Definitions, paths, and impressions from Arts Calling Podcast Interviews

Trevor Lutz is a dear friend, a marketer, a business owner, and a hell of a writer. He is as kind as he is witty, and Trevor is also half of the Funusual Suspects duo! Alongside my other dear friend, Dani Banani, they have built a phenomenal artistic business around sharing joy via their adorable Kawaii stickers and other creative products. I am simplifying the collaboration, of course, but here goes: Dani brings the images to life, and Trevor contributes the words. Sometimes one inspires the other, and sometimes it’s the other way around. Someday, the three of us may have a chance to chat on the podcast about the specifics of their call and response, but for my first episode, Trevor and I focused more on the writing.

Trevor’s bread and butter is not only marketing. He is a master of the definitive short form: the pun.

Take a good look at the creative work they produce. Wholesome illustrated characters immediately draw the viewer in; So heartwarming! However, if you keep looking at the work, you realize there’s more at play. Trevor and Dani create stories together. As discussed in our episode, Trevor reminds us that even in the smallest units of storytelling, there’s an opportunity to go deeper into character.

If you listened to any of the Arts Calling Podcast, you know I become a little more freewheeling than usual when I talk to my friends on the podcast. Among many topics, we discuss the vulnerability that follows failure, and how those failings usually work in one’s favor. I couldn’t ask for a better first guest for my first episode.

Trevor said many things that resonated with me, here’s a few of them:

• Take the ego out of it. Don’t worry about being right, worry about achieving your goals.
• It’s easy to dismiss them, but short forms are a gift. A hamburger consists of the lowest cuts of meat, but if you know what you’re doing, you can still cook a damn good burger for someone to enjoy. Even when you take on supposed ‘low forms’ of story, you can always refine skill at any scale. That’s craft.
• Also, craft is hard work, failure, and repetition. Accept it. Lean into it for the long haul, and it will pay dividends.

A few formative inspirations:

• Gary Larson’s The Far Side comic strips.
• Hard-boiled detective and noir novels, primarily the work of Dashiell Hammett.
• The Hardy Boys.

One last favor: Please check out my friends Trevor and Dani’s work. They are simply outstanding and you will love their creative products!