I often have my clients journal in order to provide more opportunities for self-reflection, because the best way to improve your mindset is to pay attention to it. So often we go through life ignoring our thoughts or just letting them take up space without really thinking about why we’re thinking them.

But the truth is, when you spend a lot of time on self-reflection, journaling, paying attention to your thoughts, working on mindset… you can get sucked into a situation where you don’t actually DO anything. It can prevent you from actually TRYING and taking action.

Sometimes the best way to get inspired and improve your mindset is to interact with others, network, get conversations going, work with clients… remember my disagreement with Yoda I’ve mentioned before? There IS the option to try, and I want to talk today about making sure that you also incorporate that action into your CEO habits.

So if you’ve been spending a lot of time thinking, journaling, diving deep into mindset blocks, money blocks, reading books on manifesting, trying to figure out your purpose as an entrepreneur… whew, then this episode is for you.

Join me this week as I dive into some deep entrepreneurial thoughts with my former client Gail Gallagher, a singer-songwriter, composer, and teacher/songwriting coach. Gail and I talked about her journey building her brand, as well as her thoughts on how life purpose and knowing your impact can affect who you show up as online. If you’re looking for some inspiration or permission to show up as authentically as you can, this episode is for you.

Gail's Instagram: instagram.com/sparklebardgail

Gail's Website: gailgallaghermusic.com

Gail's album The Power of the Unnamed Passion: gailgallagher.bandcamp.com/album/power-of-the-unnamed-passion

Transition song is "Deep Thoughts" by Gail Gallagher, used with permission from the artist.

-

Join my Maximize Your Clubhouse Impact workshop:

Use coupon code BETA to get $300 off full price. Clubhouse has been an AMAZING tool for me to get leads for my business and I cannot tell you how much it has transformed my networking game!

Learn more at http://heymegan.club

This week I want to talk about a common mindset quicksand pit that many entrepreneurs find themselves falling into, including myself sometimes. It’s that feeling of “why isn’t this [fill in the blank] working for me?” That causes the quicksand to start to take you in.

Why isn’t my post getting any likes?
Why isn’t anyone booking calls with me?
What am I doing wrong?
Why does the algorithm hate me?
Why am I not getting the success I want?
Why am I still in the same place now that I was in last year?

These are all thoughts you may have had before, or maybe you’re having them now. And living in these thoughts can really start to make you sink deeper and deeper into not getting anywhere. That’s why I call it the quicksand pit of doom. If you live in these thoughts, your business is doomed. Straight. Up.

I started my first business in 2010. Over the years, my business didn’t grow but the intensity of my work did. It was like opposite lines moving on a chart. One plummeted while the other skyrocketed. And it wasn’t going the way I wanted it to.

I used to stay up late every night and work on my business. I used to take calls and record podcasts starting at 7pm after the baby went down, which was a terrible idea. I was missing out on a lot—mostly sleep, and time with my husband. And I wasn’t gaining much financial value from it at all.

Now that I don’t work in the evening anymore, I am able to do more relaxing things, like watching Bridgerton and knitting… and that’s what I want to talk about today. Knitting.

You’ve probably learned that as humans our instinct with fear is to either fight it, or run away. Fight or flight, right? But I recently learned about a third instinct, and that is to play dead.

In today's episode, I'll be sharing how each of these 3 fear responses show up for entrepreneurs, and what you can do about it.

Show notes are available at: https://www.megan-kuhar.com/notes

Hi, I'm still here! Things have been crazy and it seemed like a natural time to pause and end Season 3. I just wanted to give you a little update and let you know what is in the works over here. 

I talk a lot about being aligned online and in your work as a Creative. But today I actually want to talk about the other end of the spectrum: What it’s like to be misaligned.

In this special milestone episode, I'm sharing 10 results of misalignment: 5 ways it affects you, and 5 ways it affects your content.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/notes

Book your free mini-session: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/minisession

The reality is podcasting is just like any other business. If you get stuck on the nitty gritty things—like your microphone or your aesthetics or whether you should sound perfect and not ever say “umm”—then you’re missing out on the main point altogether. So today I am sharing 5 key points you need to know about your podcast, ideally before you start it.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/notes/what-you-really-need-to-know-about-podcasting

Book a free mini-session: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/minisession

This week I want to talk about running a business, and what it can mean for you. Imagine not having to worry about living gig to gig or project to project. As a creative, you have so many learned and inherent skills and resources that are incredibly valuable in an entrepreneurial setting. Use them to start your own career!

Plus, I'll share 3 steps you can take NOW to get started on building your dream business.

