Meet Ben Oakes

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ben Oakes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ben with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I was fortunate to have two parents who provided me a road map for what a work ethic looks like. I developed a work ethic through necessity. I didn’t have a degree or resume starting out, due to a misspent youth. I knew I had to work harder than the competition to even be in the conversation. Luckily that persistence translated into the beginning stages of success. I started my company, Ben Oakes Creative, from the ground up. I had just moved to Nashville (during covid) with no connections or contacts. Nashville is a very reference based city. I took out a loan and decided I was going to film three commercials for free. I thought if I could showcase my work to the locals, that the references would follow.

I was lucky enough that it only took one. From there the company (now in year 3) has doubled in sales every year. Year two – I learned a valuable lesson. I took my foot off the gas and had the worst 8 week stretch imaginable. My arrogance led me to believe that the work would continue to drop in my lap. I now work the hardest when the company is thriving. That initial work ethic from day one is implemented into every day now. If I can’t be the best, I will out hustle those that are.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I run a video production company. 90% of our work is music videos and commercials. I was a full time actor in LA for over a decade. I wasn’t starring in movies or massive productions, but the work was consistent. I came to learn that directing is my true passion. I never attended film school or took courses. My education was free in the sense that I watched. I’d spend the day on set (acting) and watch everyone work. The director, producers, gaffers, and even the production assistants. My years on set acting revealed what I loved and hated about the industry. I’ve taken the negatives and removed them from my productions. The biggest secret is making every single person on set feel like the project is theirs as well. My father always told me “only work with people that have blood in the game”. My team and I create an environment where even the background actors and the production assistants feel a responsibility to the project.

The music videos we create tend to be much more narrative based, largely due to my acting days. Storytelling has always been my passion and the opportunity to evoke an emotion in the audience. Not all emotions have to be a grand earth shaking experience. It’s like a good pop song – sometimes it can just be fun. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I have a taste for the dramatics though. I live for watching an artists song come to life visually. To be able to add another layer to their initial vision or message. It’s also the creative bond that’s created with a client. Once you go to war together, and survive, you are connected for life.

A new passion that has derived from work is partnering with charities. Currently we create all the content for the charity “Hope On The Inside” that is founded by Briana Calhoun and Kix Brooks (Brooks and Dunn). We’ve followed them to multiple prisons as they perform and speak for the inmates. It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the hustle of work and forget what’s important. Sitting there talking to the inmates and seeing what it means to them has been humbling. I now treat my business as a lawyer would work on a pro bono case. We look to give opportunities to artists or businesses that may not have the funds to pay for our services.

As much as I love directing and storytelling, it’s the (human) connections that fulfill me. I’ve met some of the most interesting and special people imaginable. I’ve always believed that conversation is the greatest educational tool. Being able to hear stories and witness different backgrounds pushes me personally and creatively.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I believe envy will kill a dreamer and make them lose focus. I always tell other creatives and actors “it’s not a competition, it’s a community”. Once you stop chasing everyone else, you can start to create your own lane. I try to help out other production companies or actors when I can. Stay true to yourself and always be open to learning / evolving.

My biggest attribute/skill is knowing people. I’ve been blessed to live in big cities (London, Los Angeles, New York City, and Nashville) and have had an array of experiences. I’ve spent time with people from all walks of life. These experiences allow me to be able to find common ground with all people. You can throw me in a corporate or street setting and I know how to make the room mine. There isn’t a trick to this or running a game on people. Being completely genuine sells and it takes a “buyers” guard down. If you can create a personal relationship (even on a surface level) then that client will feel like they are cheating if they take their business elsewhere. You have to nurse a relationship with a client and put all your energy into it. A returning client is gold and what every business strives for.

I believe the most overall skill is gratitude. I think gratitude is a skill in itself. The creative industry can be taxing and mentally strenuous. You will always hear more “no’s” than you will “yes’s” throughout your career. You just hope that the “yes’s” start to stack up. Learn to be grateful for both. Every night I always say “Thank you for my wins, thank you for my losses, and thank you for the lesson I learned from both”.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

In this business being “overwhelmed” is a blessed and welcomed problem. If I’m overwhelmed then it means business is thriving. I’d rather be overwhelmed than stagnant. In the instances I am temporarily overwhelmed, I practice gratitude for the privilege of being in this position. My advice for dealing with that feeling, is to step away momentarily. Do not make decisions in a stressed state. Remove the emotion by removing yourself. Even if it means going for a 10 minute walk or making coffee. Recognize that you are overwhelmed and embrace it. This way of thinking has helped me in my personal life as well. If I feel wronged or angered by something, I never respond immediately. I step away, breathe, and have the conversation with myself first. Being in complete control of your emotions will lead to a much more peaceful life.

Surrender to the idea that you can’t fix everything at once. Change your project into isolated bullet points and start knocking it out one by one. Small wins create the energy needed on the path to greatness. Visualize yourself completing the project and hype yourself up. Be your biggest fan and change the way you speak to yourself. Negative thoughts create negative outcomes. I had to learn to get comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Now I welcome them and thrive in them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.benoakescreative.com
• Instagram: @oakes.creative

Image Credits

Stephen Dillon and Mark Erin