Monetizing Your Creativity - Pursuing a career in film, television, writing, theatre, music & design with your talents

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Monetizing Your Creativity. I’m your host Marvin Polis. This is actually going to be a very short episode because I’m here to let you know that our podcast is going on hiatus for a while.

In the meantime, we’d like to suggest that you dive into the archives for some inspirational episodes to help you launch and leverage your creative career. With 125 episodes, there’s something for everyone. Even if an episode seems like it might not apply to you, there are universal lessons everywhere. So for instance, if you’re an actor, do listen to the episodes about music … and so on.

On behalf of my co-producer and co-host Fred Keating, we want to encourage you to stay subscribed so you’ll know when we have news to announce. If you want to keep tabs on Fred, you can follow him on Facebook and you really should check out an intriguing project he’s working on called Studio in the Sky. Just go to Vimeo and search for Studio in the Sky, new trailer.

As for me, you can check out a professional development podcast that I produce for a local chapter of my professional association, the International Association of Business Communicators, otherwise known as IABC. This podcast also talks about earning a living with your creativity, although the focus is much more narrow than the Monetizing Your Creativity podcast. So if you’re interested in applying your talents specifically to marketing and public relations, go to iTunes or SoundCloud and search for IABC Edmonton.

Thanks for listening, everyone.

Welcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. The topic: When creativity meets business acumen

Four multi-talented and experienced entrepreneurs prove it is possible to pursue your creative passion and make a good living from doing so. It helps if one’s passion for a creative career is balanced by an appreciation of (or skills in) the business side of show business.

Toronto-based Todd Latham is the President of Actual Media. Growing up along with digital media, Todd’s success story runs from his first newsletter Newd Flash to his current publications on environmental subjects such as ReNew Magazine and Water Canada. He also produces the Canadian Water Summit and Water’s Next Awards as President of Blue Events. Todd discusses the creation and progression of business opportunities and partnerships that have allowed him to make his publishing and environmental conservation dreams come true.

Lindy Sisson is a connector. As the presenter and administrator of a large arts society and venue, she connects her community audiences with arts activities and productions that she feels will resonate. Her advice about building trust with stakeholders can be applied to any of the various arts projects you may be trying to get off the ground.

Sarah Klodt and Emily Tepper are the Geek Crossing girls. From simply seeking space to create their own geek-themed artwork outside of their already crowded homes, these two self-confessed geeks have created a business that provides them and many other artists with a place with which to earn a living. Geek Crossing is a community centre that boasts studio space, arts supplies, classes and a store through which artists can sell their work.

Brian Keating (no relation to Fred) is a multi-media powerhouse. From his love of wildlife and wild places, Brian has built a career that involves speaking programs, writing books for children, creating a television series, regular radio appearances and taking people on tours to fantastic and remote corners of the planet. His success is all based on this own love of storytelling about the wonders of the wild world.

If you cannot find a business entity willing to support your work, you may want to consider starting one. Nothing succeeds like success!

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Welcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. The topic: Making it in LA.

Four experienced individuals (a media entrepreneur, publicist, film festival founder and talent agent) share their own “Making it in LA” stories with Marv and Fred. They are proof positive that creative people need other creative people in order to earn a living in media industries. Nobody does it alone.

Cachita Hynes is the founder of the style-revamp company, Style on the Spot. She’s also a model, TV host, blogger and former Marketing Director of Worldwide Distribution for MGM. Cachita currently serves a roster of clients as a digital marketing consultant, helping other companies and organizations get their stories to a global audience.

Kelly Wilson is a connector. She brings together people who have stories to tell with people who need stories to tell. This young publicist has helped arrange some interviews for Marv and Fred at international events and locations. In fact, Kelly was the person who connected us with Cachita Hynes!

Daniel Sol brought his event management abilities from Miami to Los Angeles and co-founded the annual Hollywood Shorts Festival that showcases emerging and mature filmmakers along with monthly film-related events. What a way to build a personal and professional network!

Michael Levitt, successful businessman from Los Angeles, made a mid-life career change to become a talent agent in Vancouver, Canada. He attracted success through a combination of applying his mentoring skills to young performers and his business skills to casting directors. He's known for his effectiveness in getting his clients auditions and roles in film and television.

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

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@monetizingyourcreativity

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Welcome to another themed episode drawing upon the advice and counsel of various guests on a single topic. This week's topic: Acting careers – stage and screen.

Four multi-talented and experienced performers share with Marvin and Fred their own career stories and tips for navigating the tumultuous rapids of an acting career.

Amy Shostak is a talented theatre artist whose improv skills in performance and directing have taken her to festivals and live special events all around the world. She also performs in the television series Tiny Plastic Men and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio series The Irrelevant Show. Amy describes why many professionals could benefit from improv workshops to learn about and sharpen their own abilities in collaborative work situations.

Brothers Dann and Dave Florek join Marvin and Fred in Los Angeles to discuss the similarities and differences in technique required for performing on stage and on screen. Valuable tips emerge! Check their track records on imdb.com. The Florek Brothers’ lists of engagements in film and television alone read like the history of screen media over the last 40 years!

Not many performers celebrate 25 years in the business at the ripe old age of 31! Vancouver-based actor and musician Travis Turner describes his formal training at the Langara College Film Arts program and his decision to form a company to benefit more from the “business” side of show business.

For more information on the Langara College Film Arts program, listen to Episode 084 of our podcast with Garwin Sanford, the Head of Film Arts.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

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@monetizingyourcreativity

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Fred and Marvin have put together another themed episode that draws upon the wisdom of various guests on a single topic. Three multi-talented musicians share with you their own particular experiences in "The Business of Music”.

Patched in from France, Mark Olson, an American horn player for European orchestras, shares his stories of breaking into the business, getting lessons from the best in the world and the challenges of auditions. And how the horn has been his ticket around the world for more than 30 years!

Patrick O’Connell, a California-based musician shares his advice with budding musicians on everything from why musicians should TEACH as soon as possible and the self-managed approach to getting your music sold and listened to in the music business’ constantly shifting environments.

Nashville-based Lera Lynn, who plays the bar singer on the HBO series “True Detective”, shares her stories about what happens when you "stay true to you”. She describes what she’s learned from other musicians (k.d. lang, T Bone Burnett) and about the power of relationships, while at the same time relying on yourself.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

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@monetizingyourcreativity

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In another of our themed episodes, Marvin and Fred visit the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention and speak with four champions of motivational speaking. They pepper their presentations with humour and great advice on building and living a creative life.

The two themes explored in this episode are “Getting Started” and “Everything You Do is Grist for the Creative Mill.”

Comedian, author and comedy coach Judy Carter describes the difference between public speaking and stand-up comedy. You'll want to pay special attention to her “59 Refusals” story!

As a refugee from Vietnam, Vinh Giang grew up in Australia. How can changing your environment change your life? This accomplished magician explains how to have more confidence. It’s easier than you think. But listen carefully … You are your main competitor!

Corey Perlman, President of eBoot Camp and author of the bestseller “Social Media Overload!”, discusses the challenges facing millenials in navigating the various types of social media and interpersonal relationships and how that can inhibit creative activity.

And Second City comedy veteran Ron Tite, Team Leader at the Tite Group, explains how to circumvent the “traditional” routes to creative success by taking charge of your own destiny.

Getting started and moving forward! Everything you’ve experienced up to now is still waiting to be utilized in your ongoing and upcoming adventures!

Listen and learn.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

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@monetizingyourcreativity

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In this next of our series of themed episodes, we continue on the topic of speaking professionally. Marvin and Fred talk to four more contemporary champions of motivational speaking at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention. The common undercurrent is: “You need a little help from your friends in business.”

Getting acquainted with the business side of show business is important. Things like bookkeeping, accounting and contracts. That can be a lot to learn, so it might make more sense to find people who not only are experts in those activities, but also enjoy doing them the same way you enjoy acting, music, dance, painting, etc.

