Thank You Corona

This title may seem a little weird, and I'm hoping no one gets offended. I am sorry for those who have experienced loss and hurt with loved ones, jobs, those that are stressed, those that are confused, and just uncertain of what the future looks like. I know it's hard to say what will happen with the future of the independent music community, and this as well can be very challenging.

I hope this message provides inspiration and empowerment for the music community, now and to come. This virus has put a stop to a lot when it comes to our industry, but I would like to encourage you to think about what it has provided, and that is time. Now what we decide to do with that time is what's important. I've had to evaluate the plan I had for my music goals and ask myself, is this a plan that will work at this moment as well as in the future?

When it really came down to it, I was specifically a gigging musician. I could only make money if a venue was open, and booked one of the bands I played in, or a band I subbed in. With everything closed, my entire business plan was completely destroyed. Where is the good in this? I know there are many musicians who dealt with the same thing, questioning what's next, where do I go from here.

Not having to be so busy and on the go, I recognize that having this time is here for a reason, and it would be such a waste for me to not take advantage of it. One thing I notice, as people we tend to run towards what we know and what's familiar to us. Every day my social media is flooded with live streams. We want so badly to not be forgotten, we want to stay relevant, so we do what we know. But the question I have is, are we doing what we can to bring the most value, not only to our fans, but ourselves as well?

I really want to encourage you, and tell you that you are more valuable than your music. What I mean is, music is such a saturated industry. How do you separate yourself from the rest? Now is the time. You can learn new skills, learn more about your fans, how to communicate with them, learn what they want, focus on building relationships, go and tweak your business plan, or write a business plan, etc. Overall, this is a time where you can create more value for yourself and for your fans.

I would love to hear your thoughts on how you've spent your time during this time of uncertainty.

New projects, new business strategies, or anything that you've added or stopped to advance your music success. Let's start the conversation.