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It seems almost everyone is in Austin right now for SXSW...and that's a good reminder that sometimes it can be beneficial to go against the grain. When trends, movement, or industries all appear to go one in one direction, when is it right for you to do something else that can help you stand out from the masses?

If you're thinking about going on tour, you'll want to listen to this episode first.   Resources: On Merchandise: Episode 26: How to Calculate Return on Investment from Merchandise Episode 31: How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers On Touring: Episode 33: 5 Tips That Can Save Your Band's Tour Episode 36: How to Book a Band Tour, Step by Step Episode 107: How to Keep a Tour Vehicle Running Properly Episode 108: How a Tour Driving Schedule Can Save Your Life Episode 155: 5 Hacks for Filling in Gaps on Your Tour

Do ever notice how sometimes the press can't stop talking about certain artists? Have you experienced times when you felt unstoppable creatively? Or have you ever struggled to get something started? These are instances of momentum. If you want to create demand, you have to understand how to create momentum. That's when and where you should invest in your career.

Whether you are looking for band members, a team to help the business aspects of your career, or a producer, it is important to have the right process in place so that you can get the most out of the relationship. In addition, you want to save time - yours and theirs - by avoiding relationships and that simply won't work in the long run. Keep these four steps in mind: Have clear expectations and goals Answer: What does success look like? Answer: What is the return on investment for everyone involved? Sign an agreement RESOURCES: Episode #8: SMARTER Goals Episode #24: Every Musician Needs an Intraband Agreement Intraband Agreement Template

How can a business efficiency practice designed for factories be used and adapted for musicians looking to advance their career? Today, we talk about continuous improvement methodology and how those ideas can improve nearly every area of your music, from more effective rehearsals and stage performances to getting better responses to booking emails and better paying gigs. Resources: Episode 4: Don't Practice. Rehearse Instead.

There's a lot of talk about Spotify these days: whether it is creating a disservice to musicians, how it is impacting the music industry at large, and whether it is worth it to dance with them. But distribution is beside the point. Real music-preneurs know that there's a much more important conversation to be had about strategy, audiences, and building a sustainable career.

Most artists understand that storytelling is an essential skill for developing better lyrics. Some also know that it can help with writing a stronger biography as well. However, we can apply the best practices of storytelling to more than just traditional narrative - it can also impact your live show, your pitches, and how you can connect with audiences in other ways, too. Resources: Other storytelling episodes: Episode #97 – Storytelling part 1: Creating an emotional arc Episode #98 – Storytelling part 2: Lyrics Episode #99 – Storytelling part 3: Writing a better bio/press release Episode #100 – Storytelling part 4: the Live Show Episode #101 – Storytelling part 5: Social media + marketing campaigns Episode #102 – Interview: Joe Jiang

Infrastructure is important for organizations and communities to thrive. What about artist infrastructure? Today, I talk about the supports that you need so that you'll be able to leverage big moments and be prepared to execute your plans.

Negotiation is a critical skill for artists to develop a sustainable career yet so few make the time or effort to grow in this area. Today, we'll talk about how you can negotiate for a guarantee or better pay for your shows but the same tactics can be used to get better deals with sponsors, record labels, merchandise/vendors, and more. Here are some of my favorite resources for negotiation: BOOK: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Black Swan negotiation training channel ARTICLES:  Negotiation by Email for Salary How to Get More Pay (Last Stop Booking)

Today, we're discussing what you can expect from the music industry in 2022. There's no doubt that there are many changes on the horizon, but here's what you can do to prepare and make the most out of the moment.

If you’re looking for ways to grow your music career while making a real-world impact, check out our free music business conference designed with an equity-first mindset. It takes place Nov 5 + 6 and it’s all available to you for free, first of The Slants Foundation. Get your tickets now: www.cpocmusic.com

Today's episode is taken from a workshop I recently delivered through my nonprofit organization that serves Asian American artists, The Slants Foundation. It was a session specifically on creating a lasting impact - be it cultural, systemic, or industry. We also focused on bigger ideas of how to create a more sustainable arts career by re-examining how we think about relationships, tools, the maps we use, and other key areas. Resources: Watch the video webinar of this episode. Learn more about The Slants Foundation.