Here’s the latest roundup of my favourite goodies from the world wide web. Hand-picked to enlighten, educate or amuse creative entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes.
Like what you see? Let me know! Want to see something else? I’d welcome your feedback.
1. Getting your music out into the world
Musicians, what does it mean to ‘release a single?’ Here’s a refreshingly unvarnished view from a U.S. Perspective. Writers, is this any different to the path of releasing a book?
2. Never run out of things to say
Are you a blogger? (if you’re not, you should be). A frequent problem is running out of things to say. It’s easy to sit down to write a post and find your brain as dry as the Sahara Desert. Here’s a great piece, pitched at article writers, but equally valid for bloggers, on how to find an endless supply of great things to write about. Follow these guidelines and never be stumped again.
3. Coming up with juicy incentives for crowd-funding
Crowd funding is a classic win-win scenario connecting creative entrepreneurs with supporters. From my limited experience, the way to make it work is to offer fantastic, juicy, rewards that people want above and beyond funding your project. It’s the ‘swag bag’ concept. Every PR agent knows if you want people at your event, and want them to rave about you, you gotta throw them a good ‘swag bag’ at the end full of free stuff. Likewise with crowd funding. The best most successful campaigns offer the best, most creative incentives. Here’s some ideas.
4. To share is to teach. To teach is to share.
I urge every creative person to think about some form of teaching in their portfolio of jobs. First off, it’s a great gift to share your skills. Second, it helps bring in an income. Third, you never really understand something until you teach it to someone else – it clarifies your thinking around your art form. Fourth, there are few rewards as great as seeing the spark of recognition in someone else’s eyes when they first ‘get it.’ It thrills you to the core to see you’ve lit the fire of art making in someone else. Creative Academic Magazine is a new launched free magazine about ‘creative teaching and other creative learning development strategies.’ Check it out and see if it ignites some new ideas for you.
5. What do great actors have to say about their craft?
Excellent summary of over 50 hours of Inside the Actors Studio. Lots of great lessons for actors (and really applicable to any art form).
6. Speedy (healthy) ways to feed your body while you feed your soul
I love my slow cooker (or crock pot for my American friends). I call it my ‘wife.’ It has dinner ready for me when I get home and for that I do a little dance of joy every time. Now crockpot recipes usually feel like winter – hearty stews and stuff – but here’s a good collection of lighter spring recipes you can have cooked and ready to eat at the end of a busy day. Maybe leaving you time to go for a run? Go on, you’ll feel so much better afterwards.
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Have a great week!
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