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BLOG POST June 28, 2009
Creating Meaningful Music and Money
Lately I’ve been pondering how an artist can balance expressing their art authentically with the demands of business (which means delivering something fans value enough to pay money for). I’ve heard one view that says an artist should be true to their music unique expression and the money will follow. And then there is the extreme of writing music with the main intent to please a market and make money.
So, which way is it?
First, let’s look at my personal definition of business. Business is very simple. You deliver something of value to someone, and they give you money for it. Money is exchanged for services delivered. Now, let’s explore exactly what it means to create “meaningful music.” Does it mean that my music is meaningful to me or meaningful to my fans? Of course, I prefer that it will be both.
I recently interviewed an artist that is successful at making a full time living with his music. I’ve seen him live, and he is a master entertainer that had the entire audience in absolute hysterics. Although, I will not repeat some of his song titles…. at least not without blushing.
His name is Eric Schwartz, and he travels around the country doing house concerts and other local gigs. His song, "Clinton Got A Blowjob" just won first place in the Comedy/Novelty category of the International Songwriting Competition. This is quite an accomplishment regardless of the category. Yet, in speaking with Eric (and other successful artists), there always seems to be a restless question lurking in the shadows of their soul… “What’s next?” Eric shared this powerful quote with me…
“No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
~Martha Graham
This quote makes me wonder if I will ever be happy and ponder the difference between being happy vs. being satisfied. For me, happiness is my state of Being – it’s who I choose to be. When I chose to be happy, nothing can take it away from me without my permission. My happiness is not based what I do – it’s grounded in who I am. When who I am Being is happy - the doors of my creativity open and ideas flow in. The funny thing is, when who I am Being is happy, people tend to be drawn to me and they ask me to share my art with them.
For me, happiness is the way… not based on a future goal of achieving something… someday.
Satisfaction is purely based on the outcome of my success and is not meant to last. It’s a fleeting event, a few moments of glory that quickly fade away into the realization that my deepest passions are unleashed in the creation process itself, not the end result. What if I was satisfied all the time? Isn’t that the same as being stuck in a rut? The trouble is… the only difference between a rut and a grave is just a few feet.
Back to Eric, his comedy songs and show create a nice income. Yet, he also has a wonderful collection of songs from his soul. So, if Eric is not making a full time living with his soulful songs, is he selling out? Pimping his music? I’ve given a lot of thought to this, and no one can answer this question other than Eric’s own heart. However, I would like to observe that Eric is simply expressing other aspects of who he is. I don’t know anyone that is “Spiritual” all the time and never funny.
I like to compare Eric to Alanis Morissette who sings the inspiring “One Hand in my Pocket” then wails out “You Oughta Know!” For me, anytime I pretend to only be one dimensional and try to only show my “good” side, I am being unauthentic to myself and even more so to my fans. Eric is funny as hell, he is a talented actor, he’s highlights his partially bald head and “Attention deficit disorder” in his show. If you ask me, it doesn't get more authentic than that. However, I believe that Eric’s greatest gift is that he knows the secret… he knows that it’s all about entertaining his audience.
Eric is what I consider a “Pro” and here’s why… He is in reality with his musical, songwriting, vocal, acting, and entertaining abilities. He works with coaches, attends workshops and classes to improve his craft. He knows that earning money with his music is a privilege that he has earned, and not something that he is entitled to. Eric is also in reality with the business side of his music and he knows how to deliver a show that fans value enough to pay money for. You can check out Eric at www.EricSchwartz.com.
So, what exactly is it that fans value more than their money?
I think about it this way, all fans really get from music is a feeling. That’s it! How do fans want to feel? They may want to feel many things… romantic, revengeful with a great break-up song, or just escaping it all. Let’s look a little deeper, what do humans in general crave most? My experience has been that what most people ultimately desire is love, approval, acceptance and appreciation. Successful artists make a conscious choice to make their fans feel appreciated and feel like they are a member of their unique tribe.
Master Live Performance Coach, Tom Jackson says that people go to see live music because they want to experience “Moments.” When I first saw Tom at Bob Baker’s Indie Buzz Bootcamp, I was spellbound by the brilliance and truth he had to offer. I told myself that when I was ready to fully commit to performing live, I would coach with Tom. Tom’s fee is $2,500 for the day, and worth it. But for now, I’m very grateful that he created his All Roads Lead to the Stage DVDs, they are transforming my stage presence and performance.
I work with several coaches that have helped me transform my business, life, vocals, Spirituality and now, I consider Tom’s DVDs my personal Live Performance Coach - they are that powerful. As much as I believed that I should naturally be able to do this, reality showed me that live performance is also a craft to master. What are the chances that an athlete could make it to the Olympics without a coach? I personally believe that the musicians that will succeed in the new music industry, will be the ones that seek coaching to maximize their full potential.
If you are at a point in your career where you are making great tunes, building a fan base and your fans love your music, but your bank account does not reflect this... Tom's DVDs will show you where the disconnects are and exactly how to get connected with your audience in a way that creates the income you deserve.
Tom is offering a special discount on his All Roads Lead to the Stage DVDs for Get Music Success fans click here for details.
Live and Play with Passion,
~Julie
P.S. I have a big singing performance coming up this fall and I have been watching, studying, applying and practicing The All Roads Lead to the Stage DVDs. Stay tuned for updates about what I learn and how it transforms my performance over the next few months.
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ROCK ON