Show notes are available at: http://megan-kuhar.com/blog/why-you-should-start-an-aligned-business-as-a-creative

Today is all about being brave in self-promotion.

It’s not a simple “check” off of your To Do list to be brave. Courage is an ongoing, forever process that gets more challenging as you go through it. The more you take brave steps, the bigger the steps get that you should take. With each step, you grow and you gain wisdom. But each step forward in braveness is a step away from simplicity.

In this episode, I'm sharing three suggestions for how to practice being brave online.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/notes/to-self-promote-you-need-to-be-brave

Never stop growing. That is so important to me. And as I get deeper and deeper into entrepreneurship, I can see that that philosophy doesn’t always align with my field. In fact, “never stop growing” more accurately applies to business for entrepreneurs and not to personal development. Many are more concerned with making more powerful connections, making more sales, making more money, and equate “growing” to increasing their reach and revenue. Well, that’s not me.

That’s why in today’s episode, I’m talking about why I believe personal development is one of the most important pieces to the entrepreneurial puzzle.

Show notes are available here: http://megan-kuhar.com/notes/self-improvement-and-personal-development-makes-you-a-better-entrepreneur

Book a free mini-session: http://megan-kuhar.com/minisession

Today I want to talk about celebrating your losses. It seems counterintuitive, but it’s something I have recently started doing for myself and for my clients.

Have you ever gotten some bummer news, like a client is dropping you, or a student is changing teachers, or a proposal or audition was rejected? Sure you have.

How often have you received that news and honestly thought to yourself, “Awesome, glad to know that stage is over. Moving on to something better!”

If you have a hard time dealing with disappointment (don't we all sometimes!) then today's episode of Creative Brand Sessions is for you.

And by the way, it's the 1 year anniversary of my show! Please leave me a review & rating to let me know you've been listening. Thanks for being here!

In today’s Coaching on Air episode, I’m joined by poet and podcaster Jason Brown. Jason has a lot of wheels turning and wanted to talk about how to keep everything in focus. In his words, he said, “I have a million great ideas,” and he wanted to learn more about how to be efficient and effective with bulk scheduling, and content creation across all of his platforms.

In this episode, we talked about:

• How to split one piece of content into several social media posts
• Thinking about the “journey” your audience goes on between all of your different platforms
• Ideas for posting consistently without being boring or repetitive
• Why posting regularly on your blog is really helpful for your online presence, and how to do it efficiently

Jason's website: https://www.darkmtr.com/

You can find the rest of the links for this episode in the show notes at http://megan-kuhar.com/notes/coa-jason 

When you and your work are aligned, it becomes easier to say no to requests or opportunities that come up that don’t quite gel with your inner purpose. Saying no is, in fact, a lot easier when you know what you want to say yes to instead. But it can still be tricky to reject someone, so today I’m sharing a few tips for how to say no like the confident boss I know you are.

Show notes are available here: http://megan-kuhar.com/notes/how-to-say-no-like-a-confident-boss

Some of my most embarrassing moments as an entrepreneur include one lesson that I had to learn over and over again. Here it is:

Alignment comes from following your true purpose--not from forcing it.

My mistake has always been trying to force myself into situations that I wasn’t aligned with, contorting myself into the ideal version of a person who would thrive in that environment.

So how do you discover what makes you aligned? I'll share what I did to figure out my "alignment formula," so maybe you can too.

Show notes are available here: megan-kuhar.com/notes/discovering-what-makes-you-aligned

As an educator, I’ve taught technology related courses to people across many age groups--from senior citizens to middle schoolers. And one thing I see in common is this ongoing frustration or fear when it comes to operating with technology.

Not everyone has it. There are always students who thrive in a tech space, or at least who don’t feel intimidated by it. But it honestly hurts to see so many people struggle with tech. I don’t want people to be stressed when they are working on a computer.

That's why in today's episode, I'm sharing 3 common limiting beliefs I hear from students and entrepreneurs regarding technology. And I want to tell you why they are most likely stopping you from fulfilling your full potential, and how you can reframe them to shift your mindset.

Show notes are available here: megan-kuhar.com/notes/what-youre-saying-about-technology

If you’ve found yourself feeling like promoting your creative project is not for you, then maybe you’re actually subscribing to a few beliefs that are keeping you rooted in negativity. Today I’m sharing 4 common limiting beliefs that keep you stuck and prevent you from really showing up and serving value on your social media.

