Timeless advice for creators
The life of a creator can feel lonely. But you are part of a long history and thriving community of creators—writers, musicians, filmmakers, artists. In these articles, I share examples, principles, and frameworks to help you become a better creator. Sign up to get these sent to your email each week.
Everything I Learned Writing Music for a National Ad Campaign
I had the opportunity to write music for RealTruck, Inc., the U.S.’s top seller of truck accessories.
The goal of the project was to create a 2-minute brand anthem that can be used across multiple campaigns (TV, web, social, etc.) and multiple years. To create the soundtrack of RealTruck’s brand.
After the project was over, I scribbled down “micro lessons.”
Bite-sized lessons of everything I want to remember for the next time I do a project like this.
Reply with a number and I’ll break it down in an essay or a comment.
The Humbug and the Nightingale: What we can learn about music promotion from P. T. Barnum
In a brand new academic article published by Musical Quarterly, I tell the story of how P. T. Barnum used strategies of branding to create the most successful music tour of the 19th century. The singer he brought to America was Jenny Lind. Lind was already a star in Europe, but was relatively unknown in America before signing a contract with Barnum.
Barnum did something unprecedented:
How to Identify Potential Mentors, for Music Professionals
There are few resources in your career more valuable than a trusted mentor. In this post I will share with you:
- What is a mentor, who needs one, and why?
- Two short quizzes (one question each) that will give you my personalized recommendations for where to look for your next potential mentor, based on your career stage and situation.