Today’s Quote:

“Wine maketh merry: but money answers all things. Bible Ecclesiastes 10:19

Do you deny the importance of Money in your career?

 It can seem pretty sexy to have a “starving artist” mentality, but it doesn’t take long to realize the importance of money. 

 As musicians we like to hold to an altruistic philosophy which says that we are above money and our music is the only passion that matters. That may be true if you are still living under your parent’s roof, but if you are living on your own that attitude can be disastrous.

 Truth be told, we are often afraid of money and what it represents. And I am speaking particularly when we are out trying to make a living as a musician.  We feel daunted by the fact that we deserve to get paid for our music or our gigs.  We can also feel intimidated for asking for money at the end of the night when we need to approach a bar owner. 

No matter where you are in your career, it’s important to respect the power that money has. It has the ability to propel you further in your music or stop you right in your tracks.

But it’s time to change our attitude about the green stuff. After all you really can’t do anything without it…like the good book says: money answers everything.  It pays for our gas to get to a gig, and our guitar lessons. It also allows us to get some “bling” so we can look great on stage.

Whatever your attitude is about money, it doesn’t need to interfere with your true self as an artist. It is what it is. It’s currency. You need the stuff and there is nothing wrong with wanting to have some so you can use it to further your career.

Show me da’ money

 Here’s a secret:

 The only reason a lot of stars are where they are is simply because of money.  I don’t care how talented they are and how mesmerizing they are on stage, it takes millions of dollars to create a star.  Money in promotion, development, touring, hiring musicians, recording, image etc….

 No matter where you are in your career, it’s important to respect the power that money has. It has the ability to propel you further in your music or stop you right in your tracks.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything.” – Helen Reddy

 Today’s Quote:

“It isn’t just what you know, and it isn’t just who you know. It’s actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living”. –Bob Burg

 We all know it – “it’s who you know” that matters in your career right?

 That is only partly true as the quote of the day states. Networking takes time but without it you might as well just stay in your room and practice scales all day.

Here are 3 Tips that will help you become a better networker.

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail

1.. Develop a plan for how you are going to build your Internet networking relationships.

You should start with a facebook, Twitter,and  Linkedin account.  There is tons of information on how this will help your career.  Having a presence on the Internet is vital to your career. 

“When you need that relationship, it’s already too late to build it”.

2. Join local network groups in your city. This doesn’t always have to be music networks, it can also be professional associations. Belonging to non-musical associations allows you to have a greater perspective on the business world and how business works. And you ARE in a business.

Make Business Cards Your Business

3.   Create a system of tracking all the people you meet. You can even make notes on business cards about when you met a certain person and what your conversation was about. Also make a note of important contacts you meet online: people you may need to contact in the future to strengthen your relationship.  There are a lot of apps that can help you organize your contacts if you own an iphone/ipod or Android device.

 I like what Lois P. Frankel wrote in her book “Nice Girls don’t get the Corner Office: “When you need that relationship, it’s already too late to build it”.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything. – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“I love hearing my audience breathe”. – Adele

Feeling the connection of your audience during a performance is one of the most exhilarating things I know. As a performer, I realize my audience is watching every move I make; they are expecting me to take them somewhere they don’t know how to get to themselves.

To Zone or not to Zone

For the most part, your audience is made up of non-artistic people. They admire and envy the life of a musician. They would do anything have your talent and do what you do. The reason your audience and fans come to see you is because they want to be transported to another realm. That realm is a place where you are used to being. It’s the realm of creativity.

The “zone” as many people call it, is a place that you can learn to access at will.

Oftentimes, we take this creative realm for granted. We are so used to living and breathing in the creative realm, we assume that everyone else knows how to access it. But many don’t. They work 9-5 and live in a very structured world. That is why they look to you to take them to a place that they can escape.  A place that seems almost divine.

If you’re not sure how to take your audience to the place of creativity, I can tell you with full assurance that you can learn how to do it.  You can, because I have learnt. The “zone” as many people call it, is a place that you can learn to access at will.

Zero Into the Zone

The zone is ambiguous at best, but it is attainable. If you are a creative person, you already know how to be in the zone, now all you have to do is access it during your live performances. I’m sure there are times when you have been in the zone while performing but you don’t know how you got there.

Getting in the zone during a performance is like any other skill you want to learn. Tell yourself that you are going to learn how to do it and then set out at each performance to access it. It’s a little like “blind faith”. You need to first believe you can find that place and then psyche yourself up before your performance. See yourself ahead of time being in zone.

Next time you are writing a song, take a moment to absorb the feelings of being in that creative mode.  That is the exact feeling of being in the zone.

It does sound a little weird, because being in the zone is such an intangible skill.  But if you are an artist you already have the ability to do this. The key is to bring it into your performances and transfer that outwards to your audience.

Magic is for the audience

After time and practice you should be able to get your audience to that magic place. Once you do you will surely have fans for life, for this is the place that allows them to feel the power of music and creativity. 

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”. – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

 “Every great leap forward in your life comes after you have made a clear decision of some kind”. Brian Tracy

 Well everybody else in blogland is putting out a “what to do in 2012” so I thought I might join the gang.  I just didn’t want to throw anything out there so I thought about some important aspects if implement, will move your career forward.

Here is my “5 Must Do” list for 2012

 1. Understanding Branding.

 If you aren’t familiar with personal branding, then you need to take time out to see how branding can affect your whole music career. Our friendly Wikipedia states: Personal branding is, for some people, a description of the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands.

 It’s the process by which musicians can differentiate themselves and their music by standing out from the crowd. Once that is accomplished you then take your uniqueness and package it across different platforms and create a consistent message and image.

If you have an interesting twist let your local newspaper know. Columnists are always looking for good stories to print.

 For instance if you have a certain look and feel to your CD, you would duplicate that on your business card and website. Consistency in every aspect is the key. You want to create your own signature that people will begin to recognize as they get familiar with you and your music.

2. Be Everywhere

Maybe only God can do that, but you should at least try your best when it comes to making your presence  known online and offline. Do you have a website? How about a facebook fan page and MySpace? Are you a Twitterer? All of these sites should not only show your PB (personal branding) but be linked so your fans can easily find you anywhere they look on line. This takes time and effort but as a musician you can no longer afford to not be visible on the web.

 3. Be everywhere…else

 Apart from the virtual world, people should also know who you are in your local area. Have you created a buzz in your own city? Creating a local vibe also takes time and effort.

 Get out and gig. Make connections at jams, and other events taking place. You can do volunteer work at music workshops or for other bands. Playing for a charity event is also a great way to get your name out there.  If you have an interesting twist let your local newspaper know. Columnists are always looking for good stories to print.

 4. Welcome to Blogville

My secret sources say (Google) that there are approximately 1 billion bloggers. Translation: 1 in 6 people have a blog. You may not think you have lots to say, but your fans find the musician’s life very fascinating and would love a peak into your eccentric lifestyle.

  Sharing some of your musical activities often adds some pizzazz to people’s somewhat boring routine. Take a look at www.Wordpress.com and www.copyblogger.com to get great tips on how to be a successful blogger.

 5. Become a tech nerd.

 Well maybe not, but becoming tech savvy is a must today. Many people have the basics when it comes to navigating around the Internet, but oftentimes digging deeper into topics can bring out some real gems. Check out this link on how to find anything online: http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/12/how-to-find-anything-online-become-an-internet-research-expert/. This is a great article to help you research almost anything you can think of.

 This is my list for 2012. You’re in the music business so make it your business to push your career into the stratosphere.

 By Vivian Clement

“I am Woman, I can do Anything”. –Helen Reddy

Hey Vivian,

.

I always enjoy your female musician blogs, as they are very informative. I was wondering if you could give me some advice or information.

.

I am a female guitarist and I really want to get into a band. I play in an 80s cover band in the area I live, which is fun, but I want a serious band with whom I can write and express my ideas.

.

It is so difficult to find anyone in my area (I live in Arkansas) to share the same goals and aspirations with. I was wondering if there was anywhere online to be heard, so to speak?

.

I am still pretty young, 25 years old, so moving anywhere is an option for me.

I would move for the music. Thank you for your time. Any advice you could provide is much appreciated.

.

It’s Better To Be A Big Fish In A Small Pond

Hi Erin:

 

Thanks for contacting me and great to hear that you are enjoying the blog.

 

I think the first place to start is to be clear on what you want to do with your music career. Are you wanting to pursue music ful-time or is it just a part-time passion for you.  

 

Never give someone else so much power over you that your entire career falls apart if they arent there.

 

If you are just pursuing music part-time than you can always build a base from where you live. If it’s difficult to find people with the same goals, then you may want to consider being a solo artist.

.

It’s usually easier to find gigs in small bars and cafes since the budget is alot less than hiring a full band. But of course that may not be your thing. It’s just a suggestion and alot of people do it who are fed up with band politics and the likes. 

 

If you still want to work with other musicians make it a point to become more independent.  You should always have a plan B for your career in case the people you are working with decide they want to move on. Never give someone else so much power over you that your entire career falls apart if they arent there. It’s your music and ultimately your career. 

 

From your email I’m assuming there are not alot of places to gig. If this is the case and you really want to move else where, consider how a decision like that can play out. 

It takes alot of time and effort to build a reputation and create momentum in any city big or small.

 

If you move to a main music centre, you will be starting from scratch in a new town. In other words no one knows you. Unless you are extremely exceptional at what you do (and not just from your own perception), it will be very difficult to stand out from the crowd. It’s always better to be a big fish in a small pond- you can get alot further with much less effort.

 

You also need to consider the cost of living in an area where the music scene is thriving. Rents are higher and you may need wheels to get where you are going – which is gas and insurance. And it would be nice to eat once and a while so you will have to consider getting a job! In this economy that may not be the easiest thing to do. And since alot of places like New York or LA dont pay great (and the competition for paying gigs is fierce) you will probably have to take a job doing something other than music – which of course can defeat the purpose, if working takes up all your time.

Nothin’ like home sweet home

 

It takes alot of time and effort to build a reputation and create momentum in any city big or small. You will need to get out to jams, gigs and other events to forge new connections – this doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it can take a year or two to gain some real momentum.  By that time you could have gained more ground by sticking to your own home town. People already know you which makes it easier to get gigs and build a following there. 

 

If you live cheaply you can focus more on your music and not worrying if you won’t make next month’s rent. (Often in big cities you have to share an apartment with others and that can bring a whole slew of other issues even worst than dealing with flaky musicians). 

 

There are alot of things you can do today by using tools like facebook, twitter and myspace to advance your career.

 (Check out next months blog for great resources for developing your career)

 

I hope this reality check doesnt discourage you but enlightens you to see that you have lots of options. Zeroing in on what you really want is the most important thing. Working hard at your craft, getting as much info as you can from books and blogs, will move you forward to your goals.

 

Wishing you the best and let me know how things are going for you as you go along.

 

 

Vivian Clement

www.vivianclement.com

Now that you have some extra time off from your job or school, it’ll be a perfect opportunity to perform for friends, write some new tunes, refine your self-promotion strategy and start the new year with a head start towards more success!

So proudly dawn that new Christmas sweater that Grammy gave you, and raise a glass to usher in a rockin’ 2012!

Until next year, Happy Holidays from Vivian Clement of Female Musician Online

Quote of the Day:

“Power gravitates to the person who can used it most effectively to get the desired results”. – Brian Tracy

The Power Twins

Men are not afraid of wielding power and neither should you be. If you want to succeed in your career or any career for that matter, you will need to understand how power works.

Power can be used for:

1. Personal reasons. For instance to gain respect in your career

2. Corporate reasons. To help your band gain momentum with its goals

Influence … has as its intention to help others advance at the same time that you are advancing.

The 4 types of Power

You will encounter 4 different types of power that exist along your musical career path.

1.  The Power of Skill. 

As a musician, you will only be given as much power as your skill dictates.  The more skilled you are on your instrument or with your voice, the more respect you will receive. Doors can only open up for you as you rise above those who are mediocre in their abilities.

Win-Win not Win-Lose

2. The Power of Influence.

  If you are well-liked and respected by the musicians you associate with, you will have a greater influence on them.  Influence is not the same as manipulation – although oftentimes people confuse the two.  Manipulation comes from a place of seeking your own way through deceit: this creates a win-lose situation. Influence is much more powerful – It has as its intention to help others advance at the same time that you are advancing. This is a win-win situation.

 Bullies Need Not Apply

3. The Power of Title.

 Have you ever worked for a bandleader who really had no business being in a position of leadership? Either they were unqualified for the job or else they were just very difficult to work for.  They have power over other musicians only because of their title.  Typically, they are not respected among other musicians.  They may be great at getting gigs but are incompetent in other areas. Often times these people can be bullies and push their weight around by hiding behind their title.

As a female musician, the more of these 4 powers you can develop, the better your chance of gaining momentum in your career.

The Best in Show

 4. The Power of Appointment.

 This power is by far the most valuable power to have. It is entrusted to you by your colleagues. For instance you may be nominated as the bandleader because people respect and really like you. They may feel you are the most qualified person for the job and would enjoy being lead by you. They also will support you in the decisions that you make because they trust your abilities.

As a female musician, the more of these 4 powers you can develop, the better your chance of gaining momentum in your career. It takes time to develop these power skills, but they are well worth the effort.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”.  – Helen Reddy

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other”.  - John F. Kennedy

 There will be many opportunities to take a leadership role in your music career as a female musician. 

Although leadership skills don’t always come natural to women, through education and practice, you can become an effective leader in any musical situation.

Here is an acronym that will help you focus on some important aspects of female leadership.

 “L” stands for LEARN from men. Men have been practicing leadership skills in the playground since boyhood.  Games like “King of the Castle” and the likes have taught them the intricate dynamics of leadership.

“E” stands for EDUCATE.  Read books and blogs that discuss the various aspects of being an effective leader. Books like John Maxwell’s 21 Immutable Laws of Leadership are excellent resources to draw from.

“A” is for APPLY. Apply what you learn immediately.  Don’t be afraid of trying out your new skills, especially around  other male musicians. You can only learn by stepping out and not being afraid of making mistakes.

“D” is for DETERMINATION. Because of society norms, men have had plenty of opportunity to play the leadership game. Women, on the other hand have not (unless they have been involved with sports or other group activities).  Therefore, you will need to be very determined when working at being a successful leader

“E” EVALUATE your progress as you go along.  Be patient with yourself. Don’t feel intimidated by others around you. Leadership skills are like any other skills; it takes time and lots of practice to create new habits.

