Creatives Often Live In The Moment. Our Art is Our Life and Life Is Now!
EntreMusicians Equally Embrace & Employ Such Instantaneous Inspiration, but We Know that Our Ultimate Advantages are Rooted in Intense, Focused Planning for the Days, Months & Years Ahead. We Define Ourselves Differently.
The Tightrope for Most Musicians I know is Scheduling Time to SCHEDULE Time for Their Dreams & Goals because the Phone is Constantly Ringing.
That’s A Good Thing. Their Working! BUT… (Read The Rest Here!)
Firstly, as an Aspiring #Aluxer, I Am Not A Champion of Failure.
Like You, I Love to Win, Maintain Advantages, Remain Competitive and Constantly Seek New Ways to Improve. Losing, Quitting, Throwing In the Towel and Similar Derivatives are Not in My Active Vocabulary, but the Invaluable Education I have Received from the Many, Plenty Failures I have Experienced have proven to be Treasures which have Molded and Forged Me into the Man I Am, On the Path I Am. I would Not Trade Any One of Them. For Each Failure was just as Valuable as Every Win I’ve Attained.
Click Here To Read The Lessons I Have Learned :
Don’t Forget to Download My Free E-Book!
I Know. I’ve Written About This before…and Twice Before That. I’ve even mentioned it in a few of my Videos.
“Get Over It!” “It Is What It Is…” “This Is Just the Way It Goes, The Cat’s Out Of The Bag and It’s NEVER Going Back In!” are the loudest comments I frequently receive when I begin to ask questions and One Expert actually called me Stupid on his forum. That Was Fun. This is the Music Industry, Boy! March In Step. Head Up, Shoulders Back. Eyes Forward!
FINISH READING ARTICLE @ THE ENTREMUSICAN
There is a Wonderful Biblical Principle that is Engaging, Encouraging & Empowering no matter what Your Worldview may be. Spoken by Jesus Christ in His Sermon on The Mount in Matthew 7: 7-8, He shares this Priceless Gem: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” A Deeper study into that passage of the Original Language reveals that Jesus is saying to Continue Asking, Continue Seeking and Continue Knocking! Persistence is the Key to Open The Door!
The Fear of Asking has stifled the Dreams of Millions! The Initial Preconceived Emotion of Rejection handicaps us from even picking up our bat to take a swing, let alone getting us to first base! The Problem is that we can be so overly (and needlessly) intimidated! The worst scenarios immediately into our minds and we instinctively begin to ostracize ourselves into the mire of what we believe Others will think of us! How Dare We Pursue Our Goals & Dreams! How Dare We Ask Them to Help Us?! Further, How Dare We Ask Them to Step Aside as We Garner More Territory!
Another Biblical Example that comes to mind is found in Numbers 13 when Moses sends out 12 spies to go into the land God had promised them and Ten of them returned scared witless, claiming “…We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that’s how we must have looked to them.” Only Joshua & Caleb had the stones to Move Forward and thus, only Joshua & Caleb Actually Entered into the Promised Land!
The Awesome Avenue of Asking is paved with Courage! To begin Gathering Nerve is found is the Ability to Get Over Yourself and just Start Making Requests!
Begin TODAY by Asking for Any & Everything You Can Think Of! It’s Perfectly OK to Start Small.
Ask A Co Worker for $0.75 cents and pay Him/Her back before the days end. Ask a Close Friend to Borrow $150 till Friday and Pocket It until then, paying them back promptly. The Joy is in simply getting started. The Next Time You’re in Your Favorite Store, Ask the Manager for a lower price on something that is clearly marked significantly higher and up the ante by having your money in plain site!
My First Point is, All They Can Say is NO!
