Top-surgery Recovery Fundraiser for Freelancer

I’m Bad Carrot Studios, also known as Cricket (yes, that’s my legal name!)

I’m in my late 30s, have three plant babies, and have been a professional artist for almost 15 years in both traditional and digital media and a voice actor since 2014.

Most of my art has revolved around Music, Magic, and a bit of mayhem. I started streaming on Twitch a few years ago to help keep on schedule and connect to others for my own mental health. Freelancing can be very isolating! However, the people I’ve met here and the community I’ve found have been incredible.

In 2020 I moved to LA to pursue Voice Acting as well (I know, I have the BEST timing) and while I have landed a few gigs, the industry is difficult to get into! Some amazing friends donated equipment so now I have a small booth to do auditions in whenever I can get them.

I also work as a Personal Online Assistant and pick up other gigs where I can find them.

My main source of income though (Yup, I work about 4-6 jobs) is a “Helper” for a local small business, EmiiCreations, stocking their inventory, packing orders, setting up/tearing down booths or tables at events, and even working at some of those shows too. This job is both physically demanding (sometimes lifting 50-75 lbs) and requires me to travel.

While recovering from top surgery that will NOT be possible; it could be 4-6 months (recommended time for no heavy lifting or raising my arms above 90 degrees) before I’m recovered enough to even start to get back to the physical demands of that job.

*Recovery time can vary person-to-person too. I’ve never had surgery, so I have no idea how my body will heal. There’s always the risk of complications or other unforeseen factors that can prolong the recovery time*

Even though I’m a freelancer with multiple jobs, I’ve been living gig-to-gig and haven’t been able to put aside much after rent and bills have been covered each month because the Cost of Living is expensive! I do my best to live small: my room is my office, recording studio, and bedroom (I sleep on the floor). And while it may take some creative Tetris to fit, I don’t regret moving to LA to pursue voice acting (secret’s out! That’s the DREAM!)

While I will keep working hard on obtaining that dream, the one where I’m comfortable in my own body is so SO SO much closer. I am reaching out to the community at large and hope that I can reach my goal of having the basic Costs of Living covered while I recover from surgery.

70% of the funds will be going to rent costs (assuming the 6 month recovery period) and the remaining 30% will be covering Utilities (such as Electricity and internet) and other bills.

I will be keeping everyone up to date on the lead-up, the MAIN EVENT, and the slow crawl of time while my body fuses itself back together after the initial metamorphosis. Discord, IG, andTik Tok will be the likely culprits outside of Twitch for updates and behind-the-scenes shenanigans.

All throughout August and September, I’ll be working with people in the Twitch community so we can bring you entertainment, joy, and a fun safe space, all while doing our best to raise funds for the recovery period post-surgery!

*More Info about Unlocking Goals, Rewards, and Streaming Here*

While we don’t have a date yet (we still have to go to the initial consultation for the surgery) we’re hoping it will be late September/early October. That way, because it’s a slower time of year, I will miss fewer conventions while I heal. The “busy season” is in the summer and we hope to be in (mostly) working order by then!

Even if you can’t support the fundraiser financially (I TOTALLY get it) I ask that you spread the word, share the events that we’ll have planned, check out the Streamers helping us out, or come join the fun!

But most of all, Love yourself and Live your truth <3