Daily Creativity

It's a busy life, you know? Sometimes daily life just gets in the way of creativity. It's not always easy to fit in time to play guitar or drums or whatever we play. It's not always the right moment to put that pen to paper and write that next great song.

It's vital that we do though.

I've gone through HUGE dry spells, where I've just not wanted to do any of it. I've let the business side of things here, the voice over recordings, or the hunt for more clients, keep me from doing what I love best. Being creative. It's not fair to our artist side to deny ourselves this outlet. It's the way to early retirement from our biggest dreams.

I'm finding that if I set aside a little bit of time each day, and just let myself be free to create, it comes in waves. Big, crashing waves. Sometimes enough to overwhelm, but always good stuff.

Leave room for creativity. It's what makes us who we are.

Creativity and the Business Are NOT Mutually Exclusive

For years we've been fed the idea that we need someone else to take care of the business side of our music careers so that we can focus on being creative. What is non-creative about the business aspects of our career? Now, I'm not trying to say that we should all fire our managers or agents and go it alone, but having a hands on approach to the business portion of our careers can be just as creative and rewarding as the actual creation side of it. Plus you get the added benefit of knowing EXACTLY what's going on with all aspects of your career.

The fact is, there is no such thing as a plug and play plan for success in the music industry. Sure, there are the well used and frequented paths that most all musicians and bands take, but the success level is low. I kind of think of it as there only being a bottle neck opening of success and the more sand you have in the bottle the harder it is to get to that opening. So, why not unleash the creative side of ourselves and make new openings? Why stick with traditional means if tradition tells us we're delusional? Why not apply our creativity to our business plan and our marketing efforts. Why should we should we look at the business side of our endeavors as different than our music making? They are not, and should not be, mutually exclusive.

As technologies and attitudes toward, and about, music change, the industry changes. That's why I find it amusing when I hear people say that "this is just the way it's done". That's like saying, "well, I had success doing it this way in 1974, it's bound to work now". Um, probably not. Times change, markets change, fanbases change, economies change, social outlooks change, public opinions change, so why don't our business tactics change?

If you can't see the path to success over the heads of your competition, you're on the wrong path. Be creative and strike off into the unknown. You'll be rewarded for your efforts.

Building an EMPIRE off of your left overs.

So, I've been reading a really awesome book and I'm going to have to insist that you read it. Okay, I guess that really won't make much difference, but I do highly recommend it. The book is called Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Check it out for yourself!

It's a great look at taking the bullshit out of business. Awesome read, but what really stood out to me was the section on selling your by-products. It's an idea that is WAY under used in both Indie Music and the Indie Business worlds.

Whenever we create a new product we inadvertently create by-products. If we record a new song, clips can be cut for other purposes (web audio, jingles, background music for commercial use), hell you can even create your own album trailers from it. What else can you use your creations for? What can you do to multiply the impact without multiplying the effort?

Do you film your recording sessions or demos to spread as viral marketing pieces? Acoustic demos can be a great free bonus to your diehard fans, or even as a way to generate more fans. Who doesn't love the intimate nature of seeing the creation process, up close and personal like?

Challenge yourself to find ways to utilize the by-products of your creativity. It could just be the foundation of your success.

To Thyself Be True!

You know, I've been struck recently by how samey so many bands are these days. Well, it may not just be "These Days". It's been like that for as long as I can remember. One group starts to get a bit of a following or has a decent radio hit and then there are 10 Million clone bands the next day.

It's kind of like there's some mass production mold somewhere on the Labels lot where they take a stock 4 guys who can hold their instruments in a proper Rock Star pose and stuff them in the sausage grinder of current trend. They come out the other end with the current hipster hairdo and a stock, trendy sound.

Maybe we should thank the Labels for doing this. It makes it easier for someone with their own ideas, sound, and image to stand out in the crowd. But, keep in mind, this is easy to do to yourselves too. It's easy to over rely on your influences when creating your sound. It's even Super Easy to rely on too few of your influences when creating your sound. You don't want all of your songs to sound like Billy Corgan covering Tool do you?

Be well rounded. Don't listen too much to one thing. Create a healthy relationship with genres outside what you play. Network with other Indies from other markets and scenes. Be yourself and put your personality into your music, and you can't help but stand out. Unless, of course, you don't have a personality. ; )

In the immortal words of Russell Simmons: Do YOU!

Have a Happy and Productive week. Oh, and feel free to stop by http://www.seriousvanity.com/12SongsOfChristmas for some free Holiday tunes! While you're there sign up on the mailing list and see if you can beat Simon!

Later,