Interviews Archives - Bold Red Creative

Marriage & Music with Debbie Cunningham

May 3, 2019 by Stefanie

Debbie Cunningham- Dancing in the Kitchen author — Debbie Cunningham, Wife/Mother/Jazz Recording Artist/Author

In the fall of 2017 at Jeff Goins’ Tribe Conference, I met Debbie Cunningham– a confident, talented musician and author entering the empty nest phase of life. While waiting in line for the best donuts EVER at Five Daughters Bakery, we chatted about family life and her music career. I was fascinated that this amazing woman had found creative success on her terms all while keeping her husband and children her top priority over the years. I needed to know more and peppered her with questions.

Fortunately, she has written a book to share her hard-earned wisdom on marriage and love. Debbie’s first book, Dancing in the Kitchen, releases May 7th. I’m excited that more people will be able to benefit from her insights and experience. And thanks to Debbie, for graciously answering some more questions for me to share on the blog. Check out our interview below!

Something I’m passionate about here at BRC is encouraging artists with families to find a way to pursue their creative gifts. You’ve definitely been able to do that while keeping your husband and kids your main priority. How has being a “family-first creative” impacted your music career and your family?

I actually built my Jazz career and entertainment business while raising two kids. I stayed local because that worked with my commitment to my family. Keeping the music business on a simmer while my primary job was managing our household was good for me though. It allowed me to grow slowly, learn how to run a business and try things without the constant pressure of full time work or feeling like I was missing life with my family.

Sometimes the creative life can be all encompassing from booking gigs to travel, songwriting and recording. I did it on my terms. However, when I did have concerts locally, my husband and kids were my biggest supporters. They helped sell merchandise and sometimes they joined me on stage for a song or two, especially in my annual Christmas concert. My husband and both kids can sing so when we get to perform together it’s a blast.

I love that your latest album, A Million Kisses, is all about staying in love. How has this message connected you to your audience?

My audience is primarily couples. I have been married 31 years and most of them know I not only wrote these lyrics but I’ve lived some of them too. It connects us because we are on this journey of staying in love together.

You have a book about marriage coming out soon! What’s your favorite advice offered in the book?

Cultivating deeper connection with your spouse by making FUN a priority again! When we first fall in love we get to know each other and build connection through dating. We go do fun things together, movies, concerts, sporting events etc. However, as we progress in marriage, gain greater responsibilities, stress with jobs and families, it seems fun moves to the bottom of our priority list. We need to do those things again or try something new together. Take a cooking or art class, learn a skill or go out with friends we can talk and laugh with. We can even volunteer together if it is meaningful and brings us joy. Just find something you can both enjoy together but do not discuss the issues when you go out. Fun must be for refreshment. Carve out a different time for discussing conflict but leave it out of date time.

Debbie Cunningham, Jazz Recording Artist and Author

How do you define success as an artist?

Success for me is doing what I love and having people find value in or appreciate my work. When I sing a song that resonates and touches someone emotionally that is success to me. It means I’ve communicated a message that made a difference. Ultimately, when people hear me speak or sing, I want them to have fun, be refreshed or inspired.

What strategies have you found to be the most helpful in promoting your music?

Having an email list is crucial so you have direct contact with your fans. Using social media has definitely helped get the word out too but the best way is when your fans are letting their friends know by sharing your music. Write a book or create another companion product that serves your audience. Since my book has been gaining exposure my music is too.

Why should those of us who are parents devote time to our dreams, even with all of the responsibilities and obligations we are balancing every day?

Initially, when I began cultivating my music aspirations again I felt guilty taking time away from my family or inconveniencing them. It was my husband that encouraged me. He said, “God has given you gifts and talents that he wants you to use in the world. It’s okay to cultivate them and we can support you in that.”

Honestly, it isn’t always easy balancing the family responsibilities but it is a great example to our kids to cultivate what God has given us and for them to realize the world does not revolve around them. They are a priority, yes, but you don’t stop being the person God created you to be just because you have children. It doesn’t mean you ignore your family either because God entrusted them to you too! Truly though when we use our gifts to create art, music, a product or a service that makes the world a better place, I believe it glorifies God and it also brings us joy. Who doesn’t want to invest a little time for that?

