How I Started Getting Paid for My Creativity

I didn’t start MJ Media with a business plan, a budget, a degree, or a safety net.

I started because I didn’t have another option.

In this first lesson of The Paid Creative, I’m breaking down exactly how I built my creative business from scratch—starting with an iPhone, a laptop, and a decision to figure it out.

From living in a motorhome and working out of Starbucks…
 to landing my first clients, building a network, and turning creativity into income.

Inside this episode, I walk you through:
 – How to start with what you already have
 – Why your network is more valuable than your gear
 – How I got my first paid opportunities (including a gig from my very first chamber event)
 – How to build a portfolio through collaboration and resourcefulness
 – What to do in slow seasons to actually move forward

This isn’t about perfection, and it’s not about going viral.

It’s about using your skills—your creativity—as an asset… and building something that supports your life.

If you’ve been waiting to feel ready, this is your sign to start.

subscribe to my email list to get on the waitlist for my new online program, The Paid Creative.

Please note that the content of this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or mental health concern.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Okay, welcome to the Paid Creative. I'm so glad that you're here. In today's lesson, I am sharing the story of how I started my creative business, MJ Media Productions, and breaking it down into a simple framework that you can repeat to actually start getting paid for your creativity because it is an asset, it is a skill. It's time to stop treating it as just a hobby. You were given these gifts and these talents and these specific interests for a reason.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

You absolutely can use those to build a business that supports your life. So let's get into it.

SPEAKER_01 0:49

Just a heads up, you may hear one of my kitty cats in the background. I have two, Marie and Nora, who, oh, right on cue, love to be involved in everything that I do. So if you hear any meows or purrs or see a little tail sticking up, that is Marie joining me today. I didn't start MJ Media from a perfect plan. I didn't start it with a fat stack of cash. And I didn't start it with business partners or a business degree. I started MJ Media because I didn't have an option. There was a moment in my life where everything just kind of cracked open, and I had to figure out how to support myself using what I already had. This was a time in my life where I was experiencing pretty significant trauma, CPTSD, and I just was not able to be in a physical location eight hours a day, Monday through Friday, pretty much like hit a rock bottom in my life and was having to start completely over. And I tell you this because if I could do it from that kind of situation, you absolutely can too. Whether you're in a similar situation or things are pretty steady, you've just been sitting on this idea, let that be a motivator. You can absolutely do this too. That's what today's lesson is about. It's about how to actually start building your creative business. Whether you're a musician or photographer, videographer, a graphic designer, a painter, someone who does pottery, any type of creative writing, you absolutely can build a business. And things do not have to be perfect. You do not have to have all the gear, all the knowledge. You can actually start and start getting paid for it now. MJ Media was an idea that I had had while I was working in an executive director position. And it just kind of came to me one day, and I started just daydreaming about it and came up with the idea.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

I actually ended up buying the domain name almost a year before I actually started my business.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

And when it did come for me to need to get going, I used what I had. I had an iPhone 14 and a MacBook Pro from 2020. And I think this was the end of 2021, like November. I would go to Starbucks because I was living in a tiny motorhome at the time. And I would go to Starbucks to use the internet and like buy a protein bar and a small coffee. And I made a Facebook post that I was offering website design and custom graphics because I was making things in Canva. I had seen, you know, I was reading some blogs and watching videos about how you can create templates either for websites or branding templates. And so I started creating these and putting them for sale on my website. And my first couple jobs, they did come in pretty quickly. My first couple jobs were like creating flyers for not a whole lot, like 25 bucks here and there to create event flyers. And I would do like a set for, you know, with different dimensions, one for prints, one like square, one for the event page cover. And just kind of just threw it out there that I was starting this and seeing what jobs came in. My big goal was I really wanted to do video when I worked in my role at the Sweet Home Chamber. I got to do a couple of really fun video projects with some really talented videographers in the area. And I was like, yeah, I this is so fun for me. It just I've always loved video. I just never knew how to use the Pro Gear. So working with these guys and watching how they did things and learning from them, like I knew that was where I wanted MJ Media Productions to go. And so I started with website design. Those projects started coming in. And every time I got a project, like that's how my business paid for itself. So after I had a couple website builds, then I was able to invest in professional gear. So I didn't take out a huge loan. I didn't get a huge line of credit. I really just did the pull up the bootstraps, right? And and worked for it. Like you have you can do that. You don't have to go into debt or like stretch yourself so thin. Start with what you have and and build, like put it back into your business as you go. Honestly, one of the first things you need to do is go get involved with your local chamber of commerce. No, nobody's paying me to say this. I am saying this because I really believe in it. Not just because I worked at one. I didn't have much chamber experience when I got my job at the chamber, but I have attended chamber networking events like prior to that and experienced early on, especially when I was running my personal training business, just the power of getting into rooms with other people who are driven and building something and may need what you're offering. And especially as a creative, because there's so many other types of business people in chambers, I feel like creatives have this reputation of just not having a business mind, but it's not that hard. And so if you show up, like I'm using the example of a musician, because there are very few musicians that actually go to chamber meetups. The first time I visited the Salem Chamber of Commerce, I booked a music gig. And that was just from like having the short window of time where everybody goes around and introduces themselves and you know, have your little elevator pitch ready. Hi, I'm Melody, the musical camera chick. I offer photo, video, web design for businesses, as well as a two-hour acoustic set that I'd love to bring to your venue. Somebody walked up and gave me their business card, Ollie's wine and whiskey bar. It's like, hey, we we are booking musicians. And so yeah, I got a paid gig just from that. I wasn't even a member. So going into those spaces and connecting with people, even if you don't land a gig on your first meeting, you're shaking hands with people who are gonna remember you. And the more you show up, the more you're top of mind. And people who go to these kinds of events are people who are goal-oriented, they're driven, they're focused, they're motivated, they're often the ones who are involved in the big community events and in projects and other volunteer organizations. And you want to get in the room with these people and and connect with them because when the opportunity comes up, if they're like, hey, we're organizing this event, we need a musician. Oh, I just met somebody at Greeters on Friday. That's what I'm saying. Like, if since a lot of creatives just don't have that business mindset, you absolutely have the upper hand. Like it really sets you apart. And that pool is yours, basically. So go and join a chamber. It is an investment. It depends on which town they all have different prices, but it is absolutely worth it. My membership covers itself and then some every single year. So go do that. And even if you can't join right away, if you have to book a couple projects before you can afford a membership, at least go. Go and check out the networking group and start shaking hands, set up coffee meetings outside and just get to know people.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