I once walked into a Guitar Center asking for a Less Expensive Online Price of a certain Digital Recorder I wanted and the young, naive, prideful little Whatshisname refused me. So I kept my car in their parking lot and walked a few blocks to the Smaller, ‘Soon to be shut down by the Behemoth’ Music Store and Asked of them the same question. They obliged my request. I returned to GC with my New Unit and Receipt and Asked to Speak to the Manager, recounting my recent experience with his salesperson and my subsequent victory with his competitor. The Now Embarrassed Manager knew he had lost $200 trying to save $44.76 and had quite the conversation with his protégé. Perhaps that’s why they too may not be around long…
If You’re from New York or travel there much, You Soon Learn That EVERYTHING is Up for Negotiation! But Your Silence Guarantees You Will Never Have a Seat at The Table if You Don’t Ask!
My Second Point is All They Can Say To You Ultimately is NO and perhaps Sprinkle in a Few Expletives for Emphasis!!
I’m Learning to Ask for More Outrageous Things Consistently. I recall the Very First Time I asked an Extraordinary Price for My Band, SounDoctrine, to play a Gig and the Promoter said “Yes!” While immediately thinking I should have asked for at least $1000 more, I surmised that I’d never venture far from My Now New Standard Price ever again. Although this decision sometimes bites like a double edge sword, in that we hear a lot of Giant NOs, meaning we perform less, yet every time we do perform, we are playing more prestigious dates at better terms and conditions!
ASK for a Better Seat at that Swanky Restaurant! ASK to Be Upgraded to First Class For FREE! ASK to Speak to the Owner of the Company! ASK for an Opportunity to Open for That Artist or Better Yet to Headline The Event (They Will Certainly Remember You!) ASK for Airplay on the Larger Stations! ASK for a Free Subscription! ASK for Your Post to be included in That Periodical! ASK for That Door To Be Opened and then ASK Again Next Week/Month/Year!
This Week, I’ve just asked a Core Member of a World Renown Group who will be playing our city this Friday (tomorrow) if I can interview them for This Blog. I have yet to hear a word from them and I just might receive another NO, but what if it becomes a YES?
So What Are YOU Asking For? What Incredible Opportunities are YOU Imagining Might Come to the Surface simply by gathering the grit to Open YOUR Mouth and Begin Inquiring?
My Third Point hinges on the scripture I began with as Jesus wraps up His thoughts on Asking. He says in verse 12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
In Other Words, While You Are Rehearsing the Process of Asking, What Are You Preparing to Give, either to them directly or to Others whom May Ask of You so that the Law of Reciprocity may Flourish In You, Through You & Around You!
So Let’s Get To It!!
I’ve began a New Video Channel to begin driving some of these and Other EntreMusicianal Points deeper into the subconscious of Us All.
I humbly Ask You to Watch, Like & Share this Content with Your Fellow EMs and in turn I promise to continue to Progress & Develop Greater Programs of Dialogue, Resources and Avenues to Engage, Encourage & Empower!
Thank You for Taking the Time to Read These Words.
I was Listening to Azymuth‘s “Rapid Transit” On Vinyl while composing this blog.
Every EntreMusician has either had to Deal with a display of Unprofessionalism of Another Band/Team Member at One Time or Another. Some of us (Including Myself) have unfortunately brought such obnoxious behavior to the table and wondered why the thing fell apart, or moved on without you.
Below, I have included 14 Absolute Guarantees that You Will Never Be Called Back if You Possess these Obnoxious Characteristics!
1) Arrive Late.
2) Make Several Excuses for Your Tardiness. Justifiable or Not.
3) Be Unprepared.
4) Make At Least One Excuse for Why You Didn’t Learn the Tunes. Any Excuse Will Do.
5) Show a General Disregard/Disrespect for the Person who Hired You.
6) Arrive Inebriated or become so during the Gig.
7) Develop & Maintain a Crappy Attitude that worsens throughout the Evening.
8) Use tons of profanity, especially on stage, specifically on the Mic.
9) Ridicule Any or All Band Members Onstage from the Microphone.
10) Bring a Spouse/Significant Other to the Gig and Argue with them throughout the evening.
11) Return to the Bandstand Late for the 2nd/3rd Set.