Thanks again to Debbie, for sharing her faith and wisdom! I’m happy to call her a friend and mentor. Click below to watch an inspiring 3-minute photo documentary on Debbie that her daughter, Deanna Carter, created!

Family, Vintage Jewelry & the Entrepreneurial Mindset

September 28, 2018 by Stefanie

My Vintage Chic Jewelry NaNette Bucek — My Vintage Chic Jewelry owner, NaNette Bucek, and her three children.

NaNette Bucek has worked for herself since she was a teenager. As the oldest of nearly 50 grandchildren, she was born a leader. NaNette has been an entrepreneur for several years and her latest venture is very close to her heart- My Vintage Chic Jewelry. I’m excited to share the entrepreneurial wisdom of my cousin and hope to implement some of her advice listed in our interview below. I’m so proud of her for paving her own path! Enjoy!

1. You’ve had various businesses over the years. What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to step out and pursue their own thing?

Trust your gut!! Be willing to make sacrifices. Don’t give in to the “nay-sayers”. Go after that which moves you! I’ve always measured my success by my “happiness” level. Do what you love and love what you do…the rest will follow!

2. How did you develop the confidence and mindset to be an entrepreneur?

I grew up helping out and then managing my family’s Donut & Coffee Houses in Michigan, so I was able to use training wheels before I set out on my own path of opening and running my own coffee shop at the young age of 17. My experience as a child gave me the roots to support my own creative visions. Many people told me that I would fail because I was too young, that I should just go to college or get a more secure/safe job like GM (thank God I didn’t take that advice). I think my naivety in the situation actually worked in my favor. I believed I could do it, KNEW it would be a success or lead me to the next thing…

For example, I disliked the old standard of “smoking goes hand in hand with drinking coffee”. Note: this was in 1990, so people smoked freely everywhere- even in hospitals and planes!
I couldn’t stand how the passive smoke made me feel. It also ruined the deliciousness of the sweet smell of donuts and brewing coffee in the air. So I made the decision to make my shop “Non-smoking”. MANY said this would absolutely be our downfall!! We did it anyway and ended up being THE very first “non-smoking” restaurant establishment in all of Genesee County. We made the cover of the Flint Journal!

Why is this important??

“Trusting my gut” and “not listening to nay-sayers” on this one big & very different idea actually ended up being a HUGE part of our success. And it paved the way for other business to try and do the same. It also gave me the confidence I needed to try other ground-breaking and different ideas both in my coffee shop and in future endeavors.

3. What have you learned about balancing career and family? Any advice?

I always knew that, most of all, I wanted to be a mother- to both have a family and the ability to provide for them without having to be away from home. As moms know, it takes some flexibility and sacrifices to be a stay-at-home parent. Knowing my first priority was to my children, I have always tried to carve out a life that I hoped would support my ability to be home with my children and still make an income. My children are my “why” and why I have always choose the life of an entrepreneur.

4. I love the story behind how My Vintage Chic Jewelry started. Can you share it and also share your favorite story about the history of one of your pieces?

MVCJ was born out of another business venture that most people now know as the 2008 Gold Rush- when gold climbed to a record of 1000 per ounce. Millions of people flocked to sell their jewelry, coins and more! I purchased thousands of pounds of unwanted gold and silver from many, many people around the country. Fun fact: I personally designed and built THE very first “We buy gold” website on the internet. I also hosted some of the very first “gold parties” at hundreds of homes and businesses. In doing so, I got an up-close view of some of the most beautiful jewelry. But I was sad to see all the memories, history and gift-giving just cast aside.

Most of what we purchased in the early days went to a precious metal refinery. It was to be melted and made into gold & silver bars and coins. In my several years as a purchaser, I ran across some timeless and irreplaceable vintage pieces that I just couldn’t bare to see destroyed or thrown away. Not all were gold, yet most were still artfully made with skill and pride.

