Natalie Gelman Blog: Tales from the subway, the road & backstage

Streetlamp Musician Radio Campaign Kickstarter is 106% Funded! Thank YOU!!

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:20:00 GMT

This "radio" I made says it best...

Couldn't have done it with out you all! We raised $5,660! Even with all of the fee's and a few pledges that didn't come through we still have over $5000 which is exactly what I needed to get this campaign off the ground.

A **very** special thanks to my "Name in Lights" pledgers: Peter Kemp and Allen Barth!! You guys are always supportive and I really appreciate your notes of encouragement always. :) Thank you!

Something, something...

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 03:50:00 GMT

Here's a few videos recorded at SOhO Music Club in Santa Barbara, CA and a surprise cover song! Enjoy!!

Something Old...

Something New...

Something Borrowed...

Something Blue...

Recycled Paper Making

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 05:50:00 GMT

I made some recycled paper the other day and lots of you have been asking about how I made it. It's really easy once you get going and fun because each piece of paper you make is a bit of a surprise but you do need a paper making machine. I use Arnold Grummer's Papermill Kit (www.arnoldgrummer.com).

First you gather up some scraps, you can even use old paper bags! I threw in some show fliers, envelopes from bills. ;)

Then rip the scraps into smaller pieces (feels good if you rip something that frustrated you and turn it into something you love!!) and blend with 2 cups of water. The longer you blend them the less bit's of paper you'll be able to see in your final piece.

You then pour the blended paper pulp into the paper making machine. It's a series of screens with a mold to guide the pulp through them placed in a tub of water. Use your fingers to shift through the pulp and distribute it evenly. I like to add dried flowers at this point to make the paper more unique and special. (Dont have the best pictures of this part because I'm always pretty occupied!)

Once you've lifted the mold and pulp out (in the photo above) the water keeps draining out and you release the velcro green straps and take your wet molded pulp on a screen over to a cookie tray.

After that you lay a screen over the pulp and gently use a sponge to soak up all the excess water, squeezing it out a few times until you dont have any extra water wringing out.

Then you peal the screen off and use whats called a couch sheet (comes in the kit) to lay over the paper where the screen was and soak up more water (not picured) and then flip the whole thing (couch sheet, new piece of paper and the bottom screen) peal that screen off from the corner gently and place another dry couch sheet where that screen was. You then press with a press block to squeeze as much water out as you can. Its actually a lot easier then I'm making this step sound ;)

You then lay your damp new sheet flat to dry. I like to lay them flat for a while and airing out easily and then place somethingheavy on them to make sure they dry nice and flat. If you forget to lay something heavy on them and they completely dry you can re-dampen the paper with water in a spray bottle (spritz both sides of new sheet til damp) and then place under some heavy books. Voila! New, awesome and 100% unique paper!

If you make some paper send me a photo! :D

Be Bold

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:30:06 GMT

I often find my cat staring at something invisible or into the other room like she sees things I don't. Sometimes I even watch her playing with imaginary bugs or mice.

Kinda like this...

Usually I'll just ignore her or realize that she is so desperate to play that she's making an imaginary toy out of thin air and then I'll play with her more. But I've been thinking a lot about fear lately and how it keeps most of us, myself definitely included, from living a life that's 100% full so I wanted to share this.

I used to let her staring or little unknown noises freak me out. I would start imagining what was outside the room or what she could see that I couldn't becoming paralyzed by the fear. When I finally would get the nerve to go check out what it was... Nothing Happened. Everytime.

The boogie man didn't come to get me, their wasn't a mouse crawling across a corner and everything was always more-or-less in its usual state of ...disarray.

So my point is, to be bold because there really isn't anything to be afraid of. You decide exactly how your life is and if you have dreams please don't let a little fear stop them. Feel the fear and do it anyway. The worst that usually happens is nothing.

