Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

Annie Gill

Overall, yes, I am very happy working full time as a freelance artist/creative. Of course, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. But I’ve had many regular jobs in the past! I’ve worked as a temp for the NFL benefits hotline, a barista at Starbucks, in retail stores such as Loft and Bath and Body Works, in catering as a waiter, in childcare as a babysitter, in a box office as a ticket seller, and many, many other positions. Read more>>

Stryfe

The band is formed by four people, and our creative work and passion are what bind us. The direction that we’ve chosen is not part of the current mainstream in the music industry which makes it particularly difficult to make ends meet by simply carrying out the project itself. For this reason we all have full time “regular” jobs. These jobs also serve as a means to invest money into the band–to hopefully make it a full time job for all of us in the future. Read more>>

Abigail Hohman

I think the topic of happiness as an artist or creative is a very complex one – in part because art is an incredibly emotional subject, one that is often layered in past memories, unspoken thoughts and dreams, and a yearning to express something from within. What may begin as something difficult is given life within your hands and is then laced with beauty and meaning, even more so when it’s shared with others and they, too, revel in the emotional experience of it. Read more>>

Romeo Hernandez

For a very long time, I did wonder what life would be like on the other side. There’s no hate towards it but that lifestyle is not for me. One day when a good friend said to me “There’s no use for a Plan B if you know in your heart that you’re working diligently for your Plan A. Don’t set yourself up for failure… Set yourself up for success!”. From that day it’s been full throttle, pedal to the metal, all gas no breaks towards my dreams. Read more>>

Josiah Russell

I am thrilled to be an artist. I absolutely love to create; whether it’s strictly music or creating other content, such as video editing, I love making something out of nothing. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I wasn’t a creative and had a “regular job,” and I can’t quite wrap my mind around that thought. The ability to imagine is beautiful in itself. Read more>>

Kaylee Ruiz

Becoming a tattoo artist has reformed my lifestyle in the most optimistic way. There are many aspects of my career that brings me joy. One of the few, is being able to freely create art that others enjoy and relate to. Getting tattooed is a deep transitional process for both the client and artist. Lots of trust and collaboration must be given up from both parties to come up with the perfect piece. To be able to hold that significance is something I wouldn’t take for granted. Read more>>

Anthony Grant

I’d say that most days I’m happy to be an artist. There’s something about the unpredictability of artistic opportunities and being able to work in a creative space that doesn’t get old or lose excitement no matter how often it happens. There’s something about the diversity in routine with most artistic opportunities as well as being able to operate in a creative space that doesn’t get old or lose excitement no matter how much time passes. Read more>>

Nick Casey

I would definitely say that I am happy pursuing this career as a country singer. As I get older, I do have my days where I wonder if I’m doing the right thing or, if all this work going to pay off. It can be hard not to compare your success to what old friends are doing, even if they are not on the same career path. I have been playing music professionally for ten years. I have seen enough minor success to believe I am doing the right path. Read more>>

Santi Ruggeri

I’d actually like to address the other side of this question. I have what you would describe as a regular job, while my artistic endeavors are my side gig. Let’s just say there have been many, many times throughout my workday when I will catch myself daydreaming about what it would be like to be an artist full-time. Read more>>

CL Martin

The time I am happiest as an artist is during the actual process of creating a piece. Then I experience a down or a low after I finish; a small grief. It is difficult being a working artist. There are many aspects to the career and the life that I find mentally taxing, from constant rejection to networking to having to advocate for myself and project confidence. Read more>>

Filippo Giovannini

I am very happy, I have dedicated all my studies and practically my whole life to art. Artistic high school, academy of fine arts in florence, international school of comics, up to creating my own studio. Of course, some days it is stressful, I am tired and think ‘who made me do it?’, but then all it takes is a new project, or an appreciation from a client, and all the desire to create comes back. Read more>>

Christopher Kaiser

I am very happy to be an artist. I am living my true life. I worked a regular job but I wasn’t happy working for someone else. Read more>>

Morgan Paige Shorts

I am happy as an artist. And I still have a regular job, for now, doing something I am also passionate about. I also hold the title of Housing Counselor for a local non-profit here in Cleveland , Ohio. I teach financial literacy classes to adults, as well as, Homebuyer Education classes weekly to participants in order for them to obtain certification to apply for down-payment assistance. I think a lot of the time people, in general, are put in a box with “you do this so that is all you need, right”? Read more>>

Brittany “Soul” Sharp

I am grateful. I like to view myself as a “Corporate Creative”, a term I use that refers to us with Corporate Jobs, while we pursue our Creative & Musical Careers – no matter what. I have chosen to utilize my job, education, and life experiences to leverage my Creative Arts endeavors. I believe they all work together. After all, I am a holistic being. Read more>>

Aric Cheston

Yes. Honestly, I really don’t think there’s a choice for me. The aspects of my professional design life that are very “manager-y” can easily take all my energy. I’ve learned that I need to continually be hands on actually creating and building. Read more>>

Velu Ochoa

I currently have a regular job that allows me to continue to do pursue my creative passion. I started late in life to monetize my creative skills but I quickly learned how to negotiate rates and look for gigs. Read more>>

Dilpreet Shah

I am happy working as a creative professional. Being an artist brings its own challenges. It can be a highly competitive field, and financial stability can be uncertain, especially in the early stages of one’s career. The pressure to consistently produce good quality work, and the need to balance artistic expression with commercial viability, also poses challenges. Read more>>

