We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucyfer The Enchantress and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lucyfer, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own business was almost like a “last straw” decision. I have worked for many people growing their brands and helping with their success and rarely was I given credit or appreciation for it. I did that for years with many different brands and companies then finally I hit a point where I noticed a pattern. I was used to bring success to the business then once that business reached a solid standing, they would let me go. I got them there and I was left in the dust. The last job I had was my final straw. I worked for a local kink store and I put my heart and soul into the company and brand. So much I became the face of it. I was growing their platform at a fast rate and was constantly working on projects to expand our reach. While I was working at this job I was also living with the boss of the company. One day our house flooded and it damaged a lot of our items, but mostly mine. All the work I have ever done before then was gone. My computer was soiled, my hard drives were corrupted. Everything was gone. I was heart broken. What did my boss do? She moved out without saying a word and didn’t take me with her. She left me homeless. She then later cut my pay over half of what I was used to. She didn’t speak to me for months except to demand work orders at me. I lost my passion for the company and was struggling to stand on my own two feet. Then she fired me… over Instagram. It was in that moment that I said “Fuck this! I don’t ever want to be so dependent on another person to live anymore, I want to do my own thing and not have my survival in another person’s hands ever again.” I knew I could do it on my own, I’ve built up a handful of small business already, just never really gave it my full effort to do it for myself. Until that moment when I made that vow to myself.
Now I run BiteSize Productions, Catacomb Cosmetics, Lucyfer Photography, Rotten Reputation, Lucyfer’s Lair on spotify, stream weekly on twitch.tv/LucyferOfficial, and perform drag-lesque all on my own, along with producing my own show “The Dvmned Show” every month.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It’s definitely not easy running a handful of businesses from the ground up and I would say that I haven’t fully overcome a lot of the challenges yet. We are in a professional world where I don’t think you ever will reach a point where there are no more challenges to face, they just become bigger. Every small moment is a success and it’s important to appreciate and soak in the small hurtles to not get fully discouraged. I’ve had many moments where I have wanted to give up and just go back to a 9-5 because it’s guaranteed income and it’s safe for the sake of survival. Running a small business you are constantly worried on if you will make enough to reach rent, especially in the first year like I am. However, I am way happier and have a lot more freedom than I would in a 9-5. That is the part that keeps me chugging along. Being able to work at my own pace and make decisions I think is correct for the brand and not need it to get approval then possibly shut down is so freeing. I have a lot more respect for myself and confidence in myself than when I was working under another person. Even when my business isn’t thriving the way I want it to or has taken some sort of negative hit, I still feel proud of myself for taking the risk or overall just “doin the damn thing”. Honestly, even the negatives that happen still make me proud because I know I am just learning and can pick myself back up and pivot, instead of being threatened by another person that gives me anxiety on if I will be fired for making a human mistake. The main thing I want people reading this to take away from my story is… listen to your gut. Take that risk. You deserve to be happy and treated with respect, whatever that looks like for you. It may not be starting your own business but something completely different. Whatever it is that pops up in your mind when you are reading this, DO IT. Don’t hold yourself back. You deserve better. You deserve to thrive and flourish. Focus on what makes you happy and do it. And if you need a pep talk, call me!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
– Seventh Circle Music Collective – Weathervane
– Forest Room 5
– Ti Cafe on Broadway
– Honey Bee’s Macarons
– Ohana Grille in Sloan’s Lake looking out at the water
– Luci’s Shambles and Provisions
– Unowned by Bear
– A loop around Lookout Mountain (I know it’s a bit overdone but THE VIEW!)
– Red Rocks
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give a shoutout to Seventh Circle Music Collective. A local underground music venue working to create a safe all ages space where local bands can thrive and find their community. They are an important part of our local music scene and if you want to support local music you can find them on Patreon or you can go volunteer at shows anytime! I am a volunteer there that helps with booking queer centered and local all ages drag shows.
Website: linktr.ee/lucyferofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catacombbeauty/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucyferOfficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086050880420
Other: Twitch.tv/LucyferOfficial
Image Credits
Lucyfer Photography and Jluz.Photography