Commercial photographer Jeffrey Ross discusses the challenges and strategies he has used to manage during the pandemic. Conversation focuses around activities you can do right now to keep your business moving forward, tips for working from home, resources, networking during Covid-19 and more. This interview is part of a series focused around creatives and the pandemic. For access to other videos in this series, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aoJFk0m-MP3p9taz_ffxw/playlists?view_as=subscriber

Covid-19 has created many challenges for artists. During the summer of 2020, we interviewed a variety of artists about the strategies they were using to keep their careers moving forward. This interview features freelance content marketing writer, journalist, podcaster, and mental health advocate, Leanna Johnson Lee. Leanna discusses how she adapted during the pandemic, different income streams for writers, a variety of resources, and more. About Leanna: Leanna Johnson Lee is a freelance content marketing writer, journalist, podcaster, and mental health advocate. She creates long-form content for B2B tech and finance brands through her company, Lost Lass. Her current passion project is her podcast, MxV: Mental Wellness For Freelancers and Business Owners, which she hosts and produces with national mental health speaker Mike Veny. About SEA: The mission of SEA is to provide educational resources, connections, and content to help emerging creatives gain the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed to establish and maintain a career in the arts. To learn more, visit www.selfemploymentinthearts.com.

Covid-19 has affected artists all across the country from a variety of creative fields. Voice-over actor, Joe Bianco, shares with us how his career has changed as well as tips for those looking to get into voice-over acting. This video is part of a series of artist interviews discussing how artists are moving their careers forward during the pandemic. Topics discussed include the shift to working from home, how to build a network in a virtual environment, adapting art/services to virtual formats, managing one's mental health during challenging times, what to do when work is slow, and more. About Joe: Joe Bianco is one of Chicago’s premier voiceover talents and an equity actor. He has recently performed with Drury Lane, The House, Chicago Shakespeare, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Door Shakespeare & Shakespeare Project Chicago. Some recent voiceover clients include McDonalds, Bungie, West Suburban Bank, YMCA, Mercedes, The Onion, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and the video game “Those Who Remain” available on all platforms. On camera credits include The Chi, Chicago Fire and work with Clickhole & The Onion Labs. About SEA (https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com): SEA is about helping you, the artist, succeed by connecting and exposing you to resources, artist practitioners, experts in the field, and more through our website, workshops, conferences, and other programs. During the pandemic, we have expanded to offer weekly networking hours, live interviews with artists, mini virtual summits, and more. Looking for a way to connect with other creatives? Join our free closed Facebook group, The SEA Mastermind (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSEAMastermind) The group has over 500 creatives from across the country. It is also the place we share the Zoom link to access the free weekly networking hour. Each week we have a special guest from the creative fields that discusses a specific topic.

Jane Rubietta has delivered thousands of keynote speeches on stages worldwide. She's written hundreds of articles, and twenty traditionally published books. Our interview focuses on mental health during Covid-19 as well as tips on writing and speaking. She helps clients move forward from anywhere on the spectrum, whether they're just beginning to voice their dreams, or are already earning money writing or speaking. Since 1996, Jane has taught on faculty for writers' conferences, and is the Assistant Coordinator for Write-to-Publish. She's helped thousands of people launch their writing and speaking careers. She is hands-on practical, with an established blueprint for getting published and commanding the stage. She can turn a single thought into fifty ideas for articles and speeches

We are excited to have Isabelle Rizo join us for a conversation about how she has been adapting during Covid-19. She shares with us how the variety of "hats" she has worn over the years has helped her during this time as well as valuable tips on how to deal with the "inner critic." Isabelle Rizo is an internationally exhibited artist, consulting hypnotist, and author that has been storytelling since 2008. Working in digital technologies primarily for her artistic medium she is a social commentator on what the digital world is collectively doing to our minds in both positive and negative light. Starting her art practice as a documentary filmmaker investigating the rising costs of higher education she decided to gather resources for autodidacts and learners from all backgrounds in a culminating blog - The BellaVie Project. This led her to being a digital nomad and educator in Shanghai, Kunming, and XinShaBana China, Paris France, Berlin, Germany, and culminating into self-directed learning retreats thoughout Transylvania Romania. She has run her successful coaching practice supporting trauma survivors, creatives, and highly sensitive identified persons since 2015 and opened her hypnosis practice in 2018 in Chicago. Isabelle has been featured in Prague College, Zero to Travel Podcast, The Golden Romania, Holistic Fashionista, LVBX Magazine, Ajala, and Entrepreneur Magazine.

