How to Juggle Your Day Job and Your Art—Without Losing Your Purr

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There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!

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Welcome back to Tails and Tassels! We’re kicking off Season 2 with a solo episode all about balancing your day job with the art that fuels your soul.

If you’ve ever felt torn between paying the bills and pursuing your true creative work, this episode is for you. I’m sharing five tips that have helped me juggle my own nightlife performance world alongside my 9-to-5 — without losing my spark (or my purr).

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Frog’s House: thefrogshouse.fr
• Cat Café in Nice: la-ronronnerie.com
• CatCon: catconworldwide.com
• Bunny Dee: instagram.com/bunnydee
• Qveen Herby: qveenherby.com
• Headspace: headspace.com
• The Artist’s Way: Get it on Amazon
• Felis Lux: felislux.com
• Maria’s Episode: Listen
• Cat Museum of New York City: Support
• 6 Degrees of Cats Podcast: Listen

Stay Connected:

Follow Tails and Tassels on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
Visit Catbaret’s website: catbaretshow.com

Got a question or a story about your cat? 🐱 I’d love to hear from you! Message me on Instagram or email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com.

Transcript

Gemma Smith:
Kitty cats, and welcome back to the Season 2 premiere of Tails and Tassels—the show where we pounce into the lives of burlesque and nightlife performers, their craft, their cats, and the ways the two worlds intertwine. I’m your host, Gemma Smith. By day, I work in animal welfare, and by night, I host Catbaret, New York City’s cat‑themed variety show.

I’m positively delighted to kick off Season 2 with a topic at the heart of so many creative lives: how to juggle a day job—or let’s be real, day jobs—with your creative work, whether you’re a performer, producer, or any kind of artist. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about this almost daily since wrapping Season 1, so I did some research—selfishly for my own sanity, and also to share what I’ve learned.

From protecting your energy, to managing your time, to being mindful of who you spend your time with, we’ll explore ways to make your creative life more manageable. And yes, some of these tips involve your kitty cats, too. These tips have been a game changer for me, and I think you’ll take away something actionable from this episode.

Before we get into it, I want to catch you up on what I’ve been up to during the break and what you can expect in Season 2 of Tails and Tassels. Thank you for being here. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you taking time to listen and sharing your positive energy. There are a lot of cat puns on this podcast, and I’m happy to have you here.

This season, we’ll be interviewing more cat‑loving creatives about their tips and tricks for navigating their artistic journeys. We’ve got exciting episodes lined up, including a conversation with the producer of Show Me Your Kitties Cabaret—it’s like Catbaret on the West Coast. I actually got to meet the producer at CatCon, and I’m really excited. We’ve got more burlesque performers lined up, a rapper in the animal‑welfare world, and some experts to help with marketing and SEO—how to get yourself out there as a cat‑loving creative.

I’m looking forward to releasing episodes every other week this fall, with the goal of moving to weekly in the new year. And that ties into today’s topic: creating that balance—dare I say, juggling—your art with the other responsibilities in your life.

What have I been up to since Season 1 wrapped? I kept busy. I took a trip to the south of France for my 40th birthday. It was parfait—magnifique—and exactly what I needed. I went to a yoga retreat at The Frog’s House in Saint‑Jeannet, about 30 minutes inland from Nice in the mountains. It was breathtaking and beautiful. I also went to a cat café in Nice. That was so much fun. I didn’t think to have the name handy while recording, so I’ll link it in the show notes, but it was within walking distance from my hotel, clearly popular with locals, and they had delicious food and lattes. Highly recommend. Do you also visit cat cafés when you travel? My cat‑friends and I always do.

What else this summer? I produced a brand‑new Reali‑Tease Burlesque show celebrating reality‑TV romance—our Summer Love edition. Very different from cats, but I love reality TV as well. It was a lot of work because it’s a different niche and audience. And I moderated a panel at CatCon in Pasadena for my day job. While I was there, I bought these hand‑painted, handmade cat earrings from Bunny Dee—if you’re watching on YouTube or a clip, I’m showing them now. They’re sparkly pink cats with a heart gemstone, and I highly recommend checking her out.

CatCon was a‑meowsing—vendors, performances, panels—and I was grateful to represent the ASPCA. I’ll be honest: I’ve struggled and learned a lot about juggling projects alongside my day job, which is exactly why I wanted to start Season 2 with this topic. It’s authentic to where I am right now. I’m alongside you, kitty cats—learning, researching, and working every day to create harmony in my life. There isn’t always harmony or “balance,” but there are actionable things we can do to feel our best.

By day, for the past nine years, I’ve worked in an administrative and managerial role at a kitten nursery. Four or five years before that, I had several different day jobs: a veterinary clinic, teaching theater to kids, an admin assistant at a toy company, catering—so I know what it’s like to juggle multiple jobs. Working at a kitten nursery sounds incredibly cute (and it can be), but animal welfare can be both rewarding and stressful. And though a lot of my creative life revolves around cats—including this podcast—it’s completely separate from my day job. My creative projects are mine to work on during my own time.

If you’re a full‑time creative—amazing. You inspire me. Feel free to share your tips for managing a full‑time role while pursuing your art. My ultimate goal is to work as a freelance creative and make an income from my projects. I’m not there yet. I’ve been thinking about what it would take to keep my art alive and thriving while still showing up 100 percent for my day job. I did some digging, asked around, and pulled together a few things I’m actively working on that I think could help you, too.

Tip 1: Protect your energy.
This starts with a tip from one of my favorite artists, Qveen Herby. She’s a singer, songwriter, rapper, and a self‑discovery guru. I’m part of her Herby House community on Patreon—this is not sponsored; I’m just a big fan. She talks a lot—through her music and on the Herby House Podcast—about taking care of your energy and tuning into what fuels your soul. Staying intentional with your time and focus is tip number one.

