Can A Creative Really Run A Business?

I often get people ask me 'What it is exactly that you do?' as from the outside looking in it seems extremely confusing. I do music both infront and behind of the scenes, I do youth work, I run a business, I talk about interior design a lot, I run websites. It seems unless you specialise in one thing, the market can often be confused by what you are all about. My answer is this: I'm a Creative.

When I was a kid, I didn't have one thing I always wanted to do. I didn't want to be a popstar. It varied from fashion designer to singer to artist and more. I find it hard to specialise in one area and I don't see why I should! I have a creative mind that doesn't think in a straight line. Life is short, why not indulge myself in all of the things I find exciting and am passionate about? Also, in this kind of economy sometimes you have to spread yourself over a few areas in order to make a decent living.

Here are the roles I am currently covering:

- Music supervisor for film

- Recording artist (even though I am trying to back off this one, it seems as soon as I try I get loads more work!)

- Youth Worker

- Studio Engineer

- Interior Design blogger

- Business blogger

- Partner in a business

- Niche website developer

- Internet marketer and wannabe SEO guru

If I thought about it more there are probably some things I am still missing out. Yes it is sometimes hard to concentrate, as I have a few projects always on file in the back of my mind. I try to manage this by assigning different days to different projects and allocating my time. It's not always that easy though, as half way through the day I have to pack up and go off to my youth worker job where I want to give 100% to the young people I teach and work with. Overall though, on the whole I manage well (with the odd breakdown) and I NEVER get bored.

Whilst working on my music career as an artist, I learnt so many useful traits that have allowed me to move into the world of business. For instance, setting up my own label, handling contracts, admin, marketing my own music and the music of others, diffusing often difficult problems, building a fanbase using social networking and the internet... the list goes on. Being a creative really does allow you to flit between the different realms of creativity, and it has a lot of transferrable skills. The business and entrepreneurial skills I have learnt from music are something I would have never learnt from a college or uni. I needed that hands on experience. What I have learnt is INVALUABLE.

Having picked up these skills and having time to refine them, it allows me to see potential in places I wouldn't have before. For instance with The Glam Collective (the makeup, tanning and beauty business that I am a partner of) I could see ways to market Lois and build a brand around her skills that she may not have seen in herself. I also have a huuuuge network of other creatives that I have met through music, so I know I can get the brand out there through my contacts. Music is probably one of the hardest industries to work in and promote in (as it's subjective) so I knew that if I could handle the music industry anything compared to that would be a walk in the park.

People think business is all suits, offices, meetings and admin. IT'S NOT! Building your own business and brand is one of the most creative things I have been lucky enough to experience.

With that in mind, I wanted to post up a few pics of the different project I've been involved in over the last few weeks.

The Glam Collective's first ever customer (my Sister, getting a spray tan and pulling a stupid face)!

On set for the filming of the 'Take Over' music video. I chose the artists and put everyone together to make the track to promote the film 'SKET' that I was the music supervisor on.

Here's my hubby Jason at the W hotel, the after party of the 'SKET' premiere. Most people would thrive on premieres and glitzy stuff like this, but I still don't feel that I ever fit in or am meant to be there!

Here's me on the music video set for 'First Class' a track that I featured on by UK MC Ghetts. Even on set I was making contacts with the production team and the brand reps from K-Swiss who sponsored the video. I made sure I told them all about The Glam Collective (who were doing my makeup that day) and tried to get TGC some contacts and hopefully some future work on shoots or other music videos!

The moral of this blog I suppose is, if you are a creative then feel free to dip into projects! People will try to tell you all the time that you need to focus on one thing and 'don't put your fingers in all the pies' or try to be a 'jack of all trades master of none' because in all honesty I feel that's what you need to do in this current economy to be successful. Many creative roles can overlap and there are contacts and new work to be found by overlaying them. The way to make it work is to really plan out your days and time to spend on each project and try not to get distracted. Make to-do lists for each project and then it will allow your mind to focus on one at a time.

Sarah x

Comments

[super sale]

Creativity fully depends upon your business because in some cases creativity is much needed and in some cases other special things are needed. anyhow great post. super sale