Ricky Duran

I recently finished up my first national tour. It was an amazing experience. It definitely had its up and downs and was physically and emotionally draining at times. That’s one thing I’ve found comes with this line of work. High highs and sometimes low or anticlimactic moment. Often times I was traveling alone. It’s definitely is a strange feeling to leave a show and head back to your hotel room after leaving such a high energy atmosphere only to find yourself laying in bed replaying the moments or trying to get to sleep to catch your next flight to the next city. Read more>>

Happe Schuster

In my humble opinion, I would like to be a makeup artist as a regular job! For reasons it is lot more fun, more excitement, you can meet different people/clients, and you can have new friends. Read more>>

Sharon Cancio

For me, being an artist or a creative is a double-edged sword. On one hand, I have the freedom to really do anything I want. I’m able to do something I love and want to do, however, and whenever I want to do it. There is no one telling me what to do, I don’t have to follow someone else’s rules, and I don’t have to listen to anyone else, period. Not a lot of people have that opportunity, so I’m forever grateful for it. Read more>>

JUAN CARLOS ZAVALA

First of all, thanks for the invitation, to this day I can say that music is what excites me the most, connecting with the public, transmitting that energy and for a moment making them feel free, without worries, without problems and with the only objective to enjoy is something that cannot be described so easily and to achieve that on the dance floor is something amazing. Read more>>

Jennifer Meeker

I took the risk of becoming a full time artist in 2015. I had been waiting tables and doing other jobs such as babysitting to make ends meet and pay off debt. I wasn’t able to do all of these, so I took the plunge and quit waiting tables after doing it for 8 years. It was scary, but I am so glad I did it. I was able to continue on being an artist and create my own schedule, flexibility, and freedom. Read more>>

Catherine Collier

Before I settled into my artistic career I worked several regular jobs in order to afford to pursue art. I don’t wonder at all what it would be like to have a regular job because I know exactly what it’s like and it never fitted my creative nature. Even when I work on projects that still involve high level of creativity like graphic design or commercial photography, I find my most fulfilling work in my art. Read more>>

Lyndzy Gordon

Because the profit from my creative endeavors varies so much, I can’t rely on it to pay all of the bills all of the time just yet. Because of this, I do work part-time in addition to running my fashion line. I also feel like I need to break up my creative work with other things so I don’t get burnt out and aren’t staring at a computer screen all day. Read more>>

Yen Azzaro

Over the last twelve years I’ve had exactly two full time positions that came with a title, health benefits, paid vacations. In both instances, the culture or content of the work led me to question, “Is this where I’m supposed be right now? Is this valuable to others, myself?” Both times I left. Read more>>

David Gutiérrez Molina

When you say you are an artist or a dancer, everybody asks you, do you make a living out of it? Yes, being an artist is also a profession. When you start in this world, nobody explains to you that dreams have such a high cost, being an artist requires a lot of perseverance and sacrifice, if we were to calculate the price of the hours we put into our projects the accounts would not work out. Read more>>

IJfke Ridgley

I think working as a creative is a constant challenge, a rollercoaster of emotions (and income!) that seems never-ending. For me the hardest part about being a freelance photographer is the lack of a roadmap to success. There is very little transparency in the industry or communication between photographers about rates, clients, etc., so you’re left figuring it all out on your own for the most part. Read more>>

Hollis Morrissette

As an artist, I’m very happy. I wouldn’t change my life and be anything else. I’ve had a regular job before, and worked as a temp (short term). It wasn’t for me but, it was a check and I still had time to create, perfect my crafts and live my life as the artist that I am. Read more>>

Alexa L. Borden

The thing about being an artist is that it’s terrifying. I think the vast majority of us have to face our worst fears each time we create something; whether that means imposter syndrome, wondering if all this is sustainable from a financial standpoint, just plain not feeling good enough, worrying that people won’t like our art/music… Read more>>

Syd Kolnberger

What’s so odd about my situation is that I grew up with very money wise parents. My mom being a financial advisor had taught both me and my brother things about money I didn’t appreciate until I owned my own business. So I’m not I full time tattoo artist just yet, due to there being a huge issue in the tattoo industry. It does not provide health insurance or benefits to artists. So I’m also a Union Ironworker during the week. Read more>>

Macauley Johnso

My Name is Wavy Mac. I would say I’m happy with the amount of support given, I have t-shirts now. I’ve sold 58 since February. I get recognized in public for what I do. I know so many wonderful people. Read more>>

Stephen Notley

I think it’s fair to say I’m happy as an artist/creative. In conversation with my artist/creative friends, I’ve many times said how grateful I am that I’ve been able to live and work doing stuff that interests me. Not everybody is so lucky. My cartooning gives me an outlet to dig into myself, churn the ol’ ego, and then apply several hours of close-detailed work to the result. It’s therapy without the astronomical bills. Read more>>

Carson Abernethy

Yes I am as I work as both a Freelance Designer and Technology Field Sales Executive in Austin, TX. While I grew up wanting to pursue design full time, my liberal arts education at Boston University broadened the lens through which I saw my creative future. As I deepened my understanding of the business, advertising, and technology worlds, Read more>>

Len Peralta

This is such a loaded question! There are days when I am working and I think to myself “Boy, it’s a good thing I know how to draw because I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t.” I’m very happy to have this talent, but I’d be lying if I said this career path wasn’t filled with pitfalls and drama. Read more>>