Latest / Crafted Connections / EP 33: How Business, Creativity, and Community Co-Exist with Daiyawn Smith

Transcript

EP 33: How Business, Creativity, and Community Co-Exist with Daiyawn Smith · Crafted Connections

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_01: Hello! Welcome to Crafted Connections.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Kayleigh Calhoun, and this is a podcast all about storytelling and building genuine community.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_01: Here we'll dive into the art of storytelling, unpack strategies for making meaningful connections, and hear from incredible humans who are using their story to create impact.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's craft some connections.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: Hello, hello, welcome back to Crafted Connections.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_01: I am so grateful that you are here, whether it's your first time or you know you've been here a while.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Caitlin Calhoun and on Crafted Connections we talk to people about their stories.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: We talk about storytelling and why telling your story is such an essential thing in any way, shape, or form.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: And I like to have solo episodes where I share my story or I share, you know, tips and tricks, maybe some listicles on ways to lean into your story a little bit more.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: But today we are featuring the one and only Daion Smith.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: Dayon is just one of a kind, the best that it gets when it comes to being a human being, and I'm so excited to share him with you all.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_01: We talk about creative business, setting boundaries, how to get better all the dang time.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: He is one of those people that you can tell he strives for excellence and he always challenges himself and he loves to learn, learn, learn.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: We also chat about a fun project that he's working on, and then also we we talk a little bit about his corporate job and how there it has shifted a little bit to be a little bit more community focused, and he's just freaking loving it.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_01: So without further ado, let's dive in to Dayon's story, Daon's chat.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: I know you're gonna love it, so thank you for being here.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: Daon Smith, we are here, you are here, you're the best.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_01: Before we even kick it off, I wanna I wanna tell you, I was thinking about this conversation.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: I was thinking about the energy you bring to a space, and then I go and I look at that headshot you gave me, and I'm like, he's just radiating.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Like oh, that yeah, the one I'll put in.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, I'm gonna go.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you're just like glowing in this, like, I mean, you're I think you're doing like video at a wedding or something or an event.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, shout out to the photographer.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: I forgot her name.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my god.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's a great photo of you.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, she was just like candid, you know, candid shots, just like moving around.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: She was just like snapping, and I was walking down the aisle, she just higher head is a smile.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: No, literally, like my I was cheesing so hard.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't know why.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Like it just it just happened.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: It was I was in a good mood that day.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_01: Well, it I don't think I've seen you in a bad mood, but I I'm not gonna be mad at you for being in a bad mood because you're human.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: You know what I'm saying?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um that's so good.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_01: So I suppose, yeah, uh, tell the listeners of Crafted Connections a little bit about you.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: I know there's so much to you, but uh if you could summarize yourself and your passions into a few sentences.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, of course.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: My name is Dayan Smith.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: I am the owner of Day In and Day Out Productions, where we focus on brand content creation to build awareness to your business, to who you are, to what you have to offer to the community, and to just like express your creativity through your love and passion of whatever you do in life in your day in and day out lifestyle, honestly.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: So uh yeah, you know, I like to have fun, love to work, love to make money, of course, don't we all?
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, yeah.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's my spiel.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_01: For a little bit of giggles, how do you spell day in, day out?
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: So my name is Dayan, and it's spelled D-A-I-Y-A-W-N.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: So I kind of it's kind of like a play on words.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: So I have so day in is D-A-I, and then I N, and then N D-A-I-O-U-T.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: So it's my name within the business.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: I'm a I'm a big fan of playing on words, and so when I see someone else doing it, I'm like, I see you.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_01: I see you.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: Like, why not?
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: Like, why not?
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: It's like you have fun with it.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like the name of your business kind of like shows your personality, shows who you are, and then it gives people a quick insight of kind of like, okay, what am I getting myself into, right?
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: And my nickname was Deede when like growing up, so it's just it just fit, and everybody just like every time you hear it, day in, day out, like, oh yeah, Dede, then, yeah.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: So it just works.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_01: Well, and there's a few things to it, right?
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_01: It's I mean, that's I think something that we have talked about quite a bit.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's one little tiny sliver of your brand, but it like encompasses the whole thing.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_01: And so, like in that, right?
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: It's like the there's the playfulness, but there's also the like he's gonna get it done and he's gonna commit to it, like day in, day out, like full passion.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly, right?
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, and then you know, and then just your name's in there, you know?
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: It just maybe a little redundant.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: Full circle.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's just like brand identity, like, and I try my best to focus on that as much as possible.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: People buy the brand, they don't really buy the product essentially that you sell, they buy within the brand.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: So if your brand is nice, people love it, and it's warm, welcoming to them, you're good.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_01: And as of right now, like when they're working with day in, day out, they they're getting you capturing you know their magic.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: So they're getting to experience you on set.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_01: And and I think you do a really great job.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, not only one thing I've heard about brand early on is the idea that how you present yourself online is the same experience as one-on-one with someone in a coffee shop, right?
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_01: And and I've just you're an excellent example of what that is.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I appreciate that.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: That's your thing.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, so back to you know, you're like, first off, I call it you love making money, who doesn't?
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Love that.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: And then you also the level of excellence that you like to bring to your work.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_01: Let's talk about your work and and kind of where it started and what your dreams are.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Of course.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: So I started, well, I'm based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: I went to Arsenal Tech High School, right?
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: And if anybody knows about Arsenal Tech High School, it's it's huge.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: It's like a basically a mini college campus, right?
