Probably the question I hear the most by either clients in for a
consult, aspiring artists and songwriters, as well as people I meet
just in passing:

"Can I make a living using my artistic talents for the Lord?"

The simple answer is: "Why yes."

But as you can probably imagine, it's not as easy as a yes or no answer.

As is the case with most artistically working folks I know here in
Nashville (and across the nation), they didn't just wake up one day
earning a salary doing what they love. They probably worked on the
side playing, producing, writing, painting, drawing, etc before one
day they saw the opportunity to leave the "real world" and make
creative work their ONLY work.

Because despite what you hear or think, there are no real overnight
successes. Any one you feel has had overnight success probably has
been working for years to make that success happen.

The folks I know (myself included, at least I think I know myself...)
all took a leap of faith and hung out a shingle. Sure, we've all
probably done this creative stuff all our life, but then so have you.

If you're like me, you probably started doing this early on. People
just knew you as a singer, songwriter, or other artistic genius. Then
when college came along it was 'join the real world or perish'. There
was no "Christian Music Artist", or "Worship Director" degree, or at
least not one that made as much sense to your parents as a good old
traditional Business degree.

Nowadays, when parents come to me with a talented teen that they are
trying to lead into a music career, and ask if they should major in
music I scream with all my heart "YEESSS!" Why? Because I know first
hand (and maybe you do too) how trying to 'fit in' to our culture can
really squash your potential to do creative things (especially for a
living).

We're conditioned to think that all you can do with a music degree is
teach. But it's just not true.

I majored in Communications. Quit college about 15 credits shy of a
degree, because I got offered a job (not in music). But I was in my
20s and ready to make some income. And before I knew it I was knee
deep in a corporate career. I did get to do some cool stuff creatively
on the multimedia business side so it sometimes satisfied my creative
urges. But it still wasn't writing, arranging, and producing music ALL
DAY.

I called it being "safely tucked away" by forces that would rather not
see me on the frontlines of leading creative Christian folks do great
things (where I like to think I am now). But the time came when that
came tumultuously to an end. And God kind of threw me out there and I
was forced to build Creative Soul into my family's support system.

After much gnashing of teeth and renting of clothes (that means we
tore them, not leased them), what I should have been doing all along
finally made financial sense (and somedays it even makes sense to my
wife!)

So, how do YOU get from where you are to where you want to be?

First, I caution everyone from assuming because you can do something
creative, that your current job stinks and has to go. I think day jobs
and dream jobs can coexist peacefully and sometimes work very well
together.

A good example of this is when I worked for a small church before
coming to Nashville. I was music director there and worked the
services plus built the worship teams. I received a small salary from
the church, but also worked as a producer full-time. They complemented
each other very nicely, and the consistent church income nicely
balanced the uncertain income of independent production work.

Or say you're an artist and you have a 9-5 weekday job that suits you.
It's a good consistent living and you don't hate it. This gives you a
perfect opportunity to do your creative ministry on the side. If
you're a Christian music artist, your main day to work is Sunday
anyway! And, it keeps the financial burden off your creative ministry.

But let's say, you're real dream is to work for yourself. I have to
say, besides God and my wife, I'm really my own boss. I make my own
week's schedule and pretty much decide when I do what, and IF I do
something at all. It's wonderful, it's freeing, and it can be as scary
as a zombie movie!

You know the one where suddenly the world has gone crazy and everyone
has become the living dead, leaving you and your family to fend them
off alone in the safe confines of your home?

OK, maybe it's not THAT bad. But it is a scary thing. I call it "Night
of the Living Your Dream".

You never know when a client may cancel, a job may fall through, or
something might happen that you don't have insurance for, because
there's no free benefits package baby!

As a matter of fact, be sure to get inside the head of that
self-employed friend of yours and learn about all the extreme
negatives that normal employed folks don't have to live with.

And it's even scarier with a family (especially if your spouse doesn't
work). Your dream job can become a nightmare real fast when there's
only Ramen noodles and that jello flavor everyone hates in the pantry.

But, this all goes back to your calling. You know God has called you
and bestowed talents on you to use for Him. That sometimes has been
our saving grace and the one thing my wife and I could keep hold of
these past 7-8 years. There is no doubt I am living the life He
designed for me. Even all the hard parts and side roads leading here,
designed me for this.

So (you ask again impatiently), what do I do? Goodie for you, but what
about ME???!!

First, put a plan together.

If you know what you want to do all day, write it down. Start with a
mission statement, and then develop it into a business plan. For the
mission statement, I suggest "The Path" by Laurie Beth Jones. For the
business plan just search online and you'll find one.

Whether you decide to start part-time (like I did) and develop it into
a business you can jump (or fall) into, OR you start a small business
and get this thing started in style with capital, the business plan
will help, and make whoever you are asking for help feel you have
planned accordingly.

Second, be amazing.

Find amazing folks to work with and for you. No matter how awesome you
are, it takes other awesome people to work with, to have the kind of
excellence it takes to make a mark on this world.

I moved my family to Nashville because I knew the only way my
particular business would truly be amazing was to be entirely
excellent. Not just good enough. But using the BEST folks for every job.

Third, be bold.

Choose to not falter. Choose to not be afraid. Choose to win. If you
do this, many will make fun of you, ridicule you, and doubt you.
Mainly they do this because they are too chicken themselves to get out
and do something like this.

Fourth, never give up.

Ever. THIS is what you do. THIS is who you are.

Yes, if you work hard enough and your artistic product is good enough,
and your attitude is right, then this is what you will do with the
REST of your life. If that's true, there is no surrender. There's
can't be!

OK, I tire of this cheerleading. Think about all this. Read it again.

But if you truly want to make a living with this creative talent you
have, YOU have to choose it, and go after it.

It won't just happen overnight. And it won't happen magically just
because it is "the Lord's work".

Just watch out for the zombies.

Have a great week.

EC
-----
Eric Copeland make$ hi$ living producing Christian artist$, growing
Christian writer$, and generally typing annoying blog$ with silly
dollar $igns in them just to drive you crazy. If you have questions,
answer, or any other thoughts about this topic, he'd love to hear them
and read them in the new For the Creative Soul Podcast.

New Site and New Podcast are UP!

The new web site is up and (somewhat) filled out. You can now read the
blog, get the podcast, and go deeper into more study and links on each
week's topic.

You can find the site at http://www.forthecreativesoul.com

Also on the site, you can download our NEW podcast that goes along
with our topic.

Please visit and drop us a line! We'd like to take your questions
about your creative struggles, ministry, and dreams, then answer them
in our Podcast each week!

Creative Soul's Eric Copeland Speaking at the CIA Summit

Eric will be speaking on "Excellence for the Creative Soul" at the CIA
Summit, sponsored by IndieHeaven, on March 28/29, 2008 in Franklin, TN.

"The CIA Summit has become known as one of the most effective
conferences for independent Christian musicians, bands, soloists,
writers, and anyone who has a mission to reach the world with their
music and message! If you are serious about reaching people with your
music and mission, this is the conference for you!"

Check it out and register now at http://www.ciasummit.com