Make the biggest difference.
And…
Getting hung up on the small things is what kills the project.
So what do we do about the small things?
It starts way before. The key is having a clear, agreed upon vision and set of boundaries from the beginning. If the small thing is within the boundaries, make sure it’s right. If it’s outside the boundaries, let it be easy.
It’s the gap between what you dreamed of and what you have.
Maybe you have less than what you dreamed. Maybe you have more…but ultimately it didn’t give what you the reality you were hoping for.
Either way there’s a gap. None of us dream with accuracy. (And accuracy isn’t the point of the dream)
So what do we do with the gap?
Embrace that there is a gap. Talk about it, write about it, be sad about it, be honest about it. And also be thankful that the dream helped you get this far.
Perhaps the purpose of the dream isn’t to be attained but to help us keep going. And keeping going is a priceless gift.
Wherever the money is coming from, own it.
Whoever is loving your music, lean into them.
We all want the cool crowd to be our audience and then realize it’s a different group. And then we’re slightly embarrassed or disappointed or belittling or resentful toward our actual audience because they aren’t who we hoped they’d be.
Maybe your music works well on TV. Maybe people in their 60’s love it. Maybe it clicks with people from a certain country. Maybe you can do great live business but no one cares about new recorded music. Maybe you’re a cover band. Maybe kids love it. Maybe small town people come out but big cities don’t work as well. Maybe you’re a soft ticket sweetheart. And this is a tough one…maybe you’re a great opener but don’t sell as a headliner.
Just give into it. Or work really hard to change it.
But it’s more fun to accept the fun that comes from something that’s working.
First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple
A grand entrance and a grand exit. That’s what you need in show business.
One to rile them up. One to send them home.
When you appear on stage and when you disappear off stage…these are the two most profound moments because your presence means everything in that room.
Dare to go a little bit deeper.
Life is too short not to. And we’re all lonely. And we all want to be less lonely and known a little better and we all want someone to care.
We’re all dying for someone to ask us a good question.
But we can’t control others so we’ll have to go first.
Get to know the people you love.
As a follow up to yesterday about taking it seriously…
Take it seriously but don’t take it personally. And it’s easy to forget that. And it’s easy to want to take it personally and tie it to identity. You’re working so hard, taking it so seriously that the work is all there is to take personally too. What else is there to take personally if not for the serious work?
Keep it easy. You are much more than the good work you take so seriously.
You’re allowed to do great work. You’re allowed to not be defined solely by your work. You’re allowed to drop your shoulders and breathe and understand that while you play an essential role, the world will keep spinning even if you take few minutes off to laugh at the bad reviews.