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: And within that school, it has different small schools within the actual school.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: So I was in a magnet called math, uh, math and science.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: So they had one for engineering, they had one for like arts and crafts.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: I forgot the names of them, but like everybody had their own specific magnet.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: Miles was in math and science because I was an honorable student doing the things I was supposed to do.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: And I was in, I got put into a class where it was on media.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: My teacher name was Donna Griffin, and she basically instilled in us how to capture it, what to capture, what to look for, and just how to, you know, carry yourself within that field, yeah, and being creative with it too as well.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: So that's how I got into it.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_01: Very cool.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what is the connection between like who you were as little day day and I just think about him, and he's he's a little cutie.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_01: Um so late.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_01: So like who who you were as little day day and then and then falling in love with because yes, you had an excellent teacher, right?
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_01: But you you weren't the only one in that class, and you know, you're probably one of the few that ended up actually doing it for a living.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: So what what's that connection that like carries the through line?
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: I would just say hard work, honestly.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: I've been around a lot of people that just work hard, like they want a better lifestyle, they want just a better outcome of like what they already have, and I just see them work it nonstop.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: My mom, she's my biggest like motivator.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: She like that's when I say top tier, like, oh my gosh, like she busts her butt constantly, day in and day out.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_00: Like, literally, like that's like she she's gonna be.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: You named your business after her.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: Like, no, really, though, like she instilled so much.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: Like, she's basically started me with like being an entrepreneur.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, she baked, sell cookies, cakes, all that.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: And I was the person that was basically like selling them.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I was a cute little kid.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody was like, oh, let me buy from him, let me buy from him, let me, you know, let me just sell, right?
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: And I learned how to manage my money doing that, learn how to really count.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: My money saving skills is just like top tier, like top tier.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I learned that young when I was like six, seven growing up, and my mom instilled that into me a lot.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: My my my dad too, as well.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: Very cool.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: Your mom, like, I love that that like she's got businesswoman in her, but that also smart businesswoman like sends her little guy out, you know.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yeah, yes.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: I was editing a video the other day and and it was had some babies in it, and I'm like, everybody loves babies, you know.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_01: Well, of course.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_01: Like whatever creature is a baby on the internet, it's gonna, it's gonna perform.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_01: You know what I'm saying?
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_01: So exactly.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: Which which brings us to, you know, I love your thread of not only hard work, but also excellence through the work you do.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_01: And I think there, you know, in our industry of video production, there's a lot of like being a filmmaker versus a content creator versus uh this that and the other.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_01: And and I and I see how you're kind of one who approaches it where it's like, why not all the above kind of thing?
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_01: Why not like be a creative person who has some you know money in the bank?
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_01: You know, so can you speak to that philosophy?
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_01: Can you give me some examples you've experienced?
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_01: I would just love to hear every inch of your brain with that centimeters if you're willing to go metric.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, of course, no, definitely.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: I just feel like me, it's kind of like being the switch army knife, right?
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: And you know also how people kind of like, I guess when to say like code switch when they're in certain rooms or they talk to certain people.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: I just feel like that goes with it goes with that too as well.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like if I'm in a situation where I'm just creating content, okay, I know how to create content.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: But when I'm on a production set where I'm handling lights, cameras, I'm dealing with grips, I'm dealing with high profile talent, I'm dealing with 50 people on set plus to kind of like make this one thing happen.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's like I know how to turn it on to as well.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: And it's all about just kind of like being exposed to those environments.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: Because if you're not exposed to those environments, you're never gonna get that one-on-one time of basically, you know, how to maneuver in those certain environments and you know who to talk to and how to work this camera, how to put this together, how to set those lights up.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: It's about it's about experience, honestly.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: And I just feel like if I have that experience in me and I know I can do it, why not do it?
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: And especially if it's making me money too, as well.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: Like, why not?
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: Check, check, check.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: Very good.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_01: What do you do when you're approaching something that you don't have experience in yet and you're not so you know necessarily confident because you don't have like the evidence, maybe from an actual Daeon's done this before moment?
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my god, YouTube, Google, I'd use everything.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: Like I've I've done that like of course, when everybody starts off like being a photographer, videographer, they start with either Googling or trying to look up tutorials or asking the person that you know that got you into it, like just asking, like searching for that information, searching for that knowledge.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I was hungry, like I was ready, like I knew I had a camera, I knew what I could do with the camera, but I really didn't know too much about the money aspect.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_00: I was just like, okay, I'm just about to create the money aspect of it.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: Came later.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: So I just think you just have to be hungry for that knowledge.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: And once you're hungry for the knowledge, like you're gonna, you're gonna figure it out.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: And though you get those repetitions in, and you get to figure out, okay, what your camera can do, what your camera can't do, why it's important to upgrade your camera after a certain while when you start to develop to develop certain skill sets, you start to, you know, really use those and build your ability to give out that high profile quality content that every everybody really wants.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: There are some operators who get a really high qual quality camera or really high quality tool, and they may not actually know how to utilize all the you know the features and the capabilities in that tool.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: I imagine you have things that you could say to your experience with that, where you know, yes, like I love the phrase when people say like the best camera is the one in my pocket, right?
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_01: And that's very much like you know, my background in documentary filmmaking.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: Like if you can capture it, get some visual evidence, yeah, then get it.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: But then I love what you're also saying here, which is like an additional layer as like a professional and an expert in this specific, like not just this feel, but this like specialty in the field, right?
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_01: So talk to me a little bit more like about that, like being someone who specializes in a tool and then getting to a stage where you're like, oh, I want to play with this capability, but my camera doesn't even have this capability, and I've mastered enough that I like can do damage with the you know the tool I have.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_01: Kind of speak to me about that experience.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: So my first camera was uh Canon T5i, the Rebel series, right?
