Freelance Success

Music Career Coach: Do You Actually Need One?

Music Career Coach: Do You Actually Need One?

With so many music coaches and online career programs out there, it can be hard to find what’s best for YOU. If you’re confused or frustrated with all the marketing messaging from coaches offering advice and promising success, I hear you. If you’ve wondered how...

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Musicians — Hit the re-set button

Musicians — Hit the re-set button

Between your creative projects, preparing for performances, teaching, and the latest world disaster in the news, you too may have burnout. If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, you're not alone. Here's help for musicians — how to hit the re-set button. Let's...

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Let me explain . . .

Let me explain . . .

Let me explain . . . why I play with blocks every morning. It's part of a story I've been reluctant to tell. Yes, I DO play with blocks. It's the first thing I do every day, 7 days a week. A while ago I set myself a 100 Day Challenge and now I'm addicted. Here's how...

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Musician self-promotion dilemma #47

Musician self-promotion dilemma #47

I recently received this question from the terrific pianist/composer Jeremy Siskind (thank you, Jeremy!). It's a common concern for many musicians and Jeremy suggested it for a newsletter topic. So let's tackle the Musician self-promotion dilemma #47.   Jeremy's...

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How to Work a Room

How to Work a Room

Here is How to Work a Room for musicians: So, if your social skills have gone rusty, Or if, like me, you're a confirmed introvert, If you're ever uncomfortable at post-concert receptions, Or if networking just makes you want to hurl . . . This one's for you. The good...

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Standing naked in front of a mirror—excruciating

Standing naked in front of a mirror—excruciating

This past week one of my terrific clients, an accomplished professional musician, admitted that working on his Bio felt like standing naked in front of a mirror — excruciating. I get it. Writing Bios brings up everyone's Gremlins. And like looking in the mirror, we...

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Eating death cookies

Eating death cookies

Eating death cookies, in the world of skiing I'm told refers to hitting hard chunks of ice that can "fowl up an otherwise smooth turn." This can be both scary and exhilarating. And this concept is also applicable to creative artists even if you've never slid down a...

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How to Engineer Your Better 2022

How to Engineer Your Better 2022

To kick the old year out and welcome in the new, I'm bringing back a favorite tool. It's adapted from Dallas Travers' terrific "Year in Review" exercise. Here is How to Engineer Your Better 2022 — arranged in twelve simple yet powerful steps to move you toward your...

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Want more freelance work? Take the Musician Mensch Quiz

Want more freelance work? Take the Musician Mensch Quiz

If you're a musician here's an important question: Are you also a Mensch? [An upstanding, worthy, honorable adult person regardless of gender identity.] It turns out being a mensch has a lot to do with people wanting to hire you. So, if you want more freelance work?...

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Is it time to quit your Day Job?

Is it time to quit your Day Job?

Question: Is it time to quit your Day Job? Back in 2016 I quit my day job as Director of the Center for Music Entrepreneurship at Manhattan School of Music. After 5 terrific years in that job, I needed a change. I’d been living a double life: working three days a week...

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