We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yendi Oates-Baugh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yendi, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Being in the music industry as a live band performer and recording artist can be a very lucrative source of income. After being in the corporate world for over five years and being laid off I had no desire to work for anyone other than myself. It all started from meeting my friend at the American Idol audition and then reconnecting at one of her gigs. Networking had a huge impact on the starting of my career in the live band industry, which in the long run become my mainstream of income. Countless days rehearsing music from more than one genre, being present at open mic events, and having a flexible schedule made me reliable and at high demand. This was not always an easy transition when I had financial responsibilities to take care of, but the will was stronger than the doubts and fears.

Yendi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I had been an artist and song writer since the age of fifteen, working with some major and small independent record labels. During those times there weren’t many female songwriters in South Florida that also was a singer, dance and actor. I was known for writing mind stimulating and risky lyrics which entertained both genders. Within the network I established great relationships multiplatinum producers and even had the opportunity to tour with artist such as Bob Marleys son Kymani Marley. Now a Co-Founder of Make Room Media Group, LLC I now can mentor and book aspiring artiste and musicians for gigs as well as continue freelancing with several live bands outside of my own band “Genre Band”

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

One lesson I had to unlearn in the music industry is the belief that an entertainer or artist shouldn’t take pictures or be enthused when meeting celebrities. As a teen recording artist our management wanted to make sure that we were never taken advantage of being mistaken for a “groupie” or desperate artist. If you are an artist act as such. Forwarding into today’s industry where social media has given an open space for artist to post pictures of them with celebrities for bragging rights and “likes”. To look back at all those moments where I met so many influential artists and have no pictures for my social media catalog is a bit disappointing.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist and creative is being able to inspire and bring happiness to others, while benefitting the beauty of self-expression and release.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/Yendimusik
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/YendiMusik
• Youtube: Yendi Sogbird