Practicing

You trade on the skill level you have.

And that skill level, paired with creativity, opens the door to get the gig. The next gig might be a little bit different from the first but it simply requires a shift in your creativity while utilizing the skills you already have.

Practicing is different than merely learning new material or a new gig.

Practicing is about getting better at what you do or learning a new skill to add to your set.

It’s easy to float from good gig to good gig over the years and forget about practicing or getting better. And you probably have the skills to be just fine doing that.

But the idea of sitting down to practice might be worth revisiting from time to time.

Getting better on purpose isn’t just for amateurs.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Showing The Music

The song you wrote today…You could post a version of it right now. It’s probably a decent song. It’s got a verse and a chorus and a post chorus hook.

So why wouldn’t you? Because you’re holding it back in order to make it better before you let people hear it.

Makes sense. If you hold it back and it becomes a lot better, then it was worth the wait.

But what if you hold it back and never get around to making it a lot better?

Then you might as well have posted the day-of demo on Instagram so your fans could enjoy it and give you feedback…which might put the fire under you to make it better.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Keep Driving

Anyone who paid to see your show again isn’t disappointed that it’s similar to the first time around.

The reason we want to watch again is because we liked the first one. We came back because we want another dose of the same (or similar) medicine.

No need to reinvent the wheel. Once you find your lane just keep driving.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

That's Not What I Meant

You’re not always going to get the chance to clarify.

If you’re the type of person who speaks up consistently you’re going to have to be ok with being misunderstood.

To have the opportunity to say, ‘that’s not what I meant, what I meant was this…’ is a rare gift.

They didn’t hear it the way you meant it. They made inferences and drew conclusions that weren’t accurate. And they might even hold their conclusions against you without you knowing and without realizing they might not be true.

So if you’re the one speaking up it helps to be as clear as possible. The more clear the less clarifying needed.

If you’re the one listening, remember that the way you take something might not be the exact way the person meant it.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Team Colors

I live in Tennessee. It’s easy to spot University of Tennessee fans. That orange is so very bright.

There’s a good chance that you as an artist or a business don’t have team colors…but it’s worth asking how one fan might spot another.

The places they go. Shirts they wear. Things they say. Things they post. Haircuts they have. The size of their sunglasses. Direction of their hat. Color of their shoes.

You don’t need team colors but it often helps (and it’s fun) when we know how to spot the others.

»» For those curious…there’s none of that orange in my closet.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Office Room Rock

If you’re going to make it as an artist in the music business you’re going to have to play office room rock…aka bring your acoustics and play songs in a boardroom to five people in swivel chairs.

You gotta learn to sell it with fluorescent lights on. With a coffee carafe on the table. With blank stares. With no microphone with which to channel your insecurity. Only leaning on the strength of the song and your ability to sell it.

If you can do that, there’s a place for you.

»» If you can put on a great show in an office AND put on a great show during a daytime slot at a festival on the flat-bed-trailer stage…you really have something special.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple