, does not equate to a progressive working experience. Do not compromise your peace for a paycheck or a resume boost. It’s okay to decline a gig or client to protect your peace. It’s okay to take time off for yourself and family. I learned that the busier my work life is, the more my home and personal life is at risk of slacking. It is extremely unhealthy to put work first. Especially in an environment where your work follows you home. (Work on home computer and constantly answering your phone).

I also had to learn that I do have the right to remove myself the use of gift from toxic environments. This preserves my peace, family and bussines commitments, and my commitment to honor God with my gift.

Work will take a toll on you if you’re lead by narcissist, or toxic people. It would appear in the workplace, people bring their own agendas to the table, without giving you the heads up. Work has a lot of politics. I’ve learned to deal with people gently and the work diligently at the same time. But I’ll definitely make an escape if I judge the environment as toxic.

I’ve had to learn to mange my time and say no! Another gig will come, and they can find someone else to do it. In some cases I say yes to help friends bare their burdens of last minute events, but I learned to not make a habit of it. Overbooking and having a busy schedule will not only drown you physically and mentally, but will affect your ability to give a quality product to your client. Then you won’t get repeat Clients, which is a major key to keeping your income afloat.

I’ve also learned that it’s a toxic mindset to believe that as a man, I should be willing to overwork constantly.

But the biggest lesson I’ve learned, is that you have to make sacrifices. From what I’ve seen, many have sacrificed their family time for work time. Personally, there’s nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a man who is very well accomplished and embellished in his achievements, but has no peace at home. What did they really achieve? What’s the value of social media recognition and promotions when you can’t find peace where you lay your head? What does it matter if the world loves you, but your wife and children hate you? A home life deserves just as much attention as a workplace does.

For my peace’s sake, I will always choose God and family over work. The benefit to my journey, is that it’s all tied together.

I do love busy seasons though, but only with pleasant co-workers. Something about weeks of grinding makes me feel alive and accomplished. I’ve found this joy through touring and doing productions that require you to be locked in for weeks and months.

Lastly I’ve learned to love the people I work with and forgive them, rather they are difficult or not. Or rather they even want my forgiveness or not in the first place. For this reason I won’t discuss the backstory of these lessons. ;)

Contact Info:

• Website: CreamShows.Com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tyjdavis?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@creamshows
• Other: View my freelance work at TyjDavisMedia.Com View my company at CreamShows.Com and follow us @CreamShows

Image Credits
@jciii.images