Short Film Composing - The Case of Conrad Cooper

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 05:50:00 GMT

A few months ago I shared the journalistic story in Rolling Stone about the people this ecconomy has affected to the point that they are living out of their cars. Many of them were middle class, hard working people who were doing great until the recession hit. That fragile state of trying to hold on to your dignity, physical space and some hope really ressonated with me because I can relate somewhat with all the times I've roughed it out on the road and just tried to stay totally committed to my art, passion for music and the life I choose to create and live.

Well, the universe provided me with a perfect opportunity to channel how much I feel for the people touched by these hard times. I'm working on writing a song and composing the music for a short film and glimpse inside what life is like for someone like that in The Case of Conrad Cooper.

Read all about the film on the website: http://www.thecaseofconradcooper.com/

We are schedule to film in San Francisco in Spring 2013 and are currently looking for supporters and investors. Donations are tax deductable and include a download of my new song "Most The While"

Please take a look at the site and support the project if you can!

No Depression/10.0 Interview Including my worst gig story!

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 05:20:00 GMT

No Depression and 10.0 Interviews caught up with me about the new release. Read the interview “Street smart” including my worst gig story here

Official SWRFA Showcase!

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:20:00 GMT

I'm so excited to have been selected for an Official Showcase at SWRFA in Austin, TX! The show on Sat is open to the public if you're near Austin and hopefully I'll book a bunch of shows around Texas from it and start getting back out that way again. In addition to the showcase on Saturday night which is open to the public I'll will be performing in the guerrilla showcases in-room and lots of other events!

Comic Con

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:30:00 GMT

I had a great time performing at Comic Con 2011 as part of the Music Lodge! Lots of comic VIP's and dressed up fans were stopping by to listen to some music and enjoy a little down time while listening to music. My favorite moment was a couple dressed up as characters from Captain America who had just gotten engaged stopped in to listen to music.

Here's a photo of me performing each day:

Photo Credit: LMT Music Lodge / Captain America Salute during Comic Con 2011

The Long Haul...

Tue, 10 May 2011 05:45:00 GMT

I've decided that everyone should drive across country at least once in their lives. Partially because our country is breathtaking and partially because I don't want to feel so crazy for having done it 3 times now! This last long haul I did alone and have to say that with all the information, media, content and stuff we have coming at us everyday it was such a welcome break from it all.

It's fun to travel with someone too and especially if you don't have a solid agenda to see where the road takes you. Last time driving west I got to do some beautiful sightseeing along interstate 40... (Sun studios, Meteor Crater...). This time I was coming from two shows in Texas so I took 10 across the western half of the country and while I didn't get out much because I was anxious to get to Los angeles and get working on my record I did take some great photos I wanted to share with you!

My guitar flies with the pilot

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:16:34 GMT

On my flight out to Sundance I was really adamant about my guitar not going in with gate checked luggage because I had shows and things to do as soon as I landed in UT... after arguing with the woman at the gate after she wanted me to gate check my guitar and I said that I was going to just ask the stewards if it would possibly fit she came running across the tarmac to yell at me in front of a plane full of people going to Sundance which was, obviously, very embarising.

Just as she did the pilot offered to just take it off my hands and put in the cockpit with him so long as it was in fact just a guitar. Thank you reasonable people!! I borded and as usual there was actually plenty of space in a dozen over heads. What happens is when there a full flight they start making everyone gate check their luggage and then everyone gets on with nothing and there is a ton of space in the overheads for guitars or for most of that luggage...

Anyways, I was so thankfull to that pilot and to JetBlue for coming through again for me so...

An Ode to Jet Blue

Jet Blue, Jet Blue
So many sweet strums I owe to you
Thanks for putting my guitar in the cockpit

Because you never know
What could happen below
If my ax was a suitcases target

So hear is the deal
I'm making with your jet appeal
I will always try to use you to fly

If your stewards are cool
Your snacks make me drool
And you keep my guitar safe in the sky

<3 Natalie ...& my Guitar

Solution - My word for 2011

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:00:00 GMT

You probably don’t know that I’m one of the most dream oriented and goal focused people out there. I’m always coming up with extensive to do lists and goals for the next year, next month, next 5 years… rest of my life… Anyways, the past two years I’ve made my list of goals for the year as usual but I also decided not to worry about them so much and instead to choose a word that would satisfy what I was really looking for in my life. I’ve done this the past two years and it had been great to focus on that word as my goal rather than getting lost in the list.

