Time to get back on the horse.
The winter tends to be a little slower in terms of live music gigs in my area and probably in a lot of locations. It’s a great time to take a break and do a little rest and relaxation. However, don’t wait too long to get back to it. I personally just got back to practicing and working on new material. That awesome feeling of performing comes right back. Getting started takes a little inspiration. I think it’s similar to exercising, sometimes it takes a little kick to get going.
Time off can also be a great opportunity to work on your instrument or perhaps learn a new instrument. I have had harmonica on my list for quite a while. I really need to get it done and integrated into my show. I think it would be pretty cool. It’s also a good time to go through all your gear and make sure everything is in tip top condition.
For me, it’s also a great time to continue working on bookings for the upcoming season. I started last September booking and it generally continues through spring. My new CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software is really working out great and keeping me organized. It allows me to maintain all my contacts in one place along with any helpful notes of my correspondence with the venue. It also enables me to document the venue and specifics, such as what months and days of the year they offer live music and even when they book the next year’s season. A huge plus, is the ability to rapidly create emails and manage all my follow ups, providing better customer service. My goal is to always be at the right place at the right time.
There are a lot of moving pieces to being a performing musician and it can be challenging. I am always looking for ways to be more efficient and better at what I do. So, my recommendation to you is to get started, get organized and get back up on that horse, so you too can remember that feeling. Have an awesome day.