Hey! Welcome to the Creative Club. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start one of these or not. However, I've become more inspired by other friends around me, and considering this is the busiest year of my life so far, I decided it would be fun to be more intentional about putting my thoughts and lessons into words. I do the same thing with my podcast and in various forms of planning for productions, but my biggest reason for starting this is simple -
To provide value to those like you who even care to open this and read what I have to say.
These entries will be bi-weekly and focused on creativity and life stories: things I’m currently learning, situations I’m growing in, or things I’m failing at. I’ll also be attaching a song or piece of music that I’ve been listening to at the end. So let’s briefly get into it this Monday.
This has been the busiest year of my life so far. From working remotely full time shooting and editing video and photo content for various clients, hotels and resorts to working on my own business, revamping my website, trying to shoot passion projects including a short documentary that’s already in production. Not to mention I just helped launch a new run club in Scottsdale that I co-founded with some other buddies, trying to find my next race and maintain my fitness to maintaining a social life. This is the daily struggle of a creative. But I believe this can be the daily struggle of anybody in any career at any stage in life. There’s always going to be a balancing act and we need to set priorities. To set up what actually matters. As Casey Neistat said, “the only thing standing between you and the only thing you ever wanted was the doing. By just doing. Not thinking, but doing. Taking action.”
For myself, as a creative to avoid burnout, I need to include points of time where I’m doing nothing. My moments of rest. No creating, no agenda. Maybe that’s going for a run, maybe that’s going for a hike, maybe it’s watching a good movie or enjoying time around the campfire with some buddies. Maybe it’s taking a nap. Whatever that time looks like for you, absolutely include those moments too.
While my life continues to be busy, the things I’m doing are meaningful to me. Because most of them aren’t just about me. Are there days when I’m overwhelmed? Yes. Are there lots of things going on? Yes. But are these things making me better? Yes.
Story #1 - When you see an opportunity, it’s your responsibility to take it.
For years, I’ve always wanted to see Mumford and Sons. If I had to choose any song to be the backdrop of the theme of my life, it would be a song from them. I received a text message from a good friend of mine that they were going to be in Phoenix during the Men’s Final Four, and that Capital One was going to throw a 3-day music festival. The best part? Mumford and Sons were closing out the festival on the last night. Right away, I jumped on the opportunity to shoot the event. One of those passion moments. One problem - there were no more event passes after I made several phone calls, and the security was supposedly going to be tight. Luckily, the event was free, which I didn’t believe at first, but I still had to manage to get in with my camera. As the day approached, my buddy Jeff and I made our way towards the venue. When we arrived, we realized that the line to get in was already stretched throughout the park. So I made a decision - to walk right through the gate and get to the front of the line. After that point, we had to make it through security. Holding my head high, camera in hand, I was able to get in with what I needed.
The fun didn’t stop there either. I decided to continue to push my luck. I snuck into the Coca Cola lounge with prime views of the venue, then got into the main Capital One lounge after giving various stories that I was covering different aspects of the event. Later that night, I managed my way up to the front left side of the stage and out they came, the band I’ve always wanted to see. I never get starstruck, but that night was incredible. They began performing, I sang along to some of their music, and captured some of my favorite stills I’ve ever gotten. I also captured some video for another edit. I’m now putting together a media package to email/DM them and their manager. Here’s one of my favorite photographs I captured from the night -
Technical specs: Sony A7RV | Konica 50mm F2 | Treated/Edited in Adobe Lightroom
The moral of the story is this - when you see an opportunity, it’s your responsibility to take it. No one else will take it for you. Instead of faking it till you make it, face it till you make it. I was confident to the point that I wasn’t going to take no for an answer, I had enough faith in myself to get into the festival with my equipment. Hell, I had enough confidence at that point to be the manager of the band! It doesn’t matter the stories other people have about you. What story are you telling yourself? There might be some luck in these moments but I truly believe that if you’re good enough, nobody is stopping you.
New merch being released.
Speaking of Creative Club, we’re releasing a new exclusive tee! The first batch of shirts has been paid for and they’re being screen printed currently. They’ll be dropping within the next few weeks, and let me tell you, they’re some of the nicest oversized tees out there! If you’re subscribed to this newsletter, that means that you’ll be the first to have the opportunity to purchase one! The link will be sent out through here first. Will be available in vintage black. (Yup, very on brand for me.) Can’t wait for you to get one. For now, here’s are the design mockups -
My song pick -
In true fashion after the story today, here’s the newest single from Mumford and Sons called “Good People” I love its stomp/old school feel. Good one to start the week -
Good People - Mumford and Sons
Have a great day.
Best,