The Lowry Agency will be on Twist Radio this Sunday August 22nd at 4pm EDT! www.blogtalkradio.com/twistradio
August 2010
The Comfort Zone
The Comfort Zone
Often times when trying to make a career happen or anything else for that matter, we tend to stay in a safe place. We do only what we are strong in and never work on our weaknesses. You see this a lot with musicians practice routines where they only practice what they know and avoid what they don’t. We are scared to reach out and try something new. It might be technology, social media, new venues, new band members or numerous other things that make us nervous. We are scared of change in general, as is human nature. We shy away from what we don’t understand or from the unknown.
Unfortunately, we never know what is coming tomorrow and security is usually just an illusion. How many times have you experienced or watch someone loose a secure job, or a relationship that seemed secure and perfect only to find out it was far from the truth. It catches us by surprise and it’s a major shock to the system. It makes us nervous and scared to try new things, but in order to move forward, we need to step out of the comfort zone in order to grow.
A very popular quote from Albert Einstein is “The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results”. In your artistic career, if you aren’t getting the results you need or desire, then you need to try something new. You need to do things that you don’t like or may not be comfortable with. You are responsible for making it happen especially since you are most likely doing this all on your own with out a team of people to help you. Another popular quote is “Successful people do what unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do”.
As an example everyone knows that social media is the future and most are already late getting to it. I have heard countless times from artists/entertainers that they don’t like doing social media. They don’t like twitter because it’s seems so trivial. “What do I say?”, What can you put in 140 characters?” or “I just don’t get it, it isn’t my thing.” These are the reasons or excuses that I hear for people not doing what is necessary for their careers. Let me tell you as an artist and business owner, there are a lot of things that aren’t “my” thing. I still have to do them to be visible and stay competitive.
In a world where the same big paying opportunities to be signed by a major label aren’t there, the artist has to find ways to get their product out there. There is none cheaper than social media and since most artists are always saying they aren’t making any money gigging, they have no reason to not use social media.
I am encouraging you to step out of your “comfort zone” and put together a plan that will help you get to your goals. Do the things you don’t like to do and you will be way ahead of those who aren’t and are at the same time setting yourself apart from the pack of mediocrity that is out there.
Good Luck!
Records and Interviews
Records and Interviews
by Sass Jordan – The Lowry Agency Artist
Pretty much the first thing you get asked in an interview when you are promoting your latest record is ‘what is it like?’. Not an easy question to answer, as an artist, because usually it’s about so many things. I like to have an answer already prepared so that I don’t have to think about it on the spot, and confuse myself and the interviewer as I jump around all the inspirations and moments that made up the songs. Generally, when I am thinking about making a record I will have a theme that I can work off of. For example, my most recent record, From Dusk Til Dawn, was thematically exploring the darkest hours before the dawn, the time when we feel the most vulnerable in every sense, and all the growth and expansion that comes from that. There was also a flavor of Southern California in the seventies, and a touch of Memphis vibe … just slight dabbling, not out and out excavation.
It’s best to remember a couple of entertaining stories from the recording, and to perhaps discuss a song or two. I find that most interviewers are quite willing to be led where you want to take them – there are very few who are really prepared and come to the session with a real set agenda. Either way, it can be a lot of fun, especially if you have a sense of humor about it. The thing you can never forget is that you are promoting something, be it yourself, or your latest release or up-coming shows – these are the things that public wants to hear about, but tucked into something they can relate to as people.
Once in a while you will come across someone who is a total goof and really has no idea what they are doing, but in those instances you still have a choice. You can take them by the hand, so to speak, and lead them down the path they were supposed to take you down – OR – you can just dismiss the whole thing, which is probably not a good idea. Just have a sense of humor about it and realize that not everybody is up to speed!
Interviews are the place where you can deliver more of a direct message about what you do and what you are interested in and the ideas, people, places, and things that you want to support. If you have a particular charity, or piece of information you would like to share – an interview is the place to do it! Even if it’s just an energy or state of being – it’s another opportunity to reach out and affect or help other people, uplift them, get them thinking, make them happy (or angry!). I used to loathe doing them until I figured out that it was up to me how I felt – and not up to anyone else. Once you figure that out, that you’re in charge of how you feel – everything else changes for the better!