Show notes are available here: megan-kuhar.com/notes/4-limiting-beliefs-about-marketing

Hey you! Yeah, you. Why aren't you planning your content yet? Today I’m going to share a few misconceptions about planning content that are maybe the reasons why you haven't started. By the end of this episode I hope you are as excited as me about batch working your content, because I have a new tool that I just launched that will change. your. life.

And if you are planning your content, you'll still learn a ton from this episode, so go ahead and dive right in!

Show notes are available here: megan-kuhar.com/notes/planning-your-content

Grow, learn, show up. It can be difficult to find the motivation to be and do all of the things.

I find that sometimes, a lack of motivation or inspiration is really just a lack of understanding or a mental roadblock.

If you can widen your perspective a bit, you may find a renewed excitement and a new meaning in the area you were previously feeling kinda "blah" about.

In today's episode, I'm sharing 4 ways you can find the motivation and inspiration when you just aren't feeling it.

Show notes are available here: http://megan-kuhar.com/notes/how-to-find-motivation

It's Season 3, we're in our new Creative Brand Sessions territory, and we're talking about some hard stuff right off the bat: What to post on social media during a crisis when you don’t know what to say.

I'm sharing 3 types of posts that show you're listening, learning, and taking action, but that don't come from a place of shame, panic, or fear. Because it's important we don't make these moments about us. It's not about how woke we are or how ashamed we are. It's about listening and showing support. It's about taking action.

Show notes for this episode are available at megan-kuhar.com/notes

Hello and welcome to Creative Brand Sessions! My name is Megan Kuhar and it’s my belief that all artists and creatives can stay true to themselves while being totally aligned online.

That’s why my podcast is all about giving you practical advice, resources, inspiration, and how-tos to help you gain the confidence to grow your creative career in the online space… without you feeling phony, braggy, or narcissistic.

I’ll help you get more productive, motivated, and strategic in your creative business, so make sure you click subscribe and check out new episodes every Wednesday. See you soon!

It’s the last episode of Season 2! I have a big announcement to make: I'm changing my podcast name and my podcast format. I'm SO excited for this new phase and can't wait to tell you all about why I'm making the change, and how it fits into my brand journey.

I also want to talk about a question I get a lot, especially from younger artists who are just starting out: How do I stop comparing myself to other artists?

My 50% off promo for the Fan Finder Mindset ebook ends 5/29! Get yours at megan-kuhar.com/mindset and use code STAYHOME.

On today's Coaching on Air episode, I chat with Heather Batchelor, a pop/soul artist based in Nashville who is struggling to find an engagement and posting system that she can handle on Instagram. She feels the lack of consistency and frequency is stalling the growth of her account, and has tried everything from hiring a social media manager to planning her grid. I shared with Heather a few ways to plan with purpose, and how to dive into content that you can share every day without totally burning yourself out. Plus, we talk about why sharing only when there are special announcements or events going on is doing a disservice to your audience.

Links:

• Heather's Instagram: instagram.com/heatherbatchelor/

• Episode 26: Real Stories and Real Results from Indie Musicians Highland Kites

• Save 50% off the Fan Finder Mindset with code STAYHOME: megan-kuhar.com/mindset

I know it’s rough to want to collaborate and connect with people, but be stuck connecting with a screen instead.
 
I love technology and even I am getting worn out by it. I miss connecting with people face-to-face.
 
But the thing is, all this time, even before we were forced to eliminate face-to-face contact, we’ve had social media as an outlet for connection. It’s been there, underutilized, all this time.
 
So in this episode, I'm sharing 5 ways you can connect with your audience virtually as a creative entrepreneur.

Don't forget to pick up my ebook for 50% off with code STAYHOME at megan-kuhar.com/mindset!

What do you do when your number of your followers isn’t growing and it’s really bumming you out? That’s what dancer Calah Beale asked me on this episode of my Coaching on Air series.

She recently hired a videographer to create 4 dance videos for her, but now she’s frozen and hasn’t gone beyond just sharing one. “I want to gain more followers because most dancers don’t take you seriously unless you have a lot of followers,” she explained. But when it came down to it, she hadn’t shared more videos because she wasn’t sure if she was ready to grow yet.

Links:

• Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

• Calah’s Instagram

• Calah’s YouTube

• That super awesome dancer on YouTube that I totally blanked on: @donte.colley

• If you’re like Calah and you’re struggling with your mindset while you try to grow your social media following, then check out my ebook the Fan Finder Mindset. It’s perfect for you! And it’s 50% off for a limited time with code STAYHOME. That’s just $18.50! Buy it here: megan-kuhar.com/mindset

Let’s talk about NETWORKING. (Did you just get a shiver or was it just me?) So many artists cringe at the idea of networking, probably because a lot of us are introverts, but we know it’s something we need to continue to do in order to grow our careers. Katherine Forbes, a self-proclaimed “100% introvert,” has realized that confidence in networking comes with time and practice, and that the most successful networking conversations are done one-on-one—not even necessarily in person! So if you’re stuck at home like most of us are, now is the time to start networking. For real.

