Brooklyn, I'm Trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com an urban lifestyle + travel blog by liz norment. Tue, 13 Nov 2018 17:43:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://i0.wp.com/www.brooklynimtrying.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cropped-bk.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Brooklyn, I'm Trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com 32 32 109043934 Profile of a Hustler | Aaron McLellan of North End Bag Co. https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-aaron-mclellan-of-north-end-bag-co/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profile-of-a-hustler-aaron-mclellan-of-north-end-bag-co https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-aaron-mclellan-of-north-end-bag-co/#respond Mon, 12 Nov 2018 19:31:50 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=6180 Starting your own business takes way more than curating an attractive Instagram gallery. It takes being honest with yourself about your skillset. It takes recognizing and answering a calling that likely was beckoning way before you heard it. It takes]]>
Starting your own business takes way more than curating an attractive Instagram gallery. It takes being honest with yourself about your skillset. It takes recognizing and answering a calling that likely was beckoning way before you heard it. It takes practicing your craft so long your fingers bleed or your mind aches or you’re just about ready to pull all of your hair out. It takes failure, rejection, frustration, impenetrable determination, and then every so often, those moments of pure elation.

 

Aaron McLellan of North End Bags has been on a nearly lifelong journey during which he has been met with each one of those things. Born into a family of fighters and craftsman, he has pushed through setbacks and unlikely circumstances that somehow established his and his wife’s brand in Virginia Beach and forged an impact on the community that goes way beyond canvas and leather.
Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

In this iteration of my Profile of a Hustler series, I unpack the riveting tale of the brand, the bags, the movement, and the ViBe happening in Virginia Beach, one that for the most part started with a set of hands, a needle, and a vision.

 

This interview was conducted in their space in the alleyway behind Three Ships Coffee in a mixed-used shop and factory where 6 hands and 4 paws spend their days hammering, sewing, cutting, clutching, and scratching around; their pup Otis (@bag.dog) is an important part of the shop. Please continue reading this piece while imagining the tinking of hammers upon rivets, the intermittent orchestra of sewing machines starting and stopping, the heavy smell of leather, the sighs of machines and workers, the ringing of the dangling bell at the door and greeting of customers and the coo’s at Otis as anyone and everyone entered.
The very picturesque @bag.dog captured by @hannahelizarmstrong
Brooklyn I’m Trying: Let’s start from the beginning of this husband-and-wife operation. How and when did Sarah come into the picture?

 

Aaron McLellan: I was roommates with her little brother in Virginia Beach. He was going to college down here at Virginia Wesleyan, and I had just moved down here from Newport News after graduating from Christopher Newport. I was looking for a roommate and I had a friend tell me, “Hey, my friend, he wants to live at the beach too,” so it just worked out. And then… well then I met his sister.”

 

BiT: Why did you guys decide to start your business here? Was there any discussion to go anywhere else?

 

AM: Actually there was. At the time Sarah was living in Brooklyn and I was doing an internship at a place called Knickerbocker, a brand that makes clothing, a lot of menswear. I was kind of at a point where I had already started doing this, making bags, but it was kind of small. I was making them out of a garage and no one really knew about me at all and at that point I was like, “I think I’m going to move to New York because I want to live in the same place as this girl.” Over time and between visits here and up there, we decided that we were going to get married. So we were trying to plan all of that and still figure out where to live together. I had just started getting involved and selling some bags at the farmers market here, and then somebody had offered for us to put a shop over at this industrial park, then a friend offered us a house to live in and so things just all started to fall into place here instead.

 

BiT: The community kind of accepted you guys before you accepted it.

 

AM: Yeah exactly, I mean I was about to move to Brooklyn and try. I was either going to work at Knickerbocker or I was going to try to do my own thing up there eventually but there were so many questions up in the air, like how am I going to afford to live there and keep up the business, how am I going to find a place to sell my bags, how will I find space to make them, all of that; and everything just seemed to fall into place here within a really short amount of time. So she moved down here and then just one thing led to another.

 

BiT: As they often do.

 

AM: Right. I basically started making a couple bags and selling them at the farmers’ market and I was posting them on Instagram. I started getting a little recognition in the community and it just kept building. It was really crazy. We never took out a loan, and everything we did was just like, ‘Okay, I got $200 for a few sales, I’m going to get this material,’ and then I was able to make $400 with the bags I made out of that. And it just kept growing and growing until we had enough cash flow to buy in bulk. And that’s kind of how it happened.

 

Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

BiT: Do you think that you would have had the success you’ve had at this point if you had started the company in Brooklyn, or is it something in particular about the lifestyle and community here in Virginia Beach?

 

AM: Yeah, I definitely think about that kind of thing. I feel like we do a great thing and I’m really proud of it, but I also think that I kind of fell into this. I’m not some kind of great entrepreneur who was thinking, ‘Oh I’m gonna do this in Virginia Beach because they’re ripe for the pickin,’ but I do think that this place is kind of ripe for the pickin’ for what I wanted to do.

 

BiT: Whereas in New York, the market is already kind of saturated.

 

AM: Yeah, I think that first of all the market up there is a factor, there’s a lot of competition. There’s no one doing this here which is to my benefit. But there’s also something about the community that we have here. Virginia Beach is a big city, but living on the oceanfront, there is a specific community of people who all have this love for the ocean and love for the outdoors. I feel like everyone builds their life around this similar love, and it builds community for some reason. You see the same people walking on the beach every morning. We’ve been surfing a lot the past few days with the hurricane coming, and everyone’s walking by like, did you surf this morning? Did you surf last night? There’s this community which I think is really important and that keeps us all connected. There’s also something about our location, behind Three Ships and Igor (of Igor’s Signs and Stripes) and Pat who does Benevolent Design, we’re all in it together. Some others too like Stock Pot and Commune, we all are fighting for each other instead of against. When one is successful, it just makes us all more successful. If I’m in Coastal Living magazine, it’s great for Igor, because I’m getting more notoriety. And the same with all these guys. We can all stand alone and hold our own at this point, but we are all in it together.
Outside of Igor’s Signs and Stripes with the North End’s 76 St Tote. Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong
BiT: Yeah, here there’s this atmosphere of creative energy instead of it being too competitive the way that it would be in New York, where often people don’t really want to see someone else’s success because that means that their going to be a little bit lower, instead everyone is kind of growing and strengthening together.

 

AM: Exactly.

 

BiT: That’s really awesome. When and how did the ViBe district become what it is now, as this creative, colorful art district?

 

AM: I still think it’s still in its infancy, but I’ve been a part of it for 4ish years, and every year there’s a little more going on. We’re coming up on 3 years in this location, and before that we were just in the farmers market on Saturdays.

 

BiT: It seems like things have moved pretty fast. Was there ever a moment when you were like, “Holy shit, this is actually happening?”

 

AM: [Laughing] Yeah, I remember for a while I was not taking a paycheck so I was painting houses on the side or doing handyman work, anything I could find to get through. To keep going, I would always tell myself, “This is going to be a good ride.” I had this feeling that whether or not it ever takes off, I’m going to put everything I have into it because this will be so much fun. I’d rather go for this unknown than just sit back and be a construction worker, just scraping a living. I felt like, you know what, I may never make money but it’s a living worth scraping for; it’s so worth it just to do this. There was a point, pretty much when we moved into this building, that we realized it was actually happening. Now we’re going onto 3 years of feeling like this is actually working, this is happening. So yeah. It’s been really cool.
Sarah captured adding leather straps to a new line of bags. Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

BiT: I think you’re right about that. If you try and then fail on something that you’re really excited and passionate about, then at least you were able to work in that craft for a little bit and feel it. And if you don’t ever try, where is that excitement? What fun is that?

 

AM: That’s exactly how it felt.

 

BiT: What’s been a really memorable moment or something very touching for you in this process?

 

AM: This isn’t something specific, but I’ve seen our bags in airports. We’ll be like in California and see one of our bags and to me, that’s just unreal.

 

BiT: Wow yeah, it’s like, “My hands have touched that!”

 

AM: Yeah, yeah exactly. It’s so cool. That, and another thing that’s memorable is something someone told me the other day and I thought it was ridiculous. They said, “You know, you have a cult following around here.” Virginia Beach is so passionate and supportive of us. And not just this company, but some of the other companies feed off our energy. They’re like, ‘those people love what they’re doing and are putting their life into it and I’m going to support it.’ We have people that will just send me an email and they’ll start off, “I’ve been using this bag…” Which usually when an email starts out like that you’re thinking, oh crap, what’s wrong with it. But the email will be like, “I’ve been using this bag for 3 years and everything with it is perfect, it’s my favorite bag. Everything is great with it and nothing has ripped or come undone.” They’re so proud of it because it’s their hometown. This came from here, it was made here, where they live. And it makes me so proud of it because I’m like, “Hey I made that! And it really does work well!”