12), Openly Squinch, Laugh and/or Point at the Bass Player Every time She Hits a Wrong Note.
13) Aggressively Offend Any or All Members of the Audience On or Offstage. Especially if they should Deserve it.
14) Place Your Talent Above Your Unprofessionalism and try to Outdo Everyone Else on stage with Your Brilliant, Illustrious, Completely Longer than Necessary Solos, thinking that because Your Gift IS Brilliant and You Sound So Wonderful and Have the Whole House On Their Feet and Under Your Sway that the Entire Band & Bandleader will simply forget the other 13 Abominable Attributes You Bring to the Table and Beg You to Come Back Next Friday…In Fact, the Third Time You Pull This Stunt, The Audience will have caught on and will no longer provide the Energy and Attention You Seek.
Perhaps I Have Forgotten One or Two Things You Feel Should Be on This List.
If So, Please Enlighten Us By Commenting Below…
I was listening to Bernie Worrell‘s “All The Woo In the World” On Vinyl while posting this.
At the time of this writing it’s safe to confess that I’ve blown it no less than 1752 times or more in 2017, with respect to my Personal, Professional and otherwise Preferential Decisions and there are still a few days left in this year! Obviously I am not proud of these missteps, which have hindered certain goals and advancement, yet I have long since Learned to Value the Lessons Every Blur & Blunder taught me. Each Chastisement has brought with it the understanding that I should not Extensively Linger on the Embarrassment, Shame or Guilt, but Appreciate the Gift of Another Opportunity to try again.
Once an Unexpected Bomb has Exploded, Our very next moves as EntreMusicians should be to immediately Confess the Transgression(s), Ask Forgiveness, Seek Reconciliation and Move Forward, or more succinctly as Bishop David L. Thomas teaches, “When You Mess Up, Fess Up, then Get Up!”
Most Creatives, because we ‘feel’ so dynamically often experience difficulty overcoming our oversights. We tend to get stuck in the “shoulda, woulda, coulda’s” which further Delay Our Progress.
Mistakes & Miscalculations are Sure to Appear in the Upcoming Chapters of Our New Year, unless You are one of the New Robots being introduced into it. Unfortunately, a few of your Most Well Engineered Plans & Strategies May Not Perform as well as You’d Hoped, often Depending on Circumstances Outside of Your Control. Perhaps a Personal Misunderstanding Bangs a Huge Dent in an otherwise Vibrant Relationship, which as a result becomes irreparable. As long as You Know Deep Within Your Spirit that You were Not Malicious in Your Initiatives AND You have Taken the Sensitive, Appropriate Steps to try to Rebuild the Breach, albeit to no avail; You Must Move Along, Tears and All.
Remembering to Forget the Misses while Learning From Them is the Tightrope EMs are Destined to Walk. Don’t Get Stuck in the Mire. Make Adjustments. Tweak. Course Correct with Shoulders Back, Head Held High & Most Importantly, a Pure Heart. Once You’ve Sincerely Sought an Acquittal, Forgive Yourself!
A Wonderful Book, “Failing Forward” by esteemed Leadership Author, John Maxwell Goes Much Deeper and Helps the Healing! Enjoy!
I Wish You An Incredibly Prosperous, Blessed and Joyous New Year!
I was Listening to The Crusaders’ “Unsung Heroes” on Vinyl while writing this…
Grab a Copy of My Free E-Book “50 Engaging Ways to Transform Your Fans into Family” at The EntreMusician.com
Firstly, A Blessed & Joyous Christmas to Each & All!
Last We were Together (I’ve missed a few weeks) we suggested that since Every EntreMusician’s True Motive is to Compose His or Her Song completely from their Heart, Essence & Truth, then they Must Adopt the Initiative to Forget The Hit!
Hit Songs Come and Go. Standards Transcend Generations. Smokey Robinson’s Great-Great Grandchildren should never be poor!
Today, we set forth a necessary secondary principal that urges you to abandon relying on The Critic to either Define You or Dictate to You What You Should or Must Sound Like to “Make It.”