Those people exist. You simply need to expand your personal and professional network to a point where you have a group of experts in different arenas of show business to help you make decisions that are in your best interest.

In this episode you’ll hear:

Patricia Fripp on how to generate conversations at social events that could lead to professional engagements. Hint: Once again it involves friends promoting each other for mutual benefit.

Peter Legge on the need for initiative and creative promotional strategies.

Michelle Cederberg on the importance of drive coupled with fitness so that your creativity is stoked by your healthy balance of sleep, diet and exercise.

Hugh Culver on the importance of creating a team of associates to assist in supporting your blog so that your audience is served without you having to be deeply involved on a daily basis.

Once again we learn that no one of us is as smart as all of us!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

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@monetizingyourcreativity

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Question: Where do professional motivational speakers go to get motivated and trade trade secrets?

Answer: The annual national CAPS Convention. CAPS stands for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers but professional speakers, business coaches, corporate trainers and meeting facilitators from all over the world gather there each year to learn from one another.

Marvin and Fred set up camp right in the middle of the busy exhibit hall and interviewed some of the superstars of public speaking.

In this themed episode, we interview the Executive Director and organizer of the convention, Sheri Bricks, as well as bestselling authors and speakers Vince Poscente (former Olympian) and Dan Thurmon (author of Off Balance on Purpose).

Behind every inspiring speaker there is an inspiring story and you’ll hear some of them in this episode produced right in the middle of the convention.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

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@monetizingyourcreativity

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In this specially-themed episode, Marvin and Fred speak to three contemporary writers of non-fiction and discuss the steps in the writing process that take place prior to and after the actual “pounding it out” on the keyboard.

Tracey Friesen shares with you how ideas for subject matter present themselves and how to locate natural partners to assist in bringing your book to publication.

Eric Termuende describes the importance of a team consisting of other writers, editors and promotional efforts to get the book polished, published and then properly distributed and sold.

Patrick Dillon, opera critic and interviewer in New York City, suggests ways to act upon your particular passion and generate writing assignments for yourself.

Once again, we find there is no ONE way to pursue a career in creative arts endeavours … there is only YOUR way. But where writing careers are concerned, there are thousands of willing role models such as other writers, editors, publishers, design artists and public relations professionals eager to share their ideas for success with you.

Begin here with these three professionals: Tracey, Eric and Patrick.

Then get to work!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

Follow us on Instagram:

@monetizingyourcreativity

www.instagram.com/monetizingyourcreativity

Welcome to the first in a series of themed episodes of Monetizing Your Creativity. In this edition, Marvin pulls segments of Fred’s interviews with arts specialists who dedicate time and energy not only to their own studio work but also invest in the development and teaching of other individuals.

Chrysalis is an organization that discovers the abilities in individuals with disabilities and trains them for volunteer or part-time / full-time employment.

As part of programming to explore and develop a variety of latent artistic talents and mastery of social situations, artists who are excellent in their own personal arts activities encourage the learners to expand personal and professional horizons through various forms of art … painting, sculpting, movement, speech and music.

A variety of these specialists spoke with Fred about how their teaching of arts to others actually enhanced their own creative energy and output.

Both the therapists and their students have found ways to monetize their own creativity in a way that allows them to do what they love on a daily basis. In fact, the very process of creating artwork is therapeutic and the products of that energy can be sold in order to earn money to continue the production of more art.

Whatever craft category you may love to work in, don’t deny yourself the pleasure of sharing the love you have for the artist and talent in you with others. Water those human seedlings and watch them grow and thrive and create more original work to share with the world.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MONETIZING YOUR CREATIVITY PODCAST:

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While you're there, please leave your comments and suggestions for future episodes. We love your feedback!

Or search for Monetizing Your Creativity on Stitcher, Google Play Music, Overcast or your other podcast app.

SoundCloud:

www.monetizingyourcreativity.com

Follow us on Instagram:

@monetizingyourcreativity

www.instagram.com/monetizingyourcreativity