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, first camera we have the Rebel series.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, oh my god, the most basic camera you can get.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: It does ISO, you can go manual on it, you can go auto, whatever, right?
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: But it did it did video too, right?
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: It did it video too as well.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_01: For the time, generationally, like that camera was quite wonderful in the sense of like photos and video, DSLR, let's get it done.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: And it was a it was a big hit at the time.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, yes.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_01: But then continue, yes.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it was it was a big hit.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I feel and that right there opened up a lot for me because at first, like, so I went to IU Bloomington for for college for film and production.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um so I was handling, you know, production cameras and learning how to use what whatever they basically gave us, right?
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: So the the Rebel series was kind of like within my budget that I got that I can use during the time.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: So once I used it, I'm like, oh, I'm getting really good photos with them, right?
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: Like everybody's looking like, oh, you took photos, oh, this is nice.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: Can you do video?
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, yeah, of course I can do video, right?
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I did video, I knew how to expose my camera, I knew how to use my ISO, I know how I knew how to use my aperture.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_00: I just knew how to play with my camera to get what I wanted, right?
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: So it got to a point where I'm just like, okay, this camera is not really giving me the type of quality that I want now that I see myself giving to people that will actually pay for it, right?
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: Because my first shoe was like$50, like$50, and I gave them like 200 photos, I gave them like two videos, like I'm like, now, like now, me charging them for that, big difference, big, big difference.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like learning when to basically upgrade and level up is kind of like based on the information that you that you learn on your journey with, you know, that starter camera, right?
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: And after that, after you see, okay, like, all right, it's time to, you know, be a big boy and grow up and get me some big boy camera equipment now.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, 100%.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_01: I see some parallels too with my own experience and and working for yourself, gaining knowledge, same thing, right?
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: So, like the parallel of like your expertise, you need to kind of up-level your equipment to kind of with your expertise, but then also like you need to up level like your day rate.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: You have to, yes.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_01: For sure.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_01: And so, and so something to two with that, what did that look like?
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_01: Do you do you talk to other creatives?
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_01: Do you just kind of feel out what you're comfortable with?
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: What like what is what does that kind of look like?
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_01: How has that looked like over the years?
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like that was my biggest struggle as you know, being an entrepreneur is figuring out what to charge people, what would they pay for?
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_00: Like how much?
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like when you're starting off, you're starting off at you know the lowest point you can, right?
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_00: Just to see, you know, just to get a little money in your pocket, get your name out there.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_01: It feels good for the money to hit your account, and it was something that you're passionate about, right?
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly, exactly.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so it's like, okay, I'm getting I'm I'm getting a little money for something that you know I'm just really just starting out to do.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like, okay, and now it's like, all right, now what are everybody else charging for these services, right?
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: So me, I'm following other photographers, other videographers, and I'm going to see if they have a website or if they're posting flyers about their prices.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm seeing, okay, he over here, he's charging this for that.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, cool.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: But him over here, he's charging charging like two, three times as much.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, why is there such a big difference, right?
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: So I just started to really research and see kind of like what's he using and what's he doing that's different from this other person that's charging three times as that.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_00: So I kind of found like a middle ground that I felt like I was at, and I'm like, okay, maybe I just come in the middle-ish with the pricing, see how people react to it.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: If they start buying it, okay, we're gonna roll with it.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: But if they don't, and I'm not getting no clientele at all, maybe I need to pull back some or find another clientele I need to work with.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, very cool.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, it's um, it's definitely a game, and I think a lot of folks like struggle with the mindset behind it too.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_01: And I I love that you you're like, let's make sure that the data's there, and then I can also and then my own like market research just by like putting the price out, and if people aren't aren't biting, then like what do we need to adjust?
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly, exactly.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes it's not even like the pricing as much as just is it falling on deaf ears.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_01: Like, you need to to find a different clientele that might be willing to, you know, because you at the end of the day, you have to figure out like what do you need to pay your bills too.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's quite a journey, and then I I mean I've been all over the game at where I've you know just gotten crazy trying different things and that's okay.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: You got a lot of experience though from doing that, like you know what or what not to do when it comes to certain situations now.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like that's that's information that a lot of people want that they don't have right now because they're scared to really take that leap to do it and and fail essentially to really learn.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: Because honestly, I just feel like life is based on failures, right?
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: If we didn't fail, we would not be here with the world functioning the way it is now today, right?
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_00: So I feel like you have to fail.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_00: Like you, you, you have to fail.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_00: That's one of the big things I'm just like I'm okay with doing.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm okay with failing and being like, okay, I didn't, I didn't I didn't do that right.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, like let's let's move on, let's pivot, let's see how we can do it differently in a better way.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_01: Well, so what would you tell yourself or others who, you know, raw from a failure and you know, you gotta get back up?
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_01: How do you like have your bounce back rate be strong?
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_01: Because I understand, like, there's saying failure is good, you learn from it, move on.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but like how do you actually embody like knowing that failure gives you information and then you can move forward with that information?
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_01: How do you like live that out?
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_00: Honestly, it's uh I feel like having a good network of people around you and just like a community that kind of supports you in a sense, right?
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: If you don't have that and you're doing it alone, it's gonna be 10 times worse.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like, oh my God, you're gonna feel like the world is just against you.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna feel like you're not meant to do anything that you're doing right now, and you just like might as well just give up and find something else to do.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: But even then, you know, even with that network, if you're trying something else, like it's the network issue, right?