Links:

• Download Katherine’s Email Templates for Networking: katherineforbes.com/fanfinder
• Music Biz Besties: musicbizbesties.com

Show notes are available here: megan-kuhar.com/notes/katherine-forbes

Today I’m going to share my 5 biggest recurring mistakes. Yep, for real. This is getting deep into some Meg-psyche, but I’m not doing it in a self-degrading way—I’m going to share my five biggest recurring mistakes and how I continue to learn from them. These are basically the 5 thorns in my side that I am always trying to shake off.

The mistakes are:

1. Not expressing enough gratitude
2. Not being confident enough in myself and my choices
3. Accepting others’ judgements
4. Comparing my success with others’
5. Getting stuck in a loop and blocking myself from resolving it

If these mistakes are ones that you feel like you relate to, maybe my lessons learned will help you as well.

* SPECIAL OFFER: 50% off the Fan Finder Mindset ebook with code STAYHOME at megan-kuhar.com/mindset

Read this episode as a blog post: http://megan-kuhar.com/notes/my-5-biggest-recurring-mistakes

Cheryl B. Engelhardt is such a source of inspiration for me because her thriving career has featured composing, songwriting, coaching, speaking engagements, producing, and so much more. She is a force of awesomeness and there are a dozen things we could have talked about, but I had to keep my cool and focus on one thing at a time as best as I could. So we talked about one of the coolest things I think she’s ever done: release her latest record, Luminary.

Cheryl didn’t just stop with releasing the album, however. When she announced it and started her pre-save campaign, she launched with an immediate, trackable goal: to get on the Billboard charts in the New Age category. Cheryl worked on this goal through the most amazing grassroots efforts: engaging her fanbase, giving them action steps, and reaching out to collaborators to get the word out about her music. She shares all about this process in our conversation, and I know that if you’re looking to release music any time soon, it will inspire you to challenge yourself to think of things in a new and innovative way.

Luminary is a piano/ambient music record for mindfulness, focus, and growth, and it not only hit #1 on iTunes and Amazon New Age charts, but it is also featured on the popular meditation apps Insight Timer and Simple Habit. There are meditation videos, a soon-to-be paper journal, affirmations… She’s created a whole brand with this record, you guys. As a marketing geek, I find it totally fascinating, and I can’t wait to share our conversation with you. So let’s get into it!

Links:

• I Am A Luminary website: iamaluminary.com
• Cheryl’s website: cbemusic.com
• Cheryl’s Instagram: instagram.com/cbemusic
• Subscribe to my new YouTube channel, Creative Brand Coach: bit.ly/creativebrandcoach

This week is another Coaching on Air episode of the Fan Finder Podcast, where I coach a listener on air so everyone can learn together. I'm welcoming Nissim from the band Flowtone, who asked me about managing all of his platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook page, Facebook group) with consistency.

He wondered, "Are we essentially trying to tell the same story, different sides of the same story, or a different story altogether?" It's a great question, and we dove into to answering it, along with other questions like "Should I plan my captions ahead of time?" and "How do I manage all of this content without getting totally overwhelmed?"

Links:

• Flowtone's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Flowtone/
• Flowtone's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gowiththeflowtone/
• Flowtone's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FlowTone336

Click here to grab the Fan Finder Mindset ebook. Be sure to use coupon code PODCAST for $4 off! megan-kuhar.com/mindset

Click here to sign up for Planoly to start planning your social media content (and avoiding the overwhelming headaches!) planoly.com/referral/megankuhar

Podcast music by Stephanie Trivison.

I don’t know about you, but working from home during the COVID-19 self-isolation time has kind of killed my regular work routine. I find myself struggling to jump into meaningful work, and by the end of the day I feel frazzled and like I don’t even know what I accomplished. Not to mention we’re all constantly stressed out, right?

That’s why I am so happy to bring on my guest today, Cristina Roman. Cristina is a life coach from Pique Coaching, who specializes in deep work and productivity. If you’ve never heard of the term “deep work,” think focused, uninterrupted work. It’s about blocking out about 60 minutes of time to have one task completed, whether it’s writing a song or going through your inbox. Her method of getting into a deep work state in 15 minutes is super simple, easy to adopt, and really energizing too!

