After completing the Digital Identity Map worksheet, I was keen to realize that I portray myself in a pretty accurate manner for the most part. I recently started releasing music under my actual name, Blake Grossman as opposed to BL8KE G. This change was for many reasons, one of which being I felt as if the number 8 was holding me back in terms of branding. Blake Grossman is actually me, and with my acting and broadcasting endeavors along with music I feel as if I have a lot more to offer than just as a music artist. On my social media profiles this is very apparent, as you will see posts of me performing on stage, showcasing new material, organizing shows, and playing in other bands. I also will showcase things that go on in my life, from getting a new tattoo to buying a rug for my in home studio. All of these factors contribute to the image people grasp of me when viewing me online. To sum it up, I am likely perceived as an outgoing emo musician who is passionate about the limelight and sharing opportunities with other people in the community.
Depending on the circumstance, the way I portray myself online is accurate to when people meet me in real life. If I am ‘on the job’ then I will always present myself the best I possibly can, which is high energy and positivity. Naturally though, I am very shy. I am an only child from a split household which has caused me to grow up very isolated and detached from reality. I’ve known nothing but my own means and aspirations, and have spent years slaving over these dreams without proper decision making skills to be happy in the end. I suffer from depression, anxiety, and other social and mental struggles which is apparent in the lyrics of my music. Dealing with my past regrets and confusion through religion, being bullied, and other harm has formed into a very strong human being, but has made me prone to being an easy target for oppressors in the scene.
The music scene can be very competitive for some. I am not a competitive individual, however people around me have gotten the impression that I am fueled by ego, which is entirely untrue. Based on looking at my social media profiles, it’s clear that I have always been quite confident in the content that I put out, even if it has been cringe at times. I am not afraid to be expressive and voice my opinion online, which has spawned it’s fair amount of backlash over the years. I do not feel this differs from my offline personality, as I am a very insightful individual with strong opinions. I have a high intellect and I am able to make opinions for myself rather than parroting what I hear from others. This makes me a figure that many have engaged with through social media discussion, and has caused me to accumulate haters as well. While haters may be apparent on my posts, I don’t typically choose to engage with them unless it’s for comedic or educational purposes. I feel as if interacting with people who choose to act so low are never worth your time, as engaging with it only belittles your position.
Blake Grossman is very multimodal, expanding from Instagram to YouTube, Twitch, TikTok and more. I have taken breaks from other platforms, but with my new music releasing soon it’s integral that I stay active on most platforms to maintain a presence. Creating content that can be used across multiple platforms is a great way to save time and money, as well as expand your reach; which is why I’ve always made it a point to not stay locked down to one platform exclusively. As I move forward into this new point of my career, I am worried that people will ‘hop off the train’ when it comes to the content I will be producing. My content will expand past performances and music, now showcasing more comedic content based on similar music niches, gaming videos, freestyle content, along with skits and even food reviews. It’s going to be throwing a lot of stuff at the wall to see what sticks, and I get nervous that people who have been following me for awhile will get turned off and unfollow. People not liking me has been a trauma that I’ve dealt with for awhile, but as I’ve made more and more moves in my career I’ve realized that people are always going to come and go. You are the only person who is going to care as much about your career as anyone else, so it’s best to disregard the noise and keep on pushing. I am confident in my skills as a content creator and I look forward to seeing how my social media profiles evolve and adapt over time to fit in these new niches, interests, and hobbies.