“R” RESPECT is the most important aspect of being an aspiring leader.  You must strive to gain respect. Just as important, you need to show others around you that you respect them for their talents and contribution to your career.

Leadership is a skill which can be developed by anyone.

By Vivian Clement – “I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

When I began my career as a female musician, I remember feeling so isolated from other women. There weren’t a lot of us in music – except of course for singers.

The women that actually were musicians were scattered in different bands or in different cities.  This was pre-Internet, which meant there was no way to reach out to other women in the music community. There was also a huge gap in our understanding of the dynamics of working with men.

When I began my career as a female musician, I remember feeling so isolated from other women.

Hearing in Stereo-type

Even though women have come a long way when working with male musicians, I still see a lot of the same “stereotypical” patterns of behavior.  (Not that there is anything wrong with us, but our “feline” outlook seems better suited to relationships not work.)

Every time I feel like women have finally reached the apex of the music feminist movement, I bump into a female musician who is making the classic “chick” mistakes.

Sounds familiar?

Picture this: a young woman begins her music career.  At some point she will experience some type of struggle with a male. She will usually feel unsure of herself and a bit confused.

She won’t be able to put her finger on the exact problem. Her conclusion is usually that if she just works harder and becomes a better musician, everything will fall into place.

As time goes on, she realizes that even though she is now a better musician, she is still encountering power struggles with male musicians. Left feeling disempowered and puzzled, she remains unclear as to why she doesn’t get the respect she deserves.

Can I get a witness?

Recently, I met a female vocalist who confided in me about being mistreated by the guys in her band.  In return for her attempts at being kind and compliant, she regularly receives condescending remarks.

Another female musician told me how her opinions aren’t valued in her band. To add insult to injury, when they travel to a gig she is told to sit in the back of the car. She often feels disempowered amongst her peers.

When I look at what she has to offer, it’s obvious that she is the main attraction. Without her the band would be just another mediocre group of male musicians. Unfortunately she doesn’t know how to assert her power and is therefore treated as an ornament.

What I’ve come to understand is this:  we are the prize ladies – not the guys. We are the ones that make the band stand out.  We smell better, look better, are nicer and work harder.

We are the icing on the cake and every male musician knows it. They also know that having a woman up front, adds the proverbial “je ne sais quoi” to any performance.

Zen for Women

My question then is this: why do guys treat female musicians inappropriately?

And the answer is….

drum roll please…..a lack of SELF-ACTUALIZATION. (On the woman’s part).

As long as a woman doesn’t understand her worth as a musician, she will not project the necessary confidence that demands respect. It’s like the beautiful girl who feels insecure about her looks.  Everyone else can see it but her.

Will the Real Alpha Male Please Stand Up?

If a woman does not project confidence, men will view her as weak.  Men live by the law of the Jungle. Their instinct is to be the Alpha Male and take their prey down. If you show weakness they will come in for the kill. This is often done instinctively and not always maliciously.

Even if men know you are an asset to their careers they will not freely give you respect.  You will need to earn it. Men are conquerors and their natural tendency is to dominate. They’re not trying to be jerks – most of the time. They just feel like you are in their turf and you need to know how to compete in their pissing contest.

I’m not talking about having a Diva attitude or coming across like the world revolves around you. It’s all about internalizing self-confidence and then projecting that to your peers.

You can only get this self-confidence by realizing your worth.

Getting older ain’t what it used to be

Contrary to Cosmopolitan, knowing the top 10 sex moves in bed isn’t what a women needs to develop self-confidence with men.  A self-assured mentality develops naturally with age.

When we are young women, we tend to be hung up on pleasing others. As we mature and shed that mind-set, our confidence grows. This results in others treating us with more respect.  We find ourselves not tolerating certain behaviors, and assertively vocalizing our disapproval.

We project an inner security and aren’t bothered if we ruffle other people’s feathers. We realize our worth and our strengths. We choose who we surround ourselves with rather than wait around to be chosen. As soon as we develop this perspective, men instinctively back off and begin to respect us.

I’m really not sure how to convince younger women that inner confidence automatically wields respect, but I know that it does. I just hope it can become a part of a woman’s career at the onset rather than later.

All I know is when I was younger I tolerated a lot of crap from guys, but now I rarely tolerate any. Men just seem to know by my demeanor that I can’t be pushed around. I try not to come across bitchy, unless I am put into a corner. I’m assertive when dealing with them and my “vibe” lets them know they can’t cross the line without some repercussions.

Better Late Than Never

My only regret is that it took me so long to figure out how to do this with men. I do hope that a lot of you reading this blog, will be able to figure this out sooner than I did.

And to conclude: the feedback I’ve received from many of you has encouraged me to continue sharing my personal experiences… and that my dearies, is the main reason I still put out these blogs.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”

PS. If you have some personal experiences of how you overcame some difficult situations as a female musician, please send it to me and I’d love to post it.

Play now

Play

Of all the things I have had to overcome being a female musician, I have to say the most difficult has been dealing with conflicts while working with my husband.

As many of you who have read my blog have noticed that I often mention never sleeping where you eat, or in other words, don’t get involved romantically with someone you work with (that includes band members, agents, managers etc…). I have never really addressed the situation where you may already be involved with someone from the get go.

The biggest problem with couples working together successfully is that they are usually opposites.

Where It All Began

I met my husband Tony in Music College and we were married two years later. Our primary goal as young musicians was to get gigs together and make a living. It was a great plan and worked most of the time, except for the fact that we were often at each others throats.

Opposites Attract And Then Go Off Track

The biggest problem with couples working together successfully is that they are usually opposites. Opposites attracting sounds like a nice saying, but the truth is they are also like magnets – once put close together they repel each other.

An introvert usually connects with an extrovert. They complement each other well, but also frustrate each other because they have different approaches to their work.

Introverted people tend to be very organized, systematic and cautious. Extroverted people tend to be more fly by the seat of their pants type of people. They are usually more impulsive and can be disorganized. Of course not all of these traits apply to each of these categories, but you don’t need to be a brain surgeon to figure out that some major head butting is bound to happen.

Welcome To The Battle

My husband is the introvert in our relationship and I of course am the extrovert. He likes to control, and I am more free-spirited. He is extremely cautious and I am a risk-taker. While this may lead to an interesting life, it sure has not made our career an easy one.

Personally, I find doing the same type of gigs monotonous. Tony on the other hand likes consistency and sameness. He has a need to control things and I rebel quite quickly when told what to do.

Not For The Faint Of Heart

In case you are wondering how we can have harmony when we are working together, well, it has taken a lot of effort and maturity. Truth be told, we’ve both had to compromise. I have learnt to respect the side of him that needs to feel in control (or as he says it “on top of things’). He has learnt to understand my need for freedom and not feeling controlled.

Gigging together has been difficult on our relationship. I have spoken to some couples who have chosen not gig together because of the constant conflicts. The reason for this is many men need feel empowered when they are in charge while many women feel disempowered when they are controlled. If a woman is someone like myself, who is quite strong-minded there can be some heavy-duty clashing.

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

So is there a solution to this crazy cycle? I believe there are two ways to deal with gigging couples. Both must learn to compromise when dealing with issues. If that’s not possible they should make a decision not to work together. If a couple can’t resolve their issues while working in a professional environment, they shouldn’t work together. Period

I don’t care how modern a guy is, their ego will not allow them to play second fiddle to their partner. Of course there are exceptions, but from my experience
(and talking to many women) this is not often the case. I’m not male bashing either. Most guys like to be the ones in charge and if they aren’t they often feel powerless. That’s just the nature of men. If a guy ever tells you otherwise, I would really test his resolve in any given situation and see how he reacts when the rubber hits the road.

I do believe there are relationships where the woman is more than happy when her guy takes the lead. She may actually prefer someone else taking the lead. Often times this would be a woman who has a more relaxed easy going personality. If that happens to be the case, there will be a lot less stress in a working situation.

Let’s Make A Truce

My answer to any gigging couple is to try and resolve differences so you can work well together. Communication is key. Find out from your guy what makes him tick and what is important to him when he is gigging and try to accommodate his needs. At the same time, let him know what your needs are and that you have a right to have them met as much as he does. Write these down if you need to, and keep them as a reminder when issues arise.

Once you have committed to working together, give yourselves a chance to make mistakes. You will both need time to figure out how to make things work. It does take time.

I’d love to say this is an easy journey, but it isn’t. Oftentimes, I told myself I wouldn’t work anymore with my husband. I just couldn’t take the stress. But we have both worked hard at it, and made lots of compromises. For me it was really worth it because musically we really complement each other.

I know that this isn’t a solution for everyone and that some couples just cannot work together without it affecting their relationship. I would encourage any couples out there to at least try and work it out. In the end if you can’t, don’t. It’s really not worth destroying your relationship.

By Vivian Clement
“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Our podcast episode releases will stay at the usual schedule of once every two weeks, so keep checking in for the latest interviews about success in the music industry. 

It’s time to get out there, hustle and show ‘em all what you’re made of! And enjoy some fun in the sun while you’re at it.

Today’s Quote:

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.   – Pablo Picasso”

Did you ever notice how men do things impulsively? I have. My older brothers were continually leaping before they looked. I also have one sister, who unlike my brothers was always a lot more cautious in life.

Men definitely dare each other to take chances whereas women tend to be a lot more careful. Call it our maternal instinct or just plain old common sense; we like to take safer roads.

The Other Side Of The Coin

Guys seem to think that it’s better to jump in and figure things out as they go along. This risk-taking mentality can lead to many problems but on the other hand it is an important part of creating opportunities. The key is to take calculated risks, especially when it comes to our careers.

Personally, I like to first get as many facts as I can about a situation before I take any risks with my music career. I observe what works for other musicians and what doesn’t. What have other artists done that has helped them to succeed? I also like to be on the lookout for shortcuts – the ones that have promise and the ones that lead to dead-ends.

I think it’s a good idea to study what they are doing and figure out if you can implement some of their ideas into your own career.

Take the Road Less Travelled

The “old school” music industry doesn’t even exist. Record companies are almost non-existent and very few artists are even being signed. Therefore, the musicians that are really forging ahead are those who are willing to take the road less travelled. Any female musician, willing to take risks and try something less conventional is much more likely to succeed today.

Think Outside The Box Or Make Your Own Box

We live in a very exciting time. There have never been so many female musicians out there creating their own opportunities. Many of them are on the cutting edge and are making things happen.

I think it’s a good idea to study what they are doing and figure out if you can implement some of their ideas into your own career. Once you’ve done this, go ahead and take some risks of your own and see what happens.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”.

“Instinct is untaught ability” – Bain

The other day I had a business meeting with a colleague and mentioned that I had a blog for female musicians. I talked to him about the need for mentors for women as well as the differences in the way men and women communicate.  Since most of his clients were female, he agreed with a lot of the things I was saying.

Men talk about the present and successes of the future.

She talks he listens

He mentioned that women usually need to unload in conversations, and he considered himself a good listener. As we were about to leave the meeting I mentioned about another business and how I wasn’t happy with the past results but was moving on from this point on.

He then laughed and said:  “You just said such a girl-thing.”  I was surprised and asked him exactly what I had said that brought on the comment.  He then went on to say that men rarely talk about the past in a negative way (of course unless they are listing victories). Men talk about the present and successes of the future.

I always say, men are kings in the work environment and women are queens in relationships.

He said he pointed it out because we were just talking about the differences with men and women. I then realized that although I have worked with men for so many years, there were still a lot of areas that I am often not aware of.

There are many things that we do as women that are very acceptable when we work with men, but there are other areas that we can improve on. Just like there are so many areas that men can improve on when it comes to relationships.

of Kings and Queens

I always say, men are kings in the work environment and women are queens in relationships. Men often suck at relationships, or at least have a long learning curve until they get it right. And us women, can really benefit from educating ourselves when it comes to working with men.

We have a great intuition with our relationships and men have a great instinct for the workplace.  Doesn’t mean we can’t excel in working with guys or vice versa, but basically things don’t come naturally for either sex.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

I love the site mythbusters.com which basically debunks all those weird beliefs that have been handed down from who knows who. Like the 3 second rule for your food when it falls on the ground.  We’ve all heard it! If your food falls on the floor you have exactly 3 seconds to extract it from the evil germ realm and whew…you’re still safe.

…anyone – male, female, cat or dog or ostrich for that matter  -suck at things that they have never learned to do.

Not true…according to Mythbusters. Cooties will find their way on your last piece of fudge brownie regardless of the length of time it has been on the floor.

Personally, I live to debunk myths that have been hangin’ around, especially if they are about women.

Take a Stand Against Myths

Before we proceed with all-things-feline, let me state this: anyone – male, female, cat or dog or ostrich for that matter  -suck at things that they have never learned to do.

At a very early age boys are modeled how to effectively “play” in the boys club. They learn how to lead, follow, and manipulate  - otherwise called bending the rules. They learn from their fathers, brothers and peers.

Girls on the other hand are taught to be polite, submissive followers. We are basically told that speaking up for ourselves brings criticism. Society often implies  being assertive is OK as long as we aren’t too aggressive. We are modeled this by our mothers, sisters and friends.

Being female does not automatically mean you are feminine-like, or a great cook or cleaner.

Although I believe both women and men are drawn to what comes naturally, like men are more dominant and women are generally more relaxed, there are exceptions. Some women by nature are more dominant and want to be where the action is. They want exciting careers and want to be shakers and movers. Other women are more docile and don’t mind at all being in the background.

The myth that all woman should be passive and silent is antiquated and disempowering.  It is a woman’s right to be assertive, career-oriented and determined in her pursuits in life.

As far as music goes, the female musician should feel free to express herself either as a more relaxed or aggressive person. A lot of it depends on her personality.

Being a Tomboy Comes in Handy

As for myself, I grew up with three brothers. I was never told I was inferior to men, yet I was never encouraged to be assertive either. I was allowed to be who I wanted to be. I just happened to be a little more assertive because of my personality bend.

I have to say that this has helped me to learn a lot of things that my other girlfriends have not.  For instance, I understand a lot of technical things like fixing amps and guitars. I learned these things, because they were of interest to me. I’m not a super-technical person, but I like to know how to fix my own gear.

