I've been looking ahead to page 35 in the creating a 15 second pitch chapter in Ariel's Music Success in Nine Weeks.
This is what I've come up with so far:
My name is Johnny Only and I do Children's music similar in style to The Wiggles meeting Seasame Street. To my child fans, I like to be known as The Best Playdate Ever!
My mission is the help parents and kids celebrate the music of childhood together through fun and healthy lyrics. I ask them to help spread the word by singing along.
My unique selling point is that I incorporate juggling, puppets, ventriloquism, balloons, bubbles, and most importantly, choreography that is easy for the children to follow and join.
www.johnnyonly.com
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Music Success in Nine Weeks w Ariel day five
Day five of my Music Success Nine Weeks with Ariel:
With the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, I’ve been spending plenty of time working on family goals instead of music goals.
I did have an interesting dream though. I was vividly dreaming that I was 29 years old. I woke up from that dream suddenly realizing that I am 47 years old. It felt so real that it seemed like I aged 18 years in that one waking moment. I am not young anymore and live music performance success is usually associated with young adults.
Who am I to think I can make it in this business now? Worse yet, all of my adult life I’ve wanted to make it as a musical performer. I’ve been trying for 27 years now. It could be argued that I’ve had 27 years of failure with this goal. What am I doing? What am I thinking?
I’m thinking that I’d rather die a failure than die knowing I gave up.
I’m thinking it could be argued that I have 27 years of experience learning how NOT to do it. That’s gotta count for something!
I’m also thinking that the internet and the knowledge that Ariel imparts regarding how it can be used to promote and unknown indie represents a level of opportunity never before available to me.
Lastly, I’ve only been in children’s music for about four years. So, I am trying a new genre with a new fan base for which I appear to be far better suited.
In closing, the lesson of my dream is still the same: I don’t have as much time left as I did when I was 29 years old. If I want to get results, I need to get going!
With the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, I’ve been spending plenty of time working on family goals instead of music goals.
I did have an interesting dream though. I was vividly dreaming that I was 29 years old. I woke up from that dream suddenly realizing that I am 47 years old. It felt so real that it seemed like I aged 18 years in that one waking moment. I am not young anymore and live music performance success is usually associated with young adults.
Who am I to think I can make it in this business now? Worse yet, all of my adult life I’ve wanted to make it as a musical performer. I’ve been trying for 27 years now. It could be argued that I’ve had 27 years of failure with this goal. What am I doing? What am I thinking?
I’m thinking that I’d rather die a failure than die knowing I gave up.
I’m thinking it could be argued that I have 27 years of experience learning how NOT to do it. That’s gotta count for something!
I’m also thinking that the internet and the knowledge that Ariel imparts regarding how it can be used to promote and unknown indie represents a level of opportunity never before available to me.
Lastly, I’ve only been in children’s music for about four years. So, I am trying a new genre with a new fan base for which I appear to be far better suited.
In closing, the lesson of my dream is still the same: I don’t have as much time left as I did when I was 29 years old. If I want to get results, I need to get going!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Day four of Music Success in Nine Weeks with Ariel
On page 30 of music success in nine weeks, Ariel asks us to write our lifetime goals and intentions:
I am changing the assignment into writing my lifetime values. In otherwords, In my life, I want to live the values below and writing them down will help me to do that. She was asking for dates for achievement, I am saying that my date to achieve them is today - but I will have to re-achieve them everyday. In other words, I want to live the attitudes below everyday starting today. But everyday I must struggle to remember and re-achieve each one.
Some of my lifetime values:
To be constantly thankful that through my music -I have a mission, a calling, a purpose and a passion to be there for my fans and to make a positive difference in their lives.
To help my fans to have fun, socialize, grow, and most of all, to feel loved.
To value the climb more than the Citadel.
To understand that working with others through communication, delegation, and synergy is critical to any success greater than self.
To understand the value of working on my life and not just being my life. When I am too busy being my life to work on my life, I must remember that I am more than just my life.
To understand that big goals need to be broken down into realistic steps.
To understand that self motivation needs slogons and charts just like effective advertising campaigns.
To understand that behind many of the things I fear the most are the treasures of greatest reward. To remember how much I have to gain and how little I have to lose.
To provide leadership, protection and nurturing to my own family.
To guard personal production capapbility through building healthy habits, recognizing/exchanging lose-win behavior for win-win behavior, as well as maintaining a healthy and peaceful environment for myself.
To structure my life such that I am in a position to enjoy nature.
To constantly work on an abundance mentality and a cheerful demeanor.
To understand the importance of and to strive for daily physical/mental exercises of stretching, breath control and juggling.
In closing, Today is Thanksgiving Day. One of the things I am Thankful for is Ariel's work, her book, Music Success in Nine Weeks and for her website where musicians can get together is learn from each other for the betterment of us all.