 

BiT: How often are people so excited about a product that they’re moved to actually write an email to the designer and say, “Hey thank you so much! I really like it!” No one ever does that. But it seems this community knows that they’re feedback is going to help give you the confidence to move forward. Everyone can imagine that there are tons of difficulties when you’re starting something like this, especially if you’re a craftsman and not a business owner; you somehow you have to become all of those things. So I’m sure just that little bit of outreach makes a big difference to you.

 

AM: It definitely does.
A bag made for and in the city of Virginia Beach. Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

BiT: What has been the hardest part or the most difficult thing you’ve had to learn over the past few years?
AM: There are a lot of difficult things. I would say that I’m definitely not, was not a business man. I have always been very unorganized, and so just learning how to be honest about that and navigate around it has been hard. But I’ve also learned my strengths I guess, I know what I’m good at now. I know I’m good at running the shop and being production manager and making sure we have all the products we need, designing the products, figuring out who our audience is and who’s going to buy what we make and marketing all of that; those are my strengths. I figured out that finances aren’t my strong point, so very early I hired an accountant.

 

BiT: There are a lot of hats that you have to wear but it’s helpful if there are some that you can say, you know what, it’s just not my thing, I need someone else to do that.

 

AM: Yeah and if you have an expert doing it, it just makes what you’re doing so much better.

 

BiT: Can you walk us through a typical day for you? Are there certain things that you put in place in order to make sure things run smoothly and you’re constantly inspired?

 

AM: Well a typical day in the summertime, the waves are kind of flat around here but these storms start happening in August so we’ll all gather on the beach. If you look at my text threads, they’re out of control when there’s waves. That’s definitely a huge joy and something I love to do in my life, so I make it important and make time for it. Like this morning I got up at first light, went surfing with some buddies, then got here at 8am. We had to do some hurricane prep so we filled up 75 bags with sand and then at the end of the day today we’re probably going to just line them up. It kind of floods in here just with a heavy rain, and it might come all the way up so we need to be prepared. But normally, I’m always in here, I’m still on a machine a lot of the time, but it’s becoming more a regular thing where I just have too many small things that I need to do. There are tons of materials that we need to always make sure we have enough of, so ordering takes a lot of time. And we’re making more products per week and every month and selling more and trying to keep everything in the inventory up and so there’s that. We’re constantly working on photography for Instagram and keeping our content on the website updated. We’re also always trying to refine the process a little bit, so we’ll maybe have a little bit in the budget to buy a new piece of equipment that might mke our life a little easier.  When we first started, we were handcutting everything, every bit of leather. Now we have this big, heavy, 25-ton press, it’s around the corner over there, and we have dyes and so you lay the leather out on the table of the machine and you put the dyes down there like cookie cutters and they just stamp the letter out …

 

BiT: Oh my god, I bet the first time you did that you were like, whoaaaa…

 

AM: [laughing] Yeah, it saves us days.

 

BiT: And a lot of hand strength too. Cutting leather is no joke.
Canvas, leather, patterns and rivets, captured by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

AM: Oh yeah for sure. You know, so that’s pretty much a weekly part of our lives is dedicated to figuring out what can we fix and what can we make run smoother. I talked to a guy Monday who is out in Washington and is a really experienced bag maker, so I’m probably going to go out there and see their process and learn some of the things they do. And that’s the thing- we’re always trying to get better at what we’re doing. When I first starting to do this, I would sew sew sew all day long, then I’d get home and I’d do computer work, whatever I needed to do; I need to tweak this on the website, I need to respond to this email or send these three emails, and there was just a point a year and a half ago where I was like, at 5pm I’m going to head home and not do computer work so I could clear my head. Becoming more organized has become super important. And I’m worth so much more the next day if my mind isn’t fatigued.

 

BiT: I think that’s really important too. Just because you have a process that has kind of been working doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try something different, just twist it around a little just to see if it works. It can save you a ton of mental energy just by making changes with your schedule.

 

AM: Yeah, for sure.

 

BiT: How is it working with your wife?

 

AM: It’s good. It can be a little challenging because I’m very intense at work and I feel the pressure and the weight of it constantly, always feeling like come on, we gotta get this done right now. I think there’s a personality that you see at home and one at work, and I constantly need to check myself and remind myself, it’s ok, just calm down.

 

BiT: So it seems there’s a balance there, because if she wasn’t here and you didn’t work together, there would be a lot more stress on the table. You have an intensity in the workplace that she kind of counteracts.

 

AM: Exactly. And we also love working together. We just love spending a lot of time with one another so it works great for us. Our dog comes to work with us too which is great.

 

north end bags va beach
Aaron, his wife Sarah, and their first employee and longtime friend Taylor.

 

BiT: I would imagine that regardless, you guys can surf together the next morning and that kind of washes away a lot of the stresses. That’s a bond and connection that helps to keep you focused.

 

AM: Yeah exactly. We live just on 66th Street, so we go to the beach every day pretty much. We get up in the morning, get coffee, and just walk to the beach; it’s really nice.

 

BiT: Where do you see the business in 5 years?

 

AM: That’s a good question because honestly… I’m content. I have a million ideas, but a lot of them have to do with who I don’t want to be as a business. We want to keep selling direct-to-customer. We have a couple of wholesale accounts but they’re very small; it’s more for the partnering of a couple of small businesses helping each other out. These partnerships aren’t like oh I want to move this product and make all this money, it’s like no, we love who these people are and we want to be a part of them. I don’t want to be in department stores. I think overall we’re going to be selling a ton more on our website. I obviously hope to be here still in 5 years, I just don’t want to get too big I feel like it could become too stressful and disconnected.

 

BiT: And maybe take you away from the actual craft.

 

AM: Yeah. We do hope to grow some more and have some more employees. I think we could have something sustainable and successful where people are paid well, people are happy, people want to stay here. Right now there’s only 4 of us, and I could see us being 6 or 8 people and with that we could have a really good product line and we could make a lot of different things. I don’t really want to get any bigger than that.
Aaron’s jovial spirit and meaningful tattoo captured here by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

BiT: What does this tattoo mean?
AM: It says “Pugni Italiani, Oltre Oceano” which means “Fighting Italian, Over The Ocean”. It was the headline of a newspaper article about my great grandpa. He was a professional boxer, and he came over from Italy in 1929 with the Olympic team to do an exhibition-type fight in Boston and he met my great grandmother and ended up staying and marrying her. He was the New England Welter White Champion, and he was the champion of Italy when I was a little kid. We have a lot of family pride for him. I have tons of stuff of his all over the place which I’m still gathering. I have a pair of his leather boxing gloves, and there’s a picture of him up there in that little shelf.
This is him, Werther Arcelli. I kind of joke about it but I think my sisters are like this too- we’re small, he was like 145 pounds, but we’re very feisty; we’re a family of fighters. I take that with me into my business- every day we’re ready to fight, every day is another day to keep going. My grandfather on my dad’s side was a WWII hero and he flew in like 17 missions, and when he got back from the war he went back to school and became a craftsman. He was an awesome woodworker and metalworker too. He made that lamp over there.
Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong

 

BiT: So there’s a lot of family history in the craft.

 

