The Journey

journey

n. an act of traveling from one place to another

Wow, we have got to catch up. Although the music industry, and the rest of the world, have gone dark, a lot has happened in my personal journey to being more involved in the music business industry and I am SO stoked to share it. enjoy reading about some Nashville dream related things that have happened since this whole quarantine thing started! (May 2020-February 2021)

While this year seemed crazy, I see it as an intended break. 2020 did not set out to break us as it may seem to have done. I believe it wanted us to slow down and to be content with the little things. for me, it did just that. I took a step back from my motivation and determination to go to Nashville. I had always planned to do two years at a local college then transfer to a music school for music management. While the idea of that still sounds quite appealing, I had to remind myself that where I am at right now is the most important place I can be. What can I do now while I wait for the right timing for Nashville? How can I enjoy what I have been given while I am on the path set out for me? like I say in all of these posts, yes, that sounds cliched, but it is a cliche for a reason. we have to work with what we have. In this year, what we have can be summed up as "free time" or, for a more positive approach, "reinvention time".

My goal for 2020, before anything exploded, was to reinvent myself. I wanted to rest and work on myself. I was not happy with who I was senior year and, luckily, I was granted multitudes of time to do just that. Along with this, I redirected my goals unintentionally and Nashville was not prominent in my mind. it just did not seem relevant in comparison to everything happening and everything  I could be giving my time to- relationships, down time, family time, etc. even with my dream since elementary school being out of my mind, I still worked towards that goal and some things manifested and happened. God's timeline will never not leave me amazed. even when nothing seems to be working, He sure is.

first off, my acceptance to Belmont in Nashville was pushed off. While I did not intend to go there as a freshman, it still broke my heart. I checked off every box, I had connections in my major and in the admissions department, I had worked so hard on that application. After months of feeling like a failure, I got accepted there right after I had committed to CNU. not going to Belmont as a freshman ended up working out. If I went to Belmont, I would not have my tight friend group or new friends who support these goals and dreams, my family close by, or even the opportunities and doors that have opened for me. with all of the uncertainty regarding my freshman year, it worked out beautifully. right now I am unsure of what my plans are regarding transferring. I am content in my major, even though a specific major is not necessary for music management. I have decided to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts with concentrations in Art History and Studio Art. My minors are graphic design and photo and video art. When I move to Nashville, this will allow me to intern for music management positions while working on the side in photography or being a graphic designer for artists and other businesses. 

After getting accepted to CNU, I received an Instagram DM regarding one of my posts from months back. it was the picture of me laying on the sidewalk in Nashville at the walk of fame with Miranda Lambert's star (the one on my Instagram at the end of 2019, similar to the one above). a publicist in the Nashville Visitors Guide was doing an article on the most Instagrammable spots in downtown Nashville and they had asked me for permission to use my picture. What an awesome  opportunity! no Nashville trip this year (2020 or 2021), yet I still felt so connected to the beautiful city and the art that is created there. it felt like the universe was going "now is not the time but do not give up". It was so kind of someone to ask to use my picture in a magazine that millions of people read each month, let alone for the 6 months I was in it.

little did I know that this was only the first Nashville opportunity of the year. For my writing class, my teacher wanted us to do a paper on the career we want to go into. For this paper, she instructed us to conduct an interview with someone in that industry. obviously I chose to do the interview with a music manager. After reaching out to a few managers and it not working out, I DM'd one of my favorite artists on Instagram to see if her manager would be willing to do an interview. She got back to me within the hour (!!!) and her manager agreed to it. The time and date of the interview was set within two hours. it came together perfectly and so easily! 

I got to ask him questions I had about the industry and he thoroughly explained them. He gave me numerous resources for when I go to Nashville and gave me great advice as well! I was so nervous about this interview but, like everyone else I have met in country music, he was extremely kind, cool, and collected, and he was so welcoming to the industry. I will continue to update about these interviews and include some questions and answers with them, but this first interview prepared me for others. The best way to get in contact with people is to 1) don't be scared, and 2) follow their LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, etc. I can almost guarantee there will be some contact info somewhere. If not, once you find your first form of contact in the industry, use good ole word of mouth. 

This interview happened back in November. I felt like I've lived so many different lives between first and second semester. After slipping into a slightly dark place and questioning God for the first time in my life this year, I decided I needed to use that anger and sadness towards something good. I walked into class one day and a career planning lady was there. Since I came to class early, we had time to talk specifically about my situation. Apparently there were a few CNU Alums who had gone off to work in Austin, Nashville, and other music centered cities. I wrote their names down and got their LinkedIn information from the lady. By the end of the day, I had a time and day set for an interview.

The conversation went so well. Since we went to the same university, he was very helpful in giving me suggestions on what to do locally. With their permission, I highly recommend recording the interview. I use the app "Otter" and it transcribes the conversation for you! I would also recommend doing video chats over calls. They can get a sense of body language and your facial expressions, which will give them more of an idea on truly how interested you are, rather than just hearing your tone. This manager told me about internship opportunities and gave me a general idea of what the industry is like. You can read all the books on the industry you want, but it is constantly changing so it is best to talk to someone who is presently and actively involved in the position you are interested in. 

The third and most recent interview I have done was with a songwriter in Los Angeles for Lennon Stella, 5SOS, Chainsmokers, etc. She is one of my favorite writers, she also helps produce songs and is the founder of an all female record label directly in LA. She works hand in hand with THE Harvey Mason Jr. and is actively involved in the artists she works with, as well as her own music. It was cool to hear about the industry from a different position than I typically examine and from a fellow female. The music industry, as well as most others, is very very very male dominant, which is why it is so important that she has an all female record label. She also comes from a small town and we have similar backgrounds so we seemed to hit it off in conversation. She told me that if I was ever in LA, I could contact her and she would see if there is an internship position available for me. Connections like these will open huge doors and introduce you to more contacts.

Two things she said that really stood out to me were:

1. Log the hours you spend working on interviews, internships, and talking to people in the industry you want to go into. She recommended the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. This book is about the 10,000 Hour Rule where you have to spend 10,000 working on something in order to master it. Each of my interviews lasted about an hour. I am definitely still in the beginning phases but it will be exciting to see how these hours accumulate over time.

2. Write a song a day. If you want to be a great songwriter and build your resume of songs, write one a day. Not all of them will be great or number one hits, but you will get in the routine of this and your practice will make perfect.

my intention for this blog is to let everyone know that even when life seems rough or seems slowed down, turn that into a blessing.

                       progress towards anything, especially a dream, is never linear.

view it as a time to focus on yourself or your goals. I had my pity party about losing senior year but then beautiful things still ended up happening. life is all about mind over matter and what/who you choose to put your faith into. baby steps can actually be monumental moments in the long run. be persistent. be determined. be a powerhouse who works towards the goal.

As always, do not forget that whatever you're working on- yourself, your goals, etc., it is only worth the time you put in.

take all the time you need for you. come back with new energy. that will turn into a new journey. which will turn into new manifestations. 

xo

- marisa j. w.