If you want to choose a word to guide you through the year read this post by one of my favorite bloggers Christine Kane: http://christinekane.com/blog/resolution-revolution-a-better-way-to-start-your-year/

My choices in words have led to much more rewarding and productive years and looking back I’ve always gotten exactly what I asked for. My word in 2009 was Courage and that was the last year I worked a part time job and the year I made the leap to being a full time singer/songwriter and touring artist - talk about needing courage! This past year my word was Clarity and I really just wanted it to use to clear out my physical stuff (I have a fantasy of living out of a suitcase with just my guitar and smart phone) and my personal sense of purpose and goal with my music and life. Well, like I said you get what you ask for - and probably what you need. That word worked throughout the year to bring beautiful people and experiences into my life very effortlessly but it also worked to wring out all the mental thoughts and gunk that hold me back and a lot of personal family things that were very difficult.

It started out easy and I didn’t take the hint until the year came to a close and I realized that everything was so difficult because I still hadn’t learned the lesson and moved on. I’m sure it will make for quite a few chapters in my book one day but anyways, I decided then, in the last few weeks of 2010 that the only possible word for this year was Solution.

I know that might not seem like a very glamorous word to anyone but for me solution is about making/finding a decision, having focus and moving forward. It’s about living at ease in the flow of life, committing to something and taking action. I’ve been incredibly indecisive this past year - and who wouldn’t be surrounded by a mess of their life. Picture yourself cleaning out a closet. You know how it gets very messy before you can figure out what to make of it all? That was me, except it wasn’t a closet it was everything. And some of it was amazing and beautiful and I knew it was the first thing I was putting back in that closet… and some of it has been so painful I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Anyways, I’m really excited and nervous about the word I chose to guide my year and I know it’s going to be just what I need. If you’re tired of resolutions and didn’t make any this year, or you gave up on yours already it’s not to late to use the spirit of the new year (yesterday was 1.11.11 after all!!) and decide on a word to guide you.

I would love to hear what you chose and why if you want to share send me an email (Natalie [@] NatalieGelman.com) or leave a comment below.

And even if you decide to keep the word to yourself I know it will still bring lots of what you need and want into your life!
Love,
Natalie

Dream Flight

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:55:00 GMT

As lots of you know I’ve been trying to sing on every one of the dozens of flights I’ve taken this past summer/fall. I even had an All You Can Jet pass with jetBlue for all the shows I had in various parts of the country in Sept/Oct and I really thought of all airlines they would make it happen.

It turned out to be on a Delta flight about a week ago when the stars aligned as I was traveling home from Arkansas by way of Memphis (which happens to be one of my favorite cities to stop into when I’m traveling the country).

I was really tired from a conference I had been at in the Ozark mountains and rather than put up the usual fight to get my guitar in the overhead near me I just let them gate check it. Next thing I know I’m sitting in my seat thinking about just how to position myself to sleep though the whole flight when I hear: “Will the passenger with the guitar please come up to the front of the aircraft.” Jeez, I’m thinking, I didn’t even put up a fight and this is when I get in trouble, what’s going on?

Turns out the flight attendant didn’t want to let my guitar travel underneath and had made space in the closet. I’m really thankful and as I tell him that he says “But only if you’ll play for us.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say, “you all say I can and then it never happens. I’ve been trying to for a while, it’s one of my dreams to sing on a flight but you guys never let it happen. If you can make it happen I’ll be impressed.”

“Well, if you want to once we get up the air I don’t see why not.”

“Okay, as long as none of the passengers have a problem with it I’ll definitely be singing for you guys.”

At that point a few of the folks in first class who had heard the exchange between us agreed that they wanted to hear me sing. That felt better to have some people on my side.

Once we were up in the air and he came through with the beverage service I asked him if he was serious and if we could really make it happen. He said to just give him a minute to do a few more things.

I started to get ‘ready’ in my ‘greenroom’ doing some very quiet vocal warm-ups and thinking about what I wanted to perform (and putting on some lipstick). He brought over my guitar and asked me how I wanted to handle the performance. It’s always so loud in a flight and lots of you know how loud I sing but I didn’t think the acoustics of the jets would carry through to the back even from the middle so I said we should go through the announcement intercom a bit.

I went up to the front of the plane, said hello to some of the folks in first class who has encouraged me earlier and after Angel announced me and held the phone up to my guitar and voice while I sang. He had never heard me, I didn’t tell him I had any credentials so who knows what he (or anyone) expected to hear but I’m so happy they all trusted me and listened.

Here’s the awesome flight attendant who made it happen! If you have him on one of your Delta flights you’re lucky, he’s a hoot!

Enjoy the video to see the performance and some pictures that I threw in to stabilize the video turbulence.

Next up… Virgin Galactic! (If you know Branson let him know!)
-Natalie

Women's Redrock Music Festival!

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:15:00 GMT

The fabulous folks at the Womens Redrock Music Festival in Torrey, UT are hands down the most awesome crowd I’ve had the pleasure of performing for this summer. I played the festival a week or two ago (August 6th) and finally had a chance to put together this music video mash up of my time at the festival.

The day started out great and the town and park were too beautiful to take a nap I badly needed before the show (I know I’m such a hard rock star). Instead I went hiking and just made it back on time to shower and warm up (redeeming lateness rock star quality!).

About 10 minutes into my set the storm started to roll in full force. There was lightning, a little thunder but it was the winds that made me nervous. There were quite a few moments where I thought the lights, the banner, my mic stand or myself was going to blow over they were so fierce. Nothing fell down thankfully, though about a fourth of the banner ripped out of the grommets during my set and had to be taken down afterwards.

All the commotion made the show all the more incredible because the audience was just as relentless and expected a great show from me. I think it is one of the shows I’ll remember for a while because of that. :) We did capture some good footage of the show despite the crazy weather…

The other musicians were superb as well! If you are within driving distance of the festival I highly recommend heading over next year, hopefully I’ll be back too! My two new fav singer/songwriter gals are Becky Alter www.beckyalter.com and Leraine Horstmanshoff www.lerainemusic.com check them out for some very cool tunes!

Headlining the Northwoods Music Festival

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:45:00 GMT

I had an incredible time performing at the first Northwoods Music Festival in Superior, WI. I love touring in that region but it was my first time visiting the Duluth, MN/Superior, WI area. Except for Delta losing my luggage in Minneapolis for a few hours the whole weekend - which also coincided with my birthday - it was a lot of fun and I hope to be back in the area again soon!

The backdrop of the Barkers Island Pavilion was beautiful Lake Superior (the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area) and though it was a stormy looking overcast day it was still incredibly beautiful. Roger LePage from www.lepagefoto.com took some photos of me performing and at the festival...

Cross Country Tripping New York to Los Angeles

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:45:00 GMT

I’ve been in Cali for almost two weeks now but I finally have settled in and had a chance to upload the photos from my camera and whittle down my pictures of the sky/clouds/sunsets to the very best!

Besides getting a LOT more long distance driving experience I learned that EVERYONE has to start somewhere. At Sun Studios in Memphis they showed us a program for Elvis’ High School talent show… where they spelled his name wrong. I can’t even tell you how many times I name has been spelled wrong by venues. Even the Bitter End where I have been performing for years still spells my name wrong sometimes - I get excited when they don’t!

Anyways, check out the slide show and all the captions by scrolling over the picture you’re interested in. Enjoy!

Performance in the Sonicbids Office

Fri, 14 May 2010 05:20:00 GMT

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to perform for the great folks at Sonicbids at their offices in Boston, MA. I know some of you were able to catch the show across the globe and I LOVED hearing your requests and even that the show was being shown in the lounge of my favorite MA schools! But, In case you missed it or want to get a little glimpse of their office you can check out this video a quick clip of bits of two songs from the show!