I am changing the assignment into writing my lifetime values. In otherwords, In my life, I want to live the values below and writing them down will help me to do that. She was asking for dates for achievement, I am saying that my date to achieve them is today - but I will have to re-achieve them everyday. In other words, I want to live the attitudes below everyday starting today. But everyday I must struggle to remember and re-achieve each one.
Some of my lifetime values:
To be constantly thankful that through my music -I have a mission, a calling, a purpose and a passion to be there for my fans and to make a positive difference in their lives.
To help my fans to have fun, socialize, grow, and most of all, to feel loved.
To value the climb more than the Citadel.
To understand that working with others through communication, delegation, and synergy is critical to any success greater than self.
To understand the value of working on my life and not just being my life. When I am too busy being my life to work on my life, I must remember that I am more than just my life.
To understand that big goals need to be broken down into realistic steps.
To understand that self motivation needs slogons and charts just like effective advertising campaigns.
To understand that behind many of the things I fear the most are the treasures of greatest reward. To remember how much I have to gain and how little I have to lose.
To provide leadership, protection and nurturing to my own family.
To guard personal production capapbility through building healthy habits, recognizing/exchanging lose-win behavior for win-win behavior, as well as maintaining a healthy and peaceful environment for myself.
To structure my life such that I am in a position to enjoy nature.
To constantly work on an abundance mentality and a cheerful demeanor.
To understand the importance of and to strive for daily physical/mental exercises of stretching, breath control and juggling.
In closing, Today is Thanksgiving Day. One of the things I am Thankful for is Ariel's work, her book, Music Success in Nine Weeks and for her website where musicians can get together is learn from each other for the betterment of us all.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Day three of music success in nine weeks
Ariel is asking me to make money goals on page 24. This is difficult for me. It is only recently that I felt I had a chance to make live music entertainment more than a hobby. Since it has always been a hobby, I've usually lost money doing it (after you add up all the time and expenses)and I've been happy to do it. Hey, I was doing what I love to do most in all of the world! Who am I to think I should get paid for it?
Clearly, Ariel's chapter one is supposed to help me adjust my attitude. I am worried how I can make my money goals realistic - again, simply because I've never made money before.
But, here we go:
It is December 31st, 2010, I am adding up my income streams.
$2500 from elementary school shows.
$1000 from pre-school shows.
$5000 from CD sales
$15000 from private parties
$5000 from Highland Park
Total income this year $18500
OUCH!! I hope I don't have to buy too many guitar strings!
I need about $50,000 in income... looks like I'm $31,500 short!
Ariel, if your goal was to get me to think about this stuff, it worked. So, now I'm scared!!! I mean, it is one thing to have a dream of making it in the music business, but cash flow is a very real and undreamlike thing, -and this exercise brings home how difficult it is to turn your dream into reality.
I guess I need to go eat Turkey for Thanksgiving and think about all of this -especially how I'm going to book all of those gigs!
Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Johnny Only
Clearly, Ariel's chapter one is supposed to help me adjust my attitude. I am worried how I can make my money goals realistic - again, simply because I've never made money before.
But, here we go:
It is December 31st, 2010, I am adding up my income streams.
$2500 from elementary school shows.
$1000 from pre-school shows.
$5000 from CD sales
$15000 from private parties
$5000 from Highland Park
Total income this year $18500
OUCH!! I hope I don't have to buy too many guitar strings!
I need about $50,000 in income... looks like I'm $31,500 short!
Ariel, if your goal was to get me to think about this stuff, it worked. So, now I'm scared!!! I mean, it is one thing to have a dream of making it in the music business, but cash flow is a very real and undreamlike thing, -and this exercise brings home how difficult it is to turn your dream into reality.
I guess I need to go eat Turkey for Thanksgiving and think about all of this -especially how I'm going to book all of those gigs!
Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Johnny Only
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Day Two of music success in nine weeks
I've started Ariel's advice of writing down no more than six target tasks per day. I've also been working hard on writing down five successes each day.
-Since I've been working on these every day and keeping track of them in my notebook, I won't write them here. I think I will put my goal lists here.
Ariel recommended getting an intern. I'm thinking seriously of this and I'm considering using my email list to start my search. I like her suggestion of entertainmentcareers.net, but I'm going to save that til after I try my email list.
Goals:
Music goals for the next 12 months:
One Month:
It is Jan 1st, 2010, my video dates at Highland Park are scheduled. My videographers are scheduled with equipment. A budget and time frame for post production is finalized.
I have remixed my Highland Park CD and I've submitted my Together with me CD to CD Baby.
Three Months:
It is March 1st, 2010, and I'm on my last week of Ariel's book. Having done everything she's recommended, I'm getting increased numbers of hits online. My YouTube channel with The Grow Show is doing well as is continued filming and production. I've revamped my website as per Ariel's suggestions and I've set aside time daily for writing music and prose.
