Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.

Steven Champagne

I am happy as an artist and creative. There have been rough days for sure, and I have contemplated going back into the corporate world several times in the beginning of my journey. The unique thing about being a creative is I have the skill to conjure up solutions that are invisible to the average person. I have a capacity to see the world from a different perspective which was a burden as a child but has become a strength as I learned the business of the creative industry. Truly, I failed many times along the way but through persistence and grit I have been able to take my love for art and photography and build a full scale media agency. Read more>>

Bobby New.

Doing what you love and the freedom to express yourself is a feeling that money or “security” in a job could never bring you. Many of us aren’t happy on a day to day basis and it’s mostly because you’re not living your true purpose. We’re all creators l, and getting those ideas out or bringing your dreams to fruition step by step is fulfilling in itself. It takes time and risk, but if you’re brave enough, the right people who will appreciate your gifts are going to gravitate towards you. So I’d say I’m pretty happy. Read more>>

Symphoni Wiggins

I started dancing when I was 8 years old and always said I would open an adance studio and I did just that. Once I graduated from high school I was accepted to and attended Hollins University on a dance scholarship and received my Bachelor’s degree in dance. I knew I would use and need this degree. Read more>>

Bryana Ezell

I actually have what’s considered a regular part-time job as a communications assistant at my local library! The coincidental irony is that I’ve had people from both professions ask me “so what’s your real job?” unaware of the amount of effort that goes into either. Read more>>

Tish McDermott.

I come from a long line of artists/creatives. My passions lay in handmade jewelry and tie dye. I love creating jewelry using the metaphysical properties of the stones, creating a wardrobe accessory and an accent to your soul. The type of jewelry I make has a hippie vibe to it and being that I have always wore tie dye, it just seemed to be a natural progression to add tie dye to my creative process. I incorporate found object and recycled wire to my jewelry and also recycled clothing with my tie dye. It is very important to me to keep my manufacturing footprint small. Read more>>

Matt Long

In more recent months, I have been having the same conversation with multiple people. Being an artist sometimes feels like you’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean paddling as hard as you can. You are clearly moving in a direction, but there is no land in sight and you have to trust your instincts and your compass! Being an artist/entertainer doesn’t always have a clear path. I have been struggling whether or not to get a “real” job several times over the past year. Read more>>

Danielle LaVia.

Ha! All. The. Time. Being a creative is not easy. Working in the theatre industry is not easy. Working in the nonprofit world is not easy. And the one thing that is always missing is…security. The first time I had this terrifying feeling was my freshman year of college AFTER I put everything I had into getting into this BFA Musical Theatre program. I was one of two girls out of 700 who auditioned that year who got in, so it was a really big deal and the most exciting thing that had happened in my life thus far. Read more>>

Kylie Jenkins

I am absolutely happier as an artist & creative! Being an artist can open up so much freedom and opportunities. My job as a tattoo artist is extraordinary. I’m essentially able to work as much as I would like, travel as often as I want, & I am able to support myself solely off my art and personality. On top of all that great stuff I get to share my art with the world and make strong connections with incredible people. It’s a true privilege for me to be able to do what I do. With all that being said, I have thought about what it would be like to have a “regular” job. Although, I don’t find anything irregular about a job as an artist or creative. Read more>>

Derek “FrosTT” Ward-Majors Jr

I absolutely love being an artist. Having a free schedule to plan how I want, when I want is amazing. I’ve worked many jobs in different fields. To truly be a productive artist its often needed to have a job to obtain the resources needed for your career. I work 9-5s when I want a new experience or training. I learned more side jobs that lead to careers from the music industry than being i jumped in it. (photography, shoot videos, graphic design, etc) As a father of 5 sons + 1 young lady, I have chosen to spend the maximum amount of time on my family and future with establishing a career i can fully operate from home or on the go. Read more>>

Joshua Williams

I am extremely happy as an artist/creative. I am happiest when I’m on stage performing. That is not to say that the journey isn’t full of doubts or reconsiderations along the way. When i first left my job at Florida State University back in May 2017, I was full of enthusiasm about my decision to pursue music full time. Life quickly punched me in the mouth and the thoughts of “what have I done” and “have i made a mistake” were weekly topics of thought for me. Read more>>

Gracie Dorr

If I told you I didn’t have this thought every. single. week…. I’d be lying. I crave the stability of a salary 9-5 and getting weekends off the enjoy friends and family, maybe even benefits! I also crave owning my own time and working to better myself and something I can be really proud of. I can assure you I’m much happier as a creative, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes wish I was working salary! Read more>>

Chloe Campbell.

I have had regular jobs. In high school, I worked at a coffee shop. I would greet customers as they walked in, and I was one of the fastest baristas they had. I would sit over the hot grill in the back for hours as we went through our breakfast and lunch rushes. I would bond with the lively team members I was around, watching several new faces join and leave. There would be moments where I justified the job that I had, claiming it would potentially get me the exposure I wanted. Read more>>

Mo Egger

I would stop well short of referring to myself as an “artist,” but I’m in a job that demands creativity, which is one of the things I love most about it. I love the process of preparing for and executing a live broadcast, and few things provide the sort of rush that comes with an idea turning into quality broadcast content. I just wish it happened more often. Read more>>

Valerie Breshears

I love being a full time artist. I love the flexibility and control you have with your work. I was very happy as a full time artist. However, as a single mom, I needed more income. I work part time now. I think about working full time and trying to still be an artist. Maybe when my son is older. It’s hard choosing what amount of time goes where: kids, art, work. Read more>>

Dave Britt & Adam Gould

Adam; We both find a balance between earning income from a creative standpoint as well as more traditional fields such education and event planning. Though Britt and Gould performed over 135 shows last year in multiple markets, we still maintained our professional careers in the aforementioned fields. Read more>>