Educate to Motivate

Women can learn anything that men can, IF they are interested in learning them. Technical things are not any more different than learning how to bake a cake. There are certain rules that apply to cooking and there are certain rules that apply to dealing with technical things.  Once you learn them, you learn them. It’s not masculine or feminine – it’s just education.

Often men know more about certain things only because they were taught  or were interested in knowing about them. But there are tons of men who aren’t technical just like there are tons of men who make lousy leaders. Being a male does not mean they are instantly mechanical, technical or strong.

A screw driver is not any different than an egg beater. 

The same goes for women. Being female does not automatically mean you are feminine-like, or a great cook or cleaner. These are things that we are taught or learn because of interest or need. So get rid of the myth of that you are not technical or you can’t be a great leader because you are a woman!

You can be whatever you are willing to take the time to learn. If you want to be a leader of a band, observe other leaders and practice until you become proficient.  If you want to understand technical stuff, ask some of your male musicians to give you some tips about equipment.

Really! How hard is it to plug a guitar chord into an amp.  A screw driver is not any different than an egg beater.  Once you get over the belief that “only guys” can do certain things, the sky is the limit.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.”

Bob Proctor
Author, Speaker and Success Coach

It’s Raining MENtors – Halleluyah!

In today’s business world you will often hear the phrase “you need to find a mentor”, or “no wonder he succeeded, look who he had as a mentor”. I decided to find out what the real definition of mentor was and how it relates to today’s female musician.

Webster’s Dictionary defines mentor as: “a trusted counselor or guide, a tutor or coach”. I really liked the word coach since it gives me a mental picture of a football or baseball coach who takes inexperienced kids and trains them to become better at sports. To me a coach is also someone who sees the potential in the person he is training even if that person can’t see it herself.

Men are used to having “coaches” in their lives, mostly because of playing sports when they were boys.

Why Re-invent the Wheel?

So why is having a mentor so important?  The old expression “don’t re-invent the wheel” comes to mind.  Why would I want to stumble through my own mistakes if I can have an experienced person show me the ropes? Why take the long road in the music biz when you can zoom right pass the competition by taking shortcuts?

For some reason musicians commonly have this idea that they must only focus on their art. This mind-set particularly plagues many female musicians who feel that their talent is all they need for the heavens to break open.

It is more common for men to have mentors than women. Men are used to having “coaches” in their lives, mostly because of playing sports when they were boys.  They seem to understand that other people have the power to create momentum in one’s career.  I often see women do it alone – they keep perfecting their talent, but don’t often surround themselves with others who can help them succeed. I often have to remind myself of the importance of having a great team, since I am by nature a do-it-yourselfer.

I have concluded that not only do I need to read great books, follow excellent sites and go to workshops, I need to have people in my life who act as mentors.

A Mentor’s hindsight is your foresight

Although being proficient at your craft, either as a female musician or vocalist, is essential, there are many other aspects to consider. If you’ve followed my blog or watched the podcasts interviews, you will quickly see how important having mentors can be.  Personally, I have learnt so much in just doing these interviews. Every musician I interview gives me a different perspective on the music business. 

I have concluded that not only do I need to read great books, follow excellent sites and go to workshops, I need to have people in my life who act as mentors. Mentors help us with our blind spots as well as help us choose the right path.

Make a decision to surround yourself with people who are willing to help you. Don’t be afraid of asking questions and open yourself up to criticism even if it hurts a bit. It’s better to find the truth about your abilities then waste years going down the wrong road.

Finding a mentor may not always be easy, but if you set your mind to it, you will discover there are lots of people out there willing to help.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything.” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.” – Ben Franklin

Are you well prepared for your gigs, or do you just “wing it” and expect the guys to pick up the pieces?

Get your act together

I often hear complaints from men about female musicians who don’t seem to have their act together. Either their gear is not maintained properly or if they are singers, they don’t always prepare for performances.

I was gigging overseas a few months ago and was hired by a music director to back up one of their popular local artists.  She was a great person but had a real “princess” mentality. A princess is a woman who walks around clued-out and has everyone around her cater to her as she goes along.

The music director had requested from the singer to bring charts for the band with the proper keys for her voice. The rehearsal was set to be 2 hours before her performance. Once she arrived on the scene not only did she not have charts, she hadn’t yet decided what songs she actually wanted to sing for the show.

At this point we had one hour left of rehearsal, and needless to say the band was pretty stressed out.

A recipe for disaster

The music director then had to scramble and download charts (they were cover tunes) from the Internet. He also had to “guess” what the keys might work for this artist.  After receiving the charts which consisted only of lyrics and chords, we had to figure out how the groove and tempo of the tunes went.  At this point we had one hour left of rehearsal, and needless to say the band was pretty stressed out.

Believe it or not our “princess” vocalist was completely clued out to the anxiety she had created and the bad vibe that was happening in the band. When the show finally started, she began singing in the wrong key – luckily after a minute she segued into the proper key and was on her way to a mediocre show.

 Being well prepared not only will gain you kudos with those you work with but will guarantee a phenomenal performance.

Hearing in”stereo”-type

What amazed me the most was how this artist was so oblivious to the anxiety she had created with her musicians.  Because everyone was professional, we were able to pull off a half-decent show.  But I had to shake my head in wonder as the stereotypical comments about “chick” singers began to fly.

Do I believe men are better musicians than women. Absolutely not!  She was an incredible vocalist and could really captivate her audience. Unfortunately, that is only part of the puzzle.  I can only imagine how phenomenal she would have been if she had come prepared for the gig.

Being talented is not enough to make it today. Being well prepared not only will gain you kudos with those you work with but will guarantee a phenomenal performance.

There are a lot of women who are prepared and are professional when it comes to their work, unfortunately there are many who aren’t. This amateur attitude often makes men lump the rest of the accomplished female musicians into one category – being inferior to men.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”  -Helen Reddy.

Today’s Quote:

“Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s too much fraternizing with the enemy”.

 In the past few weeks I have been talking about some of the mistakes we make as women when we are working with men. From offering too much personal information, to behaving like  the band’s mother, we often find it difficult not to bring our “feline” traits into our gigging environments.

I’m going to hit on a few points this blog that I feel most of us women have been guilty of. Before I go on, I will first of all admit that most of the problems I discuss on this blog I have fallen to prey to more times than I can remember.  I often need to remind myself of things that do and don’t work in a male environment.

Over the years I have come to realize that men rarely apologize for their transgressions.

No, I’m not sorry!

I grew up with a very sweet mom.  I never once heard my father and mother argue.  It wasn’t until I left home and came back to visit that I heard them argue. Even though my brother and I fought a lot, we never witnessed that with our parents.  That may sound like a great thing, but it didn’t help when I got into the real world. I had no idea how to stick up for myself, let alone learn how to fight for my rights.  It wasn’t until years later when I hit my 30’s that I knew I needed to grow some “cahoonies”.

Over the years I have come to realize that men rarely apologize for their transgressions. On the otherhand as women, we  are often apologizing even when we haven’t done anything wrong. For some reason, we feel that we need to say sorry for unintentional actions. As an exercise, listen to how many times you say your sorry for things that you have no control over.

Over apologizing makes us look disempowered. Of course there are times when we do need to say sorry for errors , but we should save our apologies for those obvious times.

If I had more patience I’d be a doctor

The other trait I had a difficult time overcoming was being super patient when it came to men’s stupidity. I’d just ignore things that were inappropriate and tolerate behavior that wasn’t acceptable.  For instance, if people were late for rehearsals, I wouldn’t say anything until it became habitual. 

I’ve learned that being too patient with guys will often lead to being taken advantage of. Although patience is a sign of maturity, tolerating bad behavior enables people – men colleagues in this situation - to continue doing what they do.

Now, instead of ignoring situations, I try t nip them in the bud.  I may not say something the first time an incident happens, but if it is repeated I will mention something about it.  I’ll try saying something in a joking fashion, just to keep it light.  If it’s a repeated offense, I usually won’t hesitate to bring up the matter.

We do teach people how to treat us, so by speaking up about things that aren’t correct we let others know we’re not a pushover.

 By Vivian Clement

“I am women, I can do anything”. – Helen Reddy

“Many societies have educated their male children on the simple device of teaching them not to be women”. – Margaret Mead

Get Your Act Together

Gigging with guys is a challenge for most female musicians no matter how competent you are.  Here is a list of seven things to watch out for when gigging with men.

Acting Like a Guy

This may seem obvious but sometimes guys will try and intimidate us by making us feel like we aren’t “manly” enough. For instance, comments that you can’t carry heavy gear or aren’t technically inclined are remarks designed to make you feel inadequate. Always remember that as a female, you bring our own unique traits to the band, otherwise they wouldn’t want you there in the first place. Right?

Acting Like a Diva

A diva mentality can be very annoying. Often times divas are simply bullies in a female body. Instead of physically pushing people around they use their attitudes and language to intimidate others.  If you work with a diva don’t let her intimidate you. If you are a diva…well all I can say is if you’re not careful you can close doors that may have once been opened for you.

You’re a woman not a girl and there’s no need  to apologize.

Acting Like a Mom

You’re not the band’s mother. It is not your responsibility to bring food or coffee, or clean up after the guys – doing so is a sure way be taken advantage of. Let the guys bring their own food or have their girlfriends do it.  If they try to put you on coffee duty politely decline and ask one of the guys to do it instead.

Acting Like a Girl

Guys tend to be attracted to girlish things that they view as cute and innocent. It’s no different than how women are attracted to strength and machismo.  Being girly is great for a date but a no-no when wanting to be taken seriously as a musician. You’re a woman not a girl and there’s no need to apologize.

Women who behave like they are a fragile princess will find it difficult to be taken seriously.

Acting Like a Flirt

As I always say, it’s never a good idea to sleep where you eat.  It’s also not advisable to be flirtatious with the male musicians you work with. If you come off as a flirt, you may find yourself the brunt of men’s jokes when you’re not around. Sometimes, you can be accused of being a tease when you’re really just being friendly. Even if that’s the case, try not to be put in the flirt catagory. There’s a fine line between flirting and normal sexual tension.

Acting Like a Barbie Doll

This is similar to acting like a girl, but is viewd as being a little more over-the-top. Women who behave like they are a fragile princess will find it difficult to be taken seriously. This particularly shows up when you start giving your opinion to men.  Men feel that Barbie dolls can’t add much to a conversation and will often choose to ignore your requests.

Acting Like You’re  Jesus

Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself when you are asked to do things that are unrealistic. For instance expecting you to learn 5 songs by heart in two days, may not be possible. You’re not a miracle worker. Don’t let others make you feel incompetent by expecting you to do things that don’t make sense.

By no means is this a complete list of sins you don’t want to commit around your male colleagues, but hopefully it sheds some light on things to watch out for!

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water.”  – Kate Chopin

Many male musicians have mastered the skill of what I call the One-Minute business card.  It is the ability to inform others in one minute, who you are, what you have accomplished in your musical career, and what you are presently working on. Oh! And don’t forget to add in all the amazing toys you own!

Never underestimate the power of one conversation and how it can open the door to new opportunities.

STOP Thinking You’re Bragging

So often as women, we mistakenly think we are bragging on ourselves when we talk about our accomplishments.  Yes, there are people who do have verbal diarrhea, but I’m not talking about that.  I’m talking about making sure that when you are around other musicians, particularly men that you don’t hide the abilities or accomplishments that you have.

New Opportunities are only a Conversation away.

Letting others know about your successes captures the ear of other musicians, who may then be interested in working with you – Never underestimate the power of one conversation and how it can open the door to new opportunities.

Practice your One-Minute Business Card routine at home until you feel comfortable enough to use it during a conversation.

For instance, if you are meeting someone, simply start by introducing yourself:  give them your first name and always give your last name (you’re a professional not a waitress – nothing against waitresses of course.)  Then look for a way to sneak in a few of your accolades by creating a bridge in the conversation. You can talk about some important people you know and how you are affiliated with them.

The Spiel is the Deal

If you have recently worked with some well-known artists from your area, you can add that to the conversation.  Or perhaps you just bought this fantastic keyboard that has all the bells and whistles; you can mention how you spent the last few days mastering some cool sounds. If you’re not sure how to go about doing this, listen to men talking to other men and see how unapologetically they give their spiel.

Men can’t read minds (don’t we know!!) so it’s up to you to let them know that you are an accomplished female musician. Practice your One-Minute Business Card routine at home until you feel comfortable enough to use it during a conversation. The key is to keep it short and natural sounding.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”. -Helen Reddy

I love reading and have stacks of books to prove it. My husband tells me I should have been a librarian instead of a musician. He tells me to sell them and go buy a few guitars!! Well I might just take him up on his advice.

I often like to look through bookstores to see what is happening in the world today: especially, when it comes to careers in music. I like to know what musicians are doing, and how they are getting their music heard.

A few years ago, a musician friend of mine told me about a book that changed his career. It was called the Indie Bible. He said that this guy – who I have come to know as David Wimble from Ottawa, Canada – had written a book that could help any indie artist get their career off the ground.

So of course I had to have it to see what it was about, and if it wasn’t that great I could always chuck it with the rest of my books collecting cobwebs.

Well, not only have I not chucked it but I continue to use the book as a resource on how to make it in the music business. I have to say it surprised me in regards to how much incredible information it offers.

There are pages and pages of invaluable contacts from where to send CD’s, to contacts for internet radio, and labels. David also offers his own pointers on working in the music business. The Indie Bible is a book that is re-published yearly and updated. This is important, since it seems that every few months something else changes in this business.

Note: There are a lot of books being sold, that only after a year are outdated.

After my latest interview with David Wimble for Female Musician Online, I decided I wanted to add his book as a part of the books that I would offer for sale for my friends who visit this site. Since I only do this once in a while, I only recommend products that I use and find true value in. We have an affiliate link set up, so purchasing his book will help us with some of the costs of producing our podcast and the rest of the free information available here at Female Musician Online.

You’ll be happy with what David’s got to say in his book; from what I understand after talking to him, he dedicates most of his time doing what most of us don’t want to do – hunting down contacts and sorting through the good and the bogus.

So, if you’re like me, and you’d rather be making music than researching the web, check out The Indie Bible.

-By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

P.S. If you do get his book, please drop me a line and let me know how you like it.

Please excuse the audio difficulties in the first few minutes, but stick with it because this interview has some very invaluable information.

Click here to learn more about David Wimble’s Indie Bible (Affiliate link)

Download Episode Now

Today’s Quote:

“When women are depressed, they eat or go shopping. men invade another country. It’s a whole different way of thinking”. – Elayne Boosler

The other day I read a blog about a woman who said she preferred working with men because they don’t play games. I really had to laugh at this since I felt she was really naïve.  We all know that men are extremely competitive.  The very word ‘competitive’ gives us the mental picture of sports or pushing to win -which as we know has to do with games!

It’s all Fun and Games

In reality men are always playing games, their games are just different than women’s games. Whereas women often play games that can be considered catty and emotional, men play games to get ahead and to be respected among their peers.

Men know how to play games when it comes to their careers and have been doing it since boyhood.

How does that affect you as a female musician?

If you are a woman in the music business, it is really important that you understand that there are games being played around you all the time.  You may or may not be aware of them, but trust me they are there.  Games have one purpose – to strengthen ones position in a band or to win. And men love to win.  They also hate to lose.

Boys will be boys

Men will be very gracious with a woman if he doesn’t see her as a threat to his advancement in his music career. The reality is that as soon as she becomes a threat that’s when the sparks begin to fly.  As a female musician, if you aren’t prepared for games, you may find yourself outgunned. Men know how to play games when it comes to their careers and have been doing it since boyhood.

 Whenever there is competition, games are usually not too far behind.

Many times a female musician in a band can do well as long as she doesn’t step on her male band member’s toes. Because a band has various components where only one member has a position, (for instance there’s only one guitarist, one vocalist etc..) there usually is less toe-stepping involved.  As soon as there are two guitarists, or two vocalists  there maybe some competition involved.  To be fair, that can even happen when there are two females involved in a similar position – for instance there can be lots of competition between two female vocalists.

Cat and mouse is fun if you’re not the mouse

Whenever there is competition, games are usually not too far behind.  The difference in the genders is that men play different games than women.

Here are some examples of games that take place in bands on a regular basis:

Women towards other women

1. A woman will gossip behind the other woman’s back.

2. She will try to gain friends on her side against the other woman.

3. She will make  negative comments that only the other woman knows is directed at her.

4. She will act two-faced by being nice to the other woman when she is around but speak negatively in her absence.

Men towards women

1. Men will try to sabotage a woman’s success by making her look incompetent and over-emotional.

2. He will treat a woman with disrespect in front of male band members using condescending remarks.

3. He will disregard her opinions by cutting them up or simply ignoring them.

4. He will speak in a sexually derogatory manner about her in her absence.

This is just a small list of the games that woman and men play.

The question is not to ask if these games are played but why?

For men, I believe games are played in order to show their strength and to gain power and respect. For women, they themselves also want power but may use manipulation if they know no other way.

Powerplays

Sometimes games are a part of the journey as you are moving in your career. Some people play fair and others play dirty. People, who play fair, realize that games are a part of competition which is a part of winning. Usually, people who are ruthless in their games are insecure of their musical abilities or fearful they will lose their position.

In all this game playing, the main thing to remember is they rarely can be avoided. You may not want to play games but just ignoring them won’t make them go away. The best thing to do is to realize when they are happening and learn how to play to win without playing dirty.

by Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”. – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn’t matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls”. – Anne Frank

Yesterday I bumped into a musician friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in a while. After we got through the usual pleasantries she blurted out how much of a hard time she was having with her band.  After I inquired about her dilemma, she explained that she wasn’t getting the respect she felt she deserved. One band member in particular was treating her pretty crappy and she was really fed up with the disrespect coming her way.

Sounds familiar?

If so, welcome to the boys club.  This common problem of disrespect for female musicians is exactly that – common. I hear it all the time.  4 piece all-male-band, wants some eye-candy up in the front so they bring in the girl.  After a while, (and not always) the girl begins to feel disrespected and offended by derogatory comments.  She often feels ignored when she makes suggestions. Even though she works just as hard as anyone else there seems to be some underlying problem that she just can’t put her finger on.

The real problem is that guys instinctively work as a unit  with other guys, and expect you  – the woman, to know how to do the same.

Exposing the Secret Society

So…my question to you is:  are all guys jerks?  Are they that dense that they don’t realize what an asset a women is to a band?

The  answer is: yes and no!

You may get mad at me but the truth is we are still in a world that is primarily run by men. No matter how liberated you are as a woman, men are still the majority in the music business – and almost any business. Like it or not, it’s their game and therefore they make the rules.

Ladies, the problem is not that the guys are jerks, (although that may be the case in certain situations). The real problem is that guys instinctively work as a unit  with other guys, and expect you  – the woman, to know how to do the same.

You may think you really understand men, especially if you are one of those girls who’se been hanging out with musician guys for any length of time. But, chances are if you are having all these issues – the problem may actually be the way YOU are relating to them. Now before you get irritated and throw my blog into blog purgatory, hear me out.

Intuition versus Instinct

In the same way that you  intuitively know how you want to be treated in a relationship, a guy knows instinctively how he wants to be treated in a working environment…and unfortunately they are polar opposites.  The bottom line is that guys do not respect female musicians if they don’t “get it”.

As women, we subconsciously bring into our working relationships the same mentality that we have in our other relationships.  And this just doesn’t work!

So, instead of trying to figure out exactly what it is we aren’t doing right, we write off guys as jerks and chauvinists. And again this may be the case, but often times  it is not.

Feminine characteristics are perfect for dating but are a total career-killer when used in the work place.

Different Games – Different Rules

The number one rule of the game for men is – It is more important to be respected than liked.  And respect is given only to those who earn it.

“How do you earn respect”, I hear you asking?

You earn respect by first of all realizing that a lot of your female traits don’t work in a male working environment.  Feminine characteristics are perfect for dating but are a total career-killer when used in the work place. And that goes without saying for a female musician in a male band.  Even an all-girl band has to understand that they will be dealing with men on every level of their career from venue owners to managers, agents etc…

The Rules of Engagement

Here’s another example: In the same way you expect a guy to understand that he better call you after a date, or he’s in big trouble, a guy expects you to know the rules of engagement when it come to your career.

The Business Dictionary defines Rules of Engagement as:

Practices followed or behavior displayed by the participants (players) in situations of opposing interests (conflicts) such as negotiations. Unwritten rules of engagement determine what information is given, at what time, to whom, and in what manner; and what concession is granted and what is demanded in return. www.businessdictionary.com

OK! I agree, that is a little wordy for a blog, but the gist of it is there are rules in dealing with any business or working relationship and if you want to succeed in any endeavor you must understand these rules.

The 7 Rules of the Boys Club

1. It is more important to be respected than liked.

2. You must be competent to be respected.

3. Respect the leader of the band.

4. If you want to be in the boys club you need to know the rules.

5. No one will tell you the rules.

6. Breaking the boys club rules will lead to disrespect.

7. If you don’t know the rules you shouldn’t be in the boys club.

The 5^th rule is the main problem: no one will tell you the rules.  And this has been my main mission in life for the past 10 years. It took me a long time to figure out why my career was at a standstill. So in up-coming blogs I will be discussing different rules that will help you from throwing yourself over a cliff when dealing with male musicians – and men in general.

And if you can’t wait till then, you can always check out 31 Success Secrets to Working with Men (Pardon the Plug!)

-By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Melissa Ethridge at Canadian Music Week 2011

Today’s Quote:

“I’ve sold my soul for freedom. It’s lonely but it’s sweet”. – Melissa Ethridge

This weekend I attended The Annual Canadian Music Week in Toronto from March 9-13. Although Canada has a small population, it stands as one of the major Countries with many outstanding musicians.  Since I have written for Canadian Musician Magazine, I was able to obtain a media pass allowing me access to the many conferences taking place.

Power to the People

There are some amazing things taking place right now for Indie Artists.  I was able to witness first hand how Record Companies are really scrambling to keep their necks above water while Indie Artists careers are taking off. This is primarily due to  services like Reverbnation and Sonicbids which are popping up all over the place. They all have one thing in mind and that is to  help indie artists make some serious $$.

Record Companies verses the Indie Artists

One of the conferences “The Latest Digital Music Trends and Analysis” provided a glum outlook on the digital format and its future. But after attending another conference the exact opposite was being discussed.

“Digital Tools for Artists” painted a completely different picture of the future of Digital technology.  Jeff Price of Tunecore one of the many companies at the forefront of the digital revolution, presented stats of various artists with revenues in the hundreds of thousands as well as one with 7 figures. David Curtin was also on the panel and explained how his company Deepmix partners with artists to help them get their music licensed.

Lou Plaia of Reverbnation also commented on the strength of digital sales. He explained how independent artists are gaining ground by partnering with service oriented companies like his and Sonicbids to name a few. These indie label/distributors/marketers are allowing artists to create their own teams to help them get to the next level in their careers.

Stay Tuned

In upcoming blogs I will be featuring some great interviews (Reverbnation, Deepmix, Tunecore) to let you know how focusing on building a fan base  is becoming the trend for any serious artist wanting a lifelong career. You don’t want to miss these interviews. I guarantee they will change the way you are viewing your career as a female musician.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“I think the reason I am here is to inspire African-American women who are rappers, full-figured women to know that they can do it too”. – Queen Latifah

Turn your Liabilities into Assets

What is the difference between Queen Latifah and Kirstie Alley? Besides both being oversized women, Queen Latifah radiates confidence in her appearance. She seems very comfortable with how she looks.  Kirstie Alley gives the impression of always being anxious about her weight issues.  She has been very public about her size and at times criticized by the media.

The thing I admire about Queen Latifah, is that she is not out there trying to change the way she looks. Everybody knows she’s an oversized girl and we’ve all accepted that. What is normally viewed as a “faux-pas” in the music business, she has managed to turn into a plus point (pardon the pun!).

The truth of the matter is that today there is a lot of pressure on women in the limelight to look flawless. There’s a demand on women to be gorgeous and thin − to have the perfect body and look like Beyonce or Lady Gaga.

Since they are the ones putting out millions of dollars in marketing, they don’t take chances. In their opinion, they cannot afford to invest in an artist who isn’t picture perfect.

Picture Perfect

When it comes to female artists, record companies do look for the perfect female. They’re not just after your music and your talent, they want you to be the most attractive, young, energetic female artist out there. They view an artist as a product. Since they are the ones putting out millions of dollars in marketing, they don’t take chances. In their opinion, they cannot afford to invest in an artist who isn’t picture perfect.

This is an important thing to remember if you’re a female musician and you’re trying to get signed. Being beautiful, having a great voice, as well as being a great performer, up your chances  in this fiercely competitive business.

Are you a round peg in a square hole?

But what if you don’t fit into the “beautiful people” category?

Or what if you’re not the most beautiful woman in the world but have plenty of talent? What happens to your career? Are you going to be overlooked by the music industry?

Maybe yes, maybe no.

I believe as female musicians we need to “own” who we are and do the best with our God-given traits. The fact is that the shape and looks that we’re born with are basically what we have to work with. In reality, there’s only so much we can do to change our appearances.

Don’t be afraid of being yourself with all your flaws. People criticize regardless if you’re attractive or not.

In ya face ‘sista”

I think we need to develop a Queen Latifah ‘tude’. Just get out there and do your thing without apology. Don’t be afraid of being yourself with all your flaws. People criticize regardless if you’re attractive or not. Susan Boyle is a perfect example. She was basically given the thumbs down initially because of her unflattering appearances, but her angelic voice won the hearts of the world over.

You gotta get your music mojo going and work with whatever you’ve got. Signed or not signed use your talents to get your message out there and shine the best you can. If you got the goods that record companies want, that’s great. If you don’t but still feel you have something to say, make no apologies and let the world know.

By Vivian Clement  – “I am woman, I can do anything”.

Today’s Quote:

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” − Colin Powell

Failure…a Kick in the Butt?

Most people look at failure as being negative and it usually is. But did you know that failure can be a turning point in your career? What happens when we fail in an area of our lives?  Being of the female gender, we often let our emotions get the best of us, get depressed and have a real good cry.

Failing forward to reach your goal

Why is it that you can look at somebody and think, ‘Oh they’ve had all the lucky breaks, everything always goes their way’.  But if you sat down with that person and talked to them, they would no doubt provide you with a long list of failures they’ve overcome before getting where they are today.

Everyone has blind spots but it’s important to find out what they are in order not to repeat the same blunders over and over again.

It seems that success stories are jam-packed with struggles all along the way. The formula for succeeding in music is that, in spite of repeatedly falling on your face, you stubbornly push forward until you eventually reach your goal.

Blind spots or black holes?

As talented female musicians, you have a lot going for yourself.  Because of your talent you are often cheered on by parents and friends alike.  You probably started performing early in life and were told repeatedly that you had lots of potential. If you’re not careful though, praise can  leave you oblivious to your blind spots.

Everyone has blind spots, but it’s important to find out what they are in order not to repeat the same blunders over and over again. And these nasty little black holes, if not plugged up early on, can suck the future right out from under your feet. And after all is said and done, you won’t even know why you haven’t succeeded as planned.

Success leaves clues and so does failure

There’s always a reason for failure. Usually, it’s because you assumed something that was not correct. You may be a female vocalist who thinks they are always in key, while your friends stand by afraid to tell you the truth.  Maybe you assume that everything you say on stage is really witty and topnotch while in actuality you may appear amateurish to a more sophisticated audience.

When you experience a setback, don’t just get up and go again – take time and figure out why.

Find the missing piece of your jigsaw puzzle.

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Having everything go perfect in your music career may be impossible but you can limit the amount of failure you encounter. One way is to be open to criticism and stay very objective. Also, realize your friends may not always feel comfortable pointing out your blind spots.

Another thing you can do is find a mentor – preferable a male musician who is more experienced than you are. Mentors can guide you and show you where you are missing it. They can help you find that empty piece in your jigsaw puzzle.

One last thing. When you experience a setback, don’t just get up and go again – take time and figure out why. What skill is it you need to improve on? Focus on strengthening your shortcomings and just keep moving on.

Every time you overcome an obstacle you are learning and growing.  One day you’ll be amazed at all the progress you’ve made and you’ll be really happy for never giving up.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”. – Helen Reddy

Today’s quote:

“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them”. - Denis Watley.

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Brian Tracy, the inspirational speaker and author of the book “The 100 absolutely unbreakable laws of business success”, talks about the many laws that help us either succeed or fail in life.

