Recording Artist Advocate: Talk to non-musicians.

Definitely talk to musicians, but talk to other people too. Definitely read musician magazines, but read other magazines also.

I was at a show and got to talking to a guy who owns a lot of rental properties. He told me things that make sense in my recording studio business and I told him things about my business that helped him. We talked about a guy with a mobile DJ business that helped us both.

I got a lot out of that 15 or 20 minutes that will make me money immediately. I had to write about it. We decided that you may have to look outside your industry for the innovative thinking that can improve your industry.

It’s fun to hang with fellow musicians, but it can get you in a rut. Seek out successful people in every field and see what you can learn from them to make yourself more successful.

Then you can use some of that money to come record at Rough Wood.

Recording Artist Advocate: Why you exist…

Who is I and why is I here? (Actually I wrote “Who am I and why am I here?” but my spellcheck kept changing it. I thought it was funny.)

What is most important to you? There are people who have such an overriding desire that drives them, they will continually work to get to that goal. For a Mother Theresa it’s obvious. For you and me it might be harder to pin down.

Whatever it is, you need to find it and make it your mission statement.

When things get tough you will need to lean on it. When success comes and you find yourself getting complacent, you’ll need it even more.

I know of people who wake up early and work late into the night to change the world in some way. I’ve known people who quit their jobs and go to work for a political campaign because they feel so strongly about what the candidate stands for… or what they think the candidate stands for.

In every group there are the leaders, the followers, and the people who just get swept up with whatever the rest are doing. Most artists I’ve met are leaders. It takes guts to stand up in front of a crowd and most people will never allow themselves to even try.

So, you are already among a pretty elite group. Now you have to even rise farther by planting your flag and attracting an audience. Dig deep if you haven’t already and find out “who you is.”

Once you know that, are you willing to work every day to change the world?

When you are ready to record your music, book, or whatever… call me. I like working with people who know who they is and why they is here. That’s why I built Rough Wood Recording Studio.  I want to change things too.

Recording Artist Advocate: Looking back…

When someone comes to see the studio they always want to hear stuff we’ve recorded. I have several go-to files I can pull up that show how good recording at Rough Wood Studio can sound. It’s always funny when I remember those sessions and how much work went into some, and how easy others went.

The best part for me are the success stories. Some artists just want to have a CD to sell at shows. Other’s just want to have a CD to send out to help them get hired. Then there are the people who won’t quit till they can support themselves entirely from their music.

The funny thing is that people tend to get as far as they see themselves going.

It’s been said that Michael Jordon saw himself making his shots, but regardless of how he did, he kept on trying. He actually missed a lot of shots but he never let that slow him down. When you have a goal in mind and keep working to get there, you are more likely to. In fact, without a goal in mind and the willingness to keep working towards it, you never can get there.

So maybe I’ve just known a lot of motivated artists, or maybe that’s just how things work and I’ve been lucky enough to have those people come through my studio.  Whichever it is, I encourage everyone who comes through here to keep trying to find your voice and your audience. They are linked like Siamese twins.

Know who you are. Know why you need to write and perform. And know who you want to perform for. Then keep doing it. Even when things aren’t going well, you can always do something to get you closer to your goal... even if it’s just writing more songs and getting better at playing your instrument.

In this business you don’t get to quit or even coast. Besides you know which direction you go when you’re coasting.

It is a heavy hammer to swing and not everyone is up to it. If you are, I’d like to meet you and schedule some recording time. Yours could be the next success story.

Recording Artist Advocate: Opposition, or just plain rudeness…

If it was easy to succeed in the music business, everyone would do it.

But it’s not easy, and I think that’s the point. A kite can’t fly unless it has wind to rise against.

Opposition will also separate the people with fortitude from the people who just roll up and quit. That leaves more opportunity for you. Success can be like a “last man standing” competition.

If you feel yourself wanting to quit when you run face-first into a wall, resist that impulse. If a snide comment puts you in a tailspin, snap out of it. Some people are naturally tough and others have to develop that strength.

You will face opposition. If you’re not, then you are not trying hard enough. If everything comes too easy, how will you handle it the first time things get hard?

Research anyone successful and if they are honest you will find that it took a lot of hard work and overcoming obstacles. And a lot of manning up! (…that goes for women too.)

It can even come from the people who should be supportive. But wherever it comes from, those voices that say you should quit must be ignored.   

Or you can just fold and get out of the way for someone who is willing to work for it.

It’s ultimately up to you. As for me; I want to work with winners. If that’s you, call and book some studio time. Let’s get you the best sounding recording to promote yourself with and sell at your shows.   

Recording Artist Advocate: Right Left Up Down…

You know that we have a right brain and a left brain. One side is very literal and the other not. It can also be described as above or below the “water line”. Above the surface is the real world, and below is the world of dreams.

Explore the underworld and you can take your listener on a journey. In fact, if you think of going under and coming up for air thorough your composition, it can make for some interesting imagery.

George Martin convinced the Beatles to explore “movements” like a symphony. And you hear that in much of their music with abrupt changes as if two complimentary songs were smashed together.

Try that with your music, but changing from the real world, to the world of dreams… and back.

So much music is the same within a genre; you need to do all you can to stand out.

What could it hurt, and you might find song writing inspiration you didn’t know you had.