Read time: ~ please read or skim this—it's wildly important!!!
[Issue #20240425]
[Today's newsletter is super important as I have a lot of things to tell you about the brand. I'd appreciate it if you read to the end!]
Reader, HI!!
It's been a while, eh?
Have you even noticed?
(It's okay if not...)
Truth be told, there's not much of an excuse.
I simply didn't...feel like it.
For weeks.
I dreaded writing this newsletter.
But here's why:
I'm changing my approach.
By that, I mean I'm slowly pivoting my personal brand.
Here's the thing, Reader:
I started this newsletter/brand to become an authoritative voice on creativity and to help others.
(which I still want to do, btw)
BUT...
After a couple of months of attending a "personal branding" summit, I realized how important it is to niche down.
And make money.
I've been thinking about how I've tackled this brand and the changes I know I must make these past weeks, and sitting down to write this didn't feel right.
Especially since I'm still struggling with exactly how to go about it.
But I have to tell you something.
I'd be lying if I didn't say that the main goal of the brand is that I want it to generate income and build a supportive audience that'd allow me freedom.
Freedom to do what I want...
When I want...
Freedom to pursue whatever creative project I'm working on, whether composing or writing.
Freedom to not have to request time off.
Freedom to not have to ask others to fund my creative endeavors.
So that I don't have to apply to a "call for scores" or seek grant funds...
But most importantly:
To be seen.
Every field is oversaturated, and our modern world, with the Internet (specifically social media), just makes us aware of how small we really are.
We aren't the only ones trying to do what we are trying to do.
And that's fine because the world is wide enough for us all to win.
Still, as a creative, you can't ignore social media, marketing/promoting yourself, and networking.
That's what the brand is all about.
To stand out.
To establish yourself as the one for the job.
You'll beat anyone else who thinks the art alone will guarantee their success.
Having a great online presence doesn't even guarantee your success.
You need the presence and the work to show for it to give yourself the best chance.
Am I making sense?
There are so many ways to make money and create the life you desire these days:
- There are video game streamers making six figures and more...
- There's a guy making a million to teach people how to quit porn, for Peak's sake.
- People are making a crazy amount of money acting like NPCs on TikTok for crying out loud!
- Selling feet pics on OnlyFans...
I'm not trying to do anything bizarre, but is a brand focused on composing music and showcasing what I do/can do for others such a bad thing?
And I don't punch down on people with 9-5 jobs.
It's just not the life for me.
A personal brand focused on providing value (rather than mere influence) is a great way to make money so that you have freedom.
If you take it seriously.
If you put in the work over the long haul.
If you're focused on the needle-moving actions.
And especially if you make the right brand choices.
The reality is:
"Creativity" is too general of a niche.
And it doesn't make much money. (not really)
People create brands for freedom or control and then realize they spent all their time building an audience that doesn't care about them or what they do.
They grow their brand for the sake of growth without any real goal and find themselves in the same spot as when they started.
Only this time, everyone's watching.
I don't know about you, but I'm terrified of putting a ridiculous amount of time in the wrong direction.
You'll never know for sure if what you're doing is the right thing, but to continue doing something without auditing your process and considering adjustments is a no-no.
Learn from people ahead of you.
The summit taught me I was doing things wrong.
It's not just about the money; but if you want freedom and control, you'll need it.
It's about that freedom to pursue the life you want.
People in the summit helped me to realize that I thrive at...music.
Specifically, composing music.
And my ultimate goal is to be able to do that for a living at a very high level.
I've dreaded the newsletter because I've been too scared to pivot.
And lose all of you wonderful people.
Especially since I still want to blog and talk about creativity all the time.
I'm just a little out of sorts with what exactly that'll look like now or how I would divvy up the workload.
My main focus should be appealing to people who would commission me to compose for their ensembles and film/media projects.
My audience would likely involve other composers I can help as well.
I need to pitch my services.
But I also want to avoid becoming all "sleazy salesman" like.
That's not what I want out of my brand.
I need to balance providing creative value and pitching services/products.
I hope this makes sense, Reader.
But, as I said, I don't yet know how I'll go about making changes.
But they'll happen.
Slowly.
Or maybe even fast.
If you don't want to deal with my inconsistency and continual changes, I understand.
You can unsubscribe way at the bottom if that's your wish.
Don't worry about me.
I'll be fine.
