The Breakthrough Creative

I break down the 5 Pricing Structures I use in my business: 1. Hourly 2. Project Based 3. Value Based 4. Licensing 5. Retainer If you would like a copy of my list and the pros and cons for each Pricing Structure please email me at john@thebreakthroughcreative.com and I will send it to you directly. Please subscribe to this channel and share with the artists in your life! Have a great day!

PART 2! In part 2, Wayne shares about revenue streams, day rates, managing revisions, his approach to editing and the importance of relationships in the business. Wayne Kumingo has edited many styles and genres of television, film, and video projects over his 25+ year career including 19 seasons of the long-running Chicago restaurant review show 'Check Please!' for which he earned an Emmy award, t...

Wayne Kumingo has edited many styles and genres of television, film, and video projects over his 25+ year career including 19 seasons of the long-running Chicago restaurant review show 'Check Please!' for which he earned an Emmy award, the national travel series 'Islands Without Cars' currently in production on its third season, and the feature film 'Rain Beau's End' guest starring Ed Asner and Se...

David Tuber works in the animation film and television industry. His credits include Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, Mary Shelley's Frankenhole, The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie and Angry Birds to name an impressive few. David has worked as a puppet fabricator, character designer, graphic artist, writer, director, and storyboard artist. We chat about his journey from Chicago to LA and into the ent...

The MURAL Episode is a detailed breakdown of the creative and business process of a mural I was commissioned to design and paint for the Downers Grove Public Library in 2017. It was a huge creative undertaking and I enjoyed the challenge. WARNING - Due to the visuals I refer to this episode plays better on my YouTube Channel , so you won't hurt my feelings if you head over there now.

Vanessa E is a Singer, Songwriter and online Vocal Coach at 'You Can Sing 2'. (She is also like a sister to me) Vanessa shares her early career as a 'big-hair' band, heavy-metal guitarist (she can really shred!), her step into the spotlight as a singer/songwriter for her own band and how she has found great satisfaction helping performers through her vocal coaching business. You can find Vanessa a...

Your expectations of your art and career need to be disciplined and realistic! Otherwise you can end up stuck, wasting time and making little to no progress. How hard are we supposed to be on ourselves? Too hard and we burn our or worse. Too easy and we get nowhere or worse. This episode tackles this OFTEN INVISIBLE issue and offers some thoughts on how to find the proper middle ground that makes...

How I got responses from Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney and Universal with my (and my partner's) Cartoon Property - Zombie Todd! Years ago, my friend, Paul Van Dorn, and I created, wrote and illustrated an animated concept series for television. I share the journey from concept to sitting down with a producer/director at Universal Studios in L.A.. The biggest takeaway in this episode is our...

Keith Gordon is the co-founder and story architect at Duo Storytelling. After years of working as a fiction editor, his wake-up call came when he realized that there were thousands of aspiring authors looking to share their stories with the world, but for one reason or another, they lacked the confidence and the courage to make the leap. He formed www.duostorytelling.com with the intention to not...

Emilie Procsal found her way to photography through fine art, product development, graphic design and - finally - relationships! Emilie shares how 'story' and relationship are so important to her business.   You can find Emilie at: https://scarletcardinalstudio.com/ https://www.instagram.com/scarletcardinalstudios/   A week ago I released a FREE WORKSHEET to help you to channel your creative skill...

Using your Creative Skills to solve Clients' problems is a sure way to growing your income. I explain how I list my Creative Skills, brainstorm the problems my skills can solve and then narrow down types of clients who need the solutions I can provide. This is a process I have used throughout my career to apply my skills and grow my income. To receive your FREE WORKSHEET...   ...IF you are a NEW s...

The business of Princess Parties is serious business with some magic sprinkled on top! Sarah Shadrack shares how she began her journey in the arts at a very young age, writing and helming her first movie, launching and selling business, Princess Party Chicago, and her current ventures in visual art, prints and cosplay. Sarah can be found on instagram and YouTube: https://www.instagram.com/chicagop...

Knowing how to get clients can be challenging for artists (or anyone for that matter) but it is a skill you can learn and master. It takes the right approach, attitude and persistence to win clients and make a living! In this episode, Amy Rogers from SEA (selfemploymentinthearts.com) interviews me about my approach to marketing and sales. I share: 1. How to Identify Clients 2. How to Contact those...

Dealing with difficult clients and getting paid are two situations you are going to encounter at some point in your creative career. I share my own situation and how I handled it. This episode is not for the faint of heart. It is challenging to deal with difficult people and maybe as (or even more) challenging to stand up for your right to earn a living. I share my story and several key points tha...

Carlos Behrens is a 3D Game Artist and OC (Original Character) creator working in Blender and ZBrush. He began his career in graphic design before moving into the world of 3D creation. He works for corporate clients and takes individual commissions for OC avatars. Carlos shares his journey as he moved from Venezuela to Spain along with his professional journey. What a great guy! Carlos primarily u...

Using coaching and masterminds to grow your business is a wise step. Jim Jozwiak (I interviewed Jim Jozwiak in episode 31) shares about his coaching and mastermind group experiences and why they are incredibly beneficial to any business (and individual). If you are interested in learning more about Jim's coaching services you can contact him on LinkedIn or   https://jamesjconsulting.com email: jim...

Starting a Podcast and YouTube Show was something I learned firsthand in 2020. This challenging year - which was filled with a pandemic, economic uncertainties and personal loss - actually had some amazing benefits, too. I share my process behind starting The Breakthrough Creative, learning the technical side of production, marketing the show and finding and interviewing my guests and why I am exc...

Dino Crisanti is a Toy Inventor and Stop-Motion Animator. Dino began his career as an animator before transition to toy invention for one of the most renowned toy invention firms in the world, BMT (Big Monster Toys). Dino is a BUSY ARTIST! He invents, designs and sculpts toys, creates bronzes for zoos and other collectors, instructs stop-motion animation at Columbia College and is currently workin...

In this episode Robin Liefeld shares the 17 Steps she takes with every Painting! (PRICELESS!) Please be sure to take notes! Robin shares so much excellent advice -  business, creative curating and marketing info to apply to your own business. Check out her story in episode 37. You can find Robin (and her artwork) at: Website:  https://www.robinliefeld.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/robi...

Robin Liefeld is a fine artist (with an inspirational story) who learned how to paint and sell her art by doing hard things! Robin had a life of caring for foster children before a personal crisis led her to pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist (and to her own personal healing). Robin creates paintings of her 'girls' - highly stylized portraits - and sells originals, prints and more....

Tom Most is a Digital Sculptor, Mold Maker, Rapid Prototyper, Medical Prosthetician, Toy Designer and Jewelry Maker. I began my career working on a project for Tom and am grateful for our friendship. Tom walks us through the story of his creative business adventures in working as a creative employee, in a partnership as a business owner and to a chance encounter with Jon Favreau, producer and dire...

Airbrushing T-Shirts is a really solid way to earn a living! (Just ask Episode 33's guest, Pat Gaines) It was the summer of 1989, I had just graduated high school and was desperate to find a way to make money that did not involve working at some undesirable job. Enter AIRBRUSHED T-SHIRTS. I had been watching a guy airbrush t-shirts at the mall for several years and had an airbrush myself (which I...

A short notion from me to you about things for which I am thankful... (You are one of them)

Pat Gaines has been making a living airbrushing t-shirts much of his life beginning in Panama City Beach in the '70s. He has turned a tourist-spot impulse buy into a specialty store niche in high traffic retail areas. Pat grew up the son of retail mall management parents which led to his first retail venture in airbrushing shirts for profit. In this episode we hear about Pat's creative and profess...