I see jewelry as a history book of sorts. It represents an expression of whom we loved, where we have come from and to some extent where we are going. From the indulgent eras through the recessions, jewelry styles have adapted and changed as people’s incomes and lifestyles have changed. I have heard so many stories and listened to countless people agonizing over selling items of special meaning for cold hard cash. Not because they were heartless, but because they needed to pay a debt or get rid of a memory so they could move on from it (e.g., wedding bands and engagement rings).

I became a collector of memories and items I found beautiful. Before I knew it, the gold rush had ended and I had boxes of jewelry that I rescued and kept for wearing. After moving to Nashville with my then 13-year-old daughter, I, once again, needed a way to help support us and be a stay-at-home parent. As I was unpacking, I started going through my stashes of jewelry; smiling and crying remembering some of the stories behind the pieces. It all felt a bit overwhelming but I had enough “inventory,” and certainly the passion and know-how to start another business.

That day, I came up with the idea and name, “My Vintage Chic Jewelry”. I was working part-time at a family business and staying home selling pieces from my i Mac. It just worked! I did that successfully for about a year. Then I met the man of my dreams, got married, had a baby and was fortunate enough to solely be a homemaker. Fast forward 4 years and my littlest has started pre-k full-time and I have kicked the re-start button on MVCJ. And I’m enjoying every minute of it. I’m so excited to report that we just hit 50 sales on Etsy!!

One particular story that stands out involves a gentleman who inquired about selling some vintage costume jewelry. He had lovingly placed each piece into separate storage bags marked, “Momma” or “Grandmother”. I carefully began opening and inspecting them one by one. His eyes drifted off and I caught a tear roll down his cheek. I asked him if he was sure he was ready to part with them and he said, “Well not really, but I wasn’t ready to let go of Momma either but off she went. She caught the cancer”. He then pointed at the brooch I was holding in my hand and said, “She wore that one to church almost every Sunday. She had fancier ones in there (pointing to the bag) that she wore on special holidays like Easter and Christmas”. This particular brooch was a beautiful painted clay floral arrangement in a basket with a heart on the bow. He said his Daddy had given it to her on the day he was born. (Bleeding hearts unite!)

I admired it a long while, then carefully set it aside, knowing all the money in the world would not match his sentiment. Piece by piece the sweet stories kept coming. I told him, “I have so enjoyed meeting you and hearing all your lovely stories. I could pay you all the money I have to spend in the world and it just wouldn’t be enough. I cannot possible put a value on memories like this. I think maybe you should just hold onto them?” He said, “Little darling, in that case, you do me the honor and just take them. I have greatly enjoyed speaking with you and sharing these memories with you. As a matter of fact, I should be the one paying you! He patted me on the shoulder as he walked away he said, “I know you will find loving new homes for them all. And that brings peace to my heart”.

I have yet to bring myself to list or sell one piece. But I will never forget that day and the life stories he told as long as I live.

5. Any tips for selling online? What have you found to be most effective and helpful?

It’s a numbers game and the internet is vast and ever-changing. With other commitments and a demanding little guy at my heels, I let the size of the task distract and detour me for a couple months. It all made my then-hobby feel like it needed to be more of a business. I wasn’t quite prepared for putting in “all the work” then. But I pecked away at it a little at a time as I could. Educating myself more on my niche and on all the changes of the Etsy Marketplace. I also explored other avenues such as EBay, FaceBook Marketplace and more.

Etsy is my chosen marketplace because of my niche. It is a specialty market for makers and vintage business. Thus my inventory shines brighter and fits perfectly in a store front with them.
After deciding to “go for the gold” and get busy, consistency ended up being key for me. Just getting up every day and doing something to educate myself in both my niche and the marketplace of Etsy. I paid attention to what other successful sellers were doing, duplicated it and made slight changes- putting my own personal stamp on everything. I’m now on a pretty regular schedule of cataloging, capturing nice pictures and writing thoughtful, accurate descriptions of my products. I have a long way to go to take it from being a hobby to a full-blown business but I’d actually prefer to just float somewhere in between.

***

Thanks, Nan, for taking the time to take us on a mini journey of your path to entrepreneurship!

Follow My Vintage Chic Jewelry on Instagram at @myvintagechicjewelry to view these photos in color! And be sure to browse NaNette’s amazing jewelry collection at her Etsy shop.

Songwriter Micah McCasland Embraces the Mess

August 17, 2018 by Stefanie

We all crave authenticity and real connection with others, but many any of us have this one thing we’d rather not share, and often spend a lot of energy hiding it. It can even paralyze us from taking action.

What if we embraced it and allowed it to be the very thing that lets us to be our true selves AND connect to people on a deeper level? This is not an easy journey, but one that is worthwhile and can transform into a life of meaning and purpose.

Meet Micah McCasland: An artist who has gone down this very road. She graciously shares her wisdom and vulnerability in our interview below. I have enjoyed getting to know her since we met at a Music Biz Besties meet-up in Nashville last summer and I know you’ll relate to her experience!

1. You’ve released 22 songs so far in 2018. Wow! Your goal is to release a song a week for a year. Why did you decide to do this and what have you learned from the experience so far?

My short answer for this has always been “to make up for lost time” 🙂 But really, it all kind of just fell into place.

I was at a major crossroads/unraveling in my life where I was finally starting to deal with my “stuff” and trying to accept who I am as a person. I was in a situation that I hadn’t planned on and feeling down, so I decided that I would be proactive for my mental health and make it a goal to show up everyday- however that looked. To show up to write, every day. And songs just started flowing, and I felt more and more free.

My goal was to write a bad song, which I had always been so scared to do, and then all of the sudden, when my goal was to write bad songs, the songs started getting better and flowing more easily. It became easier to write than not write, because I was finally accepting myself and not trying to hide. I released my expectations of who I “should be”.

And I will say, wrestling with my expectations I had for myself was tough. It was way harder than I would have imagined, because expectations for yourself and your life run DEEP. They essentially become a part of you, so in that process, it felt like I was losing a part of me. And there’s loss and grief. But in that grief, you are able to re-build and create authentically in the way you were always meant to. And that’s what I experienced with this year- Grief made beautiful.

2. The first song you released this year was, “Wolf,” which you wrote after a “giant realization.” Can you discuss that and how your perspective has changed since then?

Yes! The song “Wolf” is so special to me, and really symbolizes and sums up the message of the year of songs! Which is, to me, “Be real and show up for yourself- just for you”. As a person with a visual impairment, it is easy for me to feel alone, it is easy for me to feel isolated because most people in my day-to-day life don’t struggle in the same way, or understand it. But this obviously isn’t limited to a disability. As a human, it is easy to feel incredibly alone no matter the situation.

Be real and show up for yourself- just for you.

But on this particular day, I was really struggling with feeling isolated and like I can’t connect with others. Feeling like I can’t really trust anyone and I’ve never been truly “known” by many people. In the middle of feeling sorry for myself it just hit me, “You can’t trust anyone because you don’t trust yourself. You can’t trust someone else to have your back, because you’ve never had your own back.”

It was never about other people, or my circumstance or disability, it was always me. And in that moment, in that song, I took back so much ownership. I was able to let go more of the things I can’t control, and feel empowered by the things I can. I might not be able to see well, and I might not be understood by everyone, or anyone, but I can understand myself! And I can be there for myself. I can be a safe place for myself. And it’s funny how when you start to be that for yourself, your capacity to love and connect with others multiplies and your relationships get so much sweeter.

3. How has having a visual impairment impacted you as an artist and how have people responded to your openness about it?

It’s funny that you ask that, because for years I was not very open about it, so this is actually all very new for me. It’s not that I ever kept my visual impairment a secret, but I think I somehow viewed it as a weakness to “grow past”.

My life became trying to prove that I was just like everyone else. But that’s like trying to be taller… you can try all day long to change it, but its just not going to happen. I finally realized that my opinions about the situation don’t really matter. It doesn’t change the reality of my story that I am a visually impaired adult and my life is going to look different because of that, and that’s okay.

I spent years trying to run from that story or change it, and that took up all of my energy. For years I just didn’t have the energy to create, because it wasn’t coming out of my authentic self. I spent years hiding who I am, spent years denying my story, spent years terrified of vulnerability… and I guess this year was just a “go big or go home” kind of a thing. I had spent so long hiding, I was just really ready to “put it all out there” and see what happens. To actually show up for once.

For years I just didn’t have the energy to create, because it wasn’t coming out of my authentic self.

And I have to say, people’s response to my visual impairment has been so encouraging. Through the year of songs, and just in everyday life. It’s funny that I always thought it would be a thing that would separate me from others, so I hid it. But it has turned into one of my biggest connectors with other people. And while I don’t like asking for help all of the time, and while it isn’t always fun being different, I feel so lucky that I get to experience the kindness of others in a unique way that sighted people don’t get to experience. Soooo, so far so good!!! 😉

4. I know you’re a big fan of Brené Brown. How has she influenced your approach to creativity?

Brené Brown’s books have influenced my approach to creativity in so many ways! But they have mainly helped me as a person, in general. She talks about the importance of accepting your story, self-love, vulnerability, courage, and how to “get back up” with authenticity and grace.

Brené’s work helped me to find the courage to be me- to accept who I am, and love myself. To walk into those uncomfortable places, without it shaking me as a person. And even more importantly, to recognize that what I had labeled as weakness in myself, was actually where I was most strong. And I think the creative aspect was just an overflow of that self-love and acceptance.

I don’t think you can be truly authentic and not create. I think it is impossible. We are made to create! Click & Tweet! And when you start living life loved, you can’t help but explore that. It just overflows!

5. What advice do you have for artists who are struggling to be vulnerable regarding an obstacle or experience that is a significant part of who they are?

Just dive in. Dive in, and let yourself feel whatever you’re feeling. Let yourself feel overwhelmed, or lonely, or angry, or whatever it is and fully be there. Make art out of those places, and watch how those difficult things turn into something so incredible.

The creative process is all about freely throwing our “mess” into the universe, trusting that it will come back as something beautiful. It is truly magic. Click & Tweet! Expect the hard things, but also expect an insane level of joy that you have never known. Create in your mess and do it for you.

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Thanks for sharing your insight and wisdom, Micah! I know that I’m inspired by your words! Follow Micah on Instagram at @micahmccasland to keep up with her journey and songs!

Bold Red in Film and Life: An Interview with Apolonia Davalos

September 1, 2017 by Stefanie

It’s rare to meet people who leave such a memorable impression on you, but Apolonia Davalos is one of those special individuals. A talented actor/director/producer/singer in Nashville, Apolonia is known for her vibrant personality and generosity. Whether she’s sharing her joy-filled signature laugh or passing out holiday treats to her music industry co-workers, anyone who comes into contact with Apolonia can’t help but leave the encounter with a smile on their face.

So, I was curious to find out what drives this lady of many creative gifts and decided to ask for her thoughts on a few things. And I’m definitely feeling the love with this interview. Not only did she take the time to answer my questions, Apolonia went all out and did a #BeBoldRed-themed photo shoot, as well!

You have such a confident personality and positive energy that seems to be recognized by
anyone who comes in contact with you. What or who inspires and motivates you daily?

My Amazonian warrior Mother inspires and motivates me on a minute-by-minute, by-the-hour, daily basis! As my loving and forgiving guardian since conception, she is my counsel (in all matters of spirit, life, faith, and business), my compass, my confidant, my angel, my heroine, and my biggest genuine supporter and encourager of all my aspirations. As a child, way before I knew I wanted to be an artist, I knew I wanted to be a woman just like her. Walk in her shoes so to speak! And, as a child, I did. (Laughs)

