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Tyranny of the Urgent or the Important Stuff?

Ever heard the saying “the tyranny of the urgent supersedes the important?” Sometimes the things that land on my desk or the calls that come into the office simply scream to be taken care of, and I never get to the things that (to me) are the most important in my life. This is truly the case for me recently.

I’ve been working my tail off getting three major tours ready to go, and I just haven’t had as much time to plan the year as I’d like. Now, the musical and creative part of putting a show together is important to me and I love doing it. (Sometimes I pinch myself because for most of my life I’ve been able to do the things I really love to do.) But that’s not all that’s important to me.

I want to help others – to leave some sort of legacy and someday hear the words “well done, faithful servant.” So over the years I’ve always looked for things that would fit my creative spirit and allow me to help others while working with artists and and running a business. I encourage you to do the same thing.

For some of you reading, this may be the most important blog I’ve written. I can teach you how to create moments, I can show you the psychology of putting a show together, how to move onstage, and how to emotionally connect with an audience – but how are you and your music affecting the world?

For the last decade or so I’ve worked with charities that help the less fortunate. And it’s made a huge difference in my life – personally and professionally. Personally, I get the satisfaction of knowing I’m doing something for someone other than myself. I enjoy hearing reports from the organizations I work with about how what I’m doing is making a difference in people’s lives. Professionally, these companies are willing to work with us (you and me), to get the word out to the people who listen to us. It comes in the form of tour support.

If you are an artist doing 20 or more dates in a year, you can be a part of it. It doesn’t have to be a tour – maybe you’re doing weekend gigs; maybe a tour in the summer; or maybe you’re doing this fulltime and and you’re in front of people regularly. It doesn’t matter. These people need your help getting the word out about what they’re doing, and they’re willing to pay you! It’s an awesome partnership.

Frankly, I don’t understand why an artist wouldn’t take advantage of an opportunity like this. To this day I get miffed when I see an artist playing regularly (whether it’s coffee houses, churches, clubs, or concert tours) and this idea is presented to them and they don’t utilize it!

It’s a win-win situation. Truly. You just take a few minutes during your show to mention the cause. Daniel Lanois, Tim McGraw, Sarah Mclachlan, the Winter Jam tour, and other well known celebrities do it in their concerts.

Yet there are people like Frank Grubbs, Staci Frenes, or Jay and Jodi Marcum, who you’ve never heard of – they do it when they perform. And it’s made a huge difference in the lives of others less fortunate, while helping each of them financially!

So I’m not sure why YOU wouldn’t do it – or at least find out more about it. These US and Canadian organizations I work with are awesome: they spend their money responsibly, and they’ve been making a difference in people’s lives for over 50 years.

But maybe the urgent is taking priority over the important stuff in your life. Maybe you feel like you don’t have the time or energy to put into this. But let me tell you – this will make a difference in YOUR life and the lives of MANY OTHERS!

Take a minute right now, and fill out the contact form below to get more information on how you can be a part of this. And check out this Artist Tour Support page for more details about the organizations I work with.

Don’t let the urgent win out over the important!

Your Name (required)

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Your Artist/Band Name (required)

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Do you currently have an active performance schedule?
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How many dates do you anticipate playing in the next 12 months?

What type of venues do you play in & what is the average audience size?

I have an interest in and/or passion for:
Ending povertyChildren's rightsInternational adoptionRescuing child soldiers/enslaved childrenWorld hungerWomen’s issuesSpreading the Gospel

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Tom Jackson

Tom is uniquely talented and skilled at transforming an artist's live show into a magical experience for the audience; helping artists at every level create a live show that is engaging and memorable, teaching them to exceed their audiences' expectations and to create fans for life. Tom has taught indie and major artists of every genre. He has worked with Taylor Swift, Le Crae, Home Free, The Tenors, Shawn Mendes, The Band Perry, Francesca Battistelli, Jars of Clay, & many more. Tom also teaches at colleges, conferences and events worldwide.

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Greenroom Comments

  1. Another immediate share with the world. Already told several people about Heifer.org – so cool what they’re doing!

    I think maybe some artists are afraid… Or they think it’s not cool? They’re not big enough? But really, what could possibly be cooler?

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