I definitely hope to be doing some more live streaming as the summer goes on. I have to talk to some of my awesome tech and audio friends to make sure I can get it to sound and look great but be on the lookout for that in a month or two.

For those of you who are not familiar with Sonicbids, they are a great recourse for independent musicians to apply for opportunities in the music industry. I have performed at a few festivals, conferences, venues, won songwriting contests and more because of them - I’ll actually be at the Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival this Labor Day weekend in Sept because I found it and applied on Sonicbids a few months ago!

They are definitely worth checking out no matter what style or music you create or perform. You can also hear it from the founder Panos in this recent Huffington Post article.

Thanks for stopping by!
Natalie

Cape May Singer Songwriter Festival OR Proximity to the Poop: Pt 2

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:35:00 GMT

Innocent bystanders who found themselves in the midst of the Cape May Singer/songwriter festival this past weekend were probably happily surprised to see so much great regional and national talent come in to perform in all the venues at their hidden getaway spot. I had a really fun evening showcase at the Pilot House on Sat night where some Facebook friends who didn’t even know I would be performing there were happily surprised and stuck around for the performance and to buy me a drink. It was so nice to run into people and see people really enjoying the live show. It is great to feel that what I’m doing is expanding and has been propelled in ways I can’t even imagine! Heres two pictures from the very beginning of the festival for you. Outside of the beautiful & historic Congress Hall... & inside one of the actual bathroom stalls was an old fireplace or maybe part of a food elevator service system!!! Always be aware of your proximity. ;) Getting to the festival Friday I was on the first panel about the new Paradigm in the music business and what artists can do to make it work for them. This business is so funny because there really is no one way and almost anything you swear by doing someone else will completely disagree with. I tried to give as much hard and true advice as I could and I think a lot of the artists there walked away with some good ideas. I think when its all said and done the two things anyone can agree on as far as taking your career to the next level and having success are: 1. Think outside the box, do it differently but do something and if it works for you, keep doing it. 2. Remember the humanity in this business, as in most, your greatest resource is other people. People like working with people that are easy to work with and that they LIKE. Be helpful, treat people with respect and more than ever your relationship with your fans is golden. They want and expect more of YOU than maybe ever before. So don’t be afraid to “Let it all hang out” as Brendan from Wheatus said. Hope that helps someone and I just wanted to put it out there that I really enjoyed being on the panel, talking to other artists and hopefully helping them move forward and expand. If you have any questions or want advice please feel free to shoot me an email (Natalie [at] NatalieGelman [dot] com). Also, if I’m in your area I would love to meet you and help you decide what you should do next for your solo career or band. Sort of like a music career consultant but instead of charging all I’m asking is that you buy me lunch. I would just love to share what I know so I can help you and maybe you’ll end up with more time to do the things that matter like make music! Hope everyone’s spring is getting colorful and great! There were lots of early spring bulbs poking through and some dapholils in bloom which wI spent some time walking down to the beach to watch the sunset at the festival with a PB&J but wasn’t thinking about how the 40 degree weather would feel much colder in the winds!! Still fun though… Talk to you all soon! Natalie

Big wheels keep on turnin', snow just keep on Fallin'

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:40:00 GMT

My winter tour is in full swing now. I just came back from a show in the mountains of North Carolina and this fun video was taken on the NC/TN border. It’s a little silly but I had a lot of fun at this “scenic outlook” and I even made a snow man and a snow dog there too!

So many shows are being added to the calendar and I couldn’t be happier. It has been a real treat to meet so many new and awesome people over the past few weeks. This tour has already taken me from my neck of the woods: NY, PA, CT, MA and VT to as far away as NC, UT and NE!!

I’ll put all the upcoming dates below and you can always find out more on the shows page too! All the college shows below are open to the public unless they have a “*” next to them so don’t be shy to come on out.

Stay tuned for more shows being added and if you see a round of dates I’ll be in your area but don’t have anything booked reach out because I would love your help setting something up! :) I’ll be doing street performing, performing at open mikes and generaly hanging out when I’m not playing set shows too so check out twitter for the very latest shenanigans.