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_01: Or it's like it's the it's the people around you.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_01: It's why they say like the relationships that you have are so important.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_01: The environment that you put yourself in is so important.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_01: You gotta make sure that it's building you up just as much as because you could tear yourself down just fine.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_01: You don't need anybody else doing this.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: Instantly, instantly.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_00: Like you need that, you need that people around you, just like, all right, man, you took your couple of days off, you done crying, let's get back to it, right?
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_00: Because I feel like that's how my friends kind of like that's how we work.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: Like, we kind of like really hard, like hard on each other, right?
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_00: We like, bro, we get it.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_00: You messed up, you did this, all right, let's get back out there.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because you sitting right here, it's not gonna get anything done or fix anything.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_00: So you have to get up, you have to go back out there and just try.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_00: Because like you already failed already.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: So if you fail again, you're just gonna feel the same way and you're gonna figure something out afterwards, right?
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_01: 100%.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_01: I the one thing, some of my biggest failures, I have like been shocked because I think when I initially took the challenge on that I ultimately air quotes failed, like it was like I thought if I failed, then that would mean like death.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: And I think we've talked about this.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I I think like my mind literally said, if this doesn't work out, in my mind, I think there was like some sort of equivalent of like this not working out means that like you're just not, and then like and then so and then I wake up, I'm like, oh shit, I gotta keep going.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_01: Like what?
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_00: And like you literally have tomorrow.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_01: Like you try again, like try again.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_01: That's the worst thing, like right, exactly.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: Like God has blessed you with lungs and air in your lungs, yeah, a heart that's beating, two legs to walk, two hands to like and anything's possible.
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_00: Just start back at the bottom and build back up.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_01: No, I love I love that so much.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_01: I love it so much.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: Which actually brings me to um a question that came up.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_01: You shared that like a theme/slash message of your life is endure until you get where you want to be.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that goes along exactly what we're talking about.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_01: Right now, this snapshot in time, where like where are you setting your sights?
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_01: What like what is like the vision, right?
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_01: It sounds like you got a great crew that supports you.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_01: Sounds like they got big dreams too, and y'all kind of like circulate that among each other.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_01: Where are your sights right now, Dayon?
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_00: Me, honestly, my biggest thing right now is just being in control of my time and who I and who I spend it with, right?
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_00: Because I can work tirelessly, get all the money that I want, book every shoot that comes to my, you know, my DMs or website, and I'll be just tired of just working, right?
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just about spending that good time with my nieces and nephews, my mom, you know, my cousins them.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_00: Just like being in that space, because like that's kind of like like a like a refuel in a sense, right?
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: So I feel like my main thing is just like being can be in control of my time, taking trips when I want to take trips.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_00: Like I'm not stressed or anything like that to where my clients are like, hey, you gotta get this done.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_00: I need this ASAP, and I'm working tirelessly for like two, three weeks, and I don't have no time for myself, right?
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, time, my time management and self.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: self-time is is key right now.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_01: I love that.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_01: No, I love that.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_01: And and just like, yeah, being able to own your own time.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_01: I've got a mentor who I just love how he sees because I think our industry sometimes has it like a little bit backwards where it's like client is end all be all, you know, get gets you know, gets to decide.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_01: And it's and I love how he looks at it in a way that is very like we're collaborating with them.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_01: And in a way that is like if they could do it, they would kind of thing.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_01: And it is a co-created partnership.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_01: It is a is it symbiotic the one where like they give to each other.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_01: I know there's a parasitic.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_01: It's not yeah it's not parasitic.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's like it's symbiotic in the like we give, they give, and it's an exchange, right?
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_01: And I love that yeah you can you get to a point in your creative practice in your creative business where like you get to like decide what who are those healthy relationships whether it be your clients whether it be you've got an employee employer situation whatever like work that you do it has to like be an exchange.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_01: So then also then you can like spend time with like your non-work loved ones right because that's something I've learned a lot in the last few years is your only people that you have can't only be in in the work and the passion that you do.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_01: Like I've started making friends outside my industry and it's been a very healthy healthy healthy thing.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know what that looks like for you but oh definitely definitely I work in a creative space where I'm working with uh designers stylists photographers people that just don't do exactly what I do like chefs hairstylists like my range of people that I know is so wide and the way I look at it is okay we can collab on something no matter what you do or whatever you like whatever field you're in I know my skills and I know what you have to as well we can always find something that's like in the middle ground create something and then next thing you know we create a masterpiece that no one else thought about yeah yeah and I I feel that way too with even people in the same specialty right like I I've learned so many editing tricks that I use on a very regular basis.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_01: And it's like you don't get that from like people who don't get it.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_01: Like who aren't and it goes to like you you talk about like being at that certain level of like camera like investment right that certain type of camera that has special like little tiny buttons that you can or can't find something you know and the only other person who's gonna know that is someone who spends the time with that camera who has gotten to that level with you right same thing with like you know when I'm like deep in Premiere and I'm like how does this like I know there's a way I could do this how do I do this you know and and I can just like text one of my editing friends and it's absolutely beautiful.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_01: So it's like beautiful to have that like that diversity but then also to have like people in your field.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yes no yeah definitely and and it's like like premiere is such a beast right it's so much in there that you can do I'm pretty sure I'm only using probably about 40% of Premier the way the way I edit honestly I don't feel like I use it to its highest capability right now.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_00: But uh I'm still learning but I'm also pivoting over to the Vinci2 as well and learning that so it's yeah yeah it's a lot.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_01: And that's what I was going to tell you here like I literally was just on a video call with someone the other day because he was helping me get the color right for a project we're collaborating like he was he shot the project and um but like does have some good color expertise and so he jumped on the call with me and I opened he's like oh I'm an avid person and we were like and so we kind of like you know beefed our way through like not beefed but we kind of like stumbled our way through he's like what about the lows and I'm like I gotta find them in okay okay and and so it's like we had to translate a little bit but we got there right and so that's the thing too it's like even specific like brands softwares it just it just gets so deep so fast um but it's cool to have that specialty and I imagine like it's why like scientists share information with each other too right like other fields.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_01: It's like you gotta kind of like learn together in a way and that's that's the magic of community.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: So you have to yeah because everybody doesn't know everything right so you have to be a sponge 247 right no matter who's around like I feel like people need to put their egos away because I feel like when people don't do that they don't never want to really ask questions or try to figure things out because they feel like oh this person thinks they're bigger than me or this person is lower than me.
