BOOST
BOOST (Building Occupational Objectives & Skills Together): Early Career Guidance
Off The Lane’s BOOST Program is designed for early to mid career artists 18+ who have lived in NYC while pursuing the arts for at least one year. Think of us as career therapy! We implement tailored challenges in order to help BOOSTers progress towards their specific career objectives. Through one-on-one sessions, BOOST provides resources and advice along with periodic events that feature relevant experts to help provide insight to meet creative goals.
Our Applicants:
- An Early to Mid Career Artist 18+
- Have been living in NYC for at least one year
- Actively pursuing a creative arts career in NYC and planning on staying in NYC for the forseeable future
- Looking to boost careers by developing concrete, attainable, and sustainable practices to reach creative goals
Interested in giving your career a BOOST? Applications for 2026 are now open (updated December, 2025).
Interested in becoming a BOOST Advisor? Learn more below!
BOOST is a free career guidance program for artists 18+ who have been living in NYC for at least 1 year and are in need of counsel to build their skill sets and apply them to their career. BOOST Advisors facilitate sessions with these artists to create a course of action through personal connection, creative analysis, and organized planning. Through drawing on their own experiences, BOOST Advisors cultivate the blueprint for each artist and create a space for deeper exploration. Applicants must be actively pursuing a career in the arts.
Our BOOST Advisors possess:
- Problem Solving Skills
- An ability to relate their own experiences to others in a helpful way
- Comfortability talking about a wide range of topics
- The ability to listen to understand, not just respond
- Willingness to use personal network as a resource
BOOSTer Testimonials
PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS:
Creative Versatility: How to take on multiple roles in the arts (and keep yourself working)
In this workshop, BOOST Co-Chairs Ayana Major Bey and Jillian Vitko discuseed how to succeed as a versatile and multi-hyphenate artist in today’s arts & entertainment industry.
(AKA, how to keep yourself working as an artist!)
Workshop discussion topics included:
- Building an artistic ecosystem
- Broadening your artistic focus
- Taking on projects that compliment each other and your various skills
- And creating a world for yourself that doesn’t require someone else giving you permission to do it.
How to be a Multi-Hyphenate Artist
We hosted a FREE workshop and meet-up for folks interested in becoming and/or developing their skills as a multi-hyphenate artist in NYC! Sponsored by BOOST, this workshop was led by multi-hyphenate artists and BOOST Co-Chairs Jillian Vitko and Ayana Bey.
In an industry where effort does not always garner desired results, creating your own work is almost essential.
Topics included how to become multi-hyphenate artists, how to create your own artistic ecosystem, and the ways in which it can benefit your career.
Wear many hats, make more art, and meet more like-minded people.
April 25th @7pm ET at Meaux Space in NYC
BOOST Banters
BOOST Banters was set up to help build a bridge between new and seasoned artists through a mixer style event. What is so special about this event is how intimate and personalized it is. Each guest is hand selected and paired with our BOOSTers.
When asking our BOOST Co-Chairs, Ayana Bey and Jillian Vitko, why this event was so important to them, they said they “wanted to demystify the word networking and create a space for artists to connect in an informal, fun way. Taking the pressure off and just having a conversation as humans who happen to be in the same field.”
Co-Chairs in Chairs
Our lovely BOOST Co-Chairs, Ayana Bey and Jillian Vitko, created a vlog-style video answering any and all BOOST questions you may have! Watch below to learn about the ins and outs of BOOST: