Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Sonny Kay · Accepted Answer

“Do it for the love of art, not because you think it’s some kind of path to glory. It’s very competitive and any kind of success takes a long time, but nothing worthwhile comes easy. If you’re in it for overnight success you’re going to find out overnight that you’re barking up the wrong tree, because you’re not going to be rich tomorrow.”
“It’s a slow process. It’s about really having something special to share with people. To recognize that in yourself and have that desire to manifest it. If you don’t have that desire, if you’re lukewarm about it, not only will that be reflected in your art, but you will fall by the wayside because it’s too competitive.”
“It’s got to be special. There can’t be one million Record Designers; there’s just not enough work. It’s a very small pond. It’s about differentiating yourself by excelling at something.”

Question 2

What's the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career

Sonny Kay · Accepted Answer

“I think it’s the same mistake people make with any kind of thing they perceive from the outside as being prestigious or glorified or exciting.”
“It’s really as much hard work as shoveling snow or being a Bricklayer. It’s just a different kind of work, a different strain on your mind, a different kind of long-term commitment. It just develops in a different way the way your talent develops differently, and you grow. Anybody that wants a quick return should not bother.”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Sonny Kay · Accepted Answer

“Do they have something unique that they’re bringing to this tradition, is there something novel or new or unusual about what they’re doing and will it resonate with people?
It doesn’t have to be or do any of those things, necessarily — it just needs to resonate with people. The really good stuff advances the medium and pushes the limits of what people can expect from it and what’s possible.”

Question 4

What is the one thing I should've asked which I didn't?

Sonny Kay · Accepted Answer

“Why do it?
“Ever since I was a kid I almost felt a magical, magnetic attraction to music and I feel like experiencing art with music as one conceptual experience is like a very potent form of communication — arguably one of the most potent.”
“It’s really rewarding to see a finished product, to see a thing that I worked on my computer monitor for weeks or months as a printed thing in the real world, that people experience in tandem with a piece of music that a lot of other people spent their time crafting.”

Question 5

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Sonny Kay · Accepted Answer

“Versatile.”

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