Links:

• Free 30-minute mini sessions to troubleshoot your #1 productivity or time management challenge: http://piquecoaching.co/minisession
• Guide for how to get into a deep work state in 15 minutes: http://piquecoaching.co/deepworkstate
• Cristina’s Instagram: instagram.com/piquecoaching

Need more chances to work on your limiting beliefs and turn them into empowering ones? Check out my ebook The Fan Finder Mindset, and use coupon code PODCAST for $4 off. Get it at megan-kuhar.com/mindset.

In this first episode of the new Coaching on Air series, I chatted with Marjorye Henry, who is the manager of Tampa-based band WD-HAN.

Marjorye and I talked about how her band is releasing a single each month this year, and that's causing a bit of a social media traffic jam. We discussed:

• How to share content amongst multiple platforms without overwhelming people
• How to utilize your mailing list and "warmer" audience to get better results
• How to help your audience help you

...Not to mention why I should join TikTok, which I did after recording this. (Follow me @musicbrandcoach!) What can I say, Marjorye presented a strong case.

Coaching On Air is a new series where I coach one of my listeners through their current struggles or roadblocks in branding, marketing, and social media. Have a question you want answered on air? Email me at megan@megan-kuhar.com and let's chat!

Links:

• WD-HAN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdhanband/
• WD-HAN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wdhanmusic/
• WD-HAN Website: https://www.wdhan.com/

NEW: Join my Patreon page and get weekly support during these upside-down times. Livestream Q&As, free ebooks, and more. Check out the tiers here: https://www.patreon.com/megankuhar

I've shared a lot about why I think building your brand message is the best way to get a more engaged, loyal fanbase on social media. Posting meaningful, purposeful content can create all sorts of opportunities for your music to reach the ears of future fans, and it forges a connection with your audience unlike anything else. But why take my word for it, when you can hear a first-hand account from someone who just found success with the Fan Finder Program?

Marissa, musician and songwriter for Highland Kites, shares with me on this episode about how her latest single streamed over 2,000 times in 48 hours (compared to the 100 total streams from her last song).

She spent one weekend planning 30 days of content, using the content map and brand strategies within the Fan Finder Program, and was able to promote her single to such success that it literally did 20x better than the last song she released.

I learned so much from this conversations, and I know you will too. Enjoy!

Links:

• "What Love Is" — the new single from Highland Kites (stream it, love it, share it!): https://fanlink.to/whatloveis
• Highland Kites Instagram: instagram.com/highlandkites
• Enroll in the Fan Finder Program: megan-kuhar.com/fanfinder

Lindsey Poyar is a photographer and content creator who shoots everything from wedding, portrait, commercial and lifestyle photography, and she doesn’t always stay in one place to do it. Even though I know Lindsey personally here in Cleveland, we talked on the phone back in January while she was in New York City heading out to a content photography trip in Europe.

I spoke with Lindsey because I absolutely love how much she shows up consistently on her Instagram Stories, specifically. She is always sharing the story of the day and each story is stylized for her brand so well. I wanted to share her as an example of how it’s not really that complicated to totally rock your Instagram Stories—you just need to commit to doing it.

Links:

• Lindsey’s Instagram

• Lindsey’s Website

Email megan@megan-kuhar.com to get a free coaching call on the Fan Finder Podcast!

Rebecca Hass is a pianist, composer, and wellness coach who helps burned-out creatives to reduce overwhelm and replenish their energy so they can truly enjoy success in their work and life.

In this episode, we talked about incorporating more rest into your life, using self-care to fuel your creative practice, and making small changes for big impacts. Rebecca has some fantastic suggestions for easy ways you can start the process of shifting a habit, so that you can lose the stress and burnout and stop depleting your energy.

This episode is a must for all creatives!

Links:

• Creative Wellness Club FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativewellnessclub/
• Rebecca's Newsletter signup: https://www.coachingforcreativewellness.com/subscribe

Wondering how close you are to finding your loyal fans? Take the free quiz today and find out your next steps! -> megan-kuhar.com/quiz

In today’s episode, I’m talking about 4 things that might clue you in to the fact that you, my friend, are panic-posting. What does it mean to panic-post? What can you do about it? And if you’re afraid of doing something about it because it might end up phony or fake, I have a couple of bonus tips for you to think about too.