Dr. Roxanna Stuart (NYC acting coach), coaching me through a Richard II piece by Shakespeare, often reflected that an actor isn’t fully immersed in character until he or she walks in the character’s shoes. A physical and psychological transformation takes place. From how you walk, to how you carry yourself (posture), how you speak, and how you respond to all the relationships around you. I embraced this technique of Roxanna’s. You can say, the first role I ever portrayed, as a child, was embodying the classy, courageous, fearless, faithful, selfless, and wise woman that is Sandra Davalos, my Mother (U.S. Air Force Veteran). A living example of virtue, grace, and charity. On top of it all, no matter what life unleashes, she still laughs with her whole heart, body, and soul. An echo of the joyful glory God wishes for all his children. I am blessed to have inherited the Davalos-laugh that I, myself, am recognized for (which is often mistaken for a lion’s roar)! (Laughs)

Secondly, but first in my life, is my relationship with Jesus, His mother Mary, and Almighty God, the Father! My Mother gave me the greatest gift of all – FAITH! The reward of tomorrow is not a promise. Any moment could be my last. Every morning, when my alarm screams at me to rise, my very first thought and prayer is, “Thank you, Lord, for another day!” I practice seeing God in all people and in all things (an Ignatian Spirituality tradition that I fully embrace). So, I am literally at my happiest and fully present from moment to moment.

How do you make sure your vibrant “brand” translates to social media and your blog?

I value your time way too much to waste it!

I approach everything that I partake in as a partnership and collaboration. Whether it is a person, company, event, film, play, magazine/newspaper/blog, photography, etc. (the possibilities are endless), I am actively of service to the mission and message being pondered and expressed. My role and responsibility extend beyond the page or the screen. I am YOUR ambassador and supporter of the dream that has been brought to fruition. When I engage in projects, I’m all in for the long hall, not just for a day! On that note, I’m excited to be your new #BeBoldRed ambassador Stefanie! (laughs)

Year after year, I am a lot more aware, selective, and purposeful with all of my creative endeavors. This is extremely important because this is how I manage and maintain my “vibrant brand”! My choices are in line with my ultimate goal which is to positively inspire my family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and audiences, to become the best version of themselves by living an authentic life. How do I do that? By loving my neighbor as I love myself. Simple, right? (Laughs) I believe this is the reason I receive such a positive response with all my content.

I must confess, this has been a much-learned lesson! At the beginning of my career, I was so excited and eager to just create, create, create, and live my dreams, that I did not give deeper discernment to the art that I had been cast to portray and what that would mean for me. An offer may be an opportunity or a distraction. Sometimes a “no” is a better “yes” for choices that impact our lives!

What advice do you have for building relationships and collaborating with other creative professionals online and off?

My biggest advice is to deliver 100% every time!

As a producer, I love connecting people and being instrumental in encouraging their talents and goals to blossom!

Further, in your correspondence, I advise to always communicate with sincere purpose, grace, gratitude, and professionalism. Clear, concise, and informative communication sustains and nourishes long-lasting relationships. It also plants the seeds for positive collaborative creations that bear fruit for your labor!

How do you juggle and prioritize the various projects and opportunities that you’re involved in?

When good things happen, they tend to happen all at once. Am I right? (Laughs)

I, honestly, give it all to God. I map out all my commitments on my master calendar and then have a little conversation with the Man upstairs. It goes a little something like this, “Lord, if this is all Your Will, bless it and make it work!” (Laughs)

Time is tight and when it comes to juggling multiple projects at one time, it is easy to get stressed. Stress eliminates joy. When there is no joy in what you are pursuing (that is ideally your dream), then what is the point?

I also have my secret weapon for additional wisdom and support – my Mother! (Laughs) “Thanks Mom!”

Why do you feel called to pursue a career in film and the arts? (So many talents, so little time, right?!)

My Mother persevered and succeeded all expectations in her role as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force. To add three more layers to her priorities, she was a single mother to three girls! She had enough on her plate to keep her up at night. After prayer, the only remedy to turn off her constantly calculating brain long enough to get an ounce of rest, was a good comedy or action movie or television show!

When I witnessed the levity and peace that uplifting entertainment provided, I immediately desired to be an effective part of something that offered such inspiration to people’s hearts and minds! Something bigger than myself that touched a lot of lives all at once. I viewed this awakening as a sense of purpose. My personal call to the service of others.

