👋🏽 Doors Opening

Hey! Welcome to Creator Economy NYC — the premier place for all things creator economy in the Big Apple.

A warm welcome to our 200+ new subscribers who joined us this week from our event on Tuesday — perfect timing for what's coming next!

Today we're diving into something I experienced firsthand this week: the power of calculated spontaneity and knowing when to say "F*ck it, Create it" to unexpected opportunities.

This simple mindset shift has transformed how I approach Creator Economy NYC, and it might just be what your creator journey needs right now...

Let's dive in.

And if you're not already following along on Instagram, catch real-time updates from CENYC (@creatoreconomynyc) and me (@brettdash_).

✍️ City Spotlight

Why spontaneity is a creator's best asset

Last week, I had a "f*ck it, create it" moment that completely transformed our February Creator Economy NYC event.

Here's what happened: I was deep in planning mode for our February meetup, envisioning the usual format — good drinks, better conversations, and plenty of networking opportunities. The kind of reliable, proven framework we've all come to expect.

Then my phone rang.

On the other end was Gary Su, a valued member of our community, with an unexpected proposition.

He was in touch with the management team of Hillari, a rising artist and creator from Europe who was in New York for the first time and looking for performance opportunities.

"I immediately thought of your event," Gary told me. "It feels like the perfect opportunity for her to perform."

In that moment, I faced a choice many creators know all too well: stick with the safe, planned approach... or take a calculated risk on something new.

After some quick due diligence, I decided to embrace the advice we preach: f*ck it, create it.

When spontaneity pays off

Fast forward to Tuesday night. Hillari took the stage in the middle of our event, and the energy in the room immediately transformed.

People who had been deep in conversation moments before were now collectively experiencing something unexpected and fresh.

The performance created a natural break in the networking, a shared moment that gave everyone new conversation material for the rest of the night.

It was, without question, a hit.

More importantly, it opened my eyes to a possibility I hadn't considered before: incorporating performances could become a signature element that sets our intimate events apart.

But this isn't just about adding music to a networking event. There's a bigger lesson here about the role of calculated spontaneity in the creator journey.

Why calculated spontaneity matters for creators

As creators, we often fall into predictable patterns. We find what works — a content format, a posting schedule, a community engagement strategy — and we stick with it.

This makes perfect sense; consistency builds audiences and reliability builds trust.

But there's a danger in becoming too rigid. When we close ourselves off to unexpected opportunities, we risk:

• Content that feels increasingly formulaic

• Missing connections that could lead to growth

• Getting stuck in comfort zones that slowly become ruts

• Losing the creative spark that drew us to creating in the first place

The most successful creators I know have mastered what I'm calling "calculated spontaneity" — the ability to remain open to unexpected opportunities while using good judgment about which ones to pursue.

The 'F*ck It, Create It' checklist

The right amount of spontaneity varies from creator to creator.

For some, it might mean accepting an unexpected collaboration offer.

For others, it could be trying a completely new content format when inspiration strikes.

The key isn't saying yes to everything — it's developing the discernment to recognize valuable detours when they appear.

Based on this experience (and many others over my creator journey), I've developed a simple framework for evaluating spontaneous opportunities that aligns with our "F*ck It, Create It" philosophy.

When an unexpected opportunity comes your way, ask yourself:

1. Alignment check: Does this opportunity, though unexpected, still align with my core values and community/audience needs?

2. Resource reality: Can I realistically incorporate this without overextending my time, energy, or resources?

3. Fresh factor: Will this bring something new and valuable that wouldn't exist otherwise?

4. Gut check: After considering the above, does my intuition say "this feels right"?

If you can answer "yes" to at least three of these questions, that spontaneous opportunity might be worth pursuing.

In the case of Hillari's performance, the alignment was clear (our community loves discovering new talent and she’s a creator herself, plus the venue was a great vibe for this), the resources were manageable (the setup was minimal), the fresh factor was high (we'd never had a performance before), and my gut said "yes" after listening to her amazing music.

Your spontaneity challenge

As we move deeper into 2025, I want to challenge you to identify one area of your creator journey where you could benefit from being more open to unexpected opportunities.

Maybe it's in your content creation process. Perhaps it's in how you engage with your community. Or it could be in the collaborations you pursue.

Whatever area you choose, ask yourself: "What am I potentially missing by sticking too rigidly to my plans?"

Then, the next time opportunity knocks in that area, consider answering with a calculated "f*ck it, create it."

Because sometimes, the best creator moments aren't the ones we meticulously plan — they're the ones we're wise enough to embrace when they unexpectedly appear.

—

P.S. A huge thank you to Gary Su for the introduction to Hillari, and to Hillari herself for bringing such amazing energy to our February event.

Check out a recap of the night on our Instagram.

 🎪 City Happenings

CREATORPALOOZA at SXSW! 🎉 

We're bringing the NYC creator energy back to Austin for our second year in a row!

​Join us, Passionfruit and Teachabl, and more for a full day of networking, programming, and good vibes with creative people.

​Expect insightful conversations, epic connections, and a party to cap it all off. Whether you’re there to learn, meet fellow creators, or just recharge, we got you.

If you'll be at SXSW, don't miss this. If you know someone who will be there, spread the word!

Also, here is a massive SXSW event list curated by my friend Andrew Yeung. Access it here.

 🤝 Save the Date

Our first conference is coming — CONNECT.

One full day where the creator community comes together to build what's next.

No PowerPoint marathons or awkward small talk. Instead, you'll experience:

• Insightful panels with creators who are building right now

• Hands-on workshops where you actually create

• Meaningful connection that spark real ideas and collaborations

Mark your calendar: May 10th, 2025 in NYC

Ready to join us? Get on the waitlist for first access to tickets.

P.S. If you’re interested in speaking (at the conference or any CENYC event), fill out this form. And if you’re a brand that wants to get involved, email me here.

 👌 Picks & Perks

Tools for the modern creator & marketer

Start a newsletter: It’s time you own your audience and start a newsletter. Get 20% off your first 3 months on any beehiiv paid plan. Snag it here →

Understand audience sentiment: Siftsy analyzes comment sections to uncover sentiment and trends, helping you improve performance and prove ROI. Discover more here →

Turn your knowledge into income: I’ve seen creators build thriving businesses by sharing what they know. Teachable makes it easy to create and sell courses, digital products, memberships and more. Get started here →

📚 Resources

2 FREE resources to accelerate your creator growth

I recently shared with you two free resources to help supercharge your creator journey in 2025. If ya missed it, you can download both right here:

The Creator Goal Setting Guide: A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2025.

The Creator Accountability System: Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2025 (I’m using this now to send one newsletter a week!)

✌🏽 Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Please

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you thought by replying back here!

See you next week,

Brett