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.

Kyle Montgomery

“Regular Job” – let’s normalize artists being a “regular” job. <– This mindset puts the blame back on the irregular entertainment industry rather than saying an artist is “brave” or “abnormal” to want to pursue an “irregular” career in a “regular” industry just like any other type of industry…. Why is the artist being shamed for their job, but the industry is looked at as this extraordinary thing or at least “regular”… why is it always the artist who gets blamed for the irregularities but never the people gatekeeping or making “the rules?” Why are those who work within it considered less than for pursuing a job that naturally pays less than most… where is the compassion or grace to the 98% of the artists who are working daily to pay rent, not 3 months at a time on a high budget feature to pay for their nepo boarding school? (I’M WAITING TO BE that privileged… one day!) Until then, I’m a poor, with a skillset and interest in the entertainment business, rather than in tech or retail. Read more>>

Lumiere Weddings

I represent a team of people that work together to form Lumiere Weddings. Without each and everyone on this team, we wouldn’t be who we are. But in this case I’ll speak for myself ☺️ I have been so incredibly privileged to be a full time wedding photographer and videographer. I’ve tried to go back to a traditional 9-5 a couple of times over the years and I invariably return to my first love; weddings. I just can’t stay away. I love the variety, the fast pace, the pressure of having one chance to get it right, the joy of preserving someone’s memories, etc. It’s just such an incredible feeling!! Read more>>

Dajsha Edwards

I always thought I’d take the traditional route—graduate high school, go to college, earn my degree, and build a career from there. But life had other plans, and honestly, I couldn’t be more grateful.

When I think about this question, I remember all the times I worked 9-to-5 jobs. I was good at them—not because I had some special talent, but because I believe in giving my all to everything I do. But at the end of each day, I’d come home feeling drained, uninspired, and stuck in what felt like a never-ending cycle of monotony. It was like living the same dull day on repeat. I was more depressed than not, and deep down, I knew I was meant for something more. Read more>>

Bixuan Zhang

Being a creative is when I feel most alive.

Some people think creatives are all about self-expression, detached from the real world. But filmmaking, in particular, is the exact opposite—it thrives on human connection. It’s not just about personal expression; it’s about giving voice to emotions others struggle to articulate and bringing to life ideas that might otherwise never exist.

A few days ago, I worked as the DP on a short film, Death’s A Drag, a dark comedy about a group of drag queens. Before this project, I knew next to nothing about drag culture. But as we prepped and shot the film, I found myself stepping into their world—seeing their daily routines, hearing their stories. Read more>>

Jingyi “luna” Peng

I am really happy as an artist but I do sometimes (a lot of times actually) thinking about having a regular job. I once talked about the idea of getting a regular job instead of being a full-time actor after graduation with one of my professor and her response inspired me a lot. I was joking about going after for a regular job as a “back up plan”, and she told me not to think about it like that; Instead, think of it as a kind of expanding, that these two things are not necessarily contradicting to each other, and I realized that’s so true! Being an artist does not mean that I couldn’t have a regular job; Instead, making art without feeling the need to use it proving my artistic value or profiting from it would be a lot freer when it comes to the creative process. And that’s my mindset now! Read more>>

Denise Taillefer

I am supremely happier as an artist than when I had a regular job! After graduating from USC in Los Angeles with a BA in psychology, I worked a corporate job for 2 years at Cruise Fairs of America, selling cruises vacations. Although I earned a decent salary and always made the monthly sales bonuses, I need this experince to show me how a controlled and structured environment was not best suited for me. I decided to go to massage school in 1994 and loved working in the healing arts for many years, I was able to create my own schedule, slowly building a private clientele and a disciplined work ethic.I learned to show up and run from appointment to appointment to make ends meet. Read more>>

Kostamos Yiacoumis

Of course I am happy being an artist! That’s the whole point of giving up the “normal” life.
You know, for us, creativity is everything. But creativity can be found and be good almost in any job. The thing is, where you are happy and ok with yourself? Is you current job something that makes your life moving forward?
And I don’t mean it on a financial way…finances are important, but that’s usually the trap of a situation like “oh I hate my job, my life…but the money are good”. Like, what…? Because it pays good you will keep doing this until you sell your soul to the devil? Read more>>