(currently crying at the thought of you all leaving me...jk...kinda)
And while I've been thinking about how to make these changes, I've occupied my time these past weeks tackling long-overdue projects:
And while I don't know all the changes I'll make to the brand and what that'll mean for this newsletter, I do know that I'll narrow my focus to:
- talking more about my process and music (on all socials)
- more videos (I'm dreading it, but things like Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, and TikTok should be my priority as a music composer rather than X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Threads. But I'll still post to everything as my ideal clients can be anywhere)
- more pitching of my composing offers (and products when I have them)
- lead generation and such (all the business terms...)
- more news about me in this newsletter
- bringing more traffic to the website when it's complete
I am excited about the website I'm building, as it'll be my hub for EVERYTHING.
I'll also have a blog section that includes not only my ramblings about creativity but also breakdowns of current commissions and my thought process behind them (to include post-commission thoughts/news/press when the piece is completed or premiered).
It's an exciting time and a scary time, but this is what's best for me.
I do hope you understand.
I'm not getting rid of the newsletter (if anything, I'm buckling down).
But I don't yet know what that'll look like.
I hope you'll bear with me as I make these adjustments to see if this can still be beneficial to you.
And I appreciate those who stick around even if you aren't my "ideal audience."
Most, if not all of you, are friends of mine anyway who subscribed to support me.
I am deeply grateful for that, Reader.
Also, I'll still talk about creativity, imagination, and big dreams as I still deeply care about these topics, which are important to everyone.
But probably less frequently...
(I haven't even blogged on Medium in a while!)
Who knows, I may even change the newsletter's name and email host (I've been considering Substack instead).
Lastly, to give you an idea:
I'd love my personal brand to eventually model composers with a great social presence, like Eunike Tanzil or Juan Dussán.
Who knows how long it'll take?
But more than anything, I just want to compose music.
For the rest of my life.
I want it to be my life.
I want to spend more time composing music and hanging out with my wife than anything else in this world.
That's the ideal, simple but LARGE life I'm after.
I want to have a brand that understands that, at its core, I'm just trying to compose music and share it with as many people in the world as I can.
We create for us in hopes that it's not just for us.
I want, no, need most of my day to go toward that.
Composing.
QUICK VERY IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT ME:
My current focus right now besides what I've already mentioned, is finishing up my long-overdue clarinet sonata, which is finally finished but in the editing/polishing stages.
I'll also be working to get it premiered/recorded in the near future.
Other news:
Besides my latest commission that I'm working on for Timothy McAllister, my previous commission, "The Spectacle" for Two Tubas and Piano (which premiered in Fukuoka, Japan in March), will be recorded on the Yamaha Tuba Duo's next album.
Whenever they get around to it...(I have no idea when lol).
It'll also have more performances.
Hopefully, I can share recordings with you sooner rather than later, but nothing's set in stone yet.
It looks like I'll also be scoring 1-4 more short films in the coming months, but nothing's set in stone.
As you know, I like to have more concrete details before announcing things, but I want to give you all something as it's been so long.
And I don't know if you remember, but a long time ago, I talked about a commission opportunity I'm hoping to get.
The update is:
I'm waiting to hear if I got it. (lol)
But if I do...just know it'll be ridiculously exciting.
My biggest one yet.
And you'll be among the first to know.
As always, despite my current projects, I'm looking forward to the next commission.
But not just "looking" for it...
Actively pursuing it.
My dream.
Not waiting for people to take notice...
But going out there and finding leads.
Pitching and networking and building relationships.
So that I can share the great news with you all and show you how you can do the same.
Whatever your dream may be.
I want to support you as well, Reader.
Even if it simply means showing you that big dreams are possible and worth it.
I want my life to be an example of that.
I hope you stick around.
Cheers for now, my friend.
My dear Imaginator :)
I'll see you next time, and hopefully that's soon.
(I'm sorry today's issue was so long, but I had to make sure I told you everything since I've been so distant lately.)
Hey, I've missed this...
TRUE SELF-CARE STARTS HERE.
P.S. My TikTok account is still new and I haven't posted anything and I guess TikTok might end up getting banned anyway BUT...if you have TikTok, I'd appreciate it if you gave me follow! If it's still kicking here in the U.S., it'll eventually be one of my main platforms with the new brand changes...and you get to see more of my face! YAY!
Let's connect on socials:
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