Starving Artist No More

Hosted by Jennifer Jill Araya

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Jul 2024

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July 26, 202459 min

063: The Gift of Creativity

What do you need to be your best creative self? Where and how do you do your most innovative, exciting, unique-to-you work? And how can you take intentional steps to give yourself that “maximum creativity environment” so that you are able to do that kind of work? The answers to these questions are going to be different for every artist and every creative listening to this podcast. After all, what you need to be creative is different from what I need to be creative. But today, let’s listen in on one creative entrepreneur’s journey to foster her ideal artistic environment as she worked to give herself the gift of creativity. In this episode, you will learn: How one artist managed her transition from a corporate position to self-employed creative entrepreneurship (and why she made that decision). What to look for as you figure out what kind of environment helps you be your creative best. Why it matters that you develop respect for your own artistic process. How giving yourself time to be creative can help you be your artistic best. Why labels like “part time” or “full time” are completely irrelevant to your journey as a creative entrepreneur. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Lisa Cahn of Prose Garden Productions, the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. During our conversation, I mention the book Deep Work by Cal Newport.  This episode includes an interview with Lisa Cahn, who is the owner of Prose Garden Productions. Lisa will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Lisa and the retreat here.  A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

July 23, 202432 min

062: Investigate Your Industry

Do you understand how your creative industry works? Do you know who the key players are, and do you have an understanding of how artists in your specific creative discipline get projects and are able to do the work that you do? Do you have a firm grasp of the current style trends and changes that are impacting the creative work of your colleagues? How much do you know about the behind-the-scenes businesses and decision-makers that run your creative industry? Today, let’s talk about why it’s important to have curiosity about how your little corner of the artistic world works. Let’s discuss together why you need to investigate your industry. In this episode, you will learn: What it means to investigate your industry, and why that matters to the health of your creative business. How a mindset of collaboration can help you build a sustainable artistic career. Why thinking of your creative business as a long-term commitment can help you form relationships with the decision-makers in your industry. What kind of communication practices will help you be a supportive collaborator in all of your creative projects. How a mindset of curiosity can give you the information you need to truly be a thriving artist. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Erick Black of Dreamscape Media, the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. During our conversation, I mention Episode 57 of this podcast, when I interviewed audiobook casting director Jonathan Pennock (057: Casting Director's Perspective), and I also refer to the six components of a thriving creative business, which you can learn about here. Erick and I discuss using Airtable for project management. You can learn more about Narrator.Life's Airtable template here, and you can see Rachel Jacobs' Notion templates here. (Notion is a database system that is similar to Airtable.) I also mention my other podcast, Crafting Audiobooks, which I co-host with the amazing Sarah Beth Goer. Sarah and I interviewed Erick for the Crafting Audiobooks, and you can listen here. Crafting Audiobooks is also available wherever you get your podcasts. This episode includes an interview with Erick Black, who is the Director of Production at Dreamscape Media. Erick will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Erick and the retreat here.  A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

July 16, 202450 min

061: Sustainable Creativity

As an artist who is also a small business owner, it sometimes feels like you’re pulled in two opposite directions: toward creative freedom and artistic expression on one side, and toward business-focused administrative tasks on the other. For most of us, in our creative training, whether that was art school or conservatory training or just a liberal arts education, everything was focused on the artsy side of things, with often no mention of business at all. And if you look to business literature or business coaches who cater to small business owners, which we are as creative entrepreneurs, that business material focuses entirely on efficient business administration, and creativity doesn’t even enter the picture. Where can the two sides – creative and business – meet? In today’s podcast episode, we’re going to figure out how these two elements of our creative businesses can and do interact in support of our artistic work. Let’s discuss how making decisions to follow our creative passion can actually help us in the business side of our work, forging a virtuous cycle of sustainable creativity. In this episode, you will learn: How improving your technique can help you find creativity even when you’re not “feeling it.” What role your creativity plays in the business side of your work, and what role smart business decisions play in the creative side of your work Why sharing your ongoing artistic growth with others can help you grow and evolve even more as an artist. How identifying your core motivations when it comes to your creative work can help you make sustainable decisions, in both the creative and business sides of your work. How to balance the acceptance of risk and take a chance on new opportunities, with sustainable and responsible business choices. What mindset shift you can use to make any lingering imposter syndrome work for you and actually motivate you for positive change. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Neil Hellegers, the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. During our conversation, I mention Episode 7 of this podcast (007: Working in your Creative & Financial Sweet Spot), and Neil and I discuss the International Dialects of English Archive (IDEA) database, which is a useful resource when learning accents.  This episode includes an interview with Neil Hellegers, who is an actor, audiobook narrator, and educator. Neil will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Neil and the retreat here.  A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