How is sfx artist Kim Witte moving her business forward during the pandemic? During this live interview Kim shares how she pivoted her work as well as managed the emotional challenges. In addition, Kim shares a variety of social media tips from how to decipher which platform is best to use and how to create meaningful content. About Kim - Witte Artistry (https://www.witteartistry.com) "My name is Kim Witte. I am an entrepreneur and a special effects makeup artist. I live my dream everyday through my company I built called Witte Artistry, LLC. I have the pleasure of sharing my knowledge about the makeup industry and how to do bodypainting, sfx makeup, and beauty makeup. With every art business there is a whole lot of work happening in the background. I love digging into the nitty gritty of social media marketing and optimization, video production, diversifying my income, to ensure my art travels far and wide. I’m the type of person that always has my nose to the grindstone working on new projects ranging from fabricating accessories for a full character makeup, to optimizing and growing my social media content. I live by the phrase, “Work hard, play hard!” For more videos in this series, subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aoJFk0m-MP3p9taz_ffxw?view_as=subscriber

How are artists moving their careers forward during these uncertain times? First up in our series of interviews with creative professionals is our conversation with illustrator, John McDavitt. (Interview recorded live on Facebook) John is a designer, illustrator, sculptor, muralist, educator, and speaker. He studied special effects make-up under Oscar winner, Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Amadeus, The Godfather.) That skillset translated to a successful career in toy and product development (Wilton, Huffy, The Bradford Group, Big League Chew, Thomas the Train, Disney, Lemax), product presentation and marketing. John began his career as a t-shirt airbrush artist and after earning $11,000 in one month at age 20, he decided a career as a creative entrepreneur was the only way to go. Airbrushing led to a decade long consultancy for Badger Airbrush Company. He has created a number of large mural commissions, his most recent for 'unLOCK: Merging Art & Industry in Lockport, IL through Gaylord Building program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. John's speaking presentations encourage artists and entrepreneurs "they can do it, too!" Follow John on YouTube and Instagram (@muralguy). For more information about SEA, visit www.selfemploymentinthearts.com This live series is being aired on Facebook at 7 PM CST on Monday and Thursday evenings. Visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/selfemploymentinthearts/events/ #covid19 #artlife #artentrepreneur #freelance

This video is part of an interview series with past SEA Conference presenters where we discuss how artists are adapting and moving their careers forward during the pandemic. During this interview Greta discusses a variety of tips including starting virtual private lessons, building your network, social media strategies, changes to her career as a live performer, business plans, and more. Dr. Greta Pope. Greta is an award winning, internationally acclaimed entertainer. She has delighted audiences throughout Europe, the Far East, South America and the Caribbean, as well as the United States and Canada. Ms. Pope has been touted one of the great voices of our time, as she performs with ease all styles from Jazz to Opera, and from Rhythm and Blues to Broadway. Greta’s performance credentials include singing in several languages. She has shared the stage with such well-known performers as Wynonna Judd, Dick Van Dyke, Stanley Clarke, Ramsey Lewis, Rich Little, Penn & Teller, Boy George and many others. Greta’s voice is featured on commercials and voice-overs, including those for McDonald’s, Whirlpool, Allstate, Lexus, Este Lauder and others. Greta Pope is the daughter-in-law of legendary Duke Ellington vocalist Kay Davis. Through this relationship, Greta has developed an engaging one-woman show entitled Duke Ellington…The Man…The Music…The Legend! Greta and her top-notch musicians also perform several other original one-woman shows entitled “Paris Noir…American Jazz in Paris,” “Greta Pope Sings The American Songbook,” “Greta Pope Live!” and “An Evening with the Music of Cole Porter.” Greta Pope holds a Bachelor of Music Degree, a Master of Music Degree and has studied at Indiana University with the brilliant Metropolitan Opera soprano Eileen Farrell. Greta Pope has a Ph.D. in Business Administration and is the author of self-help book Music, Money & You; Managing the Business, now available at leading booksellers nationwide. Music, Money & You has been chosen as the selected text for several school programs.

Next up in our series of interviews around the topic of how artists are moving their careers forward during Covid-19 is attorney, Ed Wimp. Ed is an attorney, speaker, author, artists manager, and musician from Orlando, Florida. He started his career in music as a musician and began recording and touring as a musician himself before transitioning into the business side of music. After graduating college, Ed began transitioning into the business side of the music industry when he was presented with an opportunity to travel as part of the road management staff for R&B legends Earth Wind & Fire. From there, he was able to travel and tour with hip-hop icon A$AP Rocky. Ed Wimp is the author of the book Building Fans, Fame & Wealth: The 18 Revenue Streams of Music. He travels to high schools colleges, and conferences teaching aspiring musicians how to have a profitable music career. After extensive touring while working in the music industry, Ed earned a law degree and opened an entertainment law firm, Wimp Legal, which he currently operates. Ed takes joy in the opportunity to help people in their times of need and is honored to be a member of the profession. Ed Wimp is a Renaissance Man. He has had many unique and outstanding experiences in his young life. Extensive international travel has been a cornerstone for Ed, which has given him a global perspective on life. Ed has enjoyed and retained the friendships of people from many parts of the world. Ed is an avid golfer and takes the opportunity to play whenever his busy schedule allows. This series is made possible by Self-Employment in the Arts, The Coleman Foundation, and The Illinois Arts Council Agency, with additional support from North Central College's Enactus Team. For more information about SEA, visit www.selfemploymentinthearts.com #artsentrepreneurship #businessofart #musicbusiness