“4 Ways You Can Make Your Own Happiness In Life Using Music” plus 1 more

4 Ways You Can Make Your Own Happiness In Life Using Music

Posted: 09 Oct 2018 05:30 AM PDT

How have you been feeling lately? If you’ve been a little lost, lonely, or sad, you’re not alone. Everybody goes through rough patches in life. And if you’re currently in the middle of one, you’re probably wondering how you can get back to your happy place.

 

Sometimes, getting your happiness back requires a change in the way you think. Happiness isn’t a prize you can win and keep for the rest of your life. Rather, it’s a mindset - and staying in that mindset takes constant effort. This is good news, because it means happiness is something you can work for and earn, rather than something that’s just bestowed on you or taken away at random.

 

With some determination, you can work your way into a happy mindset, even if you’re starting from a low place. Music is one of the greatest tools for this. First things first, though: if you’re having serious trouble coping with your feelings, call your doctor or make an appointment with a therapist right away. Often, seeking professional help is the best first step you can take towards getting your mojo back. Here are four more ways you can start to make your own happiness and meaning in life.

 

1. Try something new every day

When you first become a musician, everything is new, fun, and exciting. But as you get older and more experienced, it becomes easier to fall into a rut, and this can eat away at your happiness. You might wonder what there is to feel joyful about when you feel like music doesn’t give you the same satisfaction it used to.

 

If this sounds familiar, the best cure is to get out into the world of music and try something completely new to you. Life doesn’t truly become boring - many people just stop experiencing new things over time. There are so many ways to explore music, whether it be a new style on the instrument you are used to or trying a new instrument altogether. Branch out and research different artists that you aren’t familiar with, get an idea of what they do and how they do it, and give it a try.

 

2. Play music with people you care about

You can’t rely on other people to make you happy, of course. But there’s no denying that humans are innately social, and we all need fulfilling relationships to feel truly happy. If loneliness has been bothering you lately, take your social life into your own hands. Try reaching out to old friends - they’ll probably be glad to hear from you. Or arrange a get-together with some family members you haven’t visited lately. Use your music talents and interests to bring people together and enjoy a good time.

 

Making new friends is also a great way to renew your happiness. Look for clubs, volunteer opportunities, or music classes in your area that interest you. You’re never too old or too young to make new friends. Music is a great way to bring strangers together on common ground, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

 

3. Explore your faith or spirituality.

Many people get a profound sense of happiness and peace from feeling connected to the world around them. If you are religious, exploring or deepening your faith can be a wonderful way to find new meaning in life. There are many artists who create faith driven music. Whether you pertain to a particular religion or set of beliefs, there will always be music associated with it. If you don’t have beliefs or have not been interested in exploring your spirituality, I would encourage you to start exploring.

 

4. Make a conscious decision to focus on the positive

If you always focus on the negative in life, it can suck the happiness right out of you. Make a commitment to seeing the positive instead. Focus your music on hope and positivity. Stop worrying about things you can’t change, and focus on the good side of your situation instead. Remind yourself that emotions like envy and anger only hurt you. Build a habit of being generous and optimistic, no matter what life throws at you. Use music as a release of negative energy and a source of positive energy.

 

The Takeaway

Happiness is within your grasp - if you’re willing to work for it. A few new habits and mindset shifts can do wonders for your overall state of mind. Start using these tips in your life, and pretty soon you’ll find that you feel happier and more fulfilled in your music than ever.


 

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Running A Band From A Project Management Perspective

Posted: 09 Oct 2018 05:18 AM PDT

I know you’re like, “Why on Earth would anyone use a project management perspective to run a band?” Either that or you’re like, “Yes! Project management in a band is absolutely essential!” Whether you’re a naysayer or a believer, this post is for you. 
Project management can seem like it’s just business — all work and no play, while music is definitely about play. If you’re not having fun in a band, why do it? But I would like to submit to you that taking a project management perspective in a band can be fun. Plus, there’s the added bonus of actually getting things done.
Through the internet, you can DIY your entire band operation, in which case there’s no annoying oversite from anyone. However, there’s a major risk. If you’re going to take the reins and do what must be done, there could be some tension due to band politics. Internal tension, drama, politics, and money issues are the primary reasons bands break up. 
That’s exactly why I’m writing this post. Below, you’ll find out how to avoid the pitfalls of managing a band like it’s a business; start here, and you’ll be able to move ahead with creating great material, playing great shows, and linking up with the best people in the music industry.   

