Entrepreneurship

The school I go to is a little different from that of other art schools. We’re currently being taught on how to make a sustainable living as an artist by also being an entrepreneur; our own business if you will. We learn this so that in between commercial or otherwise acting jobs we can still make a living, and still work on our craft. I’m so glad we’re learning this because I feel there should be another path to a successful living as an artist, than that of moving to Los Angeles where you are competing with thousands of other people that feel there are prettier and more qualified than you.

Both my husband and my father are entrepreneurs. My father founded his own production company, Jet City Films, where he has written/directed/produced and/or acted in four productions, and currently working on even more. My husband created Binärpilot, his music endeavor, and just released his first physical full length album solely on donations and the ability to market himself. He more than anyone has taught me to do just that. (Hell, he even designed this website)

Earlier this week I was showing someone (a fellow actor) around my site and they said “I don’t feel comfortable making a site with [pictures of me and my name]… I think it comes off as conceited”. In which my response was in complete disagreement. I feel that this site is just a place where casting agents, directors, other actors, or people who have seen me preform and want to know more about me can come and have it all in one place. I have my entire resumé here which includes pictures and video from productions; the only really personal outlet I have on this site is my biography and my blog, in which I mostly discuss school, my personal projects, and my day-to-day life because before I’m an actor, I’m a family member living overseas and I want my family and friends to be able to see what I’m doing while I’m here. I don’t feel like I’m narcissistic in doing so. I feel like this is helping and will continue to help myself further my career and may even help fund projects I’m working on, which leads me to this…

I’m currently holding two fundraisers, one personal endeavor, and the other both personal and school-related. The first is to arrange a Binärpilot show in my hometown, a long time dream of mine. Because of the limited time we’re there, I have had to create this myself after speaking with many other venues fell through because of scheduling conflicts, or simply a lack of communication. So now I’ve made a Facebook event where people can RSVP, a poll to see if people would buy merchandise, and a fundraiser to cover costs before ticket sales. I have been in contact now with independent venues to rent, and I am completely in charge of this whole project, with help from my friend back home, Alexander Kramer. I’m confident I’ll be able to pull this off successfully, and when I look back I can say “I did this on my own” and feel good about that; perhaps I’ll even make a profit! :)

The other fundraiser I have going is for productions costs for a Nordland music video that myself and two girls from my school are producing. Other classmates and teachers will be involved. This is a project for (drumroll please) my Entrepreneurship class! We are to choose a project to introduce to our class and complete it by the end of the year. I am going to be directing and producing, Karin is costume designing and assistant directing, and Lindy is in charge of casting, and will aslo be assistant directing. I start storyboarding this week!

You can donate to one or both of these fundraisers via paypal (donations@rachaelivy.com) I’m currently working out “rewards” for donors, so you can email me with suggestions on that too! contact@rachaelivy.com is again up-and-running.

As you can see I’m learning a lot about entrepreneurship, funds and marketing yourself. I urge you not to think it’s “narcissistic” or “conceited”, in fact, I urge for you to do the same thing. If you aren’t going to market yourself, who will?

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