“You don’t need a million fans, just 100.”

Ben HaleyIn this episode, I interview Ben Haley (yelahneb on Instagram), a stay-at-home dad with a lengthy list of creative experiences and projects. From producing Salon of Shame in Seattle, to taking photos, writing poetry, and playing drums, Ben has tapped into his creativity since he was a teenager.

Ben and I basically spent our formative teenage years together, and have been on our own share of road trips and adventures. Ben’s been a performer, writer, photographer, producer, and drummer. Want to know what it takes to build a creative community for your projects? Then this is the episode for you.

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During our chat, we discuss;

  • Remembering our trip to Graceland in 1994.
  • Why Ben keeps an open mind about traveling.
  • The Salon of Shame, and Ben’s role in producing it in Seattle.
  • How Salon of Shame has embraced deaf members of their audience via ASL.
  • The role Salon of Shame plays in helping people laugh and share painful moments from their lives in a supportive environment.
  • How the production has grown to the point of offering season tickets and raises money for charities.
  • How Salon of Shame has inspired similar shows around the Pacific Northwest, and his mother’s role in those shows.
  • Ben’s early creative outlets in high school, including poetry and photography, and how that’s evolved into a playfulness with Instagram today.
  • The importance of the “long tail” in creative success.
  • Mr. Crow, Ben’s dark alter-ego, and his presence on social media.
  • How Ben’s idea of creative success has changed since his 20’s.
  • The role the internet has played in both art and society, and why feels we missed out on the promise of the internet.
  • How binary thinking can stifle creativity.
  • Why fear of self-promotion was Ben’s greatest creative lesson.
  • Ben’s strategy for work-life balance, and how it hasn’t changed since his 20’s.
  • His new projects, including a podcast of Salon of Shame and Cinema of Shame.
  • His experience playing music professionally, and being part of a “clown band” at a major amusement park.
  • Ben’s advice for other creatives.

In addition to Instagram, you can learn about Salon of Shame via their website.