Expected

Artists and musicians and freelancers often say things like…

I had some unexpected time off.

An unexpected gig came up.

We had some unexpected complications on the tour.

An unexpected opportunity landed in my lap…and then the unexpected opportunity unexpectedly got cancelled.

How often do these things have to be unexpected before realize they’re just part of the lifestyle? That they are to be expected. So when they inevitably happen (both the good and the bad), we aren’t surprised, we take it in stride and we don’t get distracted by the unexpectedness.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

How To Keep A Manager

Don’t just sit around waiting for them to update you.

Participate. Bring energy. Bring ideas. Bring follow through.

It’s easy to think, ‘Now that I have a good manager I can sit back and take it easy while they make me famous’.

Yes, if they’re a good manager they’ll have some fun surprises to update you with from time to time but a manager is someone to work WITH.

»» As the artist, what if you brought some good surprises to the table yourself?

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Clean It Up

Years ago I was meeting with an artist. He was telling me about his publicist and how the working relationship wasn’t going very well.

I asked why.

He said he it was because had no idea what she was really working on. She would talk in vague terms and avoid clear and specific communication.

I asked him if he had brought these issues to her attention. He said, ‘Well I’ve hinted at it several times’.

Ah ha, there we go! The vicious cycle.

Clarity is messier than hinting, alluding and passivity but it cleans up much better.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Getting That Parking Spot

If you want, you can go downtown right now and get a great parking spot and leave your car there for the next four months so that on New Years Eve you’ve got the absolute perfect exit strategy.

It’s going to make the next four months pretty tough on you. Walking to work or paying for Ubers or wearing out your friends for favors. But come NYE, you’ll be the talk of the party.

But we know that while you could get the perfect spot tomorrow…if you decide wait till the day of, you won’t get the perfect spot but you’ll get one that will be fine. And in turn the next four months are smooth sailing.

Sometimes we rush. We get ahead of ourselves. We live too far in anticipation instead of reality, all under the guise of being prepared.

No need to get ahead of yourself. One step at a time.

So yes, there’s nothing wrong with sacrificing the next four months to get the perfect parking spot in downtown Nashville for New Years Eve.

(But what if you end up celebrating in Cleveland?)

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Self Imposed Deadlines

“I have to get this done by Thursday.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I told myself that’s when I’m going to finish.” 

“Oh so you don’t really have to get it done by Thursday.”

The punchline here is that both of the voices are in your own head.

Being able to implement, respect and enforce your own deadlines, regardless of the absence of outside support, is a crucial factor to your road of success.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Transformation

Transformation is rarely associated with efficiency.

Transformation is rarely sped up with more effort.

Transformation comes from experience.

Transformation happens to you and within you.

Like The Wallflowers sang, ‘man I ain’t changed but I know I ain’t the same’.

I don’t have a formula, but here’s a start…

Vision, desire, action, diligence. And keep your eyes open.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple