5 keys to fitness for musicians

 

I'm not sure that pursuit of fitness was what OK Go had in mind when they made that video, but I like this article that several people mentioned the other day and I hadn't had a chance to read.

I've worked with some artists who have obsessed about keeping fit and healthy and some who'd well and truly flipped the physical self-destruct switch, and I know which I prefer.

Of course, if you keep body and mind in tip top shape you're more likely to be able to focus and acheive your aims.

Every musician knows that practicing your instrument is a crucial part of any professional career. But most musicians have no clue about what it takes to prepare their bodies for a tour or a performance on stage.

You can have all the ability in the world with your instrument but if you’ve got no stamina physically to perform each and every night, no one will ever know how talented you are.

It takes a great deal of energy and strength to perform on stage night in and night out. You’ve got to prepare your body just as much as you prepare your instrument. Consider it an essential piece of equipment that if neglected, will render your performances worthless if not taken care of.

Here are the 5 Keys to a successful fitness regiment for any performing musician. Each key can be dealt with in great length but here are a few major points on each.

Read the list here.

Breaking Bieber - the grassroots approach

You might think that there's nothing for you to learn from Bieber.

You're wrong.

I'm no fan of his or of globally marketed pop fodder, but I'm not going to say it's all crap either.

Sure, he had the laser focus of a very talented manager and was signed to a powerhouse label soon enough - and it's teen pop.

BUT, it WAS his shaky YouTube performances that got him the attention of the connected manager. And then the connected manager quickly put his talent in front of the right people. This article has a good and accurate chronology.

And then he used social media very well - enagaging fans and being there with an @reply for them.

But, the three things that I think Bieber can teach any musician are:

1. Work on your talent - he can sing and play unusually well for a pop hearthrob. He's not Mantovani, but that ability adds to his artistic depth; and

2. Be dedicated and work REALLY hard. He is dedicated - hence how he can play multiple instruments and puts the hours in to promoting himself, both in the way his label and manager work him hard and the way he interacts online; and

3. Put yourself out there. On YouTube. The place where everyone now goes to find music.

I wrote this piece after seeing this in Billboard and the video clip from his biopic that's coming up.

I know that he is being worked by the label, but this is the amount of work you need to do to be who he is. How much can you be bothered to do?

See the Billboard piece and the video here if it's not embedded below.

Be fucking awesome!

Image by moonlightbulb

I love this post.

It's not aimed at musicians per se, but I think it's highly relevant!

It's from a really interesting guy who writes about what people these days like to call 'lifestyle design' and he touches on all kind of subjects.

It reminded me of a post that I put on our main blog where Will Smith sets out his methodology for succes - read and watch here how to achieve your goals. I know that loads of people have found that very useful and inspiring. Someone pointed out to me yesterday that the bit where Will says he isn't especially talented but is massively motivated is a very important thing for aspiring artists to realise. Talent alone isn't enough you need to do something with it.

How about becoming 'fucking awesome'?

That's gonna help, right?

People will tell you that there are all kinds of yardsticks to measure progress.

What they don’t say is that most of them are worthless.

Money, career, fame… whatever. That’s all fine and good, but the bottom line is that there is one thing– just one– that really matters.

Being fucking awesome.

You can be broke and be awesome. You can be in a wheelchair and be awesome. You can be homeless and be awesome. You can even be dead and be awesome.

You want a purpose to your life? I got one for ya.

From this day forth, your purpose is to be the most fucking awesome person you can imagine being.

Read the whole post.