Thanks for your support always!
-Natalie

Upcoming Shows - Winter/Spring
2/25/10 1:30 PM Flint, MI – University of Michigan - Flint

3/2/10 12:00 PM Chicago, IL - University of Illinois at Chicago
3/3/10 11:30 AM Fox Valley, WI - Fox Valley Technical College
3/5/10 9:00 PM Green Bay, WI - University of Wisconsin Green Bay
3/10/10 11:30 AM Godfrey, IL - Lewis and Clarke Community College
3/12/10 9:30 PM Urbana, IL - University of Illinois
3/17/10 8:30 PM Lebanon, IL - McKendree University
3/18/10 to 3/21/10 Austin, TX - SXSW tba / Street Performing
3/24/10 11:30 AM Newark, DE - University of Delaware
3/25/10 7:00 PM Chester, PA - Widener University
3/27/10 8:30 PM Cape May, NJ - Cape May Singer Songwriter Fest
3/29/10 12:00 PM Groton, CT - University of Connecticut Avery Point
3/30/10 12:00 PM Newark, NJ - Rutgers University Newark
3/31/10 12:00 PM Dover, DE - Wesley College
3/31/10 7:00 PM East Stroudsburg, PA - East Stroudsburg University*

4/6/10 12:00 PM Cape Cod, MA - Cape Cod Community College
4/6/10 5:00 PM Boston, MA - Sonicbids in-office performance*
4/7/10 9:00 PM Plattsburgh, NY - SUNY Plattsburgh
4/12/10 12:00 PM Crookston, MN - University of Minnesota Crookston
4/14/10 11:00 AM Fargo, ND - University of North Dakota Fargo
4/23/10 TBA Salem, OR - Willamette University

5/6/10 TBA Santa Monica, CA - BMI/Koffeehouse Showcase at Harvelle's
5/15/10 TBA Newport Beach, CA - Sons of American Legion Hall - Opening for Dave Mason
5/22/10 7:00 PM Las Cruses, NM - Las Alturas House Concert

Sundance is my "love and my drug"

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:22:47 GMT

A few weeks ago I found myself at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. I don’t often recommend that everyone I know go to some place or event (unless there is delicious food involved) but Sundance is one of those events that I think everyone should check out at least once in their lives.

It is full of so many creative people from all different disciplines and at all different levels of success. Besides their being many film makers, actors, set and costume designers there were a lot of performers there from artists and back up musicians to songwriters and film scorers.

I did have the opportunity to perform at the NY film lounge a few days. Here’s a video from that of me performing a new cover song. Its “Love is My Drug” originally by KeSha.

A huge thank you to everyone who made the NY Film lounge a really special place to retreat for some NY live music, NY cider and bagels and the opportunity to connect with other artists and creative people from NY state. They did a great job and they were volunteering the whole week long.

I even did some street performing while I was there! In 20-30 degree weather I have never felt like more of a trooper. But it was well worth it. I met some great people while I was street performing and actually has a really special moment while I sang Stevie Nicks “Landslide” looking out over the snowy mountains and all of Park City. There are a few pictures of my street performing too.

Check out my guitar up in the snow bank!

First photo by JL Cummings

The best part of the festival is by far going to see the movies! I only got to see one but it was really special to meet the directors, actors and other people involved in the making of the film and almost feel like I am a part of their creative process because there is this awesome feedback and Q&A part at the end of each screening.

I’m planning on going back to Sundance next January and I can’t wait!

xoxo
Natalie

Meatball Sundae - It's about them

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:55:00 GMT

If you’re an artist you probably have done your fair share of promoting your next show, album or newest youtube video with fliers and email blasts. That’s great, you are getting yourself out there and trying to reach someone. But, if your yelling at them (and its highly likely that you are) they will not only ignore you and feel angry about the interaction but the permission you once had to use their most precious commodity, time, is now at best framed badly (potential customers will consider you an option but be sure that you’re not the best choice) and at worst totally lost -they will unsubscribe, delete your emails and tell their friends just how awful you are.

