Sunday musings…

Yes, it’s a given you need talent, you need craft, you need authenticity and you need integrity.

However, you can all of that in spades, pouring over, and yet, if you don’t have consistency and accountability, your “success” as an artist in the business may be hit or miss.

You don’t have to lose your focus on your own journey, to be aware of what others might be doing. Have you wondered, looking at someone who is working consistently in some way or other, what they might be doing that you are not?

Often, it comes down to consistency and accountability.

We all need this. I am no different than you are. We can go down the social media sinkhole, and hours disappear. We can just wing it and hope the auditions are there. We can be apologetic in the room once we get there.

What is the saying? You have the same hours in the day as Beyoncé?

So what are you doing with your hours? (I have had to ask the same question for myself!!)

If the #thrilledtoannounce is making you sad, mad, frustrated; if you do an audition and get seen and when asked how it went, you shrug, and don’t follow up; then it’s time to change NOW and get accountability and develop consistency!

Look at your craft, at your material. Are you ready to own it? Have you updated your website? Are you ready to make new recordings?

Do you have a way of mapping out consistency in practice? lessons? coachings? so it gives you what you need to build craft and still is doable financially.

Are you creating spread sheets or a journal online or old school book form to have specifics on classes/seminars, meetings, auditions, follow-ups, being seen REGULARLY not once in a while, by industry people?

Baby, I don’t care how talented you are - it is out of sight, out of mind. There are simply too many people trying to get work, and if you aren’t VISiBLE you will get lost in the shuffle.

Are you daring to step away from the wall and still remain authentic to your sensibility?

Time to get your calendar in order. Time to make choices in order of importance and necessity.

I love to goal from the outside in, but you do you.

Often working in calendar quarters makes things less daunting.

What do you want to have achieved by the end of March? Now work in: how are you going to put yourself into the consistency to achieve that, or at least get as close to it as possible? What’s on the calendar already: lessons/coachings/audition possibilities/performances - what? What needs to be added? A class? A seminar?

How will you hold yourself accountable?

I have one word for you: outsource.

Having an outside voice - an accountability partner, or coach, SOMEONE who can help you see yourself from the outside that you must answer to is CRUCIAL. Even start with an audition buddy. Meet for coffee weekly, and create the map of auditions and submissions together. When you have an appointment you won’t be tempted to hit snooze, or stay on social media, or get busy doing something else.

I am starting accountability & consistency again too. It makes SUCH a huge difference in how we are present in our own lives, and our own careers. Yes, you are going to feel resistance; yes, you are going to find all kinds of excuses; yes, you are going to say “Yeah, but, Susan…” (you’ve probably already said it in your head more than once while reading this, haven’t you?)

Change isn’t always comfortable.

Change takes work.

Change takes focus.

Change takes consistency.

Change takes accountability.

You ARE the change.

If you want it, you have to go out and get it. Not half-assed, not apologetically, not kinda sorta, not faking it, not whining, but FOR REAL.

Just do it, already. You have NOTHING to lose and every new skill to win.