AM: Yeah a lot of my dad’s side of the family were craftsmen. They built houses, they worked with their hands. So even now I have a lot of family support. They’re all wildly excited about this.  And knowing all of this history builds the idea of where I come. It’s never hard to come to work; I always want to, but it’s even easier and I get more excited with this following of family and friends who are like, just keep going.
Photo by @hannahelizarmstrong
Check out the stunning, handcrafted bags that they’ve been making on the North End of Virginia Beach and how the company has evolved over the past 3  years her- North End Bag Co. And pay them (and Otis!) a visit next time you’re in the area. 607 19th St. Unit B, just behind Three Ships Coffee.
]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-aaron-mclellan-of-north-end-bag-co/feed/ 0 6180 Profile of a Hustler | Leslie Quenneville with Paul Paige https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-leslie-quenneville-with-paul-paige/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profile-of-a-hustler-leslie-quenneville-with-paul-paige https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-leslie-quenneville-with-paul-paige/#respond Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:50:44 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=5701 We live in an age of limitless creative freedom. Build your own brand, share your ideas, sell your products, start a movement. Yet how is it that this freedom can also be so profoundly debilitating?  Those first steps to chasing]]>
We live in an age of limitless creative freedom. Build your own brand, share your ideas, sell your products, start a movement. Yet how is it that this freedom can also be so profoundly debilitating? 
Those first steps to chasing your dream are impossible to navigate. The “just do it!” mentality does not translate likes into dollar signs. How do we go about finding our passion and believing in them so steadfastly that we’re willing to spend hours of our own free time on a side hustle”? And then what benchmarks do we meet in order to turn that side hustle into our main hustle; to quit our full-time jobs to chase after this intangible future even without the means to do so? 
To me, the best place to start is to surround yourself with those people who you know are chasing after their passion; those people who have found it or been called by it and have listened and have been pushing through boundaries and often dragged along the bumpy road that becomes living a deliberate life of creativity. Listen to them. Learn from them. Bathe yourself in their energy, and keep them as a guiding light even if you’re on your own creative path. 
I bring you the voices, the energy, and the life behind the brands with my Profile of a Hustler series. This week we talk to Leslie Quenneville, the light and life behind Paul Paige.
Leslie has always been one to light up a room. Her infectious spirit seems to never dim. She’s a relentlessly creative soul with an empathetic heart and unapologetically friendly disposition. She’s one of those people who you are inherently drawn to because she is so definitively herself. 
So when I saw that she had started a lighting company, somehow I wasn’t surprised. 
If you’re finding yourself in a creative or otherwise rut, read on and be inspired by Leslie’s creative journey and the day-to-day grind that brings a very real perspective to the glamour of creation. 
Brooklyn, I’m Trying: When did you first realize you had a thing for lighting? 
Leslie Quenneville: It was after college. I was working as an art director at Royall & Company, now EAB in Richmond, Virginia. They used to throw huge holiday parties and they always asked the art directors to come up with a holiday decoration for each building. My last 2 years we designed installations that both involved light. That probably turned me on to my passion for 3-Dimensional art instead of just print/web design. The last year in particular we not only utilized lighting but also used all recycled materials. We collected over 1300 glass bottles from our fellow employees and built a 13-foot tree. Each bottle was cleaned, de-labeled and hung around a fabricated metal cone. [laughs] Honestly I can’t believe they let me do that!
BiT: What about your professional and creative background led you here?
LQ: I have a creative brain and I’ve always known that. I went to school for graphic design and communication. I do consciously remember choosing Graphic Design because I knew being an “artist” meant struggle and not making money, and Graphic Designers were needed in all realms of corporate and freelance, so it just made more sense. However as an art director at a corporation, I realized that I liked the work but I hated sitting at my desk for 8 hours a day and feeling like I can’t get up and just walk around for 20 minutes every few hours. I work better when I work for a few hours at a time, and I didn’t have that freedom. 
BiT: I’m sure having that freedom fosters more creativity.
LQ: Yes! That’s when I started to realize maybe I am more of an artist than a designer, because instead of just digital work, I like working with my hands. I always felt like artists were way out there and much more creative than myself. I’m definitely motivated by creating things, but also by earning money from them. I knew I wanted to find a way to do what I’m good at but also make a living. 
BiT: How would you describe your work ethic? 
LQ: Put in the work, but get it done with 100% quality and efficiency. 
BiT: Walk us through a day creating for Paul Paige.
LQ: Every day is different. I try and get up around 7 and have my coffee. [laughing] I tend to make a lot of to-do lists because I’ve realized I can’t remember anything now that I wear 7 hats. 
BiT: [laughing] I’m the same way. It definitely helps give my day a little bit of structure and definitely helps me feel more accomplished. 
LQ: Exactly. Then I get my computer work out of the way first; I respond to emails, send emails and spend some time working on the website, then I get to work out in the carport.
BiT: In the carport? 
LQ: Yep that’s my studio. Fortunately in Los Gatos it’s usually not that humid, but it’s toasty; 95 sometimes. I’m still working outside everyday so trust me, I be sweatin’. 
BiT: That definitely creates an added challenge.
LQ: Yeah, I just have to work through it. So let’s say I have a wholesale order for 10 fixtures. I prefer to work in an assembly line because I’ve learned that it’s easier and faster to do the same movement. You’re almost using muscle memory which not only makes the product better, to follow the steps for each one in the same order, but it also alleviates stress for me knowing I’ve done every piece correctly. 
BiT: I’m sure that brings some structure to the craft.
LQ: It helps. I need to and want to have more time to design new things, but for me, again, my daily motivation is I need to be doing things that are actually making me money. Designing is wonderful but for now I have to stick with what I’ve introduced to the public first, and perfect more things for the business like providing great customer service, figuring out how to ship and who to ship with, and how to package stuff and all that jazz. It’s all a reflection of the brand which is a reflection of me. So it’s a lot to manage.
BiT: Right, because owning a business is about so much more than just doing your craft.
LQ: Exactly. I’m working 7 different positions on a daily basis.
BiT: There’s a lot that goes into turning your passion into your profession. How do you define “hustle” and how did you take the leap from making it a side project to your full-time gig?
LQ: I remember selling my very first light that I had purchased and recreated. It was originally an 1800s Turkish brazier that I bought from Class & Trash in Richmond, which is still one of my favorite places. I showed it to a woman who I knew was renovating her house, and she was like, ‘I love that!’ and bought it. And so she was kind of my first professional job. Then I sold a few more lights and I remember using that money to take a trip to the Northwest and I thought, sweet I’m going to get paid for this, this is awesome. Once that happened I started focusing more on it as a side hustle and doing it more often. Another women I know, her boyfriend at the time, was a potter and he was having a show and asked if I wanted to display some of my lights. I said sure, and I went and set up a little section.
That day stuck with me, seeing my own creations. Once I hit my limit sitting at a desk, I went to work for a custom menswear brand that was moving their headquarters from New York to Richmond and needed a creative manager. I was only there for 3 months when one day my friend contacted me and said, “are you still trying to do lighting?” I told him I was, and he said, “I’m doing a website for this salon owner from New York who’s opening a salon in Richmond and he asked me if I  knew any local lighting designers.” I met him that day, talked about what he wanted and shared some ideas that I had, and he said “Yeah, let’s do it.” I went back and quit my job.
BiT: That’s amazing. You just realized that you were being called to do something completely different.
LQ: Trust me I was still nervous. I called my mom before I did it. And I was dating Matt, my now fiance, at this point and I knew how much he thought of my lighting and that what I did was really awesome. There was just a lot of support towards what I was doing as a side hustle, and I thought fuck it, I need to make a move.
BiT: Sometimes those signs are impossible to ignore. How do you maintain energy in your craft and push through periods of frustration between projects? 
LQ: I am bad at reminding myself what I have accomplished, but I have been trying to do that more. I have accomplished a lot. My business has constantly been growing, but the actual activity of what I do, it varies. Normally I take a break because continuing to work through less active periods just aids my frustration. And when it comes to people I struggle, I work alone, I am here at my house all by myself all the time and there are very few people in my life who know and even understand what I’m doing.
BiT: I definitely understand that. Working from home is bittersweet.
LQ: Yeah. Before we moved I started to have monthly meetings with Jason, who used to own a lighting business and is now the production manager at Shades of Light, Doug the welder I was using and Grace who also works for Shades of Light. They could relate to questions and issues I had and were interested in the same topics to talk about. It was a very nice outlet. It’s more difficult now being across the country. 
BiT: Finding ways to surround yourself with the right people makes a huge difference.
LQ: Definitely. I’ve met a lot of people who I’ve found are very similar to me, and I appreciate and respect them a lot. I met one guy at the first Renegade I’d ever done, this guy named Max. He has a passion for light and lighting design and I was so inspired by him. Meanwhile, he’s telling me the same thing which felt great! I never really thought I was a true artist. It took a while to convince myself of that, whereas he’s definitely an artist. Everything he has created are projects for himself. He’s never sold anything and in a way, I admire that. I’m trying to design more mainstream products to put into market but definitely want to keep doing one-of-a-kind installations. Max and I have met a couple times and talked about doing an installation at Burning Man, which would be super awesome. Things to him seem tangible, they don’t seem impossible. To find someone else who shares the same passion as you is not only inspirational and motivating, it makes your ideas feel achievable. 
BiT: From what do you gain inspiration? Any artists or brands in particular? What about makers? 
LQ: I really look at design as a whole. I pay attention to whether or not there are trends amongst many platforms and stores so I know what people are designing and what people are actually buying. I wouldn’t say there’s one particular artist or designer that I really follow closely but I’ve always loved everything vintage. Big Daddy Antiques is a shop in San Francisco and in LA. They source from around the world and have mostly large furniture and lighting that’s very rustic and industrial. I want people to realize it’s better to reuse, repurpose, recycle and fix things that already exist. It doesn’t mean they’re not good quality just because they’re used. There’s so much value and nostalgia in old things.
BiT: Which speaks a lot to your childhood.
LQ: Right. I’m thankful for that.
BiT: I’m sure. Tell us more about the house you grew up in and your parents influence on Paul Paige. 
LQ: My parents bought 6 acres with a “shack” that was literally overgrown with poison ivy and all kinds of crap. It was built in 1796 so it’s really freaking old and crooked; I had to shim up my dresser in my bedroom because things would roll off of it. My parents added on to the original two over two colonial and have continued to make changes and remodel room by room my entire life. There’s definitely a mix of primitive and modern design with it’s vaulted ceilings and bay windows in the bathroom. My dad built a wooden spiral staircase which was always my favorite. Everything was customized but still holds its historic and rustic appeal. Obviously both of my parents are creatives; my mom owned a fabric store for 38 years and is now working with a woman to start a clothing line, Charlottesville Dress Company; my dad has always been good at building things and worked in construction but also has a very detailed brain, so he l likes tedious jobs. He’s the one who taught me how to wire lighting. Growing up in a very non-cookie cutter home led me to look at things very differently and it taught me that anything is possible and things aren’t always as they seem.
BiT: Has there been a moment where you thought, holy shit this is happening? 
LQ: I have that occasionally, normally very short moments, because then I’m like ‘stop you need to stay focused.’ But if and when I ever sell several lights at one time, I get really excited. When I was still living in Richmond, I was introduced to builder Josh Romano; he owns Cobblestone Development. They had a pilot on HGTV called Richmond Rehabbers which didn’t get picked up but he was the first big purchaser. I sold 5 lights to him and once I got back in my car I screamed! I thought, this is great, I’ve made a connection with this guy who is not only buying and flipping houses but he’s doing it a lot! That thought is what gets me extremely giddy. 
BiT: Where do you see Paul Paige in 5 years?
LQ: I see a studio space, not a carport. I do see some employees. And that could be just building a relationship and a community of people who are all working together. I love what I’m doing but I’ve realized quickly that it’s so hard to handle it all on your own. 

