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.

Jessica Joseph

This is the only job where every day I tell myself “I feel so rich.” Not literally in cash, but in how I live my life. My every day routines feel like a luxury to me. Most mornings I can wake up at 9am and take my time making coffee, sipping it slowly with my fiance on our porch, watching red cardinals grace our trees. While being a creative does require a lot of self accountability, it also allows for so much freedom to just appreciate and observe how beautiful this world is. To be slow, intentional, and observant – there is no other way I’d prefer to live my life. Read more>>

Hannah Abeyta

I am in disbelief that I am a professional artist. Not because I didn’t earn it or deserve it or am talented enough. I just feel so privileged that I get to do work that is fun, challenging, and personal. When I decided to go to school for art, I had no aspirations of making art professionally. I knew I wanted to go to college, I loved drawing, and that I have never wanted a “regular” job. I bartended for a decade before tattooing and really loved it. Read more>>

Lipica Shah

What would it be like to have a regular job? If I’m being honest, I have had this thought a LOT in my almost-20 years of being an actor professionally. Stability – job security, a steady paycheck, the ability to build savings, guaranteed benefits like health insurance, etc – is an incredibly attractive concept for the freelance artist. I imagine a lot of artists can relate. I find myself thinking about “giving it all up” when I’m in between jobs, when I’ve had a long stretch of great auditions with no bookings, when I’m doing yet another reading or workshop that won’t even cover the cost of groceries for the week… Read more>>

Lulu Grey

I am far happier now as a creative than I would have been in any other field. I’ve known since I was little that I wanted to be an actor and a singer, and I struggle to picture myself in a regular job. That does not mean I haven’t had my doubts, though – there have been plenty of times when I second-guessed the career path that I picked. Usually, these times don’t last very long. I can think back on all the happiness I’ve felt whenever I’m immersed in my art and make myself feel better by the end of the day at the very latest. Read more>>

Sophia Habib

Being an artist is all I know! There’s never been a plan B or what if it doesn’t work out. At the same time, I’ve always had a regular job. That’s not a ‘what if’. It’s reality, for all artists until we’re big enough to make money from music. I teach vocal lessons, I conduct a choir and I’ve worked in hospitality for the longest time. I am also co-owner of a restaurant, and club called ‘BIRD’ in Rotterdam. So I have a lot of jobs, and I love all of them, but at the end of the day it is all for 1 thing. It’s so I can pay for my rent and pay my team: producers, stylists, creative director etc. I also have to say, by working these jobs I’ve also grown a lot on the business side of my artistry. I know how to handle contracts, meetings, how to build teams and manage schedules. So to me it’s all the same thing. I work very hard to achieve my goals and I’ll do whatever it takes. Read more>>

Sarah Lorito

As I’ve transitioned from a student to a working artist, I’ve found myself asking this question a lot. Building a career in the arts is hard work, harder than I ever anticipated. There are so many directions you can take as a creative. Some artists work with galleries, some teach, and others run their independent businesses. Many juggle a combination of all three. Read more>>

Samantha Yestrebsky

I’ve always felt like I could do pretty much anything if I wanted to. I could be a lawyer, a doctor, go into marketing, anything. And honestly, sometimes that’s made acting harder. I’ve had moments where I’ve thought, “If I quit now, I could still go do something more stable.” The doubt hits harder when you know you have other options… and I still choose the scarier, less stable path. As an actor, I think most of us have, at some point, had that “should I get a regular job?” moment. Or maybe not! But I definitely used to doubt myself and wonder what it would be like to have a stable, corporate job. Read more>>

Lauren Harvey

Am I happy working in the arts? Yes. Do I sometimes miss the traditional 9 to 5? Sometimes, but not always.

After working corporate jobs four years post-college, I had the opportunity to return to Weathervane Playhouse – a professional summer stock theatre in my community I was able to work at during my college years. I began as an unpaid writing intern through a college course and was asked to return that Summer as an Arts Administration Intern in the Box Office. Although I had an interest and participated in theatre in high school, I didn’t really dabble in it as I started college. Read more>>

Derek R. King

I am happy as a creator. In fact, I’ve never been happier than I am now. Every day, I have the freedom to explore new ideas and concepts and then to bring this “something new” into the world. This is a hugely inspiring feeling to go to sleep on and to wake to.

I don’t think about having a regular job, because I had one for over forty years. But I do wonder what it would have been like if I had made my career change earlier. How much more fulfilling could my life have been? But then again, maybe every experience I’ve been through led me to be the full-time author I am today. Read more>>

Lucie Tassel

I started to work professionally as an artist I was 29, so I did a lot of other thing before. I graduated in Physical and Nutritional rehabilitation, thinking that I would be a personal coach. Before that I studied sciences because I wanted to join the army to become an helicopter pilot. And I finally graduated in education and became an elementary school teacher. All these choices were lead by my fear to get bored in my professional life. I thought that I would need to choose something with « moves»: turn over of clients, missions, students, educational programs… but it didn’t work out. I was a very good teacher, but it wasn’t my path. I have always been an artist, always wanted to be, and now that I jumped in this career I am way more happy ! Read more>>