• 26:28
  SPEAKER_00: Like no it's like if you got a question ask it no matter how far they are up within the industry or how low they are it's like people people know different things.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_00: So you can learn from everybody.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_01: So true and that's I mean I think that brings me to another thing that I this is just actually me.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_01: I just wanted to jump on and record myself complimenting you for a whole hour day on because you're just a good egg.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_01: That made me think of just the way you show up to set to any interaction I've had with you.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_01: It's I've just never seen someone be so consistently positive and in like grace with just like even with challenges you know you and I behind the scenes like with work uh have experiences challenges like with clients right and like the way that I see you show up when we're facing like a challenge it's such a rare quality and I just have so much respect for you and and appreciate you with that so much.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_00: So thank you.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_00: Well it's great when you have when you have someone that you're working with and they're just as open and just like happy to be there just as you it's like it just clashes very well and it just flows.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: So it doesn't even feel like work just okay we're about to have some fun today.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_00: Let's just let's do it.
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah let's knock it out it's like we're excited and we're just excited to make it the best it can be right like and nobody's mad if like something flips up you know because we'll like be like okay we're problem solving like that's you know like it's just good.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_01: It's so good.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_00: Ugh exactly exactly yeah and on top of this like okay you're good at what you do you know what you're doing you know what you're looking for and it's like you're very good at communicating what you want how you want it it's like okay that's that's all I need you want that bet say less I'm gonna give you what you need right as long as you're open with communication and that's what I feel like a lot of people in our industry lack they just don't communicate properly right they can communicate but it's more of so like a direct like oh you go do this you go do that like no like we all collaborating right now we all making this one project work so my job is just as important as your job because if it wasn't I would not be here on a set right so yeah well and that goes back to like we can all learn from each other right because I realized probably like five years ago that I wasn't actually as interested in the like the tech side of what we do.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm more interested in like the relational like the like how does it all weave together and what's like the overarching story.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_01: Like I still and that's why I think I do love like the editing still and like but just the actual like camera in hand doesn't give me the joy that I see others experience.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like and I think for a while I was trying to make myself want it you know and then I was just like why yeah yeah it's like every everybody has their like their thing that they really enjoy more than anything right and I feel like once you find that just hone in on it of course you can you can pick up a camera any day do it you know man a camera whatever but when you really tap into really what you want people are going to be like okay I'm gonna come specifically to you for this one thing because I know you do it so well and you love do it doing it.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_00: When you find somebody that loves doing what they do oh my gosh it's like you're gonna get the best outcome possible on a project.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_01: 100% 100% and well that that's what I love about I don't think you'll be shocked to hear this because you've seen me interview people I love interviewing people.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_01: I love asking them questions.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_01: I love just like making that deep eye contact and being like what really makes you tick it only helps me do that and be more in that when like somebody is really enjoying operating the camera and I don't have to be like while I'm in the middle of my zone be like is the camera still running is the camera still running right you know and then not even like that layer of like is it running well like is it is it actually capturing the beauty you know and then to get in the editing bay and be like oh day on got me like he gave me everything I needed you know and that just feels really good.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_01: And that goes back to what you're saying I think we're both excited to be there.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_01: We're both excited about the roles that we're working and it just feels so dang good.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly yeah yes it's it's just it's just great honestly it's just like with you is working with you was like so easy.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like the project I'm mad the project actually didn't get done I know I wanted to see the final deep into that but also no one's listening like people are listening right but it's like no one from like our experience with that is listening in a way and and it is just one of those things where it does suck that like that project fizzled out because it was you know it was a I'm gonna say air quotes funded project right but long story short it's just I think we had something really good with it.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_00: We had some good we had some good stuff and the sound bites you were getting within the interviews too as well I'm just like that's gonna be so good like the story when it hits the dramatic music I was playing it all in my head once I was hearing I'm like this oh my god but yeah you know but it happens though that happens in our industry like people want this project but it doesn't fully always get done so it's like okay you know on to the next well and then I think to kind of dive into some of the business related conversations you know that project in particular was not a passion project that either of one of us was like fundraising and driving home right so if it were then it would have gotten done.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_01: Of course and then in the business side of things it is it's like we were paid for a job and then we weren't being paid for a job anymore.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_01: So we stopped doing the job.
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_01: Stop like exactly because healthy boundaries which I'm gonna be honest with you I haven't been great about and working with you was so wonderful to like and and I also had gone the 18 months prior to that had gone through some like real like roller coastery like because I hadn't set boundaries a lot of things happened.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_01: And so yeah so but then you were like a beautiful like boundary example setter right as I was coming out of some of those experiences I'm like this is how you set a boundary in this industry.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_01: This is how you like show up be a wonderful person to work with and don't let people walk all over you.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_01: It's beautiful yeah that's literally it yeah oh no I do want to say before we like move on to the next thought I believe because I am a lady of the universe I believe that that was like a hey this is the taste of what it's like for you two to work together don't worry we'll be back with something bigger.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_00: You know that's how I believe that stuff yes yes yes yes we when that project comes whatever it is trust and believe that's going to be a banger.
