Get Out There & Do It

Hey Everybody! My name is Monika and I am an intern here at ArtiSans Label. I thought that, going into an internship here, I would have to slave away. You know... get coffee, run errands...wipe spit off of pop screens. Luckily AritSans Label is a company that cares about their interns, and actually gives the three of us here pretty interesting tasks that help us learn. Also, they have coffee that brews in less than 30 seconds.

I am a student at CSU Fullerton, studying communications with an emphasis in public relations. I am also a musician and have been singing forever and have been in choirs, musical theatre groups, a pop girls quartet, jazz choirs and bands, and I have been writing songs very recently. I know that I want a career within the music industry, and I am here at ArtiSans to continue finding my way down the path to a job in the music field! I'm also looking for inspiration for my music.

Here's the deal. I'm a new songwriter, and I'll admit it, I read a lot of books that could be considered creative "self-help" books. So if you can relate, here's what I am reading right now: "Popular Lyric Writing" by Andrea Stolpe, and "Living Juicy" by Sark. I put together a little motivational advice myself.

I often look for tips on "food for the creative soul" because I want to gain motivation and confidence in my art. I want to gain more confidence in my art so I can listen to what my gut is telling me-"you are going to be dry and cracked if you don't get out there and feed your soul with creative nourishment". I am teaching what I most need to learn.

Music makes the world turn. As musicians, music works its way into the depths of our souls, constantly feeding and nurturing our creative minds. We are to never stop being creative. Creativity builds and grows as we work hard in practice.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES, GET OUT THERE AND DO IT

1-Stop making excuses. Sure we have to-do lists, and e-mails to write. But we have the ability to choose the life we want to live. Reassess your priorities and do the things you want to do. Create your art.

2-It's OK to not be the best. We can't get down on ourselves because we don't write as many hit songs as the Beatles. Maybe we don't have the confidence and grooviness like Jimi Hendrix did. Relax, you have to start somewhere. And somewhere may be nowhere good. Create your art. You will see growth.

"Being an artist doesn't mean that you're a good artist. That was the bargain I first made with myself. "
-Paul Simon

3- Start a project. Whether it's writing a song, recording a song on Garageband, or going to play at an open mic, start getting out there and sharing what you've made. You will continue to grow in your talent and in confidence. Share your art.

You could start here...open mic hot spots:

1-Open Jam Night-Perqs in Huntington Beach
http://www.perqs.com/

2-Singer/Songwriters night-Marine Room in Laguna Beach
http://www.ocweekly.com/locations/marine-room-4292/

3-Open Mic night-The Gypsy Den in Santa Ana
http://www.ocweekly.com/events/open-mic-341503/