A very interesting law he mentions is the law of accident.   This law basically states that some people believe that “ life is a series of random occurrences and things just happen by accident”. He says it is a law that governs a lot of people’s lives regardless if what they believe is true or false.

… if you have goals you will never fall prey to the law of accident.

Do you have a good luck charm

The people who live by this philosophy think that success is due to good luck − it’s all about who you know and success has little to do with yourself. In other words fate just decides for you, and you don’t have much say in your future.

Although there is a lot of truth to “it’s who you know”, that is only a part of the equation. In the music business it doesn’t matter who you know if you don’t have any ability, or if you haven’t developed your skills.

Brian Tracy mentions at length that if you have goals you will never fall prey to the law of accident. As a female musician, having goals in your musical career allows you to feel in control of your progress.  I can personally attest to the power of goals.  Goals for me have been an anchor in my career. I set annual goals, bi-annual, monthly weekly and daily goals.

Goals are not just for losing weight

I have found that by setting goals with my music I am able to keep myself on track and see progress as I go along. Because of my personality type, I love new ideas and if I’m not careful I will run after anything new and shiny that comes along.

…Setting  goals allow you to see into the future and gives you hope that you can attain what you are envisioning.

I set goals for my practicing, my performances, and my music education. I also have goals for every other area in my life.  Goal setting has allowed me attain things that initially seemed out of my grasp.

Not only do I set goals, but I am very specific with them.  For instance I try to zero in specifically on areas that I might be weak at. I then work on strengthening these weaknesses. Once I’ve accomplished these goals, I move on to the next area that might need work.

He aims…he scores!!!

Setting  goals allow you to see into the future and give you hope that you can attain what you are envisioning.  That’s the fun part.  The harder part is applying these goals on a daily basis and keeping consistent with them.

If goal setting is new for you I strongly recommend researching this topic so you have some strategies to help make your musical dreams a reality. Reaching for goals will stop you from believing that success just happens by accident.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Divulge at your own risk

Quote of the day:

“One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without thinking. I always try to think before I talk. -Margaret Chase Smith

Did you know that men are really not interested in your personal information? Revealing stuff about yourself or about other people at a gig is unprofessional. A gig can be a great hang with your male friends but it is still somewhat of a superficial environment.

Men typically keep their private information to themselves. They might have a few buddies or a partner they share things with, but in general, they don’t talk about their private life. They really have no interest in who you went out with last night, or who is doing what with who.

“C’est Incredible”

I’m sure that in a medical journal somewhere there is something written about the selective hearing of men. They often give the appearance of listening when women talk, but chances are pretty high that they are off somewhere in the twilight zone.  It’s an incredible ability actually - men look straight at you, pretend to listen, but they’re not even close to hearing you. And why – because men really don’t care about the same things we do.

Here’s an example:

On a gig one night with my band, the female keyboardist (we’ll call her Alyssa) was very excited about a date she had gone on the night before. She spent an enormous amount of time, to the dismay of the guys in the band, detailing from start to end about the date. I could tell by the glaze in everyone’s eyes that they were totally bored. Unfortunately, Alyssa was oblivious to the disinterest of her audience, and just kept going on.

And this, dear ladies, is the main reason why men don’t reveal a lot of things about themselves – they don’t really want you to see their flaws and weaknesses.

Women share feelings….men share basketballs

As women, we want to share our experiences when we’re excited about what is happening in our lives.  We also connect with each other by providing a support system that helps us deal with stressful and difficult situations.  Women share feelings whereas men often share experiences that are based around activities – like sports (who knew?)

Male musicians love talking about their new gear, and who they’ve been gigging with. Rarely though do they talk about their feelings, personal relationships or things they are struggling with.   They feel that by giving out too much personal information they will appear weak and vulnerable.

Telling people about your weak areas is a mistake that can later be used against you.

And this, dear ladies, is the main reason why men don’t reveal a lot of things about themselves – they don’t really want you to see their flaws and weaknesses.

Don’t be an info-maniac

In the male environment of the music business, the rule is to never reveal your shortcomings.  Telling people about your weak areas is a mistake that can later be used against you. The less you say about your struggles in your music career, the more confident you appear. If you need to talk to someone about struggles, you should consider having a male mentor (an experienced guy you can trust, who doesn’t necessarily work with you).

You don’t need to lie about who you are, but you do need to have the persona that you’re on top of it and are confident in what you are doing. After all, we are all a work in progress; we just don’t need to let the guys know about it.

-By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“It used to be that people needed products to survive. Now products need people to survive.” – Nicholas Johnson.

If you want to make it in the music business, you can’t just dedicate all your time to music. You really should spend a substantial amount of your time on marketing.

Marketing includes having a great website, great business cards, and promotional material that can be instantly given to those who request it.

Don’t be fooled into thinking success is random.

Getting educated on successful Internet marketing is an absolute must today in regards to advancing your career.

You snooze, you lose

Don’t be fooled into thinking success is random. There are very specific reasons people don’t succeed in their marketing campaigns. Many musicians do things half-heartedly. They expect someone else to come along and take over the business part of music, so they can only focus on performing. That is how things were done years ago but not anymore.

You need to be aggressive in your marketing efforts and think like a business person. Of course, developing your ability as a musician is important but so is developing your ability to market yourself and any products you sell.

Don’t just polish your shoes

Even if you are looking to eventually get signed, record labels are looking for polished musicians who already understand what it takes to be professional.

Contests can be a great way of getting free promotion, especially if your songs get placed.

So why not take the bull by the horns and control your own path? Take complete responsibility for your success or failure.

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Below are three tips to use for your marketing campaign:

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• Get  your music into song writing contests in your area and beyond. Do a search on the Internet to locate reputable contests that offer prizes and exposure. Contests can be a great way of getting free promotion, especially if your songs get placed. If any of your songs place you can use it to build credibility, which can be mentioned on your website.

• Do live shows on internet radio. You can usually get a recording of the show and feature it on your website. Let all your fans know that you will be performing live so they can support you.

• Perform for charities and good causes that give you exposure. This is a great thing to do, especially if your band is well rehearsed and professional. You can also ask that the charity write you a receipt for the approximate cost (what you would normally charge) and use it as a tax write off.

These are a just a few things you can do to help market your music. Once you have accomplished your marketing campaign, start thinking of the next steps you can do to go even further. Get out there and make things happen.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy.

Our interview today is with SoulJ Marie, Reggae and Gospel singer originally from Jamaica. We explore how to balance a career with motherhood, why a quality producer is worth their weight in gold, and the trap to avoid that will save you thousands in the studio.

Today I will be featuring an email that came in during the holidays followed  by my response.

Hope you enjoy.

The emails have been great so keep them coming!

Hello Vivian!

I just found your site online, and I wanted to thank you for it! It is very helpful and good information to know, for all female musicians out there. I would like to ask you for advice, if you have a moment.

I’m a female musician, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have the chance to back up local singers in Vancouver (where I live) recently, and although they are not signed and I do not get paid other than my share of the door for the gigs I play, being a back-up bass player enables me to do 3 things I love the most: playing music, being onstage and helping someone… which is why I dream of becoming just that!

I would like to know if you have an idea how one can become a hired bassist for bigger artists and tours? I’m not talking mega superstars yet! Just getting a foot in the door to eventually get there. How does one go from “helping out unsigned local singers” to “backing up signed and touring singers/bands, allowing me to become a full-time musician”?

-Mylle

And the answer  is – drum roll please……

Hi Mylle:

What a great question!

First of all I would say that developing your chops comes first.  Above all else, you get opportunities that you are seeking because you are great not just good.

Second, once you’ve done that and feel you can play as well or better than the guys around you, you won’t be told “you’re good for a girl” you’ll just be told your great…period.

 The next step which goes hand in hand with being great is playing in your local area with as many people as you can − particularly aim for bands that have better musicians then yourself. 

If you can play for people who are better than you, you will become better simply by osmosis.

A word of caution about playing free gigs – I know times are difficult in this economy but a great musician will always feel like they should be paid for what they do.  What other profession do you know where you work your whole life to hone your skills and then end up working for favors.  OK, paying dues is one thing but if you’re not careful the people who are out there will not see you as a serious musician if you aren’t making a living at it. If this is tricky because of the area you are in, I would still try and get some kind of payment where ever and whenever you can – especially as you move further in your career.

Lastly, you need to be where the action is.  Once you’ve established yourself as a great bassist, you need to go where the stars are −that’s Nashville or LA. Artists who tour often go there to find their pick up bands in the two main places.  And of course, networking your butt off is really essential. It really is who you know.

Oftentimes, just being at the right place and people knowing about you is all it takes to finally break through.

Check out Craigslist in the musician’s section to see what people are looking for as well as who your competition is.  You can also join Sonicbids which is a great site to find agents, managers and all types of people seeking musicians.

Hope that helps and let me know how things turn out.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”.  -Helen Reddy

“Change your thinking, change your mind”
− John C. Maxwell

Success in music or any area in life is not easy. If it was easy there would be lots of successful musicians around.  But the truth is, the older you get, the more you realize how many people have not attained their musical goals.

Lowering the bar has a high price

Many aspiring musicians fall by the wayside and lose their sparkle. Somewhere along the way they just gave up. They got fed up with always having to overcome obstacles, so they just quit trying.

If your attitude at some point seems to suck, just remember that difficulties are just temporary.

Often, they got bitter or they succumbed to lowering their standards. Once that happens, it’s really easy to develop a negative attitude about the music industry.

Check the Expiry Date

Remember this − a great attitude is something you cultivate. It’s a mind-set that you hang on to through the hard times, the good times, and all the challenges you go through. If your attitude at some point seems to suck, just remember that difficulties are just temporary. Any obstacle you face has an expiry date.

If you don’t have the answer to a problem, somebody else does. Somebody else has gone through the exact same situation that you are going through. Don’t ever believe that you’re the first person to go through something and that there are no answers.

Comfort food to the rescue

…Pick yourself up, eat a tub of chocolate ice cream and wipe off the negative cobwebs. 

Learn to deal with difficult situations so that you remain in control of your emotions.  If you have a meltdown over issues, that’s OK. Pick yourself up, eat a tub of chocolate ice cream and wipe off the negative cobwebs. When you’re feeling frustrated, read something inspirational or listen to your favorite artist and get that spark back. A positive attitude is just like mom’s chicken soup – it doesn’t cure anything but it helps you feel fuzzy inside.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

“You have to think anyway, so why not think big.”  – Donald Trump

If you’re going to dedicate your life to music, why not do things as big and as professional as you can. Many artists want to play in the big leagues but cut corners when it comes to their performances and products they produce.  They assume that once they are “at the top”, they can then worry about quality and professionalism. The problem with that mind-set is that unless you deal with the small things in the beginning of your career, you won’t be ready to handle major stuff if and when you do make it big.

… your thinking should be about quality in the “biggest” way possible.

Thinking big doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend tons of money and get into huge debts. You can still have a reasonable budget wherever you are now, but your thinking should be about quality in the “biggest” way possible.

Think Big but Think Pro

For instance if you have a small budget, you are better off producing a 4 song CD with great quality then a 12 song CD of mediocre quality. So even though the smaller CD doesn’t seem to fit the “big thinking philosophy” it really does, because you are creating professionalism in the biggest way you can with where you are right now.

 If you are in the habit of producing unprofessional products like business cards or CD’s, you will always get the same mediocre results.

The same goes with music education. If you’re a vocalist, why not hook up with the best vocal teacher you can find? Or if you’re an instrumentalist, why not study under the best in your area? You may spend a little more cash to study with the top people but the results will be well worth it.

Be the best you can be

Even if you never get signed, or succeed in all your goals, thinking big and like a professional will get you so much further in life. And as a bonus, this attitude will spill over to other areas, not just your music.

There is a saying that goes something like: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result”.  If you are in the habit of producing unprofessional products like business cards or CD’s, you will always get the same mediocre results. If you want to be taken seriously as a musician, you must appear like a pro from the get go.

Being professional and thinking big often requires only a small adjustment in your thinking. So get out there and be the best you can be no matter where you are in your career.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”. – Helen Reddy

At Female Musician Online, we want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family for the holiday season… and all of best success for your career in the New Year!

We know you’re going to be very busy re-gifting sweaters and eating too much leftover Christmas cake, so we’re going to take a short break from posting new podcast episodes and blog articles for a couple weeks.

We’ve got some excellent interviews and blog topics for you when we return mid-January, so stick around… see you in 2011!

Feliz Navidad!

– Vivian Clement.

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already”. – Francois de la Rochefoucauld.

It still amazes me in this day and age that so many musicians are still trying to get signed by a big record label.

Although being signed is a worthy goal, there are so many opportunities for musicians that didn’t exist even just a few years ago.

Free Downloading Has Its Price

I’m all for how the internet has put the power of business into musician’s hands. Unfortunately some people are still in “lala” land in regards to realizing how the internet has changed the entire music industry. What a lot of aspiring musicians don’t realize, is because of all the free downloading, many once thriving record companies simply don’t exist anymore. It boils down to the fact that they just don’t make the same money they once did. In addition, the record companies lucky enough to survive are signing fewer and fewer musicians. As far as female musicians go, labels are playing it real safe, by only signing women who are extremely marketable.

I believe that if musicians are to survive in today’s market, being super aggressive with self-promotion is the only way to go.

These days, artists and bands are getting ahead by mastering the art of self-promotion. We’ve all heard of self-promotion and most of us know we should get out there and promote our music.  But I believe that if musicians are to survive in today’s market, being super aggressive with self-promotion is the only way to go. Self-promotion isn’t just about getting out there and stapling posters all over the city for an upcoming gig − this is important, but it goes way beyond that.

Don’t Get Stuck in the Ol’ School

If you really want momentum in your music career, you should be spending at least 50% of your time in marketing yourself.  That may sound like a lot of work, and it is.  But just believing that you can play your music and get discovered is like being struck by lightning the day you win the lottery. It’s possible, but it is not really the way things are done anymore. Actually that mentality is an “old school” one.

Sherlock Holmes to the Rescue

The best thing to do is to be like a detective. Study bands that are having success in their local areas and find out what steps they have taken to succeed. If an artist or band starts making a huge splash and selling tons of CD’s, they won’t need to worry, record companies will come looking for them. As the saying goes “success leaves clues”, so get out there and find out how you can bring your band to the next level through self-promotion.

By Vivian Clement –

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

“No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required, that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction”.

- Adams, Charles Francis

Do you know what one of the most important ingredients to success is? Is it being the most talented female musician around? Is it having the better connections? Is it having a lot of money?

Add G.E.M.s to Shine Brightly

All these things can be very helpful in anyone’s career, but I believe that to become successful as a female musician, (or in any area in life) you need to develop the habit of G.E.M − going the extra mile.

“That’s sounds great” you may say, but what exactly does it mean to go the extra mile?

S-T-R-E-T-C-H yourself

…when you have a goal or a project, instead of finishing it where everybody else would, just do one extra thing.

Going the extra mile is a concept that was coined by Napoleon Hill back in the early 1900s. In his book “Think and Grow Rich”, Hill writes about going one step further with any goal you are pursuing. He explains that when you have a goal or a project, instead of finishing it where everybody else would, just do one extra thing. For instance, if during your breaks at a gig you usually go for a smoke outside (or whatever you do); instead you would take time to go and meet some of the people in your audience.

Going the extra mile could mean sending thank you notes to people who’ve helped you in the past. It could include remembering people’s birthdays and sending them a birthday card or an email − perhaps offering a free CD to people who show up at one your gigs. Sometimes just doing that little extra step is all it takes for you to stand out from the crowd.

Excellence is an Attitude

Really, going the extra mile is an attitude of excellence. It’s an attitude that no matter what you do, in every area of your music career, you make sure it is the absolute best.  Sometimes that means just pushing just a little bit more. An attitude of excellence creates momentum and allows you to move past other people who are competing against you.

There will always be other musicians who are making a big splash in the music scene and you may feel intimidated to compete against them. By going the extra mile in every area of your career, you will increase your chances of success over the long run.

By Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”.

- Helen Reddy

“Passion is universal. Without it religion, history, romance and art would be useless.” – Honore de Balzac

Every once in a while I get into an “introspective zone”. This is when I take a look at my life and ask myself if I still want to pursue being a musician. At this time there are a few questions that usually run through my mind. What is it about being a musician that drives me? Why should I not just pack it in and pursue a career where I can make the big bucks and just do music as a hobby?

Music is a privilege

Since most of my work is done at night, I tend to have lots of free time during the day that I can do whatever I choose.

Let’s see. First of all, I consider the musical life a privilege.  Since most of my work is done at night, I tend to have lots of free time during the day that I can do whatever I choose. This free time is a very important fringe benefit that most musicians take for granted.  Most of my non-musician friends work during the entire day and only have a few hours at night to do the things they really like or need to do.

To me, freedom of time is my most important asset. When I’m feeling uncertain about the vocation I have chosen, I often look at the freedom that I have that others around me don’t.  With all this available time I can do many other things I love to do such as: writing, drawing and pursuing entrepreneurial businesses.

The path less travelled

I guess my biggest dilemma comes from the realization that I have not chosen a career that guarantees fantastic financial rewards.  I don’t have the “toys” that some of my other friends have.  I’ve often sacrificed material things because I knew the cost of them would be the loss of my freedom.

The road that I have chosen in order to get material things was to first save my money and then purchase what I wanted.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that musicians or artists need to be poor, neither am I living in borderline poverty.  The road that I have chosen in order to get material things was to first save my money and then purchase what I wanted. This of course takes longer than if I had purchased things the usual way that many people do: through credit.  I have taken the path less travelled and accumulated things over time that were important to me.  This way, I have been able to keep my free time open to do what I want rather than working just to pay off things that lose their sparkle after a few weeks anyways.

I said all that to say that following my passion for music and art have not always been easy. One of the reasons is the nonstop assault of the media. You know what I’m talking about.  Just about the time I feel comfortable with a new toy I purchased, a brand spankin’ new one flashes on my TV screen. Only this time it’s new and improved and has 15 remote “thingamajingees” promising true satisfaction and eternal bliss. It’s soooo tempting to go out and buy that one also.

I realize that the pursuit of great experiences in life far outweigh the superficial “new kid on the block” toys.

For this reason, I have often fluctuated in my resolve to live free when I have observed other people with more “bling” or success than myself.  But if I’m truly honest with myself I realize that the pursuit of great experiences in life far outweigh the superficial “new kid on the block” toys.

For me, being able to practice my guitar on a daily basis, writing blogs and educational books, and still have time left over at the end of the day to perform is the real payoff.  The amazing people I have met, the places I have been blessed to visit, and the joy that I have been able to bring to audiences around the world could never be replaced by anything material.

I want to look back on my life and feel  like  I have been the best musician I possibly could be. I want to have memories of having  lived an exciting and passionate life. And if I happen to collect some nice things along the way that will also be OK.  The bottom line is that true happiness does not come in obtaining tons of stuff but in pursuing your dreams with all the passion you can.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

“Women are the real architects of society”.  Harriet Beecher Stowe

Have you ever been called a diva? Do you know a female musician who is considered a diva? When we think diva, we usually imagine a narcissistic woman who believes the world revolves around her – expecting everybody to act as her own personal genie, instantly satisfying her every desire.

Flipping the Diva Coin

In my opinion, you can actually be a good diva. You can be what I call a “fabulous diva”.

 I’ll be the first to admit that I have met many women musicians who fall into the diva category. I have also met other women who were labeled divas and really weren’t divas at all, but were simply self-enlightened. These women, who tend to be a little older, don’t seem to be threatened by labels.  They know how to wield their power and rise above criticism. They understand that in order to be a powerful person you will at times be misunderstood by individuals who cling to outdated beliefs. These so called divas have developed an inner strength that either demands respect or brings out insecurities in others.

In my opinion, you can actually be a good diva. You can be what I call a “fabulous diva”. Below is an acronym that I feel best describes this amazing woman.

Acronym of a Fabulous Diva

When we happen to speak out, we often feel like we should be careful how we voice our opinions.

“D” stands for direct.

Being direct is not always a negative thing. Society sends a message that as women we should be more passive and keep our mouth shut. When we happen to speak out, we often feel like we should be careful how we voice our opinions. Men on the other hand aren’t given any kind of message like this. They can speak whatever they want and  be as difficult as they want without being overly criticized.

I believe that you can successfully be direct as long as you are not overly aggressive. You can achieve this by getting right to the point during touchy situations. Being direct can mean not allowing people to push you around. If somebody is crossing a personal boundary, you can immediately let them know that you don’t appreciate the way they are talking to you. You don’t have to be aggressive about it. You definitely should not be emotional about it because then you will be viewed as a diva. The key is to remove your emotions from the situation. You can look straight in somebody’s eye and say something like:  “I don’t like it when you’re being condescending, It’s not necessary and I would appreciate a professional attitude when you are speaking to me”. Now that’s pretty direct but not overly aggressive.  Most people will treat you differently once they realize you will not just stand by and let them walk all over you.

If that seems like a big stretch for you, view it as an attitude of professionalism. Because you are in an actual business where you are building your career, you should expect to be treated with respect. People don’t need to like you but they do need to respect you.

“I” is for Inspirational.

If you want to be a fabulous diva, you’re going to need to be an inspirational person. If you become an inspiration to people around you, there’ll always be room for you no matter where you go, no matter what you do?

if you become that inspiration you will be invaluable no matter what business you are in.

If you are a singer/songwriter and you’re working with other singer/songwriters, inspire them to be the greatest they can be. If you have other female musicians, don’t be catty and compete with them. Instead, embrace your uniqueness and inspire those around you to do the same. Women are looking for inspiration and if you become that inspiration you will be invaluable no matter what business you are in.

“V” means Values.

Don’t believe for one second that your values are not important. If you are of the persuasion that manipulating or cheating is a shortcut to success, I can guarantee you that it isn’t. These so called shortcuts may initially open doors but eventually “you gotta pay the piper”.  I’ve seen it a million times.  Someone thinks they are getting away with unethical practices but eventually, people figure them out. And when they do, people will have a hard time trusting them again.

If you’re a spiritual person (you believe in the universe or if you believe in God) you already know that what comes around goes around. The music business is a small business and everyone has a reputation. Once your reputation is ruined, it’s extremely difficult to repair.

Develop values of being honest.  Choose to work with people with integrity; and people in the industry will respect you. Integrity is a vital aspect of becoming a successful female musician long term no matter what your career. Determine now to stick to your guns and not lower your standards as you move down your career path.

“A” is for Attitude

Most people believe in having a positive attitude, but oftentimes this is more difficult to maintain than one thinks. We determine to be positive only to encounter obstacles and people who are just out and out nasty. These are the times when we are tempted to give in to negativity. Really, it’s only human.

No matter what career path you take, you will always face problems that promise defeat.  I believe that life brings tests to prepare you for the next level of success. If you pass the test you get to go to the next level on your path. If you fail, other tests will eventually present themselves until you master what it is you are suppose to overcome.

There are many obstacles to rise above in the music business and keeping a good attitude during difficult times creates an inner strength that cannot be developed any other way.

Well there you have it – the four letters that make up being a “fabulous diva.  Hope this helps you be the best female musician you can be.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” Helen Reddy

“…and having acquired enough power and success, you may be able to call the shots and shape the future direction of your corporation so that it capitalizes on your own strengths.”
– Pat Heim – Hardball for Women

Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” was written over 2,000 years ago.  His philosophies and strategies for conquering enemies have been used by generals, businessmen, and  politicians around the world.  It hasn’t been until recently that the concepts from his writings have been rewritten for women.

In her book “The Art of War for Women –It’s about the Art not the War”, author Chin-ning Chu examines these ancient philosophies as they apply to women in today’s world.

I thought it would be interesting to view some of Chin-ning Chu’s interpretations of this masterpiece and how it applies to female musicians today.

The five elements of the Art of War is based on these following concepts.

• Righteousness or ethics
• Timing
• Resources
• Leadership
• Managing

Righteousness – Making Right Choices.

“It can be tempting to put short-term gains at our jobs ahead of doing what is righteous, but that is always a mistake. And it will almost always backfire painfully.” (Chin-ning Chu)

As women in the music business we must be sure to ask ourselves if we are in it for the long term or short term. If we are looking for longevity in our music career we must be careful that the decisions we make don’t negatively affect us in the future.

For instance the people we hang around with will either bring us closer or further from our musical objectives.  It s a fact that we are judged by the company we keep.  Choosing to associate ourselves with musicians with integrity and an eye on the big picture is more beneficial than hanging around with people who use questionable ethics to acquire things quicker.  Remember the people you climb over to get to the top of the ladder are the same people you will encounter when you come back down – and everyone eventually comes back down.

Timing

“ But today, after more than five thousand years of inequality, we are finally moving toward equality between men and women. So it is not surprising that the accomplishments of women – both past and present- are getting more attention.” (Chin-ning Chu)

We are living in a great period of time.  Because of modern technology, mostly the internet, female musicians which were once only recognized  locally, are being discovered by people all over the globe. The world is finally getting the picture that we are just as capable as any man to be excellent on any instrument of our choosing. Today’s female musician must be aware that the music industry has been drastically transformed since the internet. To advance our careers we must continually use it to promote and market ourselves. We can’t wait around for others to do it for us.

Resources (or Turning your liabilities into Assets).

“It is possible to compete in a man’s world and still enjoy being a woman… By being competitive yet elegant, effective yet gentle, you will confuse, fascinate, and surprise your male coworkers and bosses.” (Chin-ning Chu)

As women and artists, we have a great advantage when bringing our female powers to the forefront.  Take songwriting for example, where strong women reveal their strengths as well as their empathy, their boldness as well as their gentleness.  In the past when society depended on labor and strength just to survive, women’s feminine traits were viewed as weaknesses. But today, we can maintain our femininity and still demonstrate strength and adaptability when facing obstacles in the music business.

Leadership

“If we want to make the twenty-first century the Woman’s Century, we cannot wait to be called “leaders.”…When you’re in a situation that requires leadership, take the reins. Don’t sit around and wait,…” (Chin-ning Chu)

Believe it or not working in a band is a perfect place for a woman to develop leadership skills.  If you are the singer, you are naturally in the lead position which can allow you to take control by starting and ending songs. If you are a female instrumentalist, you can be more assertive during a solo, or in the manner you perform on stage.  Whatever you happen to do, take the initiative to suggest ways to promote your band, or to make it sound better.  Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions. Your male musician friends will view you as someone who has vision -which is exactly what leadership is about.

Managing

“The best managers choose and adjust their style to the individuals they supervise and the situations in which they find themselves” – Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard

Management encompasses your execution in dealing with the men around you. Not only are you dealing with men in your band, but the men overall in the music scene, such as your employers, agents, managers and bartenders. You are dealing with age difference, various cultures, and all the stereotypes that come with that. Managing all these variances can at times seem daunting but as you step out boldly to do what needs to be done, you will become an effective and persuasive female musician.

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

Today’s Quote:

“One of the reasons you go to the theatre is to be transported to a different time and place and experience something magical”. –Peter Fogel

What is the secret to connecting with your audience?

If you haven’t yet experienced those magical moments when you and your audience are one, you are missing one of the most amazing aspects of performing. Your fans want to experience something that moves them when they are watching a live performance. As a musician it’s your job to make this happen.

The Art of the Zone

Much has been written about the zone in the past few decades. The zone has been compared to a spiritual state where you feel almost euphoric. In this zone, time seems to stand still and all that matters is the present moment. If you have ever experienced a great concert you will remember that feeling of exhilaration.  It is here where the listeners transcends the music and enter into a mystical place.  This is the reason people will fork out huge amounts of money on concert tickets to see their favorite artist perform.  People can’t put a word on the emotion they experience during a concert setting but they know that it is a worth every penny spent.

Don’t believe for one minute that only stars can bring their audience into the zone. Like any skill, it takes time to learn how to do this, but the fact that you already are an artist means that you have this ability residing in you. Unfortunately it is often an untapped talent.

Highlights are not just for your hair

Another way of connecting with your audience is to highlight special moments in your concerts. Performance coach Tom Jackson teaches about taking advantage of unique moments during your performance. This could happen when someone speaks out in between a song or a phone rings at an inappropriate time.  Special moments invariably happen during performances so be prepared to respond quickly and make it a part of your act. These moments create an instant connection and are the unique memories your audience will take home with them.