Links:

• The Fan Finder Mindset ebook (use coupon code PODCAST for $3 off): megan-kuhar.com/mindset
• Sign up for the Fan Finder Program waiting list to make sure you don’t miss out on early bird pricing: megan-kuhar.com/fanfinder

Hayley Francis Cann, BMT, MTA, NMT, is a music therapist and author of the new children’s book, Mandy’s Mom, the Music Therapist. In this episode, we spoke about being a music therapist, author, and entrepreneur, and I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation. As Hayley describes, entrepreneurial skills are so valuable to all musicians, whether you are already in a profession or not.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/hayley-francis-cann

Order the Fan Finder Mindset ebook with exclusive coupon code PODCAST for $4 off: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/mindset

You have probably heard about planning your social media content ahead of time. While batch working and scheduling content helps with time efficiency, overwhelm, and content quality, the idea of planning your content might cause you to feel FROZEN! Where do you start? What do you say? How can you actually come up with all of those ideas at once?!?

I have a goal this year to plan all of my social media content a month in advance. But I didn’t just start by deciding I wanted to schedule things ahead of time. There are a few things you need to do before you get to scheduling your content or using planning tools. That’s what I want to talk about today. So let’s get to it!

Links:

• Free Masterclass: “How to Build a Brand Without Feeling Like a Phony”: megan-kuhar.com/masterclass
• Sign up for the Fan Finder waiting list and receive a special bonus offer! megan-kuhar.com/fanfinder

Brianna Ruelas is a Dallas Based Performing Artist Consultant, passionate about empowering independent artists on their journey and aligning them with clear business strategies for their music careers. We spoke on the podcast about 3 power plays that you can make in your music career to get better gigs, make more money, and not be in the same spot a year from now. We also talked about getting accountability partners (spoiler: we are each other’s now!), why education is crucial to your success as an entrepreneur, and why it’s so necessary to be careful with where you spend your energy.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/brianna-ruelas

It’s 2020, we’re officially into January now, and we’ve been talking about goals—and you’re probably starting to feel a little overwhelmed with what you told yourself you would do this year, right? It’s common to start fading around this time, but I promise you can totally keep on these goals you’ve set throughout this entire year.

Show notes are available here: https://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/what-self-motivated-people-do

Our first guest of season 2 is Suzanne Paulinski, CEO of The Rock/Star Advocate. Suz is a mindset coach for music industry professionals looking to gain clarity on their goals & find a better work/life balance.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/suzanne-paulinski

Enter your exclusive podcast listener discount code at http://www.megan-kuhar.com/mindset to get the Fan Finder Mindset e-book & coaching call for just $33! The code is PODCAST.

Kendall Rock is a photographer who has worked with several West Coast-based musicians and bands, including the Wild Reeds and Courtney Marie Andrews, as well as for festivals, tours, and more.

What I loved about this conversation is that Kendall had some great advice for turning your music into visual branding, which many musicians find difficult. She gives practical tips and advice about working with photographers, including what to have prepared before your shoot, and how to treat your photographer right.

After you listen to this episode, I think you'll be inspired to pick up a pen and paper and brainstorm, or maybe surf through Pinterest and start a mood board--whatever you need to do to start thinking about how to really nail down your visual vibe as a musician, which of course contributes to your brand identity.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/kendall-rock

Jenna Fournier is an artist in so many ways: a guitarist, songwriter, painter, animator, model, dress-up-player… She’s seemingly not afraid to try anything. As a musician in the shoegaze Cleveland-based band Niights, as well as through her solo work Kid Tigrrr, Jenna’s creativity doesn’t stop with making the music. Her approach to social media marketing is just as creative as her creative expression through painting and guitar.

She’s painted herself as a Dali masterpiece, created living show fliers, animated little videos with butterflies and stars, and posed with wolves. Following her on social media is like peeking into her mind, and it’s a fantastical place to be.

Jenna and I had a conversation about being an artist and embracing social media marketing—how you don’t have to give up one for the other. We’re friends in person, so we sat down together in Jenna’s whimsical apartment, got a couple ciders, and talked it out. There’s a lot to say.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/jenna-fournier

Los Angeles based Ari Herstand, is the author of the best-selling book How To Make It in the New Music Business. It remains at the top of the Amazon charts and has been widely adopted by music business schools worldwide.

His music business advice blog, Ari's Take, has become the go-to resource for independent musicians on how to run a successful music career in the NEW music business. Herstand's well-researched, relatable, no BS approach is why so many musicians continue to trust him for advice--and why we got along so well.

Not only is he an entrepreneur, but Ari is also an independent musician who has played over 700 shows around the country, has opened for or toured with Ben Folds and Cake, and has performed on Ellen, and has had his music featured in countless TV shows, commercials and films. He currently leads the 1973 funk project Brassroots District.

