Music Shop Talk: A 52 Week Plan to Make 2017 the Year That Matters

 

By Cari Cole

 

goals

 

The toughest part of being a musician is staying faithful. To carve away the hours for vocal practice, shedding your scales, songwriting, rehearsal, recording. The enormous outlay of cash for your singles, your EP or album. The hard times when life pulls you in the other direction and everything gets put on hold. Whether it’s taking care of family, having to work for a living because music isn’t bringing home the bacon (or you have to pay-to-play), or one is suffering from depression or the blues from the seeming insurmountable music mountain to climb — doing music for a living is not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough job.

While difficult, it’s important to know that. It’s not easy for anyone. I see countless artists every week pushing boulders up a hill to keep their art alive. But – they’re doing it. Because of one thing. Their faith – that one day they will arrive. That the music inside of them will reach their people. And that is what fires them up to do put up with the difficult path to become the artist of their life. But they also go to the well to renew their faith — regularly.

How? By banding together with other musicians with the same struggles. Nothing is more important than your group of musician homies to build your strength. Also, getting inspired your heroes. Everyone starts from zero in this business, your heroes included. It’s inspiring to see people win in music. It is evidence that it can be done. And, faith is renewed by digging in your heels with even more resolve than ever to do it – to become the artist of your life.

I was just telling a student a story of when I was in junior high and didn’t get the lead in the school play. I was devastated. Completely and utterly destroyed. I had to play a Fagin’s boy when I should have been “Nancy”? (Oliver.) My dreams were completely dashed right there. Decades later I ran into the girl who did get the part, who became a woman with a family and a singer in a cover band. Meanwhile, I had become an award winning singer-songwriter with a record deal and a successful vocal studio. I guess the sting of losing was the fire that propelled me to prove my worth. As a vocal coach, I’ve seen it time and time again. The person who is the least likely, surprises you the most.

If, they have the work ethic. It all comes down to doing-the-work. That’s how you come up with something worthy, something that represents what you hear in your head. Those critical hours spent bridging the gap between your taste and skill.

 

luciano-pavarotti

 

And the very best thing to strengthen and renew your faith, is a plan.

Because to get from here to there is going to require one.

But sometimes a plan in music seems daunting. What are the absolute essentials one has to do. What’s the order of things? How do you get from where you are to where you long to be? To help give a visual to it, I created this one sheet that show the steps in music — as a sort of map or path — of the steps involved in going from aspiring artist to record deal. It also includes the basic tasks and key players along the way. It helps to see it. Everyone who is creating something needs a model to follow. A basic plan. Especially in music, because the music business is such a mysterious, closed door business. And because everyone’s path in it is different. But there are similarities. They all had to climb these steps.

 

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That, along with a plan will get you there. Alongside the Steps to Stardom Blueprint, I created a 52 Week Artist Development Plan. A plan that walks artists through the day to day, the practice, the tasks, the outline to stay on track to getting it done. To create, refine, perfect your musicianship, your performance, your recordings, your projects, to bring them to fruition. To the bring your artistry to the point where you are are so good you can’t be denied. Boom.

That’s what your heroes did. John Mayer and Alicia Keys spent 6 hours per day playing their instruments to become fluid at them. Endless hours practicing and perfecting their voices, songs and artistry. This is how it’s done.

 

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You want to be great? Shed those scales. You can do it. Make a plan, put it in your calendar. Live by it. The music in you is never going to go away. So you might as well go about the process of doing it well — now. No matter what is happening in your life, no matter what your age or lifestyle. Just do it. Challenge yourself to become the artist of your life. It’s your life right? Not someone else’s. Do what pleases you, what makes you proud of yourself. Fan those fires of creativity and be better than you thought you could be.

 

cari-cole-voice

 

And musicians need community. They need each other to be inspired. It helps. If you’re the type or person that need an exercise class to meet your exercise goals (I know I am), you might want join a class of musicians to help you meet your music goals. It helps – ALOT. Why do it alone, when you can do it together? Take a moment and check out our 6 week artist development program. It comes with the 52 Week Artist Development Plan I’m talking about above. We’ll walk you through the Steps to Stardom Blueprint plus give you a real live 52 week plan that will make 2017 a year that made an impact in your music career. And you get that group accountability and camaraderie – a true spirit of friendship and a musician community. Thousands of artists have upleveled their careers from it, and come back every year to take it again. As an Alumni, you get VIP Lifetime Access to the program every year – for free. Yep, real lifetime community support. Click here for more information.

 

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Hi, I’m Cari Cole.

You’ve got talent, but you want to become great at it. You’re in the right place! My mission is to help you refine your unique artist vision to bring to the world.

About Cari Cole

Cari Cole is the CEO / Founder of caricole.com and CCVM: Label Without Walls. She is a Holistic Vocal Coach, Artist Development Expert, A&R Director, and Songwriter based in New York City helping artists for the past 38 years. She is a mentor for Women in Music and The Association of Independent Music Publishers.

Her latest venture, CCVM a label services company, provides artists with a seamless path from creation to completion. After 30+ years of observing the overwhelm and challenges that artists face, Cari pulled together the best top creative professionals and designed a new approach to supporting our artists.

Disclaimer:
The information provided on Cari Cole's website is informational only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on Cari Cole's website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

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