Paul Paige

Keep following Leslie’s journey on Instagram and bring her light into your own space on paulpaige.co. 
]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-leslie-quenneville-with-paul-paige/feed/ 0 5701 Profile of a Hustler | Annabelle Lyttle https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-annabelle-lyttle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profile-of-a-hustler-annabelle-lyttle https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-annabelle-lyttle/#respond Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:00:19 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=5165 Let’s face it. We live in a society that is defined by labels, titles, hashtags; things that we can all agree upon and understand. Because if not, how will anything ever start #trending ? And when someone breaks that mold]]>
Let’s face it. We live in a society that is defined by labels, titles, hashtags; things that we can all agree upon and understand. Because if not, how will anything ever start #trending ? And when someone breaks that mold or undermines the decided upon stereotype, it makes us uncomfortable.
If you’re a beautiful woman, you’re a bitch. Why? Because that’s what we’ve decided and it’s simply our deep-rooted, subconscious reaction to beauty so we can better deal with our own insecurities.

 

But that isn’t Annabelle. She shatters any stereotype the moment she speaks to you. Her kindness is almost as overwhelming as her beauty. She’s a fresh face with a warm heart. She might have legs for miles but her heart seems to stretch further. And this stereotype somehow seems to be the easiest one for her to overcome.

 

Trying to fit into that mold of the model/actress, Annabelle works in an industry where stereotypes are seemingly celebrated, where “models” and “influencers” are now expected to be the same thing, when on- or off-camera you are still supposed to represent your brand. How do you break through the stereotypes and outshine the shadows being cast in order to truly be seen?  This societal need for labels, for titles, for definitions we can all agree upon and understand makes it more difficult for those who don’t.

 

A kind, intelligent model.
A gritty, determined actress.
An optimistic, spirited New Yorker.

 

No thanks, can’t you just keep being the pretty girl?

 

Annabelle Lyttle won’t.

 

We sat down with Annabelle while she exposed the grit and grind of this seemingly glamorous industry. We take a look inside the hustle, from castings and auditions to rejections and victories, from disparaging looks and the promising chances from those who choose to see her as more than just a pretty face. In the latest from our Profile of a Hustler series, find out how she is continuing to push through stereotypes, and the frightening way she plans to kickstart her acting career

…………..
BiT: When did you move to New York and what brought you to the city?

 

AL: I moved to NYC in June of 2011. I moved to the city after signing with my very first modeling agency, although I didn’t start modeling right away. I picked up restaurant jobs to help make ends meet. Actually, the very first restaurant I ever worked at in NYC was the Oak Room at the Plaza hotel, right before the restaurant shut down.

 

 

BiT: What did you think you’d find here, and what did you actually find?

 

AL: Everyone has an image of New York in their heads from movies and tv shows, and when I first got here, I was living the life I’d seen in a way. I’d get invited out to huge parties and swanky clubs at night, rub elbows with the occasional celebrity. But the stars faded for me when I realized how difficult it was to make real relationships here. It was very superficial.

 

 

BiT: How do you define “hustle”?

 

AL: My definition of “Hustle” is continuing to pursue your craft no matter how many times you are rejected. I’m in the business of rejection as a model, and I’m starting to segue into the acting world now which is rife with rejection as well, so it’s something that comes with the territory. But I keep trying and I keep showing up because it’s something that I really want to do.”

 

 

BiT: What is one reality about both modeling and acting that people would be surprised to know?

 

AL: One misconception is that models are just there to look pretty. In order to stand out, you have to have a personality and be eloquent and professional, and now there’s so much more of an expectation to be a brand ambassador in addition to a model. Your instagram following is almost more important than experience.

 

 

BiT: How do you balance trying to do the whole branding thing?

 

AL: That’s definitely a sore spot for me. My entire journey getting to New York and to the place where I am right now was from years of doing little things on the side that I thought would elevate me to get to where the people are now that are only quote “models” because of their social media following. It’s very frustrating for those of us who have literally pounded the pavement for years to then get looked over because someone has 20k Instagam followers

 

BiT: Because they know how to play the game, that’s what they concentrate on instead of actually doing the work.

 

AL: Exactly. I’d rather spend more time being a model who shows up on time, is professional on set, takes direction, and gives them what they’re looking for than someone who’s constantly glued to my phone posting the next thing on my Instagram story. I go to castings and before they even ask for your comp card they ask what’s your Instagram handle is, and I already know that I’m not eligible for this because I have barely 2k followers.

 

BiT: That’s so frustrating.

 

AL: I mean, not to discredit it, a lot of good has come from social media. Our definition of beauty has broadened exponentially, and I think it’s amazing because it is a gateway to see different body types, different sizes, different races. I’m totally on board with inviting and being open to many things. Now there’s so much more acceptance of trans culture and there’s a suport system in it and it’s wonderful. That’s what I love about social media. But when it comes to almost being a necessity to brand yourself, I struggle with that. I’m a person, not a brand.

 

Maybe I’m just reminiscent of the past, but the supermodels of the 80s and 90s were huge, and it was a part of their allure that they were mysterious. You didn’t know where they were having dinner or what they were doing all hours of the day. That’s what put them on another level. Now you can pull your phone out of your pocket and see what Bella Hadid is having for breakfast or where she’s traveling, which is cool to think, oh hey, she’s just like us! That’s great, but at the same time, I’m a private person. So the fact that this is a part of the business, I struggle with that. I feel like I could still be just as good as they can without any of that stuff, but for that to be a requirement now, it really sucks.

 

BiT: I completely agree. How do you maintain energy in your craft and push through periods of frustration between projects?

 

AL: For modeling, it helps that it pays the bills. But also I really enjoy it. Most of the jobs that I’m doing at this point in my career is behind-the-scenes stuff, so I’ll do fit modeling or showrooom modeling, but when I do book the rare editorial, I really love it. You’re working with all of these people who have a vision and I’m basically the canvas for all of them. It’s fascinating for them to have it all come to life on my face or with my body movements. That’s why I appreciate it. Modeling is an art, and I respect it in that sense. I think I hold it in a different standard than a lot of models do. Not to undermine anybody else, but that’s how I view it. Rather than the fact that it could be perceived fancy or glamorous, at the end of the day, it is artwork and that’s what keeps me going.

 

 

BiT: What about living in this city in particular helps energize you and keep you going?

 

AL: I used to have moments where I’d take a taxi home after a night out in the city and I’d go over the Williamsburg Bridge, and I know this sounds so cliche but it’s so amazing to look at the skyline and be like, Wow, I’m still here. I’m in this city. I’ve been here for almost 7 years and it hasn’t kicked my ass yet, and that’s energizing I think; to be like, all right, I may not be where I want to be yet, but I’m still here. And I’m still pushing. And knowing what could be… I think that keeps me going.

 

BiT: I think it’s kind of remarkable that we live in a city that simple day to day survival is like, I’m really proud of this!

 

AL: [Laughing] Yeah, I think that’s where the bar is right now. I’m surviving. But I’m surviving in New York City.

 

BiT: …and that’s pretty damn impressive.

 

BiT: Was there a moment in modeling and acting where you thought, hey, this is really happening!

 

AL: Yes. Modeling, I was lucky enough to travel to 2 different international markets, and for me that was like, oh my god, I’m one of those models who’s going somewhere else! It felt very validating to me. It just seemed like, ok I’m doing well in New York, I don’t have to go anywhere else, and at that point in time I had done very little international traveling, so it was so exciting to be in another country and experience a totally different culture and meet new people from other places.

 

BiT: I would imagine there are few benchmarks at that level in a way in New York so that’s definitely a big stride.

 

AL: Exactly, it was a really big deal. And it worked out really well for me. I came back with a brand new portfolio, I signed with an agency down there but I actually had a spread in Glamour Mexico, which, I mean I would never book Glamour in New York. In New York it’s so saturated, and most magazines are given to celebrity models instead of people like me. The fact that I did Glamour there was huge.

 

AL: In terms of acting, I’m still waiting for that moment to happen. I did have an audition with a casting director and he was so impressed with my performance that he took the time to call my agent and say, “Annabelle has got something. She’s way more than just a model. You need to be sending her out and developing her for acting.” And then I actually took a meeting with him to pick his brain a little bit and he told me, “I’ve made that phone call maybe 3 times in my entire career and one of those times was for you. Stick with it, keep doing it, you have it.” For me that was like, ah thank you! Thank you so much.