Six Months:
It is July 1st, 2010, I have enough high quality videos to release my first DVD. I've finished several children's stories with illustrations and accompanying song. I've developed several new custom printed merchandise products to sell.
Twelve Months:
It is December 1st 2010, I have just finished my fourth CD and have several new merchandise products for Christmas sales. Children's stories with songs are selling well. Online sales are growing steadily.
Music Goals for my lifetime:
It is Jan 1st, 2020. I am celebrating my tenth year as a full time children's entertainer. I still do local elementary school and pre-school events, but the bulk of my income is from online sales and from time to time I do major tours. My Youtube channel is getting a thousand hits per day and I have posted new content weekly for the last nine years.
Not bad for day two. We'll set some more goals tomorrow.
-Since I've been working on these every day and keeping track of them in my notebook, I won't write them here. I think I will put my goal lists here.
Ariel recommended getting an intern. I'm thinking seriously of this and I'm considering using my email list to start my search. I like her suggestion of entertainmentcareers.net, but I'm going to save that til after I try my email list.
Goals:
Music goals for the next 12 months:
One Month:
It is Jan 1st, 2010, my video dates at Highland Park are scheduled. My videographers are scheduled with equipment. A budget and time frame for post production is finalized.
I have remixed my Highland Park CD and I've submitted my Together with me CD to CD Baby.
Three Months:
It is March 1st, 2010, and I'm on my last week of Ariel's book. Having done everything she's recommended, I'm getting increased numbers of hits online. My YouTube channel with The Grow Show is doing well as is continued filming and production. I've revamped my website as per Ariel's suggestions and I've set aside time daily for writing music and prose.
Six Months:
It is July 1st, 2010, I have enough high quality videos to release my first DVD. I've finished several children's stories with illustrations and accompanying song. I've developed several new custom printed merchandise products to sell.
Twelve Months:
It is December 1st 2010, I have just finished my fourth CD and have several new merchandise products for Christmas sales. Children's stories with songs are selling well. Online sales are growing steadily.
Music Goals for my lifetime:
It is Jan 1st, 2020. I am celebrating my tenth year as a full time children's entertainer. I still do local elementary school and pre-school events, but the bulk of my income is from online sales and from time to time I do major tours. My Youtube channel is getting a thousand hits per day and I have posted new content weekly for the last nine years.
Not bad for day two. We'll set some more goals tomorrow.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Day One of Music Success in Nine Weeks
Ariel starts out her book by encouraging the right state of mind with some good old fashioned goal setting. It felt good and I'll document some of my goals tomorrow.
I am particularly excited about Ariel's suggestion to limit our number of daily goals to six. I'm even more optimistic about her suggestion of writing down five daily victories in order to help us get into the winning habit.
In the meantime, Ariel suggested a notebook to write in. I've done that with a three ring binder. This will allow me to add and remove pages when needed. I'm also going to use dividers which will correspond with the chapters of Ariel's book.
Also, since I know that I frequently give up on endeavors like this one, I've found an accountability partner to work with me. He is a performer as well, and we've agreed to meet once a week to keep each other on track as well as to brain-storm how to most effectively use Ariel's principles for our own particular products.
One more very intrigueing suggestion from Ariel was to consider an intern to help with the busy work. Since I've always worked alone, this would be a radical step for me, but, I'd never have even considered it without Ariel's prodding.
Overall, a very good first day, and tomorrow, I'll post some goals!
I am particularly excited about Ariel's suggestion to limit our number of daily goals to six. I'm even more optimistic about her suggestion of writing down five daily victories in order to help us get into the winning habit.
In the meantime, Ariel suggested a notebook to write in. I've done that with a three ring binder. This will allow me to add and remove pages when needed. I'm also going to use dividers which will correspond with the chapters of Ariel's book.
Also, since I know that I frequently give up on endeavors like this one, I've found an accountability partner to work with me. He is a performer as well, and we've agreed to meet once a week to keep each other on track as well as to brain-storm how to most effectively use Ariel's principles for our own particular products.
One more very intrigueing suggestion from Ariel was to consider an intern to help with the busy work. Since I've always worked alone, this would be a radical step for me, but, I'd never have even considered it without Ariel's prodding.
Overall, a very good first day, and tomorrow, I'll post some goals!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
My nine weeks begin tomorrow.
So it begins...
I purchased and received my copy of Ariel's Music Success in Nine Weeks a few days ago. I will begin to follow the steps in the book tomorrow morning. I will record my efforts, failures and victories in this blog. Starting tomorrow, I will attempt to follow Ariel's recommendations as best I can, and you can follow along in this blog.
I've been talkin it for years, now let's see -if I can walk it for nine weeks.
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