Artists, Anxiety, and a Pandemic: How to Overcome Challenges as a Creative w/ Jeremy "DaConnect" Mills, Manager

What do you do when you’ve worked your whole life to become a mover and shaker in the music and entertainment industry - only to see that industry grind to a halt overnight?.

Jeremy “DaConnect” Mills, musician, tour manager, bandleader and creative entrepreneur, has spent decades becoming one of the people to know in the music industry. By serving in diverse roles on major tours and within musical teams with artists like Jay-Z, Keisha Cole, Jamison Ross, Cory Henry, Tye Tribbett, Adam Blackstone, Teedra Moses and dozens of others, he’s become one of the most “plugged in” people in the business.

However, in this frank and honest discussion on The God and Gigs Show, he opens up about the realities of facing new challenges as artists in the wake of COVID-19, as the pandemic has knocked the live performance world to its knees.

Raised in South Florida, “J-Mills” began his musical career in earnest after moving to Tallahassee, Florida and teaming up with a talented group of musicians, all of which eventually achieved major success in their own careers (including Grammy-winning songwriter Kendra Foster, co-writer with D’Angelo).

Now as a seasoned industry veteran, he is passionate about helping his fellow live performance workers and creative artists to weather the storm of the pandemic’s effect on the industry. His message to artists everywhere is to deal honestly with the fear, anxiety, and emotional toll of this career shift, and to find the right methods and opportunities to evolve so they can survive financially and keep their creative careers intact.

In this episode, J. Mills reveals:

• How he developed the mindset to handle various roles in the entertainment industry besides musical performance
• How his experiences have prepared him for major shifts in the industry
• Why creatives cannot simply “boss up” and push through this traumatic experience with more activity or creating new businesses
• The reality of the struggles creatives face when gigs and job opportunities are not available
• How he has managed to maintain his emotional and mental health through hard times
• Why it is so important for creatives to remain positive while acknowledging the harsh reality of COVID’s effect on their jobs
• How to use the ‘down-time’ to develop new skills and focus on the important relationships in your life
• How to look forward to new opportunities and pivot without losing your foundation

More About the God and Gigs Show

Welcome to The God and Gigs Show, the podcast for Christian creators who want to build a creator lifestyle that honors God and gives you the joy and satisfaction you've always wanted.

This isn't a show about hustle culture or chasing the next algorithm trick. We go beyond surface-level tips to talk about what it actually looks like to create from a place of faith — practical strategies for podcasting, content creation, and growing a creative business that lasts. You'll hear conversations about staying consistent without burning out. We also dig into finding your creative voice along the way, even when ministry, family, and work are all pulling at the same hours.

Whether you're just exploring your creative gifts, or you've been creating professionally for years, this show gives Christian creators practical tools and spiritual encouragement to fully embrace God's creative calling - at any level of skill or vocational ability. The goal is to help you create consistently and embrace God's will for your creative life without sacrificing your calling.

Your host and founder is Allen C. Paul — podcaster, musician, author, and speaker based in South Florida.  We started this show to help creators thrive in faith, business, and creativity through simple, practical solutions.

We'll cover questions like:

• How do I work in secular arts and entertainment without losing my faith focus?
• What does it actually look like to build a creative business as a Christian?
• How can I stay consistent with content creation without burning out?
• What's the difference between hustle culture and sustainable creative work?
• How do I find my voice as a faith-driven or creator?
• How can I balance ministry, family, and creative work?
• What are practical first steps to working as a Christian creator?

If you've been searching for honest conversations about faith and creativity,  keeping your family and relationships as your first priority, or how to build a business that honors your calling, you're in the right place. Join us every week as we help you become the creator you were created to be.

Connect with us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/godandgigs and learn more about the God and Gigs 360 community at https://godandgigs.com/membership.

Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page on The God and Gigs Show