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Majoring in the Minors

Ever feel like you have so many details demanding your time in your life & career you can’t keep up?

Sometimes those details scream for my attention! But they aren’t necessarily the “important” things.

When you’re trying to build a music career, it’s easy to get caught up in things that won’t make a difference.

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine in the industry, Rick Goetz, posted a short (very short!) blog called “How do I get a record deal?” It’s worth the read…

Whether you’re asking the wrong questions, focusing on the urgent instead of the important, or putting your time, money, & energy into details that aren’t worth it – you need to stop majoring in the minors. It’s one of what I call the 7 Deadly Sins of an Artist!

To be honest, it doesn’t just happen when you’re working on your career. It even happens when you’re developing who you are onstage and putting a show together.

To have a great show, you need to pay attention to the things that will make a difference.

Be the kind of artist who builds something you’re proud of and that lasts. Have a plan — from your vision to the set list to blocking the show — all the while leaving room for spontaneity. Build a strong foundation. Become confident and in control, learn to lead an audience, and develop authority and charisma onstage.

You’ll need materials, tools, and skills: your visual presentation needs to be as creative as your music, so take the time to wood- shed the fundamentals, get creative with onstage tools, and develop the skills that make you visually compelling onstage. And finally, bring style and originality to your show, uncovering those things that make you, your music, and your show original.

Just make sure the “details” you’re concentrating on are details that will make a difference to your artistry, your show, and your career.