 

BiT: In some ways that can be better than getting a role.

 

AL: Exactly, I didn’t even get the job but he was compelled to say, she needs to know that she’s good. That was really nice. But yeah I’m just now getting back to acting so I’m still taking it as it comes and celebrating small victories.

 

 

BiT: Tell us what are you working on now.

 

AL: I was just cast in an indie horror film called Reap. It’s kind of like Saw meets the 7th Seal. Which actually I haven’t even seen the 7th Seal [laughing]. Frankly, I can’t even watch scary movies which is why it’s so ironic that I’m about to be acting in one, but yeah it should be a really cool project with really cool people and it will be my first lead role in any film project I’ve worked on. I got really lucky with this because when I initially submitted myself, I submitted to just like a small day-player, not even a supporting role; she had one scene, maybe 3 lines. I submitted myself for that, and the director called and said, “Hey, I loved your look, I watched your reel on your profile page, let me know if you’d like to read for a bigger part.” I was thinking, of course, I’d love to read for a bigger part! I was just thankful for the opportunity to even audition for him. So he had me read for the lead role. I did a self-tape first at home then the auditions, and he told me I was cast as the lead role. I’m super excited.

 

 

BiT: What is the scope of the filming from here?

 

AL: At this point we’re still trying to get our budget together and plan everything out. I think they are going to be shooting 2-3 weekend shoots. We’re having a really good cinematographer come in, a special effects makeup artists come, just a really really great team and good actors!

 

 

BiT: What are you most excited about in terms of seeing the finished product?

 

AL: I guess just seeing myself performing again, because it’s been so long since I’ve done anything professionally other than modeling. I don’t know, it’s just so… I just feel so proud of myself. I have been struggling with my agent on finding roles that are a good fit, so I’ve just been doing it on my own, sending myself out, so I’m really proud of myself… the fact is that I not only got the audition but I got the lead role in this part, it’s just all very exciting for me. So to see the finished product and to say, ok, despite what you may think, I did this.

 

BiT: I imagine to see everyone’s genius come together will be invigorating.
AL: Yeah, exactly.

 

 

BiT: What are the next steps to make it come together?

 

AL: So for funding, we have a Kickstarter. Our deadline ends on May 2nd. We have a $6k budget and it’s exciting for me because it is an opportunity for a lot of people to come together to support independent artists who have a goal and a dream and want to put together their vision and make a really cool movie. I think it’s a really great start for me personally because I’m non-union and independent, and some really big name actors started out doing completely independent films, horror films specifically. So I’m hoping it all comes together.

 

BiT: It’s not often for people to have the chance to hear your story and to then understand what it takes to get there. Kickstarter is a way to monetize what you believe in and support independent artists.

 

AL: And I’m so thankful for all of the support I’ve been given throughout my journey in NYC and my career. That’s definitely helped maintain my hustle, having other people believe in me. If anyone can donate to our Kickstarter, it will be much appreciated!”
…………..

 

Donate to Reap here, and see Annabelle kicking ass in a few months.

 

Keep hustling, Brooklyn. It’s why you’re here.
]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-annabelle-lyttle/feed/ 0 5165 How To Stay Motivated | Brooklyn, I’m Trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/how-to-stay-motivated-brooklyn-im-trying/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-stay-motivated-brooklyn-im-trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/how-to-stay-motivated-brooklyn-im-trying/#respond Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:30:15 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=4920 It always helps me to keep in mind that writer’s block may feel like an isolated issue, but to approach motivation as a holistic experience. The way to combat writers’ block isn’t too sit blankly in front of a computer]]>
It always helps me to keep in mind that writer’s block may feel like an isolated issue, but to approach motivation as a holistic experience. The way to combat writers’ block isn’t too sit blankly in front of a computer screen or to simply rely on other writers’ content to propel our brains into that magical, mystical yet finicky land of inspiration; physical movements can pull our minds out of that creative rut; a few intentional steps can ignite change from the inside; music and lyrics can reframe our own projects, and momentum can simply be a plane ticket and a date penciled inked into an oversized desk calendar.

 

Here are some of my tried-and-true efforts at maintaining motivation and seducing our creative muses, those sneaky bitches.

 

 

Switch Up What’s In Your Ears

There are so many Podcasts created with the intention of helping us understand that we are not islands; that our same struggles and frustrations have been experienced by groundbreaking entrepreneurs, creators, movers and shakers. Hearing how they have failed, fallen, and pushed through is incredibly moving.

 

The ones that are always in my ears are How I Built This and Don’t Keep Your Day Job.

 

 

Do Some Powerful Reading

I can’t deny that the first thing I reach for when I’m in desperate need of motivation is my bookshelf. I’ve found that the best defense is a mix of inspirational self-help books and poetry, to remind you that you have a tremendous amount of self-worth and potential, and that life and love and pain and beauty are all so real.

 

Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey – from the always-moving and soul-baring Instagram-famed poet, a physical copy of her simply moving and beautiful words that I only put down in moments to hold my hand to my heart and inhale in awe at how she chose those words. Each page was beautifully arranged to make you want to rip them out and frame them all over your wall. But you won’t, of course. This is one I can always rely on to put into words the frustration, pain, and beauty I’m experiencing. Get yours now.

 

William Carlos William’s Spring and All – One of my favorites for his simple, poignant, and stunning words, it keeps me warm and reminds me of the beauty all around despite its at times masked appearance. Oh, and that I should use less words. Get yours here.

 

Jen Sincero’s You Are A Badass – my favorite words from a woman who somehow combines the beliefs and practices of the Secret with a modern straight-forward approach that hits you hard and stays with you. Her mantras are powerful and her words result in a genuine feeling that you can’t and won’t fail. It’s the kick-in-the-ass motivation I can always rely on. Buy it here.

 

Stephen Pressfield’s The War Of Art – absolutely unmatched, powerful description of recognizing and defeating resistance to your own creativity. I dare you to pick this up for 5 minutes and maintain your creative rut. Seriously, I dare you. Get yours here.

 

Marcus Almond’s Brooklyn To Mars – And this one, that toes the line between motivation and poetry flawlessly – Marcus Almond’s words are stinging and powerful and make perfect mantras to copy and place around your workspace. Plus it’s small enough to keep permanently in your bag and to help ignite that creative fire no matter where you are. Buy it here.

 

 

Put On Some Tunes

My space is always filled with music, but because of this, I have a habit of passively listening by simply toggling between my Spotify-created playlists. To ignite my soul and get through this winter-induced creative rut, I turn to a mix of modern and vintage peppered with a little irony and aggression.

 

Currently getting lost in a daydream with LCD Soundsystem’s new album American Dream

 

And channeling the forward-moving anger with Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

 

 

Move It Along

I’ve always been a firm believer in physical movement as a motivator. If something isn’t working in the place or headspace you’re at, get up and move. To another room or to a cafe down the street or on a 6-mile run or dancing to Salsa Nation. Changing the physical space you’re experiencing has an impact on everything that your brain is taking in. Don’t convince yourself you don’t have the time; you don’t have time to keep sitting stagnant and expect different results. Go. Move.

 

 

 postcard from barcelona

Plan Trips

The best way to keep moving forward is to set some dates, get some tickets, respond to those save-the-dates with a less visceral eye-roll and a more physical trip planned. Go somewhere you’ve never been before, just outside the city or on the other side of the world. Dusting off that passport will shake the dust from your soul and paint everything in a more hopeful light. The best place to start? Here. Search “Everywhere” and “Cheapest Month” and then, you know. Go.

 

 

Update Your Workspace

Where we work often dictates how we work, and our spaces can thus reflect the stagnation, disorganization, and lack of motivation in our routines. Update your space with a few little things instead of allowing yourself to get lost in a full redecorating mission. A few prickly cacti from Homecoming in Greenpoint keep me on my toes and add a little attitude to my normal houseplant landscape. This oversized calendar from Need Supply in Richmond allows me to never forget the date or to lackadaisically participate in the passing of time. And this scentful little candle from Tulip and Bear that reminds you that late nights are really just magic hours.

 

Get out there, Brooklyn. I can’t wait to see what you create.

<3L

]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/how-to-stay-motivated-brooklyn-im-trying/feed/ 0 4920 2017 in Reflection, Appreciation, and Resolution. https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/2017-reflection-appreciation-resolution/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2017-reflection-appreciation-resolution https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/2017-reflection-appreciation-resolution/#respond Wed, 10 Jan 2018 21:00:37 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=4604 The new year always seems to offer us a fresh start, a new chance to transition and live better lives. To be better people. To clean out the cobwebs in the corners of our rooms and the corners of our]]>
The new year always seems to offer us a fresh start, a new chance to transition and live better lives. To be better people. To clean out the cobwebs in the corners of our rooms and the corners of our hearts and start new. And this refresh should begin with reflection, on what changed us and challenged us and filled our hearts with joy this year. Taking the time to appreciate what we’ve done and who we’ve met and how we’ve been moved will help us move forward. So this is my reflection, appreciation, and more than a few resolutions into the new year.

