Sometimes things come full circle.. if we’re lucky.
I’m one of the lucky ones.
My love, or I should say intense love, of music came as early as I can remember. At 4, playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” by ear on my Fisher Price rainbow xylophone with the yellow plastic leash (the leash is minuscule these days), mouthing the words to my favorite songs on the radio when I was 6 (all the while driving my mom nutz that I didn’t sing out loud!). At 8, memorizing lyrics to The Wiz and dancing to all the songs as if I was on stage, picking up the clarinet at 9, playing the piano at 12, falling in love with audio production at 13 when I first saw Daryl Hall sing Go Solo on the “Making of H2O” on MTV… the list is endless.
Even with all that evidence and obvious passion, I gave up anything music career related when I got to college. I said I was too lazy. I said I wouldn’t be able to support myself. I said I just needed to keep it a hobby. What I didn’t know was that a little part of my soul died then. And what I didn’t realize was that specifically being a MUSICIAN was NOT the career I wanted. That was my background and training, but not where my true passions were leading me. But I didn’t realize this, so my focus went elsewhere. My focus went to doing what everyone else was doing at the time: Getting a degree and go to work.
Of course my eye (and ear!) was always on music and I was always part of whatever music scene was around at the time. Dallas, Austin, Boston and now the Twin Cities. I traveled for shows (still do), I volunteered my marketing skills with my beloved local bands, I read the local music rags and spent time at record stores and recording studios. I even bought a production rig and took some classes (I still want a Grammy!). I put out a shingle as a Manager and Booking agent pre-kids, but that didn’t take off the way I liked.
I gave up again.
But, I always had a toe in the water. In my 30s, I worked for a music college in marketing and sales for their online school. I learned all I could about the ins and outs of internet marketing, analytics and how things worked on the inside; on how to BUILD a business. I was intrigued. I saw how several loves of mine could be joined.. music, marketing and social media (in its infancy at the time.. Hello, MySpace!). But did I want to work for someone else?
Having kids a few years later gave me the excuse to leave the so-called “corporate world” and focus on a family, but still, again, my life was all about music.
Now my kids are a little older. I started a non-music business a few years ago, and have been successful, but that passion and childlike ease hasn’t been present. Something was missing. Overwhelmed and frustrated, I gave up again.
As you’re reading this, it took a few many kicks in the ass, a few choice encounters and COUNTLESS conversations to lead me where I am now.
I found my way HOME and I have created it myself. It’s liberating.
I am a Social Media Consultant focusing on bands, musicians, and artists or anyone whose job” is in the fine arts field (read: orchestras, comedians, writers). As an absolute lover of music and everything about it, I want to bring my social media talents and business knowledge to people and groups who find social media overwhelming or just don’t have the time to do it. I know.. there are actually those of you that hate it. Loathe it, even. But, love it or hate it, it’s a necessity if you want your fans to find you.. and LOVE YOU.
You do yo’ thang and I’ll take care of the rest.
I can’t wait to start this journey. The excitement is not only knowing that I “found my place,” but also knowing what I have in store will get you excited, feel at ease and be ready to take on the world.
Let’s do this.
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