July 11, 202452 min

060: Walk Around the Wall

When you’re facing a problem or a difficult situation in your creative business, what is your first reaction? What do you do? Do you feel frozen? Do you feel frantic, like you have no options? Do you beat your head against the wall? Or do you take a step back and find a way to walk around the wall? I know that, personally, my initial reaction is always either to freeze or to feel frantic and stuck. But that’s not the only option. Even if, like me, that’s your first reaction, you don’t have to stay there. When you’re up against a problem in your artistic work that’s standing it your way like a giant, immoveable brick wall, you can find a way to walk around the wall. In this episode, you will learn: How creative problem-solving can help you thrive in your artistic work Why treating your creative colleagues – all of them! – with kindness could be the best business decision you ever make. How a commitment to ongoing growth can help you find solutions to the difficulties you’re facing. What to do when you feel like you’ve been pigeon-holed and want to expand into new genres and new creative areas. Why a mindset of curiosity can help you stay relevant in your creative industry. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Amy Rubinate, owner of Mosaic Audio and the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. This episode includes an interview with Amy Rubinate, who is an award-winning audiobook narrator, director, and producer, as well as an accomplished singer and writer, in addition to being the owner of the audiobook production company Mosaic Audio. Amy will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Amy and the retreat here.  In this episode, Amy mentions the "Potato Bugs and Cows" song from the Mr. Roger's show. We also reference Amy's two graphic novels, Kate and the City of Fire and Annie and the Unsinkable Ship. Amy shares two helpful resources for narrators, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) and the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association (PANA), and Amy and I discuss two narrators who are excellent at the business side of their work, Erin Bennett and Ron Butler. I have actually interviewed both Erin and Ron on my other podcast, the Crafting Audiobooks podcast. You can hear interviews with them here: Crafting Audiobooks Podcast - Ron Butler Crafting Audiobooks Podcast - Erin Bennett A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

July 9, 202442 min

059: Time as a Resource

As a creative entrepreneur, your time is literally your most valuable resource. From a business perspective, time is what you sell, because your artistic products require time to create. From a personal perspective, all work and no play makes you a miserable, starving artist (and it’s right there in the name of the podcast that we’re saying “NO MORE!” to the myth of the starving artist). One thing is for sure: time is valuable. But we don’t often think of time as a resource, something to use and manage to our advantage. Today, we’re going to look into what it means to think of time as a resource, and how that mindset can boost your creativity. In this episode, you will learn: Why time is so valuable to you as an artist and business owner. How viewing your time as a precious resource might change what you decide to do with that time. What benefits an attitude of “yes” can bring to your creative process. Why small steps toward efficiency can pay off in really huge ways. How to find small task automations that can help you stay in your creative flow. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Jennifer Blom, the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. During our conversation, I refer to several past episodes of this podcast: 005: The Time & Income Connection 007: Working in your Creative & Financial Sweet Spot 022: Outsourcing for Creatives 038: The Price of Success is Failure This episode includes an interview with Jennifer Blom, who is an actor, audiobook narrator, audiobook engineer, and audiobook director. Jennifer will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Jennifer and the retreat here.  In this episode, Jennifer and I reference the books The Power of Yes by Abbie Headon and The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