The Moments that Moved Me

One day in May when I walked into a wine bar in Greenpoint and got hired on the spot, and I thought that I’d made a decision to deliberately and responsibly quit my job, thinking then that this job would more than pay the bills. I walked out into the rain floating, liberated, smiling so hard I thought my face might break and at the time, that seemed ok. I wrote about it here; The Day You Changed Your Life.

Crying in Transmitter Park. I found myself one day completely broken, sitting in the grass at Transmitter Park, eating a peach and wondering why the fuck life was so hard. I couldn’t pay my rent yet I couldn’t leave the city. I couldn’t pay any of my bills and hadn’t in weeks. I felt alone and ashamed and it was too late to turn back. And that was my last peach. I remember crying and looking out into the East River and searching for some sort of hope. Read about it right here.

Spending time in Barcelona just before the most recent vote for Catalan secession, and seeing a country and a people that I knew I knew so well somehow change my perspective. And in that spirit, realizing that really anything that I think I know, or know I know, can be changed by a feeling in a way you never expected. Read about it here in Why We Travel Reason #17 | ¡Visca Catalonia!
Buying a one-way ticket to Spain. Seeing author Stephanie Danler speak and recite the importance of the poem The Bust of Apollo. The poem describes the poet approaching the bust of Apollo, and being confused yet captivated by it’s powerful presence, despite the fact that the God of War was without his piercing gaze and impenetrably strong countenance and was, definitively, headless. As he approached it looking for a reason for this unavoidable power, walking until he would be looking right into the eyes of the God, the response he felt said to him, firmly;
for here there is no place 
that does not see you.
you must change your life
I nearly collapsed with the impact of it. The next day I went to work and bought a one-way ticket to Spain.

Deciding not to take that trip to Spain. Then I had the heartbreaking realization that I had to stop running off to Spain without a plan, especially when I hadn’t even committed to the plan I made here. On Nov. 5th, I wrote on Instagram here: Today hurts. Today hurts because I have a one-way ticket to Madrid, on a plane that I won’t be boarding, on my way to a life that I won’t be living. It hurts because my seat will be empty. They’ll call my name, maybe. They’ll wonder if I’m coming. And where I might be, and why I’m not there. Why. And that question I will seek to answer constantly and actively. The life change I had planned took a different turn, and needs to be at a different time, and now I’ll be committed to being a writer in New York instead of starting a business in Spain. And so as my name echoes in that airport, I hope my words instead will resonate here. 

In Appreciation

This year was defined, in a word, by transition and intention. I recognized what wasn’t working in my life and decided to walk directly and deliberately away from it. And this created an uncharted at times unnavigable course for my life. The complete unknown, where I had to only believe in my own abilities, beliefs, and creative resilience in order to move forward. And for that I have the utmost appreciation.

In Resolution

These are the benchmarks I’ve chosen to deliberately and intentionally walk in the desired direction for my life this year.

Meditate.

This I’ve found helps me feel grounded and mentally connected than anything else. It answers me when I ask myself what the fuck I’m doing. It reminds me that I believe in myself and if I can’t at the moment, to have faith that I’ll figure it out. I’ve been using these guided meditations and recently, exploring this one more in depth. Starting my days in this way makes everything fall into place in the most invigorated and … way possible.

Start A Business.

More than anything, living a lifestyle where I kind of don’t know what each day will bring lends itself to curiosity and creativity and an overall entrepreneurial spirit that I can’t ignore. I have some damn good ideas and own, like, 11 different domains at this point. So these ideas I have will take fruition, this year.

Live a realistically healthy lifestyle.

So I know I make fun of this whole Dry January thing, and that is not because I find it lame for people to dlieberately make a move toward healthier lifestyles, but it’s because i believe we should all enjoy life. And if that means wine, that means wine. If that means kombucha and quinoa, then it means kombucha and quinoa. Don’t abstain, listen to yourself and respect your body and enjoy life. Cut back when you need to and let loose when you want to. If you need examples of how best to go about this, move to Europe.

Monetize This Blog.

It’s easy to be proud and say, I quit my job to pursue writing, and to then respond with,” for now my medium is my blog.” and then, inevitably, “How does that make money?” “Oh, well… it’s not right now.” And well, it needs to. And that is why each word you’re reading right now will automatically take 10cent from your bank account. Ok, ok just kidding, but I do have a plan. And you know, that’s a damn good start.

Breathe Through My Morning Panic.

I really hate to admit this, but I can’t tell you how many times I wake up and my first word is “FUCK!” or “Son of a Bitch!!”  because I almost always feel overwhelmed, insufficient, creatively panicked in the morning instead of taking a moment and saying, this is an opportunity. And the panic makes the entire day impossible. My hope is to realize that sleep is sacred and necessary. That nothing is overwhelming if we don’t allow it to be. breathe through it, to not utter another curse word as my first proclamation of the day,

Live Deliberately.

I recently house sat at a modern artist-space (and apartment) for about 3 weeks. This couple, who I am very close with, had the most uncluttered, calming, and intentionally-used space I’ve spent time in. It was far from sterile, every corner spoke of who they are and where they’ve been and who they admire and what they believe in. And I found that for those 3 weeks, a calmer and more focused version of myself. Instead of tossing my boots carelessly on the floor when I came in the door, I put them away. I hung my coat. Moving into a new space this year will allow me to completely purge so many things in my life that no longer have meaning and realize that every object in your living space has an energy that it gives and some that it takes. And that precious energy doesn’t deserve to be sucked into physical objects and dusty spaces anymore.

Bring it on, 2018. I’m ready.
<3L.
]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/2017-reflection-appreciation-resolution/feed/ 0 4604 Follow This Girl | Hannah Elizabeth Armstrong https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/follow-girl-hannah-elizabeth-armstrong/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=follow-girl-hannah-elizabeth-armstrong https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/follow-girl-hannah-elizabeth-armstrong/#respond Sun, 19 Nov 2017 17:40:09 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=4204 did we ever think that “thumb-stopping” would be a goal, a term, a practice, a showing of our appreciation for art? well, that’s where we are and where we’ll be for a while. in the midst of this digit-reactive digital]]>

did we ever think that “thumb-stopping” would be a goal, a term, a practice, a showing of our appreciation for art? well, that’s where we are and where we’ll be for a while. in the midst of this digit-reactive digital age, seek those artists who are working hard to stick in your mind and move you. hannah armstrong, the eye behind the lens of @hannahelizarmstrong is one of those to watch. as a travel photographer and wandering soul, her view of the world is one you want to keep an eye on. and if you happen to catch her, she’s a damn good time to have a beer with. follow along here.

]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/follow-girl-hannah-elizabeth-armstrong/feed/ 0 4204 a straphanger’s tale. https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/a-straphangers-tale/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-straphangers-tale https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/a-straphangers-tale/#respond Sat, 14 Oct 2017 21:31:37 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=2424 straphangerthe relentless anxiety that pours in, wondering if this train will be mine as it is approaching the station. I size up everyone- boy appearing not to give a shit about anyone else, with skateboard. where will he put that]]> straphanger
the relentless anxiety that pours in, wondering if this train will be mine as it is approaching the station. I size up everyone- boy appearing not to give a shit about anyone else, with skateboard. where will he put that skateboard? we won’t have space for it. man looking nervously important, with briefcase. he is worried about getting to work on time, I can tell. and he probably showered this morning. I’ll stick near him. woman holding child’s hand, using it as some sort of free pass to the front, pushing and prodding expectantly. I feel sympathetic while also wondering if there is some sort of child rental service for situations like this. I feel guilty for thinking that but also highly entertained. shit’s funny man. besides, on the subway platform we are all the same. we all deserve a spot and don’t deserve a spot. there are no rules here, no lines. I feel the thought creep into my head- I’ve been here the longest, they must know. I dismiss it just as quickly. no one cares. i don’t care.
an automated announcement dictates what the countdown clock tells us- 9 minutes until the next train. NINE MINUTES. it’s an eternity. I must get on the next train, the one that’s coming barreling down the tunnel and I don’t dare scoot back, risking my coveted spot on the edge. I realize if I had been blessed with my mother’s breasts I would likely be nicked. I’m momentarily grateful as the whoosh of wind hits me and i lean slightly into the other penguins standing upon the ledge, i don’t care, i won’t budge. I’m betting that the doors open exactly in front of me. I know if it’s just a few inches off I’ll be pushed back too far.
a muffled announcement tries to calm the mounting anxiety. “there is another train directly behind this train! do not try to get into this train! there will be another train approaching the station immediately behind it.” no there won’t be man, stop lying to us. we all saw the clock. we believe the clock. it’s nine minutes away and we will all be fired in that nine minutes and I am getting on THIS train.
the doors open and we all hold our breath and squeeze in. we grumble. we cling tighter to our items. it closes and we exhale, knees and stomachs and shoulders filling the gaps as we expand together. we choose silly things to hold on to for dear life. I am pinching an inch-wide sliver of plastic on the ceiling and have my chin nearly resting on my neighbor to steady myself.  everyone smells of coffee and their own apartments, it’s familiar and invasive and someone is smelling you. you wonder how you smell to other people.
i make eye contact with someone 15 bodies and three feet away. we both exchange the exact same look that says,”this is fucking ridiculous and no one should have to stand this and there must be a better option and this is the most efficient public transit according to whom and I think that guy’s back hair just went in my nose and I don’t even want to go to work! and we live in the greatest fucking city in the entire fucking world.”
and then the train lurches to a stop and everyone collectively groans and the doors open and we spill out like bats from a cave and we all move intentionally and rapidly forward and up, ascending, together.

