How to Start a Creative Business

Dream Big, Take Action, Make it Happen

Starting off as an entrepreneur, I had no clue what I was doing. All my life I knew I would be involved in the arts in some form or fashion. I was a dancer, actor, model, singer. I had done it all! I used to say out loud, “I want no parts of business, I’m all about being creative. You can leave that business stuff to boring people.” I literally thought that. I had no desire to take a business class. Any time the subject of business was mentioned in my presence, I literally cringed! But, as I grew up and my desires started to change, I realized, I can’t attempt to start a business without knowing what it takes to be a business.

Oh, but I tried. My first business failed!!! I was a freelance dance teacher and all I wanted to do was teach and dance. Keep in mind, I never thought I was a good teacher. I always had confidence in my gift of dance, but I never wanted to teach. Anything. However, for whatever reason, God gave me the opportunity to teach dance, and so I did. I planned on freelancing once I came out of the dance school I was teaching for and was offered free space in a dance studio that was absolutely amazing!!! I was able to use the space for teaching and I had a good 5-8 students every time. The downside was, they were ALL my friends. Some I didn’t make pay and others, well, they said they would pay me later. I didn’t market to anyone outside of my circle. Many people didn’t even know I was a dancer, let alone a dance teacher. That’s because I didn’t like telling people. I was too shy. I thought I would look prideful, blah blah blah. That quickly ended and my next endeavor led me to where I am now.

I had been a creative all my life and knew that I had the ability to help other creatives. My first dance class and business took place in 2009. I started having babies and dancing just wasn’t feasible for me. I began managing my husband’s career in 2010 and took on 5 other artists and thought I would be managing artists forever, although, I never thought I’d be doing that! I started planning and producing events for artists and that led me to create my first national tour. The theme of helping and managing remained. I had the opportunity and privilege of managing projects, being an A&R for my husband’s albums, doing consultations, strategic marketing and brand management for organizations and artists and now I’ve FINALLY realized where I thrive and what I’m really good at doing. I’m a Creative Consultant and Coach who has the ability to do any of the aforementioned positions. I’ve dived into the world of blogging and online marketing and I’m loving every bit of it. Working in the digital space is very different than what I’ve been doing prior to that. You have to position yourself in a very different way. It takes a lot of gall, audacity and boldness to build an online platform.

It took me 7 years. I repeat 7 years, to get to a point where I had the knowledge and, most of all, confidence to put myself out there to the world to sell services and content that I’ve created. I don't want it to take you another 7 years to get to the next phase in your business. I know it can be hard to get things going. I've been where you are. I’ve been fearful, nervous, and felt like I wasn't good enough. But today I can say that I’m done with all of that. I’ve grown to push past it and take action. When you push through, you're able to grow in that confidence and that wall of fear comes down more and more. I love people too much to hold back the knowledge I have. That knowledge may be the very thing that helps them prosper and succeed much more than I ever will. I love helping people and because of my critical and creative eye, I can push, encourage and coach anyone to their greatest potential. If you don't want to go through all of the unnecessary hardships while forming a business, then you need to be taking this course.

-Trisha Bell, Creative Consultant & Coach