Meet Michael Ivery | Children’s Media Creator | Kids Author | DJ

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

Hi Michael, how do you think about risk?
No risk, no reward, is what they say. I believe you need to take risks and push yourself to see what you can do. When it scares you, go for it! When it makes you feel in doubt, go for it! When you don’t think it will work, go for it! Worse case, you fall, you learn, you get up, and you keep going. In the best case, you rise, you learn, and you keep going. Risk has made my career happen in both the music industry as a DJ / producer and my latest endeavor in the children’s / kid’s media / author world. I use risk as an opportunity to learn from mistakes, learn from doing, and learn from how to navigate your way through being creative. As a creative person in the arts and storytelling, risk is all about finding your balance and taking that shot at what you hope to accomplish. I didn’t know how to DJ or go and ask for club gigs. I didn’t know how to write a children’s book, or seek out licensing opportunities. You just have to shoot for stars, and if you land on the moon, hey, you risked it to make it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
To be honest, I don’t consider myself an artist. I just consider myself a creative person who likes to design, draw, color, cut, and find ways to create various mediums in the art world that reflect the different ideas I have. Some mediums I work in and design in include coloring with pencil, crayons, markers, and sometimes Illustrator and Photoshop. Other days, it’s scrap paper, cloth, and scissors. I think that’s what sets me apart from a traditional artist, as I don’t have a background or formal education in art, but I am constantly drawn into being creative in a way that brings storytelling to life in various formats.

I challenged myself a few years back to draw one cartoon character every day for 365 days. It was a hard challenge, but it was so rewarding to stick to a plan and consistently work toward being a better artist in character design. I drew 365 different cartoon characters, which really helped me find a way to learn how to draw better, but also how to create characters like some of the greatest of our time in animation and character design. Doing that challenge inspired me to start creating my own characters, my own style, and my own children’s brand.

I believe that with every challenge comes an opportunity. And with that drawing challenge, all roads have led me to write and illustrate my first children’s book, titled “Tubba and Friends | The Big Music Jamboree’. Not only did it spark the idea for the children’s book, but it also created an opportunity to start a children’s brand around the book and the characters and enter the kids’ media space.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have to say, Arizona is such a Mecca for so many different ways to see this desert oasis. Kicking off a week-long adventure would definitely be a culinary tour of some of my favorite places to eat, including The Hen House (Gilbert), AZ88 (Scottsdale), Mijana’s (Tempe), Pete’s Fish and Chips (Mesa – *guilty pleasure) and Nando’s (Gilbert). My pals are into the arts, so visiting places like the Phoenix Art Museum in downtown Phoenix and The Musical Instrument Museum in North Phoenix is a must-do experience. Depending on the time of year, Northern Arizona for fun in Williams, Flagstaff, and Prescott would be ideal for seeing some history, hitting the slopes, taking a train ride, and breathing fresh air. I love festival season, so hitting Chandler for some of the fun outdoor festivals (Jazz Festival), or Mesa (Did De Los Muertos Festival) would be a good time. Rounding out the week shopping at San Tan Village (Gilbert) and some of the fun downtown Phoenix independent small businesses for unique items as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to admit I am steadfast in just working hard to accomplish my goals and dreams on my own. I think I just prefer to stay in a creative zone and keep pushing forward to work through the hard to get to the easy and find a way that works best for me. However, I do 100% appreciate and give love and credit to my wife and kids for being my audience, my fans, and my undying support in everything I have done in my life and career. I truly have based my whole career on everything that has to do with them day in and day out. They are the true champions in my story and my life, and I couldn’t do it without them.

Website: www.TubbaAndFriends.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TubbaAndFriends

Other: www.Michaelivery.com www.Instagram.com/Michaelivery1 www.AbcKidsMedia.com

Image Credits
copywrite Michael Ivery