I’ve created a list. I’ve checked it twice, no…three times, four now. Ope, forgot about that, let me add that to the bottom. There we go. All set. Wait, another email from them?? Okay, gotta add another line item…there we go. All set. Hold on, let me answer this call, just a second…..
……
……
Thanks for waiting. Let me just mark my calendar, one sec. Done and done. Holy shit, I forgot about that video call at 11:00am today. Gotta find a shirt. Does this say too corporate business guy? Or more…cool artist vibe? How am I representing myself today? For the future? Why do they keep texting me, don’t they know I have a list thirty three lines deep?
…….
Coffee.
…….
Back to work. Work. Woooooork. What am I doing? Is this what I want to be doing? Well you have to pay the bills so that you can get that pizza. And rent. Gotta pay rent. And the coffee budget has increased steadily. Listen, you’re good, just handle this, and then you can get on to “YOUR STUFF”. Maybe, after you edit those notes the client just sent. You got this.
Wait, what am I doing now?
For those wondering where I’ve been, why you haven’t seen a “5 Cool Things” or a Wordplay, or a new ArtWalk Podcast episode recently, I’m here to give you an update. For those that never even noticed….no worries, all good, I get it. You have “stuff” too.
But for those that are truly curious feel free to read on….
I haven’t gone anywhere, and this newsletter will continue. I’m just not sure how it may change in the future. But there will be some changes. I have truly enjoyed creating “5 Cool Things” weekly, and then bi-weekly. But it has become too much for me and the allotment of time that I currently have. Perhaps I will throw one up on occasion, monthly, or bi-monthly, or even quarterly. I just don’t know at this point.
I do want to get back to why I initially started this substack in the first place. To hone my skills as a writer, and to share my love for the creative arts. Again, I have not quite figured out what that may be at this point….since my free time has been scarce for the last six months or so. Below, may be some reasons as to why I have not kept up with the amount of creation on here as I’d like:
Running my business as a solo operator (meaning I handle communication, sales, marketing, accounting, scheduling, and the actual performance of pretty much all of the tasks required by the client). I run a production company called Steel Valley Productions - and the workload brought on by this career choice has been absolutely insane here in 2022. A very good thing, but also a limiting factor in my available time.
Finishing an independent feature film called MID WEST ( ← click for trailer) - I am currently submitting the movie to film festivals around the world. This will be a year long endeavor, and then some.
Prepping for a feature film that I will be acting/assoc producing here in October.
Auditions for commercial/tv/film that my agents send in weekly.
Business re-branding/marketing/future building. Future building? Sure, that works.
Side project mini-documentary for a local pizza shop.
My friends & family
Me.
Unfortunately, the ArtWalk Newsletter has to finish this current list at #9. Most of us creative artists have to make choices on where we put our energy. We have to pay bills, just like everyone else. There is more of a grind to that way of life for most of us artists. The chaos of jobs and money, or lack thereof jobs and money. And it can sap the creative juice from us in an instant. Drained whole.
My goal here is not to create a pity party for me, but to touch base with those that have supported me on this platform. I haven’t left you, just taken some needed time away. But I’ll be back. Back with more Podcasts, more Wordplays, and whatever else this Substack may become.
Thank you for your patience, if you care enough. Much love, and keep making!
- Aaron
If you would like to support this newsletter, please consider becoming a paid subscriber (donation based). Thank you for reading. Peace. -AA