Day jobs can be stressful, and people bring their own reactions and emotions into your day—often things that have nothing to do with you. As creative, sensitive people, it’s easy to absorb that energy. I’ve learned I have to work intentionally to protect mine. It doesn’t always work, but if I remind myself before a stressful situation that my creative purpose is still waiting for me—even while I do other work—that’s a game changer.

Practically, I start my day on my own terms. I’m a morning person, so before I head to my day job I give myself a simple ritual: don’t look at my phone, drink water, have black coffee, then five minutes of meditation—with my cat, Luna. I use the Headspace app. Luna comes and curls up on my shoulder while I sit on the couch. I also journal a page or two—stream of consciousness. Think Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages from The Artist’s Way, but scaled to what I’ll actually do daily. Then I get some intentional movement. For me, that’s Peloton while I watch reality TV—pairing movement with something I genuinely enjoy so I look forward to mornings instead of dreading the subway commute.

I also carve out time to play with my other cat, Lion‑o. He has a new wand toy from CatCon by a company called Felis Lux. He goes crazy for it. He’s twelve and hasn’t played this much with a toy in years—there’s this snake‑like attachment and he is obsessed. If I have an extra thirty minutes, I do a little admin for Catbaret or the podcast—sometimes even a quick edit—so I’ve done something for me before work. On the train, I’ll prep one focused social post. That way I’ve touched the project again without needing extra evening energy.

For some of you, evenings might be better. I’m not a night owl. If I’m going to be out late I need a Celsius or strong coffee. So mornings protect my energy. You don’t have to do all of this—try one thing, every day, at a time that works for you. Also, take a proper break during the workday if you can—step outside, get some sun. It’s simple, but it helps reset and reminds you your creative energy is yours to protect.

On social media, curate your feed. Mute accounts that bring negative energy. Give yourself at least one hour a day of focus without your phone. I know it’s hard—one text leads to a TikTok rabbit hole—but being intentional here matters.

Tip 2: Work in seasons, not sprints.
Balance doesn’t mean equal time every day. Our energy and bandwidth come in seasons. Plan your creative projects around those natural rhythms. Seasonal productivity—aligning projects with your ebbs and flows—supports mental health and sustained output.

My day job is busiest April through November. This year, I scheduled Catbaret shows in quieter months—Meowloween at the end of October, a Galentine’s Day show in February, a spring show in April—and then work got busier. That worked until July, when I produced Reali‑Tease Burlesque: Summer Love. It was wildly fun—smart, cheeky, sexy acts from passionate reality‑TV fans—but I burned out. After France, I had less than two months to produce it. I worried I’d made a mistake because my day job was intense and I was overwhelmed.

Here’s what I learned: even when you plan around seasons, it’s okay to miscalculate. Give yourself grace. Learn and adjust. Maybe next year I won’t stack that much in July.

Another example: I wanted Season 2 to be weekly. All the podcast‑growth advice says publish at least once a week. I want this show and community to grow. But weekly isn’t sustainable for me right now, so I’m choosing every other week—because every other week is better than no podcast at all. Name your season, make the decision that fits it, and give yourself grace if it isn’t perfect.

[Optional mid‑roll ad if included in audio:
“Quick paws for a Catbaret update. Catbaret: Meowloween returns to Caveat NYC on Thursday, October 31—cats, comedy, music, and purr‑lesque. Tickets at CatbaretShow.com.”]

Tip 3: Set non‑negotiables.
Pick one or two things you’ll do no matter how busy life gets—an hour of writing a week, daily cuddles with your cats, a weekly admin block. I keep a running project to‑do in Google Sheets with a timeline (for Catbaret, eight weeks out, seven weeks out, and so on), then I translate that into weekly non‑negotiables in my planner.

Tip 4: Build your support squad—your community.
Creative work can feel lonely. Find people who understand what you’re trying to do and cheer you on. I have an actor accountability group—we text and meet monthly to share wins, goals, and brainstorms. When one person levels up, we all learn and grow.

Shout‑out to Maria Bartolotta—she was in Season 1. She booked the venue for her solo show before writing it, performed it at LA Fringe and St. Louis Fringe, and won Best Actor of the Festival. When she wins, it feels like we all win.

I’ve also got my cat‑lady clowder—shout‑out to Jenny Pearson and Amanda B. Jenny is the founding executive director of the Cat Museum of New York City and a tour guide with Cats About Town Walking Tours. Amanda produces and hosts the Six Degrees of Cats podcast. We check in, share goals, and support each other. My husband is my biggest listener, and my cats are part of the squad, too—they may not give feedback, but the moral support is real.

On the flip side, be mindful of people who drain you. After you spend time with someone, do you feel energized, seen, and heard—or drained and unseen? Trust your body and intuition.

Tip 5: Celebrate your wins.
As creatives, it’s easy to finish one thing and immediately chase the next. Pause to acknowledge what you accomplished—share it with friends, journal what went well, or let yourself feel proud for a day before moving on. That keeps motivation and joy alive.

Those are my five go‑to strategies for juggling a day job and a creative life. Trust me, I’m still learning to practice what I preach. I’d love to hear what works for you. DM me or email your tips for juggling a creative life with a day job, and I may share them in an upcoming episode.

That’s a wrap for this episode of Tails and Tassels. If you have questions, comments, or just want to say “meow,” email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast, and join our community on Instagram at @tailsandtasselspod for updates and behind‑the‑scenes fun. See you next time, kitty cats.