Hello, Friends,

Welcome back to another newsletter. I’ve made a YouTube video, and I would be so happy if you watched it! I’ll be expanding on that video here.

First and foremost, a little bit about myself. My name is Matt Piper. If you are new here, I graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre, performed professionally in Ohio for some time, worked as an Executive Assistant at the Renaissance Theatre, and have written thousands—hundreds of thousands—millions of words.

I’m a writer, actor, artist. I am Matt Piper.

My main goal in life is to leave this world a little better than I found it: to clean up my mess, improve life for those I meet, and to be the best that I can be for myself, this earth, and for those who live on it, extending all the way to what’s outside of it.

My idealistic goals can certainly hold their consequences, though. I have debt from my school, debt from trying to make it as an artist, and a hole so deep that I’ve dug myself in that eventually I had to ask for help in getting out. With a full-time corporate job.

Trust me, I used to hate the sound of that. I despised the corporate realm, and the pain that I’ve heard it can cause so many people, I was obviously the artist that vowed never to work one.

The reason I’m here where I am today is because of everything that’s come before it. I truly believe I’m here for a reason, and if not, then I’m just a person finding reasons. That’s enough reason for me.

And as I entered into the job, though I may be lucky in this, I felt protected, and I hold my rights as an employee, and hey, I was informed creativity and curiosity is supported, and haven’t found a reason that isn’t true yet at it. So I can still show up as me, different for sure, but still me. I can clock in, do the job to the best of my ability and I can clock out.

But it’s about what the job is affording me where the reason comes in. I have been able to get therapy with my new insurance through the job, I can start chipping away at my debts, creating momentum, and I can start to really solidify the plot of earth that I’m standing on.

With that strong of a foundation, I can feel free to make art.

The company I work at is private; therefore, I would rather make it easy as I move forward within my brand, and just not mention specifics or talk about it in detail.

However, what I will speak about moving forward, is all of the ways in which my full-time job affects my art. It’s a topic that I’ve been mulling over ever since I started the job in August.

I will be speaking more about how to be an artist with a full-time job, as I discover in the actual practice. For now, I am planning to work at this company for a long time. I plan to sustain and grow within and on a stable foundation. I am slowing down to leap further, and I am taking it to heart this time.

What you will be seeing from me are the branches that capture the rain and the sun, that stretch and reach for sustenance, but blooms with deep roots. My soul requires my art, and I am excited to share that soul with you as I continue my journey—my journey toward artistic and spiritual freedom.

I’ll be seeing you at the next one.