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_01: A banger and it's also gonna be like we don't have to put up with like the piddly shit you know that like is just like wasting our creative energy and time calling it in right now.
• 33:05
  SPEAKER_00: So oh for sure it's it's happening it's happening for sure.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah hey y'all you know I love telling stories gathering stories and finding a way to help people connect their story with the people that will will get it and that's what my story strategy sessions are all about.
• 33:24
  SPEAKER_01: So over at Calhoun Creative Consulting my strategic storytelling firm we do one-on-one and or facilitated workshops in relation to really honing in the strategy around your story it's a bit of messaging meets content creation meets storytelling and then how do we put that out in the world?
• 33:42
  SPEAKER_01: How do we show up regularly?
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_01: There's a bit of mindset work around it right to actually tell your story whether you're launching something new or trying to rework your brand or just feeling a little foggy on how to communicate with your people this is how to get clear.
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_01: We'll dig into things like your narrative how to uncover what matters most maybe map out a few content pillars while we're at it.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_01: You'll also get a recording of our session so you can revisit the conversation anytime you like.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_01: Let's shape a story that actually feels like you.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_01: So book yours today.
• 34:07
  SPEAKER_01: There is a link in the show notes and hey while you're at it use the code podcast all caps podcast for 25% off your session.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_01: I would be honored to spend time with you and suss out your story.
• 34:21
  SPEAKER_01: Let's dive back into the episode shall we you have some current projects that you're working on and I want to hear about them.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_00: I've been seeing them on the socials tell me what are you working on right now that you're really excited about um right now I just started to kind of like pub out a show so let me just start it like this.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_00: Have you seen Love Island?
• 34:42
  SPEAKER_00: Do you watch Love Island?
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_01: I don't but I've heard that people love it.
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_00: You don't yeah okay so yeah so my fiance got me on to watching Love Island right so I'm watching a weird I'm just like wow this is this is an interesting show right so I'm like what if we have a little small thing like that here in Indy right because you know you got all the love shows you got the pop the balance you got the speed day shows and stuff right there I'm like what if we kind of like up production a little bit and try to do something like this right on a smaller scale of course right so I'm kind of doing this test pilot show called India more just trying to give a feel for the Love Island vibe since it was like so popular.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody loves it everybody wants to be a part of it.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_00: So you know I'm just testing something and I want to do something different too as well like I haven't done this yet.
• 35:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I wanted to jump in to something you know different challenge myself a little bit put myself to a test to see okay can I do this?
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_00: Am I capable of doing this?
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like how am I going to be good at putting a team together to help me coordinate to help me get contestants to get you know like everything together and it's it's a lot plus with everything I got going on still you know working with clients projects but it's just like I haven't really did anything fun and just like on my own in the minute so I'm like okay let me just see let me play around with it like it might fail it might not fail but I won't know unless I try it out.
• 36:04
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm gonna try it out see what happens but we got some great contestants the women the women are ready like they they're signing up they like yes put me on right it's the fellas that are just like I don't know like what is this they got so many questions they ask I'm like oh my god just come to the interview you get all your questions asked there it's a struggle but you know we're gonna get there though yeah yeah yeah I wonder if it's like a like a Midwestern vibe where they're like I don't know like because I do think a lot of the folks that end up on reality dating shows there's a lot of yeah sure like I'm sure there's some pure intentions of like wanting to meet someone and it's all about the brand you know and building your brand so it's like I wonder if there's some folks in India that if you're looking to build your brand fellas join day on on Love A More.
• 36:53
  SPEAKER_01: And also meet a nice lady I'm sure like of course but I do think that is a little bit like if you're gonna put yourself on a show there's I'm not sure what you think has to be something attached.
• 37:02
  SPEAKER_00: No I agree with you like like if you're if you get on camera and possible thousands of people's gonna see you it's like you want to have something kind of like present.
• 37:10
  SPEAKER_00: You want to have something for people to come back to when they come see you because if you just get on the show and you really don't do much then it's like okay now what do I do to kind of like keep these viewers that's going to be coming to me more entertained so they can keep coming right so it'll be a start for a lot of people but I feel like it'll help out with you know people being more comfortable with a scene like that especially here in Indy too.
• 37:35
  SPEAKER_00: We don't get a lot of really anything here in Indy.
• 37:38
  SPEAKER_01: The reality shows that Indies experience are mostly like home improvement stuff.
• 37:42
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly like yes yes so we don't really get anything that's kind of like hyped up like ATL or um LA or anything like that.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_00: So it's kind of like okay we can bring that vibe here in Indy but we just gotta have the participation and you know open mindedness to do it.
• 38:00
  SPEAKER_01: You're just like out here shifting the culture of indie all by yourself.
• 38:03
  SPEAKER_01: Look at you go.
• 38:04
  SPEAKER_00: You know I'm a little two cent.
• 38:06
  SPEAKER_00: That's all you know testing the waters I love it.
• 38:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah I'm rooting you on and I'm sending good vibes for you to recruit that flavor and those individuals that really bring because it's not just like what people see of these individuals but it's also like you need stuff to put together that's that's flavorful and enjoyable and fun.
• 38:24
  SPEAKER_00: Entertaining yes it's like if you ever get a chance probably just watch a couple of eyes just to see kind of like the vibe of what I'm going for.