<3L.

]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/a-straphangers-tale/feed/ 0 2424 Profile of a Hustler | Jay Rinsky of Little Cinema https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-jay-rinsky-of-little-cinema/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profile-of-a-hustler-jay-rinsky-of-little-cinema https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-jay-rinsky-of-little-cinema/#respond Tue, 15 Aug 2017 19:09:08 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=3725 jay rinsky of little cinemaas creatives and residents in this sprawling metropolis, it’s easy to get so engulfed in your own project that you hardly come up for air. but we need to remember that on this island, we are not islands. which is]]> jay rinsky of little cinema
as creatives and residents in this sprawling metropolis, it’s easy to get so engulfed in your own project that you hardly come up for air. but we need to remember that on this island, we are not islands. which is of course is why we live here. we suffer through relentless winters and astronomically high rent prices and, you know, the rat thing… and this is why we do it. in this city we are surrounded by creators, dreamers, thinkers, mover, shakers, hustlers. you can practically breathe in the creative energy as soon as you walk out of your cramped 5-floor walk-up.
jay rinsky is at the pulse of all of the creativity, inspiration, and talent that paints the perfect picture of artistic collaboration in new york. i was reminded of the beauty that comes from this vital practice as i sat in the dining car of an amtrak train, heading east. i had set up a phone interview with jay and he had been almost suspiciously nonchalant about the time. the past 3 days had taken him from alaska to seattle and back to new york. “call me whenever, no need to worry about time,” he said. even this stressed me out. what?? giving him a ring from the train, i fully expected him not to answer. “hey liz! sure i can talk now…”
the next 45 minutes unfolded into the most inspiring and entertaining interview i’ve ever conducted.
jay rinsky is a modern renaissance man for a generation of hustlers. he’s the founder and creator of little cinema, an immersive cinematic experience that combines film, theater, live music, and audience interaction to bring a film off of the screen and make it into a living, breathing thing. familiar stories explode with life and give the audience, and the performers and creators involved a completely new perspective and feeling about what can often be a one-dimensional art form.
jay’s entire life seems to exist within the combustible ether of spontaneity, something that was palpable as soon as he answered the phone. “you were just in alaska?” “yes. i was on a 2-week artist residency on a 100-year old tug boat with a crew of 6 other artists, none of whom had any experience with boats. i made us all life aquatic costumes using materials i kind of patched together from amazon. we were out there for 8 days, and part of the project was a one-shot documentary film shot with a super 8 camera, which means there’s one scene, one shoot, no edits. once it develops, that’s your story. we had no idea what the film would be about and were filming as we were going through glaciers, and ended up running into a giant iceberg. so we parked next to it and chipped ice off of the iceberg and made cocktails from it and that’s what the film ended up being about, finding ice to make the perfect cocktail.”
what??
and this was my introduction to jay rinsky. as i barreled up the east coast on an amtrak train, i was taken on a journey through his creative psyche and could barely hold on.
my conversation with Jay is below. keep reading.
yep. this is the 100-year old tug boat.
Brooklyn, I’m Trying what is your artistic background?
Jay Rinsky i’m mixed bag of many things. I was born in new york, grew up in israel and spent most adulthood in austrailia. I’ve been back in new york for three and a half years as a video dj and artist. i use old dj turntables to mix both sound and picture and apply dj techniques to videos, and little cinema is the culmination of these two creations through movies. through my work i’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with a 40-piece orchestra, i’ve performed at the israeli opera with an orchestra where we custom built a huge video screen. on my own video shows, i create a fusion of a dance party and video party, so it all combines film and other content into video art that stands on its own two feet.
BiT how was little cinema born?
JR i was working on a project that was very tedious in the editing room. it got me a bit lonely, and made me want to collaborate with other artists. i noticed that there’s not much going on in terms of live action and screen and interaction bw two, doesn’t make sense. i knew that my skill set could lend itself to a dialogue with other artists and performers to meet and use.
BiT how did you take this from idea into an actual performance?
JR I took a chance and pitched this idea briefly to House of Yes before they opened up. The first show was a collaboration with Anya and Kae, who are the founders and performers at House of Yes. They brought together whole other elements that i wasn’t experienced in before, including theater and circus and costume and put it all together in front of screen. I was in charge of that mixing in and looping video live, and thus somehow Little Cinema was born in that way, by accident.
 
BiT what was it like to see that first show come to life?
JR The first show was a tribute to david bowie, and we performed it the day after he died. we put it all together in 24 hours.
BiT it seems that the shows gain energy from this spontaneous creativity.
JR they do! we approach the whole thing with the goal of keeping artistic integrity present and personally having fun. the ground rules include fearless creativity, try something new every show, incorporate anyone who wants to be involved in this project, and to create and perform shows relentlessly. our first year we produced a new show almost every week, sometimes multiple, 33 unique show in about 18 months. this project has grown and developed to 1-2 performances that combine live action and interaction that is happening every 5 minutes and taking place in all forms; multi-sensory experience of sight, smell and sound; performers, projector screens, anything we can do or get or hands on.
BiT what challenges have you faced along the way?
JR (laughing) every single show is a challenge because we have no idea how it’s going to work. i always feel like i’m in over my head because inevitably, art of this kind with this set of rules creates problems. we’re trying something new every show which becomes difficult. as we progress, we still need to invent new things and that becomes challenging. what would be something we haven’t done before? we incorporated a live bingo game into our last show, which the audience didn’t expect. another huge challenge is logistics as the shows end up having 40 or more people involved in them, and it’s all produced and put together between friday and the tuesday of the show, and communicating to so many people as a little operation is hard. i’m at the heart of everything, constantly trying to fuse everything and everybody together. it’s a challenge but also that creative energy is what makes it feel like magic.
BiT so all of this basically unfolds live on the night of the show?
JR yep. during the performance, our communication becomes a different challenge because it relies a lot on improv. the artists are encouraged to bring their own creative touch to things. we never know exactly what will happen. even just a lighting standpoint, it’s important to somehow have everything punch at the right time. we never have a rehearsal so it all unfolds live on stage, and we just have to have a lot of trust that it will go well. there’s a lot of stress because the whole thing gets tightly compressed until the day of the show. for at least half of the shows, we are often writing the ending as the performance is starting. we have no idea what’s going to happen.
 
BiT was there ever a moment that you realized holy shit this is actually happening?
JR this whole project is collaborative and it’s an exercise in a creative democracy. i collaborate with other co-directors on the conceptual bigger level and make sure i bring in talent who are encouraged to self-direct their acts. in the beginning, i had no theater background at all so i was still observing and learning about circus, theater, lighting, stage management. i am so engrossed in the show during the performance that i don’t get to experience it until 1-2 days after when i get to look at the footage. i get to look at the other artists’ works and that i don’t get to see the night of the show and i always think, “wow, you completely nailed that there. i didn’t even know that happens!” all these things wasn’t aware of, it’s so fascinating to see how well it works on the screen. those moments is when i realize how amazing it is, what we’ve created. every time when i come back home and see this amazing aerial piece happening in front of screen and i think, this is the best cinema ever! (laughing)  where else is this happening?
 
BiT how do you choose performances?
JR the films i choose are usually a combination of things. for the big lebowski, it felt seasonally appropriate and we knew it would be fun and a little crazy. i always get inspiration and suggestions from whom i’m creatively collaborating with, and i always wants some variety to keep things fresh. we’ll do a fun one, then dark one, then a documentary, then a comedy. we try to keep the curation very eclectic and diverse. and i always want to have a personal connection to the film so that passion is reflected in the performance.
 
BiT any surprises for the upcoming showing of The Dude Immersive that you want to share with Brooklyn, I’m Trying readers?
JR well you know, I don’t want to give anything away. guests will have action happening in all parts of the room, on stage and beyond stage, above their heads. they will be sprayed and hit by certain things, but in a pleasant way. you’ll see various metaphors come to life, like a drag queen representing a room that gets tied together. there will be a drinking game folded in, and lots of metaphors with objects brought in as people, pysch dreams interpreted by aerial performances, a lot of trapping and changing. about every 5 minutes the audience will get hit with something different, so just as they sink into thinking, “hey, i’m watching a movie,” something else entirely will happen.
BiT i seriously cannot wait to see what happens. can you tell me what’s next for Little Cinema?
JR I don’t have an idea yet for the next project, but for now I’m looking to plan out and curate a season and to establish a Little Cinema membership. I’d like to see the project grow up a bit in that sense. this whole project is very personal, as it is created and runs on people wanting to create and giving them a platform to do so. my goal is to keep it that way, both from the collaborator’s and from audience’s points of view. looking at our history, there’s several hundred people that have seen 5 or more shows, and we want to keep them coming back. in a way it doesn’t make much sense that we put so much work into one-off performances, but that’s what makes sense to us. we keep trying to keep magic alive and crazy and wild and ever-changing for as long as we can.