July 1, 202443 min

058: Freedom in Diversity

When you look at the list of your clients, the list of people who purchase your creative work, what do they look like? Do all of those people or businesses look the same, or do they differ in some way? And when you look at the type of creative work you do, does it all fit into a tiny little box, or do you work in lots of different spaces and in lots of different ways? When you think of how you make income in your creative business, does it all come in the form of immediate payment, or work-for-hire agreements? Or do you also have money coming into your business that’s based on past work? In today’s episode, we’re going to have a conversation with multi-disciplinary artist Steven Jay Cohen and learn why, when it comes to the kind of artistic work you do and the way you do it, there is freedom in diversity. In this episode, you will learn: What it means to diversify your client base and your creative work. Why pursuing that kind of diversity is important to the ongoing health of your artistic business. What asynchronous income is, and why it can help bring you freedom. What it means to think of your creative business as having a “Roster of One.” How to focus in on the “why” behind your business. Why creative businesses are more like startups than like traditional small businesses. How a startup mentality can help your artistic work thrive. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Steven Jay Cohen, owner of Spoken Realms and the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. During our conversation, I refer to several past episodes of this podcast: 008: Developing Asynchronous Income 013: Find Your Why 054: The Six Components This episode includes an interview with Steven Jay Cohen, who is an actor, audiobook narrator, audiobook engineer, and writer, in addition to being the owner of  the audiobook production company Spoken Realms. Steven will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Steven and the retreat here. In this episode, Steven mentions a title that I worked on with him, The Indestructibles by Matthew Phillion , and I mention Steven's podcast, Yet Another Dating App. In this episode, I reference the book How to Make Money While You Are Sleeping by photographer and author Rick Sammon, and Steven mentions Neil Gaimen's commencement speech, which you can watch here. Steven also refers to the teaching of author and coach Simon Sinek. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

June 4, 202454 min

057: Casting Director's Perspective

Regardless of what creative industry you work in, communication is key. Particularly when you think of marketing yourself and your work to the people in your industry who serve in the project assignment role, the importance of professional communication skills cannot be overstated. When the decision-makers in your industry are deliberating about which artist to consider for a project, you want to make sure your name is in the running. I’ve talked about the importance of effective and efficient marketing and networking in previous podcast episodes, but today, you don’t have to just take my word for it. We’re going to hear directly from the source. In today’s episode, we’re going to get a casting director’s perspective on the importance of effective communication in your marketing efforts. In this episode, you will learn:  Why business communication etiquette matters when reaching out to the decision makers in your industry.  How you can help people in those decision making roles to do their job more efficiently and effectively.  Why sharing the kinds of projects you love benefits everyone, including the people who hire you for creative projects.  What honesty and openness have to do with your marketing and networking strategy. How to cultivate a mindset of collaboration, and why that kind of mindset will lead to future opportunities for your creative work.  In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Jonathan Pennock, casting director for Brilliance Publishing and the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. During our conversation, I refer to several past episodes of this podcast: 007: Working in your Creative & Financial Sweet Spot 025: Make Your Own Luck 026: Marketing for Feast, Not Famine 027: Networking for Feast, Not Famine 043: AI and Art This episode includes an interview with Jonathan Pennock, an award-winning Audiobook Producer and Director for Brilliance Publishing. Jonathan will be a faculty member at the Thriving Narrators Retreat, August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. You can learn more about Jonathan and the retreat here. In this episode, I mention a title that I worked on with Jonathan: The Aviatrix by Violet Marsh. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

May 21, 202445 min

056: The Neurodivergent Creative

While I’m not neurodivergent myself, I know a lot of artists who are. In fact, quite a few of the artists who work with me to build their entrepreneurship skills are neurodivergent in one way or another. You, the fabulous artist listening to this podcast, might even be neurodivergent yourself. And this prevalence of neurodivergence among artists is more than just anecdote; a recent Psychology Today article explains that “neurodivergent individuals excel creatively,” making them uniquely suited to artistic careers. But while being neurodivergent can be a bonus in the creativity department, it can bring a whole host of unique challenges in the other aspects of our creative work. Today, let’s discuss strategies for handling the ups and downs of life as a neurodivergent creative. In this episode, you will learn:  Why neurodivergence is so common in the creative and artistic world. (In other words, lots of creatives are neurodivergent, which means you're not alone!) How coming to an acceptance of your neurodivergence can help you strategize solutions for the unique problems you face. What practical solutions have worked for Marni Penning, an award-winning actress, and what processes and resources she used to find those solutions.  How you can use those same processes to find solutions that work for you in your unique circumstances.  In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Marni Penning, the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. I refer to two past episodes of this podcast: 016: The Six Components of a Thriving Creative Business  022: Outsourcing for Creatives I also mention this article from Psychology Today and this 2022 study of neurodivergence among electronic musicians. This episode includes an interview with award-winning actress Marni Penning. You can learn more about Marni's work on her website and on her social media. You can also learn more about the Penning Method for the Panicked Actor here.  In our conversation, Marni mentions two tools that she finds helpful in managing her neurological differences: a full-year write-on calendar, and write-on magnets. I also mention the large desk calendar that I like to use for my schedule, which you can see here. Marni also shares two additional resources that have helped her in her journey: Shanna Pearson's Expert ADHD Coaching A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD by Sari Solden and Michelle Frank (the audiobook version is narrated by Marni!) Marni and I discuss body doubling as a strategy to help with focus. You can learn more about body doubling here, and you can learn more about Focusmate, a body doubling service, here.  A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