One of the best ways to learn about connecting with an audience is to go to concerts where great musicians have mastered this skill. Also, visit other musicians who may not have discovered the secret of connecting and look for the missing ingredients. Once you have figured it out, it will be easier for you to know how to connect with your fans.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy, Singer

“For any woman to succeed in American life she must first do two things: Prepare herself for a profession, and marry a man who wants her to succeed as much as she does”… Cathleen Douglas.

How do you stay motivated when it comes to your music career?  What keeps your passion burning, even when facing challenges?  Do you grab your guitar and write a song, or put your headphones on and listen to some inspirational tunes by your favorite artist?

Keeping your passion alive throughout your career isn’t always as easy as it sounds. If you’ve never felt uninspired as a female musician, chances are you are fairly new to playing professionally. Although music is creative and exciting, getting bogged down by the business side can really sap your creativity.

We all start out as these super-duper-inspired-passionate-music-machines that want to reach out and touch the world with our creativity.  At some point though, we realize that the fire that drives us can get squelched through the mechanics of pushing our careers forward. From booking gigs, marketing and promoting our music, to band rehearsals, we can easily feel overwhelmed. This often leaves us with just a memory of what it feels like to really be in the zone.

How then do you juggle the business and creative side of music while still remaining authentic? Everybody is different when it comes to finding motivation. I find that I need to spend some time away from music to “refill my musical well”.  Sometimes I will rent videos and just watch TV for a few hours, read, or go out with friends.  Although I love music, getting away from it for a while allows me to return and feel refreshed. It also lets me have other life experiences that improve my lyric writing.  For example, when I’m out and about, I’ll often overhear a conversation that triggers a cool lyric.

Getting away from it all can help you gain perspective on where you are going with your present and future goals.  The old saying that you can’t see the forest from the trees often applies when you are on the trail to success in your musical career.

One other way I stay inspired is to surround myself with great musicians. I love to watch performances from people that I really respect.  I particularly love to see female musicians perform whenever I get the chance. I have also made a point of connecting with a lot of female artists in my area and developing a relationship with them. I find we have similar interests and challenges when it comes to the music biz and this can really help when you need a little pick-me-up.

Recently I got together with a female musician I had met on my travels.  Her name is Mary Amanda Fairchild.  She is a world renowned harp player and also a jazz pianist and vocalist.  She has a very magnetic and positive personality and it’s really inspiring to be around her.  (I also interviewed her for a podcast which will be appearing later this year).  Being around people who are excited about their careers can give you a tremendous boost and stop you from becoming jaded. I’ve also made a point of keeping negative people at arm’s length since they can really deplete my energy and creative juices.

These are just a few things that I do to keep myself motivated, and different things work for different people. Whatever it takes, make sure that you always continue to keep yourself inspired throughout your career. When you do, you’ll be able to positively affect those around you with what you have to say.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”.  Helen Reddy

“If God wanted us to think just with our wombs, why did He give us a brain?” – Claire Boote Luce

Time for a quickie

Want to learn the quickest way to grow in your music career?

Want to know how you can leap from one goal to the next in the quickest possible way?

Open yourself up to criticism.

That’s right. Listening to an objective point of view about your abilities is one of the greatest ways to gain tons of momentum toward your objectives.

Find ways to get people to critique your talent. This might mean asking a friend or colleague for feedback on the way you play your instrument, or the way you sing. If you’re a songwriter, find other songwriters who are better than you and ask for tips on your songwriting style.

Criticism is good for the soul

As musicians, we tend to wear our hearts on our sleeve and avoid criticism like the plague. We feel if people criticize our art, they are criticizing our souls. As women, particularly, we seem to be more sensitive than guys. I know I am. I also know that guys are used to criticizing each other as a form of banter, therefore they are more tough-skinned.

Perhaps as female musicians we need to take a different approach when people make negative comments about our talent. If we can be open-minded enough to hear what others are saying, this will always improve some aspect of our talent that we might have otherwise missed.

Can you see your blindspot?

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and felt you looked different than the person you see every day in the mirror? Criticism is very similar to this. It allows you to see yourself the way others see you – or in this instance, how people hear you.

We all have blind spots – areas that no matter how hard we try, we just can’t see. That’s why I think that adopting a healthy attitude towards criticism is the path to growth. Of course, not every negative comment someone says about your music should be taken to heart.

When you do have somebody who you feel is criticizing you unjustly, just take a step back and try to figure out this person’s objective. Perhaps there is some jealously, or perhaps they are threatened because you are a women. Regardless, I always try and observe what people are saying and figure out if there’s something in it that could be beneficial to my musical growth.

I consider criticism a part of growing pains. And growing pains are a necessary evil if you truly desire to speed up your journey towards your musical dreams.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything” – Helen Reddy

“Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect;  get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.”

– John Fellows Akers

It takes practice before to captivate an audience. But that’s OK, the important thing is to start where you are.

The Gift of Gab

Always greet your audience. This puts people at ease, especially if you add some humor.(Just remember that humour isn’t for everyone so be sure that you are comfortable pulling it off). You can talk about something interesting you saw on the way to the gig, or some hot issue that is on the news right now.

Talk to me

Coming across naturally when talking to your audience can seem daunting when you first start to do this unless you are outgoing by nature.  Your audience wants to hear what you have to say. Often people think performers just wing-it while talking on stage but many times this is not the case. Many performers practice what they will say to their audience before they ever set foot on stage.

Eye is in the beauty of the beholder

Look people in the eye. This is an old technique used by veteran singers. Even if you are in a dark venue, zero in on people for just a few seconds when you are singing. This technique makes people feel special, that you are singing directly to them.  It is one of the best ways to make a connection.

Always remember that practice makes perfect. You won’t become a professional performer overnight. Each time you gig, add a new “audience performing trick” to your night. As time goes on you will begin to feel more and more comfortable with your audience.

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything. – Helen Reddy

“It is not women’s fault if we are so tender. It is in the nature of the lives we live. And further, it would be a terrible catastrophe if men had to live men’s lives and women’s also. Which is precisely what has happened today – to women.” – Selma James

Lady Gaga (aka Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is the queen when it comes to fashion on  stage. If you are a female singer or female musician, chances are you have checked out this celeb’s latest fashions. You may or may not be able to picture yourself wearing this type of wardrobe but there are some things you should never wear. Here is list of what I think this artist would never be caught in while performing.

What Lady Gaga Wouldn’t Wear on Stage:

Lady Gaga wouldn’t split over hairs. There’s just something about those tresses that really make the icing on the cake when it comes to your look on stage.

Artists spend thousands of dollars to have great hair. Stars are known to have a budget the size of Nasa’s, set aside just for the right “do”. You don’t necessarily need Edward Scissorhands as a hairstylist, but it doesn’t hurt to pay for a great stylist who can sculpt your coif into a masterpiece. The next time you need a cut, take a pic of your new look and bring it to a more affordable hairstylist.

Lady Gaga wouldn’t wear clothes not suited for her body type. If I could count the amount of times I see people wearing the wrong clothes for their body type, I’d have enough cash to pay for my next tour bus.  We’re all tempted to wear that sexy ‘thang’ we saw dangling in the window of our favorite shop.  But does it look great on our bod? Don’t be fooled by thinking that all stars have the perfect body.

The only thing they have perfect is the fact that they have consultants who tell them what does and doesn’t work with their type of body. Everyone has imperfections. The key- as all the fashion mags tell us is – cover up the flaws and accentuate the gorgeous parts.

Lady Gaga doesn’t wear kaki. Well maybe she does, but that’s not the point. Years ago I bumped into a friend, who had become a high rolling CEO for a large firm. She was very confident and successful and had lots of bling to go with her expensive power suit.

Unfortunately the color of the suit was a kaki green, which for some strange reason gave her teeth a greenish hue. Not a pretty site I might add. Getting your colors done by a professional color consultant may make all the difference in the world to how you appear on stage. The wrong colors especially if they are close to your face can make you appear pasty and tired.

If you want to be a chart topper or simply looking your best at your local watering hole follow these three points. Most importantly always look for clothing that brings out your unique and beautiful features!

by Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”
-Helen Reddy, singer

Quote of the Day:

“There would be no new school without the old school.”" Vivian Scott, Epic Records

What does Madonna, Green Day, Limp Bizkit, MC Hammer, and Courtney Love have in common?

They are one of the many artists who have dumped their record companies and began selling their songs independently. Why, you ask?  That’s a good question since many unsigned artists are under the impression that once you get signed the dough just keeps rolling in.

Do the math

Did you know that an artist gets a measly $1 dollar bill (and often less) for every CD that is sold. Imagine spending a huge part of your childhood, teenage years and adulthood developing your musical skills only to be rewarded $1 a CD  once you became famous.  How long would it take you to make all those millions you were dreaming about. With shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent, the media has been extremely successful in creating the illusion that signed artists are living the big life. Yes it is true, that some artists are very wealthy but the reality is that even if you get signed, it will be a long time before you see any real money.

Show me da money…or not.

Well it’s not all about the money you may say.  And that is correct.  Us genuine artists are really in love with the music.  We love music from the bottom of our little artsy souls and would perform even if it was for free.  Right? That’s a great concept but unfortunately it won’t get us very far.  Anyone who’s been in a studio for a project knows how costly studio time can be even for a small project. And then there’s the jacket for your CD, which can cost you an arm and a leg – and you’ll be needing those to perform.  Oh! and what about getting a professional website and business cards done. Never mind the fact that you need a little bit of coin to keep your site running.  Last but not least, the band you hired may love your music, but if there is no money coming in for them they won’t hang around forever.

“I like the people at our record company, but the time is at hand when you have to ask why anyone needs one” Thom Yorke (lead vocalist, Radiohead)

So what’s a female musician to do?

If you’re still convinced that going the record deal route is for you, here are a few tips that will help you along the way.

Produce a great demo.

• Here is a link to help you with your demo.
• Your demo should paint an accurate picture of who you (and your band) are.
• You shouldn’t have more than 4 songs, and be sure to put your best song first.  Don’t put long intros on any of your songs, since you will be judged by the first 30 seconds (a minute if you’re lucky).
• Your tunes should be commercial enough so that an A&R listener will be convinced you can produce radio-hit tunes. Study the Billboard Charts to get a picture of what songs make it to the top.
• Your sound should have a unique flavor to it and not sound  like other artists.  Realistically it’s impossible to sound completely original, but make sure your style stands out from the crowd.

Invest in a press kit

Your electronic press kit (EPK) needs to contain all the necessary information about you and your band. These days press kits are fairly cheap verses the tradition press kits that were used before the internet was on the scene. Check out online marketing companies like Sonicbids to get examples of great press kits.

• Have professional and recent pictures done and be sure you have that “star” quality in your dress and attitude. Record companies are looking for an image that fits today’s trends. They expect you to understand what it means to “look” like an artist.

Get a website

• Even if you have a Myspace account, you still need to get a professional website done and up and running if you want to be taken seriously. Myspace is great when you are starting out but having a professional website designed specifically for you will speak volumes to the people you are trying to impress.

These are just a few of the things you can do right now to prepare yourself for getting signed. Remember, that  the more you learn about the music business and how it is continually evolving, the better.

Today’s Quote: ” You can’t copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you’re working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it’s got to be that way in music or it isn’t music.” – Billie Holiday

Get inspired as we sit down with Charlie Butler, who has performed with the likes of Donna Summers and Grover Washington Jr. We are also joined by jazz singer and recording artist Tammy Rafferty.

They’ll tell us who you can turn to for guidance and  how to avoid the pitfalls that await you in the darkest bowels of the music industry!

If you’ve been learning an instrument or working on your singing, you’ve probably considered whether you should pursue music as a career. Oftentimes, our families and friends love the fact that we play an instrument, but once we decide to follow music as a career, they’ll often try to discourage us.  Are their objections valid?

Living outside the box

I have been a female musician (guitarist/singer/songwriter) for most of my life. I love the music business. I love musicians and what they represent. They are the thinkers and dreamers of the world. They believe that life doesn’t have to be boring and only about landing a 9-5 job. Musicians are the ones who get out there and make things happen. Musicians and artists live outside the box. They deeply desire to influence people with their gifts.

The call of the wild

I read a novel in high school called the ‘Call of The Wild’. It was about wolves that had been tamed by men, but eventually felt the calling to return back to the forest. I have often drawn a parallel with that theme and the notion of being a musician. Musicians may stray to some other field but they will always have that inner voice compelling them back to their artistry.

For the past 25 years I have been blessed to be full-time in this profession. It hasn’t always been easy. Between my husband and I, we own a recording studio, work at clubs and jazz venues, have taught students, worked on cruise ships… all in order to make a living. When things get tough, I ask myself if I should have chosen a different profession. My answer always comes as a resounding NO!

Even though I haven’t attained great wealth, or own a mansion, I have obtained something much more valuable: creativity and freedom of time. There’s nothing wrong with working in an office if that’s what you chose to do, but it’s just not for me. I’d rather live with a little less luxury than be stuck in a higher paying career I don’t love.

Now everyone thinks different and some people are good at working in a structured environment, but I am not one of those people. Believe me, I have tried it. I’ve been fired around 10 times at jobs ranging from being a waitress to working in retail. I worked for five years in the corporate world in order to purchase a house, but during that time I felt like I was dying inside.

March to the beat of a different drum

A true artist will never be satisfied with the regular life that meets the status quo. We just aren’t built that way. We are the idealists, the visionaries. Our dreams propel us forward against all odds, and often against other people’s advice. Some of us musicians succeed and some fail, but at least we attempt to pursue our passions. And I have noticed that people who drop their passions in life end up losing that spark that comes with youth. As Henry David Thoreau said: “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

Should you follow the musician’s path? This is a big question that deserves serious reflection. Ask yourself the following:

a) If I never make it to the big time will I still be content making a living in music?

b) Will my partner be supportive of my choice to pursue music?

c) If I pursue a different career, can I play music part-time and still feel satisfied?

This is for those who are pursuing a solo career: How much time will I allot to make it in the music biz before I consider pursuing it part-time or dropping it completely.

What am I willing to sacrifice to pursue my dreams? What am I not willing to sacrifice?

These questions will take time to answer and require real soul-searching. The important thing is to always be honest with yourself. Perhaps music is simply something you love to do and don’t mind doing it part-time. But maybe you have “caught the bug” as we say, and feel you can’t live without going after it big time.