Bands and artists do this all the time when we blast out show information to people who can’t make it with no other relevant information in the email for them (a video, news, etc). Somewhere along the line the fan opted to be on your email list but you have to realize it is not about you. It’s about them. They don’t really care about your music. They care what that music can do for them, how it relates to them, how it makes them feel and if they share your music with friends does that make their friends love them (your fan) more because they shared an exceptional product with them.

It is not about you. Not when you put out a record, not when you’re on stage, not when you write a song or write a blog.

This blog, if I’m doing this right, should be about you. It should help create a moment that takes you out of your systematic way of doing this and challenges you to grow and think differently about the world around you so you can grow. And that’s what the best records, performances and songs do.

Seth Godin’s book Meatball Sundae encompasses a lot of ideas from his other books and connected them for me. In the interest of writing a shorter blog than I did yesterday so you (like me) can get to implementing some of this stuff I’m going to bullet point what else I think is most important and how it applies to what you are doing and how you could do it better.

* In a few of his books Godin tells a story about being in a Walmart office and seeing “You can’t out Amazon, Amazon.” You can take from the greats but you will never be able to beat them at the game they created. For instance I can’t out Jewel, Jewel. I’m not even sure she could (most fans of hers are more fans of her early albums). So even when you’re putting together another album don’t try to outdo something you did before. Just make the best thing you can at that time. Maybe that means making only a video or putting out the story behind each song in the liner notes. Above all it means be authentic and be yourself.

* If you approach every interaction, from booking a show, selling your merch to fans, sending out emails and interacting with fans at shows with the question “How can I make your job/life easier?” how would that change your business.

* With email and interactions your clients and fans expect fast responses to their emails and questions or they will start to write you off. Short of outsourcing that to someone how can you get back to people faster to grow those connections.

* “Its not us and them, its us and us.” Old media used to be just a few people talking and selling to the masses. Now clients (and fans) are the media. With the use of forums, blogs, youtube and social media your fans and their opinions can be more important then a review in Rolling Stone or an appearance on Oprah or Late Night. Stop dreaming and instead ignite your network of fans by giving them the tools to promote for you. It’s far more realistic and profitable. Instead of yelling at your fans with a megaphone give it to the people who want to spread your music.

* Can you create merch or music that is new and novel? Something so different or the best that people will seek it out? Could you sign everything? What if you raised the standard of quality on everything? I personally don’t sell a CD if there is even a small crack in the jewel case and have been considering special shipping options so getting something from my store is like opening a gift. What if you wrapped your CDs and merchandise like a gift before shipping them out or if your music only appealed to a small but very connected group of people because it was all recorded and produced on an iphone. Do you feel confident enough in your product or performance to offer a money back guarantee? If not, why not? How could you change it so you did?

* “What are your self imposed (but unspoken) limits on your growth?” Did you say you couldn’t offer that guarantee? Is it because you think you’re not good enough? Could you ever be good enough if you’re limiting yourself? Maybe you limits aren’t how good you could be but realizing how good you already are a great artist and that you do deserve to be paid to perform. While giving away some stuff for free your songs are worth something. It goes back to creating moments and feelings that other artists can’t help your fans feel. “If you can’t offer something more than a commodity [CD / average performance / average love song] someone else will sell it cheaper.”

* “The web is the biggest haystack in the history of mankind and you’re just a tiny little needle.” It is useless to try to interrupt people that are disinterested. You can leverage what your doing and help people find you by creating something remarkable and then putting it out there where your fans would like to find things. Godin talks about how in the long run having more variety leads to more sales and he is talking about flavors of soda, cereal etc. but I want you to think of it as variety of connection. Some of your fans only want to be emailed but I be a lot of them would love to hear from you ever day via text messages or twitter etc.

Thanks again for reading. I hope it got some ideas moving for you. These books have been a blast to read and I’m very thankful for them being written by Seth Godin and I look forward to reading more of his book. Thanks again to Derek Sivers for choosing me as one of the artists for this project as well.

And thank you to you for reading!
If you want to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Myspace or by Email all the links are right here in this sentence. :)

Enjoy making music and sharing it with more people than ever possible.