• 38:33
  SPEAKER_00: It won't be exactly that vibe but it's it gets a little crazy.
• 38:38
  SPEAKER_01: But I spent enough time in Indy and I know enough about production that I think if I watch an episode or two I'll be like oh I see what he's doing.
• 38:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah for sure for sure it's gonna be rocky the first couple of episodes to figure everything out but I'm I'm okay with that.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_00: As long as people are going to be entertained with the content that's a good start.
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_00: And then production will level up afterwards.
• 38:57
  SPEAKER_01: Where are you hoping to have this land?
• 38:59
  SPEAKER_00: Honestly I haven't even got that far I just want to yeah I'm I'm planning I'm playing right now this is this is literally just like a fun project for me to get out of the corporate world that I live in so much that pays me so well but it just doesn't yeah it just doesn't hit what I want all the time right so I get that I totally get that perfect oh that's so fun is there anything when you like leading up to our conversation where you're like oh I really really want to tell Caitlin about this or oh I really want to talk about this or share this with with people what was kind of going through your mind as you were living well you know I work at eSports right so I'm a videographer at JD Sports I do I do a lot of content for them we got a lot of big things coming and I feel like bringing the awareness to what JD Sports is trying to do with the community is it's pretty big right so they're really trying to bridge the gap because like it started off with finish line right and then finish line got bought out by JD Sports.
• 39:56
  SPEAKER_00: Cool okay that makes sense right I didn't know so yeah yeah so we're kind of like building JD Sports which we're doing very well right we're doing very good over the time so doing a lot of collaboration with the All-Star W NBA we had a lot of activation activities going around indie oh my god it was so crazy it was so crazy so I don't know like doing that and building awareness to what JD Sports is doing with the community is kind of like okay I like the route that they're going with you know everything they're doing with the community.
• 40:25
  SPEAKER_01: Cool okay so did you feel like before they bought out finish line that was something that was happening?
• 40:31
  SPEAKER_00: It was the Finish Line really wasn't like it was just a story about shoes from they didn't really have a culture or community that we you know really kind of like gravitate to and then JD Sports is based in the UK right it's a UK brand and it's coming to the US right if you go to UK it's like JD Sports in the UK is totally different vibe right it's like they live and breathe JD Sports like the community is crazy.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_00: We're trying to build that here in the US with you know the collaborations we have the celebrities we work with the activations we make here at indie and just like all around the world is kind of like we trying to try to build that here in indie and it's and it's getting there but you know we definitely got a lot of work to do for sure.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah but I I love that that is the intention and direction right because you don't see that too often it also makes me happier for you as a creative person and someone who cares about the people around him.
• 41:26
  SPEAKER_01: Like I see that like you get to really lean into some things that maybe you weren't able to do before.
• 41:31
  SPEAKER_01: That's very very cool.
• 41:33
  SPEAKER_01: I love that and I I think that is a great place for us to wrap is the idea that business and community get to coexist.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's something that you and I I don't know if we discuss that specifically but it does feel like there's a subtext of that like you know you get to like be the economics of the infusion of like investing in the community only helps the organization only helps the work that we do as a creative like if you pay your creatives well that creates a much more like culturally cool city that creatives want to stay in and then keep investing in right and it's yeah there's something about the uh creative economy that I am obsessed with.
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_00: No, I agree a hundred percent I feel like like the creative community is getting bigger and bigger like everybody wants to be a content creator.
• 42:19
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody wants to get that camera and just start creating content and use their phone to create content but it's like you you gotta have the passion and the want to do it right because if you don't you creating content you're just gonna feel like a job.
• 42:31
  SPEAKER_00: And when when it feels like a job you just really don't get to the point you really want to get at when you're doing it.
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_01: What would you say to someone who is really inspired by how you live your life what you do and they they want to like dive more into the type of work that you do and what advice would you give?
• 42:48
  SPEAKER_00: I will advise them to kind of like figure out what their passion is first.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_00: Like if you like holding the camera you like taking pictures start there.
• 42:57
  SPEAKER_00: Just start taking pictures don't even start to even charge people or trying to make money from it.
• 43:01
  SPEAKER_00: Actually build a love for taking your camera putting it on manual mode figuring stuff out and like oh wow that does that if I boost this ISO up and build this aperture down here it's gonna give me that image like that's amazing that's dope.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_00: And it like build that want and knowledge to want to learn all the time once you get that it's like all right once I start making money for it it's like I'm not even working I'm just out here creating and having fun like this this is nothing to me.
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_01: Like I'm literally having fun but it starts to not get fun once you start getting clientele that kind of like gets a little eh but you know yeah but then but then that's the balance you were kind of talking about like what you're aiming for right or what you're like prioritizing and making sure that you're not if you are getting compensated enough in certain jobs and it goes to like if you double your rate you can take on less work kind of thing.
• 43:53
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly but you need to have a justification for doubling your rate as well.
• 43:57
  SPEAKER_01: So it's like it's that balance right but it's also Also knowing that like there will be a point where you get to, okay, if it starts getting iffy with clientele, you're like, okay, am I in a place where I can, I've got the skill set that I can kind of increase my rate and then focus on the quality of every single job.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 44:14
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 44:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_00: Because you're always, I feel like a problematic clientele is always going to happen no matter what part you're in, lower or higher, is going to happen.
• 44:24
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, you just got to learn with uh reputation of how to, you know, deal with those type of clientels and know what type of clientels you want to attract when you're putting content out or you're posting something that you're that you're selling or a product that you want to, you know, want people to buy is it's all about you and how you maneuver.