May 14, 202438 min

055: Creative Branding Deep Dive

Questions related to branding and marketing can often feel incredibly overwhelming for artists. The vast majority of creative entrepreneurs got into their line of work because they were passionate about the “creative” part of the “creative entrepreneur” label, not so much because they felt drawn to the “entrepreneur” part. But as I’ve said before on this podcast, the flow of work into your artistic business is directly related to the flow of marketing efforts out of your business. So even if you feel lost when you think about what it would take to effectively market your creative business, doing that marketing work is still something that is part of what it takes to build your creative business into a thriving enterprise that meets your needs. And I’m here to tell you that marketing and branding don’t have to be as scary as they seem. Your branding and marketing decisions can flow naturally out of who you are as an artist. Today, let’s take a deep dive into the topic of branding and marketing for your creative work. In this episode, you will learn: How to consider the needs of the many different audiences for your creative business’s marketing materials. Why your branding decisions can inform the way that you approach in-person events. How to transition from “me” to “we” in your social media strategy. What questions will help you find the commonalities in your interests and passions that will serve as the basis for your branding decisions. How your social media is similar to a public living room in your house, and what that concept means for how you “show up” online. How to consciously allow your branding to evolve over time as you grow as an artist. In this episode, I mention the upcoming Thriving Narrators Retreat, which will take place August 22-25, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Gail Shalan, the guest for today's episode, will be a faculty member at this retreat.) You can learn more about this opportunity for audiobook narrators on my website, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com/ThrivingNarratorsRetreat. In this episode, I refer to two past episodes of this podcast: 026: Marketing for Feast, Not Famine  027: Networking for Feast, Not Famine This episode includes an interview with multi-disciplinary artist Gail Shalan. You can learn more about Gail's work on her website and on her social media.  In our conversation, Gail shares a quote from the book Personal Branding for Dummies by Susan Chritton. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

May 7, 202441 min

054: The Six Components, Revisited

When I’m working with artists, the most frequent question they ask is how they should structure their creative business. How do they know which tasks in their creative entrepreneurship life are worth their time? How should their business work if they want that business to support them and fulfill them in all the ways they need to be supported and fulfilled: personally, creatively, and financially? What does a functioning creative business look like? Today, let’s discuss. In this episode, you will learn: What six components thriving creative businesses share in common. How to implement those six components within your creative business. Why establishing supportive habits will free you to do your best creative work. What role the financial aspects of your business play in helping your creative business thrive overall. How these six components can help you maintain a steady income in your business, getting you off the “feast or famine” roller coaster. In this episode, I reference the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of systematized, marketing, and networking. I also reference this Vanity Fair article, in which US President Barak Obama talks about what he does to reduce his decision fatigue.  In addition, I reference several previous episodes of this podcast:  005: The Time & Income Connection (Episode 1 in the 4-Part "Time & Income" Series) 006: Pay Yourself First (Episode 2 in the 4-Part "Time & Income" Series) 007: Working in your Creative & Financial Sweet Spot (Episode 3 in the 4-Part "Time & Income" Series) 008: Developing Asynchronous Income (Episode 4 in the 4-Part "Time & Income" Series) 010: What You Need From Your Business A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Full transcripts of every episode will always be available at the Starving Artist No More Blog. Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out to me at www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, with any questions, comments, or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.