DO NOT Micromanage This Project

 
Your band is a project and you’re ready to manage it. Think first about how to do this without micromanaging. Micromanagement leads to project failure because there’s no flexibility, people end up quitting the band, and you wear out quickly. That, and you come across as a jerk. 
Instead of delineating all tasks and bugging your bandmates about them constantly, establish roles through open communication. Set up a meeting and talk with them about what everyone wants to achieve. Then, figure who is best at what.
 
There’s almost always a more social, communicative person in the band. Who wants to talk with booking agents, promoters and venues about shows? When it comes to merch and art, who can talk to visual artists, photographers, and designers?
  
There’s the tech person. Does anyone in the band have access to recording equipment, and if so, who can do a DIY recording?
 
There’s the songwriter. Can your band aim to nail a certain number of new songs per month? 
 
There’s the internet-savvy person who is constantly checking their Instagram. Can this person spend a certain amount of time each week establishing and maintaining your band’s online persona? Can they go further and do some marketing?
You get the drift. Many times members will be taking on multiple roles. The key is to establish roles by asking questions, then set measurable, realistic, time-bound goals.

DO Use Tech to Rock Your Objectives 

Project managers are those special souls who are good at figuring out all the right tools a band needs, how to use them, and how best to use them to help everyone correspond. You’ve sat down with the group, you’ve decided on roles, and you’ve established immediate goals. Now it’s time to agree on tasks and use the right tools.
Project management software is a good solution if you’re going to be charging ahead with a lot of tasks all at the same time — and you should be. PM software is command central, it’s a place for organization and completion. I understand if this is a little too business-like for you, but at the same time, PM software is a good way to be very official about completing essential tasks. You just create the task, set a due date, and everyone collaborates on getting things done. 
Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of tools that allow you to DIY on all sorts of stuff your band needs. You can edit video, create a website, edit images and photos, and create flyers. Since it’s on the cloud, it’s easy for everyone in the band to collaborate and create.
As far as booking gigs goes, that is a multi-headed beast. When it comes to outreach, your best bet is email and Facebook. These are essential tools and I wouldn’t waste your time with email outreach software — each email and message must be personable and personalized. Be polite and passionate, and make sure people understand you’re a human being representing a band that has its act together.
There are multiple free apps you can use, and among these, Instagress and TubeBuddy are great time savers. Instagress automates your Instagram marketing while TubeBuddy helps you setup your videos for YouTube. BandsinTown is cool because it helps you market your shows and saves you a lot of time in that respect. BigCartel allows you to sell all merch easily online. 
Then there’s music publishing, which can include Kobalt, Songtrust, or TuneCore. Before you hook into any of these services, be aware that you’re paying them to do work your band could do on its own. The reason why you might want to go for it is digital publishing, rights retention, YouTube management, and all the rest take a lot of time and you have to navigate legalities. These services act in place of traditional record labels so you can manage the band, create music, and make money without worrying about boring technicalities.

Project Management Equals Strategy and Execution     

In the age of DIY music, managing your band professionally is an absolute must. Follow the formula of figuring out each bandmate’s role, your band’s goals/timeline, tasks to accomplish goals, and tech to accomplish tasks.
Eventually someone else will do this for you, but only if you do it well in the first place. When no one manages the band, the band doesn’t make any headway, and a professional manager will not be interested in working with you because you’re not big enough yet. Manage your band well, and a pro manager will view your music as an opportunity they can’t pass up.  

 

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