Providing the content of what a mass of viewers watch is a huge responsibility. For some, it may be the only education a person may experience. Especially, when a filmmaker provides a story and a world other than your own in an effort, I would hope, to further the betterment of our thoughts, actions, and relationships with one another. To show, unique to the art of film as a universal language, that a person is never alone in their struggles and/or victories. That hope is powerful and good always wins in the end. A happy conclusion, despite all odds, is my favorite tradition and essence of American cinema!

I see my career in film and the performing arts as a sense of service to the world. For me, personally, it is a “death-to-self” to be of such service, because at the end of the day, it is about creating a meaningful experience that transcends the proverbial lines that have been drawn in the sand.

Thank you, Apolonia, for your thoughtful answers. I know that I’ve definitely been inspired by them.

To keep up with Apolonia, follow her on Instagram or Twitter.

Patronage, Culture & the Arts [Q&A with Love Good]

June 30, 2017 by Stefanie

patronage photo via unsplash

I first discovered Love Good when it was known as Love Good Music a couple years ago. I was doing some research online and was happy to have found a company that was endorsing patronage for talented artists. Love Good continues to evolve their movement beyond promoting artists and distributing music into empowering all artists through apprenticeships and other opportunities.

Since crowdfunding continues to grow in popularity and become part of the new normal for musicians to fund their projects, I decided to ask David Lee, the Operations Director at Love Good, a few questions about the importance of supporting artists financially and how to go about getting the support of patrons.

1. Love Good’s vision is: “To bring beauty back into the forefront of culture.” What would you say classifies a piece of art or music as beautiful?

All beauty has it’s origin in the glory of God. As Aquinas notes, this beauty is present first and foremost in the relationship among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Any piece of art or music that evokes a sense of wonder or raises one’s mind to reflect on the self-less love present within the Trinity, I would classify as beautiful. The arts have a unique ability to direct one’s thoughts from a self-oriented gaze to a self-giving one.

2. With online crowdfunding sites becoming more popular over the last few years, it seems that the average person is becoming more comfortable with donating to creative and inventive efforts. How important is patronage to the success of good art?

Patronage has always been integral to the creation of art. Artists that will have an impact on our society for the rest of its existence- Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rembrandt- the list goes on, were constantly being commissioned to create art. Patronage give artists the freedom to concentrate on their creative efforts while also affirming the artist that the fruits of their labor are meaningful and worthwhile.

3. What advice do you have for a talented creative who is looking for patrons so that he or she can devote more time to pursue their craft?

Patrons desire personal connections with the artists they support. Patrons are much more willing to support someone whom they connect with on a human level. The more an artist can do to cultivate personal connections (house concerts, art shows, etc.) the more success they will have in garnering patrons. Even meeting individually with patrons who support you can be a great way to empower patrons to invite other people join in on your initiatives.

4. How should an artist “market” themselves and share their message to get the support of interested patrons?

The greater the sense of vision and purpose behind your work, the more compelling and enticing your work will be to potential patrons. Whatever you can do to express this vision clearly and succinctly through videos, social media, live events will help patrons to coalesce around your work. It will help the patrons believe in the necessity of your work.

5. In what ways do you see crowdfunding and patronage evolving over the next few years?

I believe that rapid expansion of crowdfunding that we have seen over the recent years will continue to increase. Beyond the normal startups, corporate companies are tapping into crowdfunding sources more and more. What has been unique about the Love Good model has been that patrons have not just been buying into a product, but more importantly a movement based on the belief that their patronage has the opportunity to evangelize the culture at large through the arts that they help bring into existence. Anyone who might have an interest in supporting Love Good projects with this vision can find out more information at lovegoodculture.com/patron.

Thanks again, David, for sharing your insights and Love Good’s mission with us. I’m excited to see how the movement continues to grow and expand!

For more about the importance of patrons, check out Jeff Goins’ blog post: Why the World Needs More Patrons Than You May Realize.