Other note on networking when you join your local chamber, sign up to host a greeters event.

SPEAKER_01 10:27

It's typically a weekly networking event in the morning for like 45 minutes to an hour, and you get like 20 minutes to give a presentation about what you do. And this is a great way to announce your business. Or if you start something new in your business, it's a great way to announce that to people in your community who know people. These are the people who are connected, these are the people who are motivated, who are community-oriented, who are involved in so many different organizations and events. These are the people you want to be giving your business information to. Facebook is great, Instagram's great, but it's not the only way, and that is not a solid marketing plan connections rule. Every time that's a great way to grow, too. You might be like, I am not speaking in front of a crowd. Well, who else is gonna if you're not going to? You need to take it seriously, you need to treat it like a business, and you need to put yourself in situations that are going to challenge you to grow and act like the serious creative business owner you are, because if you don't take yourself seriously, nobody else will. This was crucial when I started my business because I had that existing network already from being involved prior to chamber experience, but then also being in the chamber world for a couple years, I was able to reach out and be like, hey, just wanted to let you know about this new thing I'm doing. Keep me in mind. And that is what brought me my first clients. So back to how I was saying I had started with web design. My goal was video production. So I met with the video crew that I had worked with at the chamber, and they are awesome people. I'm so thankful for them. I will always be so thankful to them because I would not have the experience that I do today without them and their kindness and their generosity to like have breakfast with me and hear my goal, and then to say, well, let's build you a portfolio. Like, let's find someone who wants a free video and let's do it. And this was a project that I did not get paid for. I paid the videographer because he was essentially directing, like co-directed and doing the videography and the editing. I think he did the most work out of anybody. So I paid him for his time and I saw it as an investment. And that was money that I had made from a website build. And I didn't, I didn't get paid for it. You may have to do stuff like that to get going and get a portfolio. But instead of seeing it as just like free work or as a drain, it's an investment in your business. You need to have a portfolio. So if you don't have one already, you may need to find someone to collaborate with. And a lot of business owners love collaborations, especially if it's somebody newer who's also just starting out. You guys can co-collab, like collaborate together, and then they're reaching your audience and you're reaching their audience, and everybody wins. So even if you're not, if you don't have client work right now, make it up. Either find somebody that you can create for or with as a collaboration, or do it on your own. For me, when I started getting into product photography, I just used products that I had around the house and styled them. I got some Dollar Tree poster boards and bullprops and started shooting product photography. So that was a really easy way to number one improve my skills.

SPEAKER_00 14:59

Number two, build a portfolio.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

So I'd stuff to put on my website. So start with what you have, happen to your network, or start building a network. Honestly, one of the best ways to grow is to challenge yourself like that. Like say yes before you're ready and jump in. That's how you're gonna learn, that's how you're gonna get better, and that's how new opportunities are gonna come up. You have a young business, there's gonna be slow seasons. There's gonna be slow seasons, even when you're established, but just expect that there's gonna be lulls. And instead of being discouraged or panicking during that time, use that season to hone your skills and your knowledge. I had a slow winter a couple of years ago where there really was like nothing coming in for a few months. And I spent that time just binging YouTube tutorials on videography, photography, editing the editing software that I use, watching so many different tutorials and learning and then practicing. So making my own vlog style videos or doing product shoots at home, just using that time to practice. As a business owner, especially as a creative business owner, you think, oh, I don't have clients, I don't have to work. You should always be working. Treat it like a full-time job. Like you have different responsibilities. You're wearing all the hats. You have admin work you can be doing. You can be networking, you can be emailing people, trying to set up coffee meetings or consultations or pitching them, whatever services you're offering, and also honing your skills. There's always something you can be doing to move your business forward, even if you don't have a client job at that moment. Early on in your business, it might be a good idea to do some volunteer work, like I was saying, collaborative projects, but also volunteering at events or doing like in-kind sponsorships where you give them the value of your work and do that thing for free. Like I've done photography and videography, where it's like, okay, I'll give you a thousand dollar package and I'm doing this for free in exchange for whatever perks come with that tier of sponsorship. So you get promotion, and essentially you're like paying for advertising, but not. And that's a great way to get advertising, get your name out there, and also have content for your portfolio. So if you're a musician, you're performing for free for and make sure you have somebody out there getting clips of you so and pictures so you can share on your platforms.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

And if you're an artist, maybe donate your art.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

Or if you do pottery, donate something you made to event auctions. There's so many nonprofits in your town that do fundraising events and silent auctions, donate something that you've made and you know, have your business card there. And not only does this boost your business, but you become part of the ecosystem. You become part of the community, and that feels really good. In short, you can build a business with resourcefulness, relationships, and repetition.