 

BiT …anything else you want to add about The Dude Immersive?
JR yeah. you can enter into a raffle for your chance to watch the show from a bathtub.

 

as much as i wanted to press him on this… will this person in the nude? what is the bathtub filled with? and where is said tub, on stage? however, i could tell by the reluctant divulgence of this statement that jay was actually doing me a favor by keeping this magic and mystery hidden until i see the show tuesday night. we hung up the phone around the time that the skyline came into view and that pure unadulterated love for this city and its inhabitants filled my soul once again.
…………….
  little cinema

“we often are writing the ending as the performance is starting. we have no idea what’s going to happen.”

by assembling so many talented individuals and giving them a platform to perform and create, the story and performance of little cinema unfolds in a masterful explosion of sound, lights, movement, words, music and pure kinetic energy that is felt by the audience and stays with them way after the curtain is drawn.
in this way, little cinema feels much like a metaphor for the life that jay has created. work hard and dream harder and contribute every fiber of your being to a project, and where there are gaps, surround yourself with people who are the best and believe the most in their craft. let life unfold in a harmonious cacophony, a tenacious performance to which the ending has not yet been written. and if i can tell you one thing, there will be plenty of twists in the plot of the life and work of jay rinsky, and the next scene is far from being written.
immerse yourself in the genius of his creation at little cinema. performances tonight and tomorrow are sold out, but follow Brooklyn, I’m Trying on Instagram to immerse yourself from afar, and check back with your social coordinator (i. e. yours truly) for their next performance, more info and ticket sales and all that jazz are here on their website and absorb all of the magic you can by following little cinema on instagram.
little cinema
]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/profile-of-a-hustler-jay-rinsky-of-little-cinema/feed/ 0 3725 Spring (mental) Cleaning | Guided Meditations https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/spring-mental-cleaning-guided-meditations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spring-mental-cleaning-guided-meditations https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/spring-mental-cleaning-guided-meditations/#respond Thu, 25 May 2017 22:00:04 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=3286 let’s go into this new season with clear minds and hearts. a friend of mine recently spoke of meditation as feeling like you’ve thrown a house party and realizing you know none of the guests. we let so many thoughts]]>

let’s go into this new season with clear minds and hearts. a friend of mine recently spoke of meditation as feeling like you’ve thrown a house party and realizing you know none of the guests. we let so many thoughts passively infiltrate our minds that it feels like they become us, they control us, they occupy our space and grind up on each other inappropriately and leave red solo cups of stale beer on every single surface. let’s be deliberate about taking control and clearing that shit out. never meditated? start with these guided meditations and show those unwanted house guests the door.

all words and meditations below are from the enlightened gabby bernstein, shared with me by the lovely @hannahea88

enjoy.

 

The first meditation helps you tap into compassion. Learn how to dissolve all boundaries and clear space to attract love. Enjoy the Compassion Meditation.

My second meditation will help you make decisions with ease. Do you struggle with making the right choice? This practice will help you trust your intuition. Press play and enjoy the Decision Making Meditation.

The third meditation is going to rock your world! Are you ready to learn how to attract what you want into your life? This meditation will help you use creative visualization to cultivate a powerful energy that will make you a magnet for what you desire. Enjoy my Creative Visualization Meditation.

The final meditation will help you own your purpose. I often hear people say, “I don’t know how to find my purpose.” I believe it’s the opposite. Your purpose will find you! Practice this meditation and clear space for your purpose to come forth.

You Are a Lightworker Meditation.

 

 

<3L.

]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/spring-mental-cleaning-guided-meditations/feed/ 0 3286 Rebel with a Cause | Brooklyn, I’m Trying. https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/rebel-cause-brooklyn-im-trying/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rebel-cause-brooklyn-im-trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/rebel-cause-brooklyn-im-trying/#respond Fri, 12 May 2017 16:38:16 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=3199 I recently come across this piece in the Atlantic through my dear homies at the new stand and the title immediately grabbed my attention. “The Case for the Rebel,” Ashley Lamb-Sinclair, a teacher, talks about the inconvenience of the class]]>

I recently come across this piece in the Atlantic through my dear homies at the new stand and the title immediately grabbed my attention. “The Case for the Rebel,” Ashley Lamb-Sinclair, a teacher, talks about the inconvenience of the class clown, the trouble maker. Noting that over the years, although they gave her more grey hairs than anyone else, it was always the rebels that were the idea makers because they challenged the status quo. They were fearless and bold. Just as her colleagues, she noted, would “often intentionally break rules if it means a better education for the students in their classroom” [which of course recalls one of the greatest films ever made] yet didn’t recognize that the students who were doing the same thing were punished.

“Most teachers,” she said,  “noted that self-control and cooperation were the most important indicators of school success,” rewarding the so-called soft skills. This is the educational system we grew up in, and the workplaces to which we now sell our souls. Follow the rules. Fit the mold. Graciously accept this 2% raise because you’re lucky to have a job. Work late so they think you’re important. Leave your dignity at the door, you’ll get it back with your retirement package… you know, when you lack the audacity and energy to use it properly.
This piece gave me hope because this has always been me. A rebel with a cause, I’d like to think. Even now as an “adult”, I really fucking love getting in trouble. I crave mischief. I kept thinking this would fade with age, that the thrill of sneaking out of the house would dissipate once I no longer had a curfew. That petty theft would wane into no theft at all once I could fully comprehend the risk. That marijuana would simply be a gateway to not being tempted by drugs anymore. That a harmless game of spin the bottle would be the closest I ever got to cheating on someone.
If anything, this temptation has increased with age. If you don’t have a house to sneak out of, rules to disobey, class to skip, a fake ID to test…. you find edgier and more dangerous ways to cause trouble. When my dad told me that he held the record for streaking, “five dates in five days! never been beat.” I didn’t see it as a weird dad college story, I saw it as a challenge. I knocked it out of the park, streaking five states in one day, and I’m pretty sure that’s never been beat. (And yes, that is a challenge.) I showed up for a wedding last summer with paint still lingering in the creases of my fingernails. “Crafting?” someone asked. “No, I was tagging something at 4am this morning.” I was almost not allowed back in the country because I had a warrant out for my arrest for not paying a ticket I got for drinking a beer on the street because I thought the ticket was dumb. Still do. Still drinkin’ on the street.
I read this piece and finally I felt like my mischief wasn’t met with a disappointed stare from my mother as she picked up the phone and realized it was my teacher calling, again. Defiance should be encouraged. And no, I am not campaigning for complete anarchy here so everyone stop rolling your eyes. I’m just saying that the system only works because we buy into it. We were founded as a nation of rebels. Back then, the system didn’t work and so we stopped buying into it. Historically, we have always been encouraged by “troublemakers” who turn into leaders because no one is hanging onto the coat tails or following in the wake of a meek, compliant, nervous follower. Seek defiance. Shake things up. Because we’re meant for more than petty rules and mindless busy work.

The rebels in the world are often the ones who change it the most.

Quit your day job. We were not made to mindlessly enter numbers into excel spreadsheets that ultimately add up to a paycheck’s worth of hours spent working toward someone else’s dream. And hey, some people are totally fine with doing this type of work, and that is fantastic, and even enviable. To be satisfied in complacency isn’t something to look down upon. But if you were born with this fire in your heart, do something unexpected.
Buy a one way ticket. Shake up your lifestyle. Because if you don’t do it now, when will you? Go. Go now. Don’t wait for everything to line up perfectly before you commit. Don’t wait to be financially secured. Don’t wait for the perfect time in your life to go because that time will never come. Don’t ask people for advice because they will likely discourage you. Just go.
Do what they don’t want you to do. Because they only thing that has ever really culminated into is a fresh new crop of “they’s” anyway. Move up the corporate ladder, where every rung is well-worn! Get to the top and then look down, satisfied! Because this, of course, is success!

“I recently heard on the radio a state legislator speaking of the importance of developing “soft skills” for the workforce. He elaborated on the merits of understanding the importance of a firm handshake, showing up 10 minutes early, and being a “team player.” As I listened to him, I thought these were admirable traits—traits that my own father tried desperately to instill in me, which I generally ignored—but they were mostly values held by an older generation.”

Seek defiance, because you’ve come a long way, baby. Don’t stop now.
Oh, and get into some fucking trouble. Be a rebel with a cause, a mission, an unwavering belief that you’re meant for something more. And if you’re trying to find ways to get involved in some trouble… well… I’m accepting applications.

 

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