The Solo Studio: income streams rooted in your voice, built to carry a bad year.
The Future Belongs to the Solo Studio
We’ve been talking behind the scenes—me and Ben—and there's this idea we're pretty obsessed with:
The creative agencies of old?
Cold.
Impersonal.
They had a good run. But the future? The future is smaller, smarter, and infinitely more personal.
It’s what we're calling the Solo Studio—and it’s everything we’re about at Maker Division.
The Solo Studio is what happens when creative people stop trying to build bloated businesses with more and more services to prove their worth and start designing a life that actually works—creatively, financially, and humanly.
It’s you—and maybe a trusted partner or two—crafting an income pie made of many delicious slices:
🍰 Client work (when you want it)
📦 Physical or digital products
🎨 Art licensing
🎥 Online workshops and education
…all rooted in your personal creative voice.
One of our Division members said it perfectly:
“I know I’m not going to be able to do intense client projects day-in, day-out forever.”
Neither can I. Neither can Ben. Neither can you.
When my dad passed and my health hit rock bottom over the last year, I didn’t have to take on client work. I had multiple income streams holding me up. That flexibility bought me space to heal both my health and my heart.
Now that I’m feeling more alive, I’ve taken on some pretty dope client work that I want to do—not because I have to.
And that right there? That’s freedom.
That’s the Solo Studio.
Not chasing someone else’s definition of success.
Not trading every hour for a dollar.
No bloat. No business bro BS. No endless client hustle.
It’s building a business that backs your creativity—and your life.
There's no one size-fits-all blueprint for this. This is about you.
And that’s exactly why we created Maker Vegas—a two-day, high-touch experience happening later this year for a small group of hand-selected creatives who are ready to build something different.
Because we know many of our members are standing at the edge of what’s next. And maybe… that’s you too.
Maybe you’re done playing agency dress-up—mimicking the agency model because it’s all you’ve seen.
Maybe you’re tired of pretending growth means more bodies, bigger budgets, and a cubicle-filled office no one wants to go to.
Or maybe you are in full-agency mode (we still love you!) and are ready to give yourself more space in your life without giving up clients or your team.
Here’s the truth no one tells you:
Agencies are drowning.
In overhead.
In endless sales cycles.
In a whole different level of golden handcuffs.
And if you’re a creative who values freedom, flexibility, and actually making things?
That path probably isn’t for you.
You don’t need more meetings.
You need momentum.
Maker Vegas is where that momentum begins.
Two days. In person.
Creative breakthroughs, business clarity, and a bold plan for your Solo Studio—crafted with us, in real time.
We’re not saving you a seat.
We’re curating the room with intention for maximum impact.
Spots are extremely limited, and the deadline to apply is July 2.
Ben and I would love to see your application in our inbox—and maybe even see you here in my hometown of fabulous Las Vegas this summer.
(Actual footage of me eagerly anticipating all the Makers joining me in Vegas this August! 😎 🎰 🥃)
Sketchbook filler's club
Course Recommendation
Sometimes when running a studio with multiple income streams my own personal projects take a back burner while others need my attention (hello education, in-person events, and client work right now). So I'm working through Dylan Mierzwinkski's Sketchbook Filler's Club during the fringes of my day so I can get a bit of my own creative time in. It's meditative, freeing, and I can't recommend it more highly.
Beginner's Lettering Course
Course Recommendation
I recently went to the Licensing Expo and I heard one thing from art licensing agents- you need to know how to letter. If art licensing and product is on your income stream bucket list, you don't want to get caught up in font licensing drama. My friend, Shelly Kim, just launched her beginner's course in a calligraphy style of lettering that is super marketable. It's a great place to dip your toes into the lettering world.
A La Sala
What I'm Listening To
It's that time of year when I wish I had more time to laze around my non-existent pool, fire up my grill, and sip on tiki drinks. Alas, the studio is busy. And while I'm not complaining, I do put on Khruangbin's latest album most days to give myself some summertime vibes (and there might still be some tiki drinks thrown in there from time to time).
I have too many great things to say about Tony Kimble.
Tony heads up Frame 83, a video production studio out of Omaha, Nebraska, and is our lead generation community guide for good reason.
Because if someone in the video world can send some cold emails (without any video attached), and book clients, you know he's good and that the methods we teach in Maker Division work.
Not only was Tony able to book clients after joining Maker Division, he was able to quit his jobby job and work in a local market not necessarily known as a boom town for creatives.
Tony also is incredibly supportive in the community and soaks up every opportunity to give back to others.
And because of all this, it was a no-brainer to fly Tony out to be the Maker Vegas videographer. We're looking forward to hanging out with Tony and everyone else at the retreat and can't wait to see not just the footage he captures but the plans he walks away with for his own studio.
Oh yeah- and did I mention this guy is good at lead generation? Tony's already got meetings lined up in Vegas with companies he'd love to work with. Business retreat + relationship building= business gold!
Tony Kimble
Maker Division Win
I joined Accelerator to grow my video production business. I felt stuck at the time between running my own business, and working in a job that I absolutely despised. I wanted to leave that full time job and work on doing my own thing. Since joining, I've been able to leave my full time job to concentrate on growing my business. This wouldn't have been possible without joining the program. Second, as a person in general, I've grown in so many ways because of this amazingly supportive community. I've learned that failing isn't a bad thing, it's an opportunity. I've also learned that every day is a chance to meet thousands of people out there. I could go on and on about the benefits of this group. It's truly changed my life for the better.
RElated issues
Your home office might be the problem
The best career advice I've heard all year.
Trent Reznor gave me an idea.
Build a creative business you love
Start with a side hustle. Grow into full-time freelance. Scale into a studio. Maker Division gives creatives the systems, feedback, and community to keep growing.
