Meet Vanesa Surtzy | poet, singer, dancer, aerialist, actress, model, fire dancer, photographer, painter, anthropologist and sociologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanesa Surtzy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanesa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Becoming a freelance artist and creative was not the development of a business plan and a formula. It started off as casual gigs here and there and then one morning, I woke up and realized, “Woah, I have been booked regularly. This is no longer a hobby! It’s consistent, its long term, and I do not want to envision myself working in any other career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Nobody ever takes the artist route because they want to be rich, or even sustainable. That is why we often hear about the starving artist trope. When I first began pursuing the lifestyle and career of art, I had to have a 9-5 that I was not passionate about. Eventually, when I took the leap to become a full time creator, I had to accept that the possibility of failure would always inevitably loom over me. It was not the safe route but I had faith and still do. That will always be one of my biggest challenges.

Another reoccurring challenge within my lifestyle is that not every project and production will be excellent. I have had to accept that it is impossible to be perfect, there will be many mistakes and nobody is born a master at their trade. Being great is not possible without first being a novice until you have practiced enough to gain experience to eventually level up.
This experience is what has caused me to tell everyone,

“If you feel that you don’t have the skills or talent to be who you want to be or where you want to be, just start.
Once you start, keep going.
Maybe you won’t be there today, maybe you won’t be there tomorrow but you will be closer than if you had never started.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Sabor Venezolano on Westheimer is an absolute must! Tell all of your friends!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It is impossible to do what I do alone. There are an immense amount of muses and supporters around me who make all of this possible but closer to my sphere, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my boyfriend, Blake, my mummy and my pop rocks. Although they may not understand my visions and dreams at times, they always try their best to push me towards the positive side of life and to continue pursuing my them.

Website: surtzy.xyz

Instagram: surtzy

Twitter: surtzy

Facebook: facebook.com/surtzy

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@surtzy

Image Credits
Photographer Credits: @dublar, @howicyit, @alexaoceanray, @intense_boudoir and Blake Kramer