Whatever stage you are in as a songwriter, artist, producer, engineer, studio musician, touring musician, or jack of all trades, you’re probably starting to develop a strategy for receiving criticism. If you’re out there working your connections at all, whether it be performing, asking co-writers to write with you, or wading through all the possible ways to promote yourself as an artist, you are inevitably forming your personal perspective of the music industry. The industry itself is wide and multi-faceted, and it’s no wonder two artists can have completely different paths aiming for the same success.
Students in my online classes often ask me ‘what’s my story?’ In other words, we want to know how another writer got where they are so that we can do some of those same activities that may get us where we want to go. The trouble with this thinking is that we are setting out into a completely different landscape with new people and new and different opportunities. The industry itself has changed, but even more importantly, the people we meet along the way will not be the same. The only thing that has ever earned me any success comes down to just one person. That one person was someone who believed in my music. There have been several ‘one persons’ over the years, but I hang my gratitude on those few I had to sift through the haystack to find. Without my searching, I may not have found them. But without their ability to hear me and see some potential in what I do, I wouldn’t have been able to expand my career.
I began this blog by talking about a strategy for criticism, and that very idea of criticism leads me to the thoughts I’ll try to verbalize here. It’s very easy for us ambitious artists, songwriters, and musicians alike to become overwhelmed with the amount of work that can be done to promote ourselves. The seeds we plant today often sprout several months or more often several years later, and that’s a long time to wait for a harvest. Being a creative person, I spend quite a bit of time reflecting, deriving great pleasure from finding new ways to express myself and share myself with others. I am not alone on this creative island, and so I wish also see my expression received by others, affecting others. This is why the idea of writing songs that never leave my living-room is like death to my creative spirit.
With my business so closely linked to my creativity, like most artists I have had to develop a strategy for living and working that nourishes my happiness rather than starving it. As we can see in the entertainment industry, many have not found working strategies. But the strategy itself is not a ‘goal’ that is achieved, but one we consistently have to commit to day after day. The business is constantly changing, and so are my creative goals. While I’m doing all the things I know are good for moving my career forward, such as writing, performing, and networking, I also make decisions about future activities based on the following.
What give me energy?
I’ll be honest, sometimes taking the day off and going to the beach is what I need to do to forward my career. There are times for writing when I don’t feel like it, or going out to shows and networking when I’d rather stay home. But there are also times for slowing down and erasing my agenda. If I lose the energy to believe in what I’m doing, then I lose my effectiveness in getting what I want.
Is what I’m doing busyness or opportunity?
There is a difference, and I constantly assess what projects I may become involved in that are going to lead me somewhere, and ones that are simply filling time or my pocketbook. It’s easy to get caught up in the talk that flies around in the industry. People talk about the next big thing and then that thing flickers flat like a damp firework. The only true question I need to answer is if the project is worth my time. Whether it’s worth my time depends on my specific goals. If my goal for the moment is to make money, then I make choices based on that. If my goal is to invest in a project I believe strongly in, then I make choices based on that. Sometimes it’s a balance, but I always try to make those choices intentionally.
Pretending I’m managing my career as an outsider, how do I view where I am, and what are some steps I would make to further my career?
This idea has been so invaluable to me. Stepping outside of myself and looking at my career from a distance enables me to see more clearly the way things really are. I sometimes have ideas about new opportunities I can make for myself when I’m not tethered to my own hesitations and concerns. I can also extend to myself more acceptance and forgiveness when I see clearly what things are within my control, and the things that are not.
I encourage you to continue practicing what you enjoy at least a little while each day. When weeks go by and we find ourselves constantly focusing on business ideas rather than writing, it can suck the energy and purpose right out of us. Take some time each month to evaluate new goals and aspirations as you unearth new opportunities. Allow yourself the flexibility to change as you grow in your art. In an industry where persistence is the name of the game, keeping our self healthy and happy is the smartest decision we can make.
