Foto Friday: May 6, 2011

These Friday's "fotos" revolve along the central theme of.....

DISCOVERY!!!

Why? I'll tell you why. Nope, I didn't get "discovered," if that's what you're implying. What does it mean to be discovered anyway? Having Mr. Hotshot A&R guy knock on your front door in your bathrobe and say "hey, I don't know you but I'm about to make you rich and famous?" If that's what it means to be discovered in your book keep turning the page, honey. The odds are against you being that easy. You need to start putting yourself in the mindset of the discoverer instead of the discover-ee. Discover the world, figuratively and perhaps literally. 

1. Discovering new music. 

1. Ooh what's this? 2. WOW, I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS SONG
IN A LONG TIME! 3. *attempts to sing along*
4. Nope, I'll let them do it :)

This past week I have been discovering, or re-discovering, old music. I was on the phone with my mother for an hour about music I grew up on. My post yesterday dealt with some throwbacks from my childhood. Songs that I loved listening to. Songs that my parents used to sing to me. Songs that I couldn't help dancing to. Being a product of the 80s, but a child of the 90s, most of my nostalgia comes from those decades. However I ventured past my birth to discover and/or re-discover songs from the 60s and 70s. Some from Tina Turner, Elton John, and Sam Cooke. I heard one of my favorite artists of today say that if you want to be an artist, find out your favorite artists influences, and then find their favorite influences. Now, I assume you don't have to continue the cycle back to days of Gregorian chants and beyond. However, you never know what you'll find in the nooks and crannies of music history. And whether you're a musician or not, go music scavenger hunting. You win every time. 

2. Discovering new opportunities.

Tokyo, Japan (taken from Google)

If someone dropped you in a city this big, would you know where to go without a map or any other familiarity of the city? And the sun was setting and you didn't know anyone? And most of the tourists and long-time citizens were cruel and didn't want to help you? Probably want to stay where you are now? Truth is, the music industry is a lot like this. Overwhelming and scary, yet beautiful. Before you move to this city you best need a map, correct? What if you had to create your own? Now how do you feel about going here, and staying here? More discouraged? Or maybe you're crazy like me and you feel more motivated? There are opportunities out there that will make your paths more straight. But there is no set map to success in the music industry, because every artist (believe it or not) is different and comes from different places. There are people in this city that want to help you and see you succeed. Find them. There are detours you can take to make your way. Follow them. Don't be afraid to take the scenic route though. You get the picture? 

3. Discovering new identities.

The Music Tourist is my identity on this particular blog. I am also re-emerging as a spoken-word artist. Separate from that, I am a songwriter. Then I have my personal self. All of these encompass me. It's like identifying yourself as a particular gender, race(s), religion, whatever. They all make up who you are. But there's another identity we often forget.
This first picture is of my logo. This logo is on my business cards as well as the logo that will be used on my future website. "Crafted as an "L," this logo is a small step to me as a brand. A book I recently read stated that you are more than the music, you are a business. This is true for basically every other profession. You are more than what you do, you are a business. You have to treat yourself as such because you are marketing yourself wherever you go. Whether you are representing yourself personally on a social networking site, creating and distributing business cards, dressing yourself for an interview, whatever; you are a business. Your clients are out there. So are your employers. People are watching. Brand yourself. Make it happen. 

~L~