Debra Russell: Success Coaching

Just the facts ma’am!  Here are the results of the Survey!

93 people responded to the survey (Thank you so much!)

1.   I’m going to offer a 4 month coaching series via telephone conference calls and email for small groups (10 max). If you were going to participate, would you prefer:

20.4% – Playing with a group of people, who had a mix of goals in different areas

79.6% – Topic specific groups (Bootcamps focusing on time management or marketing, for example

That’s a resounding call for topic specific programs! I can do that!

2.   If topic specific, please rate your interest in the following topics:
In Desperate Need of:
31% the Multiple Streams Method to Market your Art/Music
23.3% Time Management support

Definite Priority this Year:
44% Running Your Business Like a Pro
42% Creating the Entrepreneurial Mindset

With ALL of the other suggested topics running a close third as priorities for this year. I get it – you want/need all of it!

3. If you have an area that you’re just dying to work on that isn’t listed, please tell me here:

I found that most of the topics you suggested would be covered under one or more of the topics I listed. So I’ve organized your suggestions by topic. Some of them might be listed under more than one Bootcamp. See if you can find yours:

Time Management

Prioritizing writing time
how to balance work on promoting art with our “day job” services business
How to combine work with being a dad and a husband
Keeping real life crises (like impending foreclosure because you’re STILLL not making enough money) from diverting focus on writing, booking, and performing my music!
I am just focusing to get more materials done.
clutter
How do I get the priorities done and not get killed by missing all the small details and chores etc?

Organization

clutter
How do I get the priorities done and not get killed by missing all the small details and chores etc?

Financial/Money Management

Keeping real life crises (like impending foreclosure because you’re STILLL not making enough money) from diverting focus on writing, booking, and performing my music!
safety with on-line banking

Multiple Streams Method to Market Your Art/Music:

doing market research – does anybody want to buy the service I want to sell?
The music biz!
Creating a good, effective Business Plan
Determing when to move from scheduling my own shows/events to bringing in help (i.e. a manager or a part-time promo person). And also…really just evaluating where my music career is at and how to take it to the next level.
Transitioning from a lucrative business that I don’t really like to making a living at something that I enjoy
Understanding how to properly communicate and establish relationships with people in the music industry; knowing how to “get your foot in the door” and keep it there.
Marketing by selling benefit, not self
package production
I am just focusing to get more materials done.
Marketing/Networking
I’ve been too long a folkie volunteer. Now that day jobs are behind me, I want income for what I do.
Social [Media?] Marketing for music
marketing to niche market (very high-end)
Sequencing & Transforming a monumental legacy into the lives of millions world-wide
On-line sales
setting up a tour

Running Your Business Like a Pro:

doing market research – does anybody want to buy the service I want to sell?
Creating a good, effective Business Plan
Determing when to move from scheduling my own shows/events to bringing in help (i.e. a manager or a part-time promo person). And also…really just evaluating where my music career is at and how to take it to the next level.
Transitioning from a lucrative business that I don’t really like to making a living at something that I enjoy
Prioritizing writing time
Publishing my own music verses having ASCAP or someone else receive the revenue
Understanding how to properly communicate and establish relationships with people in the music industry; knowing how to “get your foot in the door” and keep it there.
I’ve been too long a folkie volunteer. Now that day jobs are behind me, I want income for what I do.
I need to develop my simple talk. Too many quiet or unclear moments get in the way of my social interactions.
Best practices to approaching galleries. What a “good” portfolio looks like.
setting up a tour

Transforming Your Beliefs – the Key to Success

Confidence and Self-Esteem
The emotional blocks, feeling too guilty for success, overwhelm, obsessing on small details instead of big picture
Motivation
Overcoming negativity around you.

Creating the Entrepreneurial Mindset

Transitioning from a lucrative business that I don’t really like to making a living at something that I enjoy
Raising capital

Overcoming Fear

Confidence and Self-Esteem
The emotional blocks, feeling too guilty for success, overwhelm, obsessing on small details instead of big picture
Motivation
Overcoming negativity around you.
Not being shy to step out on the global stage!
I need to develop my simple talk. Too many quiet or unclear moments get in the way of my social interactions.

And after evaluating these – again, you seem to be mostly in need of Multiple Streams or Art/Music Income, Time Management and Running Your Business Like a Pro.

4. As far as scheduling these calls, what days and times would be completely unavailable for you?

OK – this is where we got into deep trouble.  Apparently some folks misunderstood this question.  I could tell this because very often the times listed for Question 5 (most desirable times) were also listed under this question (unavailable times).  What a I wanted to know was what times absolutely will NOT work for you.  Oh, well.  I guess I’ll just have to use the most desirable times and try and pick something that will work best for the most people (including me!).

5. See Question 4

6. Thanks to those of you who were interested enough to give me your names and contact information.  You’ll be getting an email from me with your thank you gift.  Please be sure to add debra [at] artists-edge.com  to your address book!

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the survey!  Stay tuned.  I’ll be announcing the Bootcamp(s) you voted for next week!

I wrote this to Bob Lefsetz in response to his rallying cry for Taylor Swift and against the almost universal online and mainstream media bashing.

Bob specifically gave Taylor the following advice:

Everything’s got to come out.  Honesty is the best policy in a crisis.  We’re a forgiving country.  Tell the backstory, the true story, of how Scott spent so much to make Taylor happen.  Not as a tale of millions spent, but as a father doing everything to make his daughter’s dream come true.  Release video of Taylor singing at twelve.  Show the arc of her development.  Make the Grammy appearance part of her development.  Instead of the end of the story…

This is serious business.  Just look at John Edwards.  The aforementioned Tiger Woods.  There are people who specialize in handling these crises.  Hire one.  Because the team in control of Taylor Swift’s image is woefully overmatched.  I wouldn’t call it a public relations offensive but an explanation, a bringing of the public into Taylor Swift’s heart.  Don’t throw stones at your enemies, hug them tight, by admitting your faults and showing that you’re reasonable, and dedicated to solving the problem.

Thought you might be interested in my response to Bob’s email:

Dear Bob,

I so agree with you.  And all she’s got to do is say – “Whoa, I’m 19 (or whatever age she is, I don’t track these things).  I’m working with a vocal coach.  I’m working with a guitar teacher.  I’m always working on and improving my songwriting skills.  When you’re an artist you must always be working on and improving your skills.  I know I’ve got room for improvement.  Who doesn’t?”

Being able to sing on key, support your breath, harmonize – these are skills.  Some people are born with a large amount of talent.  The rest of us need to build our skills.  And the truth is, it is more likely the people who have to work very hard to achieve high proficiency are more likely to be successful in the long run, than the folks for whom it comes easy.  Because those of us who have to work hard all along – become used to hard work.  So, when the going gets hard, we just buckle down and get to work.

It’s also extremely rare for someone to be hugely talented across the board.  You’ve said yourself, she’s a talented songwriter.  I agree.  I also think she’s a talented performer and producer.  But she needs to build her skills in other areas.  Hey, she’s young – give the girl a chance, will ya?

Your Music Business Coach,
Debra