We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Veronica Farren a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Veronica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Art is subjective so it can’t really be misunderstood. I don’t think I’ve done a single photoshoot where I looked like myself, which is basically the goal. That’s why they call it posing! And of course no one should understand much about me personally based on what I read from a script. If a sad poem makes someone laugh, more joy to the world!

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 an event and television host, interviewer, and reporter. I studied visual art in college and have a background in commercial acting, fashion modeling, and performance art. I was a unicyclist, stilt walker, and entertainer as a kid at parades, festivals, and parties. I also write and record music and enjoy being a part of many kinds of creative projects.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I loved being a fashion model before social media was a big part of it. We would stand numbered in a line before the client who would make their selection based almost entirely on look and walk. We were blank canvases in black clothes and bare faces, and they would style us into whatever they envisioned. No one ever asked about my hobbies, interests, or personal style and the final product had very little to do with me. Clients started asking for our Instagrams before castings rather than looking at our portfolio books, so it became necessary to regularly post modeling work, which I wasn’t excited about because my collection of random pictures from my life was a fun kind of self-expression until it became flooded with pictures of me pretending to be glamorous. But I get it, I would want to see a landscaper’s work before inviting them over. But when the agencies started wanting us to self-promote, build a following, drive engagement, and post specific content and captions on our own accounts, I moved on to other things.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Get your hair and makeup done for the party instead of doing it yourself and wear fashion by up-and-coming designers. Hire a comedian as your plus one. Bring a bouquet from a local florist and ask about the artwork on the walls. Book a photographer for a simple night out with friends. Dance for the DJ! Be the band’s biggest fan in the crowd and sign your kids up for lessons with the drummer. Taste test the tapas of the best chefs in town and go to a second location for dessert. Jam out to the Uber driver’s Soundcloud and follow them on social. Recommend a dancer for their next video. If you’ve met anyone who wrote a book, buy it for your library. Let a decorator reimagine a room in your house. Get tickets to the theater, watch independent films, and write 5-star reviews whenever you can!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.veronicafarren.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veroonicafarren/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@veronicafarren
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/veronicafarren