What it's actually like to work as a creative today

Hi, my name is Heros and I work in the music/culture/entertainment industry. I've recently joined spacehey because I was getting bored/frustrated with mainstream social media (despite it being my career lol) and needed a new creative outlet.

While browsing the site, i've noticed there are a lot of kids and teens here, and especially a lot of very creative kiddos who aspire to work in the creative field one day. So i thought i'd put my big sister cap on and tell you a little about my experience (and if you're not a kid and an adult like me, it can also be interesting, especially if you relate in any way)

My "credentials"

I started my journey at 17/18 (Im currently 23 years old). I had the opportunity to join a club in highschool and started doing communication for them. It started with very basic things like making instagram posts on canva, learning about social medias etc. I liked the creative aspect of everything and it taught me a lot, with little to no pressure or end goal, it was just for fu or experimenting.

I continued doing stuff like this when I started college, learning more and more stuff in graphic design, content making etc while applying what i was learning to my passion: music and specifically metal, punk, HxC etc.

Then, during my second year of college, I had a semi-mandatory intership to complete in order to pass my semester. I said fuck it and I applied to a shit ton of festivals, record labels etc. Which all came back negative for various reasons (scheduling conflict, not hiring, my college being annoying). That was until may of that year, when one of the festival reached back to me asking if i could replace their current social media manager who was on sick leave and wouldn't be able to cover the festival. It would only be during the festival, it wouldn't count towards passing my semester because it was too late in the year, but they would pay for everything, i'd get to meet so many bands i loved, and i had already passed my semester. So I said yes

I worked for 2 years for them for very little pay, but it was a chill, remote position, except during the festival, and I was doing really fun stuff.

I'm not gonna disclose the festival I worked for (though you can easily find it yourself), but I got to work and make content with the likes of: Bring Me the Horizon, Lorna Shore, Jinjer, Spliknot, Korn,While she sleeps among others.

After that, I moved for my masters degree and my contract with the festival ended, so I started to get involved in my new local scene with a radio show and shooting concerts. I started working with bands, and even toured with one of them.

After a few exhausting experiences (ill get into it don't worry), i finished my degree and I now work at a local venue and cultural center, where I produce and do communication for various events and radio shows.

Here's what i learned over the years

Get as diverse skills as possible

Don't limit yourself to one art medium or one technique. If you're a painter, learn to paint on other things than just a canva. If you're a musician, combien your music with visuals and try to make small music videos. 

The more skills you have, the more valuable you are to others, and even employers. This applies especially in alternative communities and DIY scenes. You don't need to know everything of course, and you don't need to be perfect at it, but it always helps. 

You don't need expensive gear, truly

You don't need an expensive camera to shoot concert. You don't need the most expensive brushes to paint. Learn ways to exploit your gear to the max and go from there. 

Find cheaper alterntives. You want to learn graphic design and want to subscribe to Adobe? Try Affinity first. Try capcut or davinci relove before premiere pro. You can't find free alternatives? Sail the high seas (but do some research on it to do it safely. Reddit is your friend)

Get into your local scene, and participate

That's where you're gonna learn the most stuff, and concrete stuff. If you're in a band, research your "local legend small band" (trust me, you have one) and ask them advice. Engage with other artists, online or IRL. Overall, just shoot your shot.

Be careful who you surround yourself with professionally

It's important to create relationships and network, that's for sure, but be careful. I'm not saying be paranoid or anything, but it's a dog eat dog world.

If you're young or even underage, don't try to join an adult world. First because any normal adult will tell you 'no' (including myself) and because terrible people will say yes, and you won't come out unscarred. Surround yourself with people age-appropriate. I know it can be frustrating as a kid, because you feel limited, especially if you feel disconnected from your peers, but trust me. Adults are no better.

With that said, go slowly and don't think anyone you meet is your bestfriend. People are quick to throw you under the bus, voluntarily or not.

For example, remember the band i said I toured with? Well, despite being friends, hanging out outside, spending birthdays together, even helping each other move in and out, everything ended very sourly. I, their photographer and production assistant, got blamed for everything that they didn't like about the band. I was called hysterical, a groupie (despite THEM asking me to work with them) and basically fired after a three hour trial (that was just supposed to be a creative meeting but I guess they had other plans lol). I lost a lot of friends, opportunities because i now had a groupie reputation (don't worry, i moved on) and it was overall not a good experience. Did I mention i was not paid at all for all my work? Which brings me to my next point.

Ask to be paid, even if it's a very, very small amount

Do not underestimate the power of asking. Asking to be paid, no matter how small the amount at first, gives you credibility. You do drawings? Don't do commissions for free not matter what (except if it's very close friends or family maybe).

Asking to be paid shows your time and your craft is valuable, literally. It's okay to not feel confident enough to ask for money at first (that was my case) but boy oh boy do not make the same mistake as me, because it gives everyone the wrong idea. People are saying you're too expensive or that they can do it better for cheaper? Ignore them. All labour deserves compensation. Remember that.

It's gonna be hard, but you're gonna do it anyways

You're not gonna be taken seriously at first (or your whole life if you're a woman, or any minority). People are gonna tell you 'no'. Money won't come in instantly. It's gonna be hard.

Hang in there.

You know that meme 'improvise. adapt. overcome'? That's literally what you should do. Your music isn't really working? Maybe try producing, or being a music tech, and maybe you'll get new opportunities or discover new things you might fall in love with. 

There's always this stigma around not being on stage for example, people saying you 'gave up',  but that's bullshit. Look at Jordan Fish: he left BMTH, has not performed on stage since, yet 2/3rd of current metalcore music was produced by him. He's doing AWESOME yet he's not on stage.

You're gonna find people that get you, that are genuine, that are awesome.

You're gonna find something you love, you're gonna do something that makes you happy.

Anyways, that turned into a little bit of a life advice moment lmao sorry for being sappy ! This posts is just a few things I've learned, but I don't claim to have all the answers at all! I may be older than most people I see here, but I'm not that old either ahaha

If you have any questions don't hesitate. You can also check out my page and my work if you'd like!