Ari and I talked about an excerpt from his book, Creating the Artist’s World, Vision, Aesthetic, and Story. He and I share the same philosophy that as an artist, having a brand--you know, your THING--is absolutely crucial to finding success. And as artists, I think a lot of us are so focused on being authentic. I hear it all the time: I don’t want to be phony, I want to be honest. But we’re going to talk about why focusing on pure authenticity can be detrimental to your success. Why? Because sharing everything about you all of the time--posting whatever you want in the name of being authentic and true to yourself--ends up dulling your message. You need to be more focused than that.

Show notes can be found here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/ari-herstand

Understanding your messaging and identity is the #1 step to building your brand, but it doesn’t stop there—you gotta have a consistent visual brand, too.

In this episode, I talk about 4 things you HAVE to do for a better visual brand. They are:

#1: PERSONALIZE templates, but don't ALTER them completely

#2: Have 1-3 fonts chosen for your brand (use http://fontsquirrel.com, http://pixelsurplus.com to find some new ones)

#3: Have 1-3 colors chosen for your brand (use the color palette on http://coolors.co)

#4: Make a name logo and save it as a transparent background image

Join my "How to Build a Brand Without Feeling Like a Phony" masterclass waitlist at http://megan-kuhar.com/masterclass

* Thanks to Jessica Dutton at Music Teacher Business Launchpad Facebook group for hosting me for this topic in a live video. *

Recently, I chatted with Madeline and Lindsay, two of my clients and the musicians who make up duo The Twosdays, to talk about how their approach towards social media has changed since enrolling in my program Fan Finder.

Before taking the course, Lindsay explained that marketing and social media was just something that she “really had to try to care about.” She goes on to explain that not only was it difficult to approach, but that she was actually afraid of how to use it. “I was scared of infiltrating,” she said.

Now? Madeline and Lindsay are having fun, reaching their audience, and using social media as a means to develop a loyal fanbase.

You can listen to the episode now to hear how Lindsay and Madeline went from Fearful to Fierce on social media, and how you can learn my 3-step formula for building your brand for FREE!

Links: megan-kuhar.com/masterclass

Show notes: megan-kuhar.com/blog/madeline-and-lindsay

When improvisational chamber group/band/ensemble 9 Horses came to the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music (where I work) as a guest ensemble-in-residence, I knew I had to get them on my podcast.

Joe Brent, Sara Caswell, and Andrew Ryan are living the realities of being professional musicians—or as we continue to say in 2019, “musicians of the 21st century.” (When will that century distinction end, btw?) The members of the trio collectively have experiences under their belts like working with Regina Spektor and Esperanza Spalding, composing music across multiple genres, and oh yeah, violinist Sara Caswell’s 2018 GRAMMY nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

This conversation took place crammed in a tiny basement recording studio, streaming Live on Facebook, and it definitely touched a lot of bases. To be honest, sometimes we slid into the bases, knees in the dirt and dust kicked up everywhere. It was productive, fun, and enlightening.

Here’s some of what we talked about:

- What curriculum they'd include if they built a Conservatory of Music from scratch

- How they feel about social media & marketing (fair warning, it's a heated discussion...)

- How music is becoming "genreless," and

- Whether there actually is enough time to practice.

I want to make sure I take a moment to thank a few people who made this conversation possible at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music, especially dean Susan Van Vorst, Erika Haskell, and Bill Hartzell, as well as Scott and Julie Mawaka, whose generous support allowed for 9 Horses to visit with our students and help them create an educational, life-affirming experience. Thank you!

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/the-21st-century-musician-with-9-horses

Katie Zaccardi is a songwriter, artist, music industry professional, and certified yoga instructor. Through her work in both music and wellness, along with her own experience with a generalized anxiety disorder, Katie discovered the urgent need for conversation surrounding mental health and self care within the music industry. Realizing the music industry’s demand for honest discussion on such topics as mental and physical wellbeing, Katie established Out To Be. Out To Be advocates a balanced path to personal and professional success that is grounded in wellness.

In this episode, Katie and I talked about common habits musicians have that cause stress & anxiety, how to say NO to opportunities that don't align with you, and some of her best tips for "beating the overwhelm."

If you've ever felt stressed out or panicked about your day-to-day tasks, this episode is for you.

Looking for that extra bit of pizzazz to improve your visuals in the online space? This podcast episode will share 4 SUPER EASY tricks you can do to INSTANTLY look more professional online. The amount of time it takes to listen to this episode is all you'll need to get all 4 of these tricks implemented, then you'll be able to use them time and time again to really up your branding game.