While Garnering Great Reviews for Your Latest Project has its merits and You’d certainly want to see Favorable Appraisals of Your Work, You Don’t Want to Lean on the Analyst’s Voice or Pen to Guide You! I Learned This the Hard Way – Actually In Reverse – When SounDoctrine’s “INSPIRE” CD accumulated a ton of Wonderful Reviews, but little to no sales…and the total truth is, I had paid for None of Them! Somehow in trying to build upon the foundation we’d created with “ENDURANCE” while expanding our ‘commercial appeal’ I completely lost track of the Goal for the Glory.
I Certainly am NOT Hating on the many gracious Reviewers out there. I once was a Critic for a Jazz eMagazine and was blessed to be able to recommend a number of truly great Indie Artists. I did it out of the love for the music and was always respectful to follow any injurious comments I might’ve had with a note of encouragement. It came to the point where I would not review any material I felt I could not be kind toward, which began to denote bias on my part, so I quit. Many Reviewers share this struggle.
Your Purpose as an Artist Must be Grounded in Understanding that You Most Certainly Will collect Brutal Criticism from those who Don’t Know You, Understand You or are totally Unable to Envision Your Platform and it’s OK. Your Music is NOT for Them!
At the heart of the Christmas Story is a King, born in a filthy manger, who while going about Doing Good was for most of His Life was despised, hated and ultimately murdered by the critics of His day, brought forth through His Resurrection the Greatest Gift the world could ever receive; Eternal Life!
So Go For It!
Get My Free E Book at www.theentremusician.com and Join the Conversation brewing for 2018!
I’ve been in an Azymuth mood again, so while writing & posting this, I’ve been dropping all of their albums on the turntable!
Check Out their cover of Marvin’s “What’s Goin On”
On & Offline there are No Shortage of Classes, Courses & Conferences which Advise, Train and Teach Formulas & Techniques for Crafting “HIT” Songs that ‘Stand Up’ to Industry Standards! Equally, there is a plethora of AI Software available which analyzes Million Sellers from the past 50 years and Recognizes the Keys, Characteristics, Structural Components and Chord Progressions for us to Copy & Duplicate Our Own Smash!
While Writing a Song that Everyone Loves, Admires, Appreciates and Will Buy in Droves is a Worthy Goal of any Songwriter, You can bet that the Core Motivation of a Smokey Robinson or Dianne Warren wasn’t the Immediate Hit (albeit it became the end result). They were seeking something deeper. Their Aim was Timeless & Transformative Compositions. Often, the Songsmith is Expressing his/her Emotion to just One Person, Bearing their Total Soul, only to discover that their Transparency is Universal.
For the EntreMusician who Writes their Own Material, the Primary Intent Must Be Truth.
Conveying Anything Less and Merely Imitating The Flavor of the Day may Cause a Current Splash, but often Short Circuits the Ripple Effect. Our Goal is to Create an Ardent Cult Following, A Tribe, A Community or Family that Will Pursue Our Music, Learning Every Lyric and Lick regardless of Airplay or Anonymity.
James Taylor, Carly Simon, Kenny Loggins and Joni Mitchell have all written masterpieces that were never released as singles. Any Loyal Funkateer sings along loudly to the most obscure PFunk Anthem. The Incredible Frankie Beverly has written some of the most enduring R&B Ballads on the planet for the last 40 years and as of this writing has Never Won a single Grammy! Yet His Legend Looms Large and His Melodies are Bone Deep.
Methodically Build Your Audience and Your Discography. Your Career Will Thank You, Even if It Creeps Along Slower than You’d Like. Treat Every Song Like the Masterpiece It Is. The Endurance You Secure will Sustain You Long After the One Hit Wonders have Vanished into Obscurity. Purpose Your Music to Transcend Generations.