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_00: Because if you want to keep if you get that same clientele and you want to keep going back to the same clientele, you're gonna get the problematic clientele all the time.
• 44:49
  SPEAKER_00: But if you go this route, things could change.
• 44:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and if anyone's listening, I mean I'm about to ask you, Day, where like people can find you on the internet.
• 44:57
  SPEAKER_01: But if you're listening and you're like, I need a good example of like how to do that, like in the online space, like I think you do a great job, Daeon, of experimenting with your own brand and your own business content to attract or repel certain clientele, you know, like and to be very clear, like why does you know a video shoot cost this much?
• 45:17
  SPEAKER_01: You're like, well, let's break it down, shall we?
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_01: And you're like super honest on there.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I think a lot of creatives are afraid to be, but like if you've got the justification, tell the people.
• 45:25
  SPEAKER_01: And then if that turns somebody off because you're justifying your price, then clearly they weren't gonna pay you in the first place.
• 45:33
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly, exactly.
• 45:35
  SPEAKER_00: So yes, oh my god, like I'm so big on just being transparent with my clientele and just my friends and families in general.
• 45:43
  SPEAKER_00: Like that that's one thing I don't I don't stray away from because I feel like if you're transparent enough, people are just gonna love you for who you are and you know, just what you bring to the table.
• 45:53
  SPEAKER_00: Like, if I don't like something, I'm gonna tell you, no, I do not like that.
• 45:57
  SPEAKER_00: That's not, yeah.
• 45:58
  SPEAKER_00: But if I literally a yes man and be like, oh, do you like this?
• 46:01
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah, that's nice.
• 46:02
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm sitting here in my head, like, I really don't like that.
• 46:05
  SPEAKER_00: That's just bad for our relationship.
• 46:07
  SPEAKER_00: That hurts everybody.
• 46:08
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody, that hurts everybody.
• 46:10
  SPEAKER_00: So I do my best to try to be as transparent as possible, not too transparent to the point where I'm like scaring people off, like, oh my god, why is he acting like that?
• 46:18
  SPEAKER_00: But enough to where they understand why this is this way and how I got this way because of what I did.
• 46:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 46:27
  SPEAKER_01: Well, there's a point where that you become true too transparent where it's starting to hurt people, and maybe it's just because you need to take a look in the mirror and be like, okay, where's my attitude and what is what needs to be adjusted?
• 46:36
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 46:37
  SPEAKER_01: So, but if you're just genuinely transparent and you're making sure that you check yourself on a regular basis, like then it's a good life.
• 46:45
  SPEAKER_01: It's a good life, exactly.
• 46:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, definitely.
• 46:47
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like a lot of people need to be more transparent about everything because once you do that, I feel like everything just be will just run smoothly.
• 46:55
  SPEAKER_00: Like they that person will have a choice to either be your friend, not be your friend, be your client, not be your client.
• 47:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's like they get that choice, and once you give them that choice, it's like, okay, I know how to move now after this.
• 47:08
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, perfect.
• 47:09
  SPEAKER_00: Makes it easy.
• 47:10
  SPEAKER_01: So easy.
• 47:11
  SPEAKER_01: Life's so easy.
• 47:12
  SPEAKER_01: Why doesn't everybody just get that?
• 47:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like uh, it's it's oh my god, life is easy but hard.
• 47:18
  SPEAKER_01: It absolutely is.
• 47:19
  SPEAKER_01: So, with that, where can the good people find you on the interwebs day on?
• 47:24
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, you can follow me on IG at sir underscore shoot a lot.
• 47:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, that's one of my Instagrams, that's my personal Instagram, and then my business Instagram is day underscore the letter in underscore date out.
• 47:39
  SPEAKER_00: And day is spelled D-A-I when you spell that.
• 47:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I will have all of that in the show notes, and the people will be able to click away and enjoy your content and your goods, and just you're just good vibes.
• 47:51
  SPEAKER_01: And if you didn't see the thumbnail, uh Daon has a lovely, radiating smile, and we're lucky to know him.
• 47:58
  SPEAKER_01: We're lucky to know him.
• 47:59
  SPEAKER_01: All right, man.
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for your time today.
• 48:02
  SPEAKER_00: Of course.
• 48:02
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me.
• 48:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's always it's always great to talk to you.
• 48:05
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like every day we was on set, we always had a good conversation, no matter about what it was about.
• 48:11
  SPEAKER_00: It was just like a random conversation about anything.
• 48:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it would go on for a minute.
• 48:15
  SPEAKER_00: We'd be like, oh wow, that conversation was good.
• 48:18
  SPEAKER_01: We just solved the world's problems.
• 48:19
  unknown: Yeah.
• 48:20
  SPEAKER_00: I know.
• 48:21
  SPEAKER_01: It's so hard to get us started, and I'm gonna have a hard time being saying goodbye because you really just are such a fun person to talk to.
• 48:26
  SPEAKER_00: But uh, I appreciate it.
• 48:28
  SPEAKER_00: More where that came from.
• 48:29
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 48:30
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, of course.
• 48:31
  SPEAKER_00: Let me know if you ever need anything.
• 48:32
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my god, yes.
• 48:33
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes, yes.
• 48:34
  SPEAKER_01: All right, goodbye.
• 48:35
  SPEAKER_00: See ya.
• 48:36
  SPEAKER_00: Bye.
• 48:38
  SPEAKER_01: Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm dedicated to helping people and brands tell their stories in a way that resonates.
• 48:50
  SPEAKER_01: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and connect with us on Instagram at Crafted Connections Bot.
• 48:56
  SPEAKER_01: Keep creating, keep connecting, until we meet again.