Careers for Creative Types
Matching Personal Passions to Promising Careers -- for Creative Types
"Work while others are wishing." - Thomas A. Edison
Often times, people who are powerfully passionate about a hobby or pastime, or naturally talented or skilled through practice, are not sure how to make decent money doing what they love. Here are some ways to match areas of interest with paying work (even if they are notoriously difficult to make good money doing).
Vocal / Musical
- Voiceover personality for radio, TV or Web
- Writer and performer of jingles
- Narrator of audio books
- Performer on cruise ships or at amusement parks
- Live storyteller or seller of recorded videos of storytelling online
- Event performer (weddings, etc.) / emcee
- Vocal coach
- Chorus teacher / choir director
- Orchestra teacher / band director
- Speech therapist
- Stage performer
- Talent scout
- Instructor for children's activities (YMCA, summer camp), in schools, parks and recreation courses, or for local colleges
- Stage / screen performer
- Conductor
- Karaoke director
- Sound / mix engineer
- Recording engineer
- Composer / arranger
- Music editor
- Sound effects designer for screen and computer games
- DJ / sound for events
- Radio announcer
- Band / symphony / orchestra member
- Film score performer
- Music therapist
- Music software developer
- Multimedia designer
- Music librarian
- Musical instrument instructor
- Musical instrument designer / repairer
Art and Design
- Graphic designer of print materials such as brochures or flyers
- Web designer for websites and advertising
- Multimedia designer for speaker presentations, Web animation or TV
- Software designer
- Art director overseeing production artists
- Motion media / visual effects designer
- Product designer or product packaging designer / product manager
- Brand manager
- Industrial designer
- Sculptor
- Finish carpenter
- Book illustrator / medical illustrator / product illustrator
- 3D renderer / AutoCAD designer / game designer
- Fine artist / craft artist selling art pieces through artist consignment shops, craft fairs and festivals, or galleries
- Faux finisher for walls in home or business decor
- Interior designer for homes, stores, corporate offices, and government buildings
- Architect
- Museum curator
- Set designer
- Exposition / conference booth display designer
- Video editor / producer / director
- Videographer
- Photographer (studio, landscape, still, abstract, digital, etc.) or photography instructor
- Book cover designer
- Vehicle design or painting
- Landscape designer
- Fashion designer
- Seamstress / weaver
- Art / design instructor
- Home stager
Word Arts
- Marketing / ad copywriter (writes wording for display ads, articles promoting products or services, advertisements, catalog descriptions, feature articles for the Web, brochure copy, infomercial scripts, etc.)
- Technical writer (writer of handbooks, instructional guides, Website help and FAQs, manuals, etc.)
- Journalist (freelance or employee of magazines, newspapers, Web content providers) or photojournalist
- Speech writer
- Grant writer
- College professor / researcher
- Book author / compiler of articles or stories for publication
- TV script writer / playwright / adapter of books for stage or screen
- Writing instructor
- Greeting card writer
- Publisher / self-publisher
- Manuscript formatter
- Professional speaker / live storyteller or seller of recorded videos of storytelling online
- Poet / song writer / jingle writer
- Website content developer
- Information architect / information designer
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialist for Internet marketing
- Editor or proofreader (for book publisher or newspaper, or freelance)
- Fact researcher / Internet researcher
- Medical writer
- Art therapist
Dance
- Stage performer
- Performer at amusement parks or on cruise ships
- Ice skater
- Choreographer
- Aerobics or aquarobics instructor
- Dance therapist / swim therapist
- Synchronized swimmer
- Dance instructor through schools, academies or parks and recreation courses
- Dance coach / dance club leader
- Tai Chi instructor
- Event producer for dance club events
- Stage manager / venue manager / venue owner
- Dance supply store owner
Culinary Arts
- Restaurant chef
- Chef on cruise ships, at amusement parks or at resorts
- Chef in institutional kitchens like hospitals, schools and prisons
- Kitchen staff / waitstaff
- Baker
- Caterer
- Bartender
- Cake decorator / sugar artist
- Food service manager
- Food photographer
- Nutritionist / dietician
- Restauranteur
- Restaurant startup consultant
- Food critic
- Cookbook author
- Personal chef
- Food scientist / food technologist / product developer
- Food tester / test kitchen chef
- Culinary arts instructor
Other Creative Jobs
- Performance artist
- Comedian
- Actor
- Drama teacher / coach
- Project manager
- Computer security specialist
- Mediator
- Programmer
- Radio / TV broadcaster
- Television news anchor / reporter
- Booking agent
- Talent agent / modeling agent