This is Not to Say that as a Serious Composer You Shouldn’t Appropriately Work and Shop Your Songs to the Right Connections, Making Certain Each One Addresses the Appropriate Level of Appeal – But, Never Mistake Hitmaking with Making a Lasting Impact!
Forget The Hit! Change a Life!
Download My Free E-Book: “50 Engaging Ways to Transform Your Fans into Family” at TheEntreMusician.com
I was listening to Con Funk Shun’s “Love Shine” on Vinyl while posting this.
A Great Documentary to Check Out This Month is “Muscle Shoals“
Face It.
You’re Only As Important as You Think You Are.
You can Either Live By & Under the Expectations & Evaluations of Others – or – You Can CHOOSE to Create & Model Your Own Principles or Ideals.
You Can Either Agree to The “Usual” Pay Scale of the Masses or CHOOSE to Negotiate Your Fee.
It’s Up To You.
Your Self Importance is the Sum Total of Your Own Thoughts, Experiences & Esteem.
Your Self Importance is Directly Tied to Your Own Vision & Goals.
You are Either One Who Sees Him/Herself as Having Very Little to No Worth – or – Someone Who Envisions Endless Possibilities. You Either Settle or You Set Out.
It’s Up To You.
Although Present Options may be Limited, Important People are Always Creating Opportunities to Change that Present Situation and Improve Their Positioning.
EntreMusicians MUST Embrace the Realization that Our Art, Music & Creativity is IMPORTANT. We Must No Longer Accept or Agree to Selling Ourselves Short and/or Out!
It’s Time To Set A Price For Our Shows & Songs that Reflect Fair, Equitable Standards which Put Money in Our Own Pockets or Refuse to Participate on Their Platforms & Stages.
Important People Know How to Say “NO.”
How Important Are You?
I have a friend named Joe (real name) who started a New Gym in Youngstown Ohio 18 Months Ago. Geographically, Joe’s Gym is about 2.8 miles away from that Other, Better Established, Open 24/7, Only $10 a Month Gym that Most Everyone Frequents. Joe’s Gym is only open from 5:30am to 9:00pm, has far less equipment & space and his Monthly Memberships begins at 5x more than that other place. Yet Joe has a startling slew of clients and continues to add Specialized Sessions & Trainers to his Growing Roster.
The Secret to Joe’s Success is Joe.His Gym Provides Intentionally Focused Workouts in an Exceptional Environment that Provides Optimum Results to its Members. Joe’s Gym is called The Train Station.
I often think of Joe as I talk to Musicians and Software Developers about this Unfolding Plan I’ve proposed. In case You are Unaware, I began a Post several weeks ago concerning EntreMusicians readdressing the Direct Sales & Digital Distribution of their Art. I continued to Add Thoughts & Emotions and will continue to discuss & work with EntreMusicians to formulate a workable plan. The Conversation is Growing!
In short, I Believe that ALL EntreMusicians must utilize their ability to Stream their Content Directly to Their Own Tribes on a Subscription Basis, without the need of a Billion Dollar Corporation paying them less than a penny per stream. The Technology is Available, but must be Personalized in a format best suited for both Artist & End User.
Dr. Nelson Harrison, a very forward thinker and founder of The Pittsburgh Jazz Network has proposed an Alternative through Millennium Music Media which I am currently checking into and awaiting a callback from a known Artist Currently on their roster.
Joe’s Success in Starting & Growing The Train Station is in His Initiative to Customize a Service & System the Larger Gyms simply cannot and markets his personal touch accordingly, without railing against them – and Word of Mouth is growing.
Every EntreMusician Must Go and Do Likewise. The Excuses are Over. Other Options Are Available. The Ultimate Option remains in Controlling & Distributing Our Own Songs on Our Individually Owned Platforms and Doing the Hard Work of Marketing Ourselves Appropriately. That’s The Truth of Being Independent Artists.
I wasn’t playing any music while blogging, but I’ve just finished practicing the drums to the “Dreamland” CD by YellowJackets. William Kennedy, ALWAYS WOW!!
Jere B's Approach 