Show notes are available here: https://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/4-ways-to-instantly-look-more-professional-online

* RESERVE YOUR SEAT FOR THE FAN FINDER PROGRAM FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING UNTIL OCTOBER 1! *

If you know you need to build your brand, but you aren't sure where to begin, the Fan Finder Program is for you. Learn more: https://www.megan-kuhar.com/fanfinder

Tiffany VanBoxtel is a graduate of Lawrence University, where she received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Choral/General Music Education. After graduation, she began teaching private lessons, and soon found her voice studio exploded in numbers—almost to the point where she couldn’t keep up with demand. Instead of capping enrollment and sticking with the easy route, Tiffany was inspired to help more singers, and founded The Star Singer Green Room, an online membership program where she helps singers to give their best performances. Now balancing her time between in-person lessons and her online membership, Tiffany has created a lucrative career for herself as a vocal coach.

In this episode, I spoke with Tiffany about the mechanisms of her membership program, how she grew it from the ground up, and her advice for anyone wanting to do the same. Think you need to stay basic with your music studio? Think again. You could be diving into online lessons through a membership program like Tiffany did!

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/creating-a-vocal-coaching-membership

Are you struggling with that “icky” feeling when you go to post content on your social media? Are you seeing everyone else’s mirror selfies and thinking, “I don’t want to do that in order to compete”? Is the idea of promoting your work something that makes you feel vapid or vain?

In this episode, I break down 5 tips for how to make social media feel less self-centered and all about YOU. Because marketing your work and promoting your music shouldn’t make you feel like you’re bragging, or vain, or self-absorbed. There IS a way to do it all while feeling authentic, and while building a community-driven fanbase.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/how-to-make-social-media-feel-less-self-centered

On this episode, I spoke with Jessica Peresta, who is a blogger, music teacher mentor, and resource provider at The Domestic Musician. Jessica, who also hosts The Elementary Music Teacher podcast, transitioned from music education to entrepreneurship, and offers advice for those music education majors who aren’t sure they want to pursue the “traditional route” of being a music teacher.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/from-music-educator-to-music-entrepreneur

What’s the first step that you need to take in order to succeed at marketing? It’s not downloading an app, or making a logo, or reading a book. What you really need to focus on is who you are and what you’re trying to say—in other words, what is your message?

In this episode, I break down how to define your creative core values, so you can determine your unique perspective that will inform your brand message. It’s important work that needs to get done. It’s diving deep internally and discovering what defines you. And if you don’t spend the time developing your message, you’ll create a confusing and unclear effort that won’t inspire audiences to become your lifelong fan.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/first-step-in-marketing

Dr. Felicia Rojas is a violinist, vocalist, and multi-talented musician whose career has expanded beyond the traditional “classical musician” scope that so many other music school grads pursue. At age 28, she is a Grammy Nominated American violinist, vocalist, recording artist, and violin teacher working in the Los Angeles, Hobbs (NM), and Lubbock (TX) areas. A versatile artist whose performing experience includes genres such as Classical, Country, Rock, Balkan, Celtic, Mariachi, and Peruvian Musica Criolla, Felicia is forging her own path as a niche musician, performing music she loves and making it into her full-time career.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/felicia-rojas

One of the most common myths about marketing that I hear from musicians and creative people is that marketing is inherently NARCISSISTIC. This is the idea that if you promote yourself, you’re full of yourself. In this episode, I’ll break down why you should eliminate the word NARCISSISTIC from your vocab to get over your fear of promoting your work today.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/get-over-your-promotion-fear

One of the most common myths about marketing that I hear from musicians and creative people is that marketing takes up TOO MUCH TIME. They don’t want to be glued to their phones because HELLO, there’s too much practicing to do!! In this episode, I'll share with you the number one way to post on social media EVERY SINGLE DAY—without ditching the practice room.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/post-every-day

When you’re writing a caption on Instagram, there are methods that achieve better results in attracting FANS and not just AUDIENCE MEMBERS. And a fan is someone who is there to stay. In this episode, I talk about Instagram captions, because out of the hundreds of musicians I have taught throughout the years, and many more I know as friends, the VAST MAJORITY are looking at captions in the wrong way.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/your-captions-arent-working

Liz Aponte is a drummer, teacher, and entrepreneur who has turned her passion for music into a multi-faceted career, through a combination of online and offline work. I spoke with Liz about marketing, promotion, entrepreneurship, and how she has built her career for herself. She also dished on how Questlove came to follow her on Instagram… It’s a pretty awesome story.

Show notes are available here: http://www.megan-kuhar.com/blog/the-multi-passionate-music-entrepreneur