“A prudent question is one half of wisdom”
– Francis Bacon

Only you can make that decision. Look around at the other musicians in your surroundings and see if you like their lifestyle. Better yet, ask them how it’s going for them. If you’re still pumped even after you’ve heard some gruesome stories from the trenches, maybe it’s time for you to take the plunge.

Today’s Quote:

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart …
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.

– Carl Jung Psychologist 1875 – 1961

If you’ve never bumped into a bully as a female musician hang on to your banjo – at some point you most certainly will.

Music bullies are initially disguised as gregarious, entertainers but without too much provocation they quickly morph into divas or divos. These ego-maniac artists can wreck havoc on your career and can suck the confidence right out of you. They are usually very high maintenance and believe the universe revolves around them.

So who are these people and who gave them the right to rain on your musical parade?

The Holy Trinity – Me, Myself and M.E.

Bullies are typically people, male or female who’s main motto in life is summed up in the acronym M.E. (my ego). Everything is about them, their career goals and what they can get out of any given situation. They are often front people or leaders in bands (although not necessarily), or they can be agents, managers or any one who holds some form of power.  They are known as go-getters but are so goal oriented that they will drive right over you to obtain their trophy.

The music biz is abuzz with such characters and as a female musician you‘ll need a black belt in Karate to counterattack their assaults. Don’t be alarmed if they put out a full out attack against your career if you are taking some of the juice from their limelight.

Music bullies are friendly enough but that is more often than not a tactic to get close enough so they can later manipulate you to get what they want.

Constant Craving

Songstress extraordinaire  K.D. Lang couldn’t have titled a better song revealing a bullies deepest desire – constant craving.  That is the driving force behind their actions. They are addicted to attention and power and if you get in their way you will pay the price. Their common mode of operation is to use overbearing tactics and condescension to get you to acquiesce to their needs. They override authority and cross personal boundaries whenever it suits them.

Enter the Drama Queen – or King

There seems to be a recurring theme with bullies.  They’re a sucker for crisis.  A challenge makes them feel alive and if there are no challenges on the horizon, they will dream up some way to create drama.

In a band situation, you will often find them conjuring up some urgent situation needing immediate attention or creating discord amongst band members.

…So what do you do when you meet a bully in action?.  First of all, recognize that if you just let them have their way, you will be doing this forever.  Secondly, if you get on the attack with them you may start a forest fire that can ravage through your career.

The best way to deal with bullies is to inform them that you don’t appreciate being treated condescendingly or disrespectfully. Don’t get over emotional about it or this will be viewed as a weakness (especially if the bully is a man). Let them know that you are onto their game and that you’re not going to roll over and play dead.

Also, communicate diplomatically that you’re not going to get into their boxing ring and swing it out with them.  Once they realize their cover has been blown they usually will lay-off and find someone else to torment.

As front people a psycho personality adds theatrical flare and excitement to any performance, but this can be more trouble than it’s worth.

As a women in music it’s a good practice to be as diplomatic as possible and learn how not to be taken advantage of by bullies either female or male.

Today’s Quote:

We sit down today with Ric Steel, veteran singer and producer out of the Nashville Scene. He’ll disclose surefire ways you can connect with your audience, and gives away simple techniques of mastering your body language. You’ll discover how to project confidence, and most importantly: the secret behind why celebrities wear sunglasses.

There is a perception that men will always be superior to women in any endeavor they undertake.

I just finished listening to an episode of the Ries Report Podcast called Reality vs Perception. The rundown is that regardless of the reality of something being superior, it is perception that determines its value.

So who cares and how is that going to help you in your career in the music business? Regardless of how much talent you have, society assumes that a man will always be better than you. This means that even after you prove yourself, you will need to keep proving yourself to every guy you meet.

Biceps and Misconcepts

A drummer friend of mine once told me that he didn’t believe women could be great drummers. His reasoning had to do with a women’s upper body strength (or lack of it). Although women may not be able to lift weights like “Arnold”, I’m sure that Lenny Kravitz and Prince would strongly disagree with my friend. Both of these stars have hired amazing female drummers, Cindy Blackman and Cora Coleman-Dunham.

Just because there aren’t a multitude of women drummers overflowing in the business doesn’t mean we’re not capable of being equivalent or superior in ability. Sadly though, the lack of female drummers adds to the conviction that drums are mostly for guys.

Breasts Need Not Apply

The good news today is that any women who is talented and wants to invest the time to become great at her instrument whether she is a singer, songwriter or instrumentalist, can do it without being questioned. The bad news is that regardless of how great she is she will no doubt repeatedly run into stereotypes.

And even after she proves her skills, she will still be faced with sexist remarks. The one I get all the time is “you’re a great guitarist for a girl”.

I’d like to say: “The fact that I have breast does not have anything to do with my abilities” but my politically correct answer is, “Well, I’ve studied hard and have been playing for a long time”.

An Obstacle is Oftentimes an Unrecognized Opportunity

“So what is the point of practicing hard and becoming great if I’m always going to have to keep proving myself”, you ask? If you’re passionate about your musical career, you will develop a tough skin and rise above feeling pigeonholed.

With regards to stereotypes, I’ve realized that my generation has had it easier than my mother’s. The younger generation has had it easier than mine, just as the next one will have it even easier.

We are indebted to the women of the previous generations who have paved the paths for us. Similarly, it is our duty to continue carrying the torch, and proving to the world that we can do whatever we put our minds to.

Today’s quote:

…“because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, “She doesn’t have what it takes.” They will say, “Women don’t have what it takes.”

– Clare Boothe Luce

If you’ve ever wondered whether to be assertive or nice when gigging with men, you’re not alone.

As a female musician you may at times feel like you need to be an acrobat walking a tight rope between super-tough chick and super-nice barbie.

Today I’m going to talk about how to be assertive while still maintaining some form of friendliness.

Men respect women who are neither a pushover nor overly aggressive.

Kiss Girlyness Goodbye

Although acting like a girl, (being super sweet and girlish), is attractive for some guys on a date, it’s not going to gain you much respect on the stage.

Keeping your feminine traits is important, but when you’re in a working environment you need to set aside the “girly-tone” if you want to be taken seriously.

What do I mean by the girly-tone? It’s that cute little voice or the helpless puppy attitude that makes women appear like they belong on a fuzzy pink sofa sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Diva is a State of Mind

What is just as unprofessional for a female musician is being who I call “Diva-zilla”. We’ve all met that she-monster who acts like she’s just been let out of her PMS cage ready to devour anyone who stands in the way of her lofty goals.

Your attitude should be one of self-enlightenment and confidence.

How to win gigs and influence male band members

So what’s the magic formula with your guy band buddies?

It’s all in how you project (and don’t project) your emotions.  Dudes don’t “get” emotions. They view them as weaknesses. Regardless of their often irrational actions, men generally keep their emotions at bay.

So the next time you are on a gig and need to put someone in their place, remember to put on a polite smile, but make sure you have sharpened your teeth!

Todays Quote:

“If women want any rights more’n they got, why don’t they just take ‘em, and not be talkin’ about it.”

– Sojourner Truth

Are you one of those female musicians who believe that as long as you have great talent the world is your oyster?

Since American Idol has permeated the airwaves, there seems to be this attitude that if you are somewhat musically gifted a multitude of doors will swing wide open for you. (I actually think the best American Idol shows are the ones at the beginning of the season. You know the ones where Simon rolls his eyes and calls his poor victims the worst singer on the planet. The poor soul goes away pretty depressed. But hey – that’s TV for you!)

Obviously talent is essential for a career in music, but that is simply the proverbial “tip of the iceberg”. If you happen to be one of the lucky female musicians who reaches star status, hats off to you (you’re probably not reading this blog anyways – stats say it’s like winning the lottery twice). But for the rest of us mere mortals, things are a bit different.

It’s time to mind your own business!

Any artist planning on having a long-term career needs to face the facts that talent is only one side of the coin. The other side is that the music business is just that – a business. And like every other business, there are certain rules and procedures to follow if you want to up your chances of success.

I have met a lot of women artists out there who were convinced that because they had the goods – talent and beauty, they would be given the front stage for the rest of their careers. Granted, being cute and talented does actually open doors, but longevity comes through proper business sense and appropriate ethics.

I’ve compiled a small list of some of the things that are necessary for you to succeed as a woman (or man for that matter) in the music biz:

Know your stuff: It’s pretty obvious but you need to be competent at what you do. If you’re an instrumentalist, you should not only strive at excellence but own professional and reliable gear.

You should also be knowledgeable about maintaining your equipment. If you are a singer, you should not only be proficient at singing, but own the most suitable microphone for your voice.

Understanding how a sound system works and how to communicate effectively with soundmen is also essential. (Nothing is worse than singing through a monitor that makes you sound like a duck and not knowing what to do about it).

Be the lead dog: Developing great leadership skills is a must. Many women have never had opportunities to be in leadership positions and therefore are intimidated by even the thought of being in authority.

For instance, singers need to learn how to direct their band during a performance. If you’ve had experience as a leader you are already aware that developing leadership skills takes time. Even if you are an instrumentalist and are considered a side person, you may get hired by someone and need to bring a band with you. Like it or not, at this point you will be considered the leader of the band.

There is no “I” in Team

There’s no such thing as a self-made man/women: Men learn early in life how to work comfortably within the context of a team. Unless you have played sports or have been involved in other group activities, grasping team dynamics can be tricky. As women, we often feel like our uniqueness is what sets us apart. The truth is that teams work as one unit and members oftentimes need to sacrifice some of their own goals.

If you’re a solo artist you may feel that things should be done your way, and if you are paying people that may be the case. But regardless, you will still need to meet the needs of all those involved and at times put others needs before your own (of course never compromising professionalism).

Have killer performance skills: This is one area that I have personally needed to raise the bar on. I like the “artist” approach to my playing but some gigs required that I be more of a show person. Keep in mind that your performance skills will also be reflected in the type of music you are playing.

If you are a pop singer you will probably be more drawn to choreography than someone who is a jazz stylist. Whatever genre you perform, being assertive and confident in your showmanship comes with practice.

You’re not an island

Build a networking web: Yes it is still who you know that counts. In this business, like all businesses. it’s other people that help us reach our goals. I have met some great people who have helped me along the way and have later become close friends. The music business is primarily a people business first. After all you will always be performing with people and performing to people.

These are only some of the few aspects to know about the music business. The key is to keep learning everything you can and surround yourself with great people who will be there to encourage your efforts.

Today’s quote:

“I demand perfection in what I do and I practice very hard before I give a concert… sometimes three to six hours a day” – Nina Simone

The podcast is online, 31 Success Secrets has been released, and the free email minicourse is ready for you to devour.

We wanted to release this information to you as soon as we could. So while you’re having a look around, we’ll be right here tidying things up and finishing the site.

In the coming days, new blog posts will be posted, new podcast episodes will be podcasted, and we’ll add a final dash of salt for extra flavor.

Thanks for your visit!

Chloe Gude, accomplished violinist and music educator shares her experience on how to be taken seriously when working with people twice your age. She tells us how to confidently assert your authority as a woman, and explains why you should wear loud shoes.

Look out ladies… we’ve got the irresistible Dockers Acapella group in the house. Not only is this interview packed with 2 exclusive performances; we also describe how to take your musicality to the next level and the dangers of being under-assertive.

Have you ever felt like you needed to learn how to promote yourself but didn’t want to come across like you were bragging?

Take a lesson from the best braggers on the planet– Men!

Most male musicians have an instinct for informing the world of “look at all the things I’ve done”.

When you are introduced to a guy it usually doesn’t take but a few minutes before they give you the 411 on who they are, what they’ve accomplished and all the gear they own.

The Brag-fest is On!

All this monologuing seems to whiz by without a blink of an eye or any sign of remorse on their part. I must say it’s pretty impressive.

A while back at one of my gigs, I met a bass player who sat next to me. Within a few minutes he informed me of some of the great musicians he has worked with, and went on to list all of his vintage gear as well as his recent CD projects with a well-known producer out of Nashville. This all took place in the course of a few minutes. Not only was he insistent on revealing all this to me, but he spoke loud enough so others around could hear the conversation.

After years in the music business, I am of the persuasion that this normally frowned upon practice is necessary for female musicians as well.

Oftentimes as women in music, we feel that speaking about ourselves is self-serving. If you believe that, you are correct. The ugly truth is people can’t read minds (especially men) and if you don’t tell them what you can do, they will stereotype you as a non-accomplished female.

The One-Minute Business Card

To their credit, men have mastered the skill of the “One-Minute Business Card”. It is the ability to inform others in one minute, who you are, what you have done, and what you are presently working on. Oh! And don’t forget to add in all the amazing gear you own! (You may take longer than a minute to divulge all this information, but you need to have it at the forefront your brain so it comes across quickly and naturally in a conversation).

If you are meeting someone, you simply start by introducing yourself: Give them your first name and always give your last name (like a professional).

Then look for a way to sneak in a few of your accolades by creating a bridge in the conversation, such as: “Oh! You’re a bass player. I’ve been playing guitar for years with this great bass player such and such, who used to tour with so and so. He just recorded some tunes for one of my books I just released.

I accomplished a few things here: told him I played an instrument, suggested it was for a long time, proved I was professional through association and dropped a name. I also, let him know I was an author.

Sneaky, right?

After that you can go back to asking more about the other person.

Talk may be cheap, but silence isn’t golden

I admit that this practice can come across as boastful, but I’ve learned from the best…the men I work with and meet on a regular basis. If you don’t believe men practice this art, listen to conversations that they have with each other.

Of course, it’s imperative that you are sincere and actually have accolades to talk about (which you will accumulate as you go along). Self-promotion let’s others know they can’t stereotype you, and you’re not just another pretty face.

Today’s quote (makes you thankful you were born in this century!)

“The male is by nature superior, and the female inferior, and the one rules, and the other is ruled; this principle, of necessity extends to all mankind”.

– Aristotle (384-322 B.C)

Vivian Clement

“I am woman, I can do anything”

– Helen Reddy, singer

We got backstage access to interview the incredibly talented Nicola Meehan, theatre singer and dancer. She’ll reveal little known secrets for a successful audition, how you can radiate a charismatic stage presence, and ways to rise above cattiness and jealously amongst women.

You can’t afford to miss this episode, as we grill Kathleen Saint on what it takes to command respect from your musicians. She’ll give you the lowdown on leading a band, and how to successfully resolve conflicts.