Plan for Success - A Series Continued Winston Churchill was the one who said. "He, who fails to plan, plans to fail".

These are wise words to live by for anyone, in any business. Does this mean that if you have a plan you will automatically succeed; certainly not. However, there are rules that govern when it's time to take the next step, and having a plan will help facilitate that next step. You will know when you know.

Something I convey to new clients in the very first session, no matter where they are in their journey, I tell them -

"It's what you don't know that's holding you back."

And everyone has something they don't know. It usually comes in questions like these: Do I really need a voice coach? What genre best suits my sound? Who can I write songs with? Where do I record?

Who should produce the music? Who should play on the project? Does the sound fit a radio format? What's a radio format? How do I brand my product? How do I register my songs? When do I need a publisher? When do I need a lawyer? Can't I manage myself? Can I just make YouTube videos and get discovered? Can you tell me how to be famous? And on and on....

There are so many factors, circumstances experiences that contribute to the path and outcome of an artist. Every lesson, session, consultation, jam and performance has the ability to become a pivotal moment in an artists' development. The answers to the questions provide the sequence of the plan.

Some details of the plan can be executed simultaneously whereas others may need a more focused attention.

This requires a disciplined work ethic and a thirst for knowledge.

Find out what you don't know, and you will find out what you need. Keep asking questions.

• Intrinsically: Singers, Sing, Songs.

• They tell stories again and again.

• The expedition begins with a voice.

Good singers have technical ability to go to required notes and maintain consistent resistance levels with ease and grace. They possess dynamic qualities to provide power when needed or the ability to release without letting go to be subtle or subdued. And these are all fabulous, necessary qualities but,

Great singers feel! They know what the song is about. They've experienced the pain, or the joy and they can emotionally relate to the lyrical content. They give the listener a reason to believe what they're singing about as if it was happening to them right now, in that very moment. The song is theirs. And their passion, honesty and vulnerability take the listener to a place beyond understanding. In that place they swallow lumps, cry or stand with fists held high in agreement. It can be magical.

When a singer sings a song without emotional value to the lyrical content, this is a strong

indication that they don't know what the song is about. If they don't know what the song is about, it's going to be difficult for them to tell the story. It could be that they've never experienced, or they are too young to have experienced the theme and topic of the song. So, in order for the singer to make the song believable they have to be able to relate to the content. The performance is more than just notes and melody, more than words and rhythms.

Below is an ephemeral check list. This is an example of the artist development process. Each point in the list will become a topic for expansion and retrospect.

A typical chain of events for an artist in development

Every circumstance and outcome will be varied from artist to artist. That is pretty much guaranteed!

Voice lessons / music lessons

Study with a voice coach and music influence you can relate to. One that understands you, one that provides you with results.

Repertoire development:

• Learn as many songs as you can.

• Work through them with your voice coach.

• Perform them in front of anyone who will listen Can be any genre, any style, of any influence!

Discovery:

Tear apart your favourite songs and determine what the attraction is for you. Is it the melody, beat, chord progression, key, lyric or genre? What specifically gives your that "this is it" feeling?

Write:

Don't wait. Just write. Author a short story. Take in a Wendy Parr workshop. Paraphrase the story. Use as few words as possible to tell the same story. Use a key, chord progression and style that move you. Complete a verse and a chorus and call it done for now. Move on to the next song and after you've collected a few you'll begin to see a pattern emerge. Record these songs on your iPad or phone and listen to them. Share them with others in the industry. Get an opinion before doing anything with your ideas.

Perform:(this is a series in itself)

Put together a list of songs that make sense musically. Don't be too scattered genre wise. Play covers that compliment your originals. Play covers that people want to hear. Add your own music. Reach out to your audience. Develop a rapport.

Book house concerts, coffee shops, clubs, bars, private parties, contests and local events Build a social network:

Everyone needs a webpage-doesn't have to be huge. Start with a squeeze page. Experience a photo shoot with a photographer that knows what he's doing. Use a shot that represents who you are. Get a second opinion from someone in the industry, (not family and friends). From your web page link to only the social networks you will utilize. Stay active online and provide useful information only.

Record:

This process is a big one. You can't do it too cheaply and you don't need to break the bank. You need to discover your sound. Everything you've done to this point will influence the recording process. From here you should be able to determine who you are becoming as an artist.

Know your intentions before selecting a studio, producer, session players, producer and the like. If you're only creating demos you can record just about anywhere...

Release:

If your intention is to create product to release on-line and/or to radio this raises the bar on

every decision you make. Everything you release will then be direct competition with every other artist in your genre. If you want to see growth and success you must have a plan of action that involves some

market research, strategic alliances and usually a team of people to work toward reaching your goals and intentions.

..... Repeat the steps above over and over. If it feels like work-it is!

If it also feels like you are not complete unless you are creating this way, and you can't sleep thinking about the next song - then its passion................. keep going.

As this series continues I will begin to explore and uncover details of these topics I've listed. Ill share experiences I've personally encountered and knowledge I've collected from many industry professionals around the world.