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sites like Bishop REALLY DO know how to get your music career up and running

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When perusing a music career, self awareness is everything. This starts with connecting strongly with what you REALLY want. Without being sure of this; being swayed the wrong direction is guaranteed. There are way too many distractions out there that can confuse the best of us from doing what we want to do. So once you have this figured out, your next step is to express yourself genuinely in all your endeavours. This is from the instrumentals you select or create, the lyrics in your songs all the way to how your dress and relate with people/the camera. If you can accomplish that on your own then the chances are that building a team of anyone who is willing to dedicate there time to you is enough to get going and launch your career. They don’t have to be music gurus or experienced music managers, you can grow with the person by your side who is just as motivated as you to get things done. However, understanding that its hard to get people on board to something that may seem uncertain at the time; being a one person solider for your brand sounds like a perfect success story. With YouTube adds available once you are sure of your brand and the music you make; all you NEED is what you have to offer and your audience. You can reach as many people as you are willing to pay for with sponsored ads. You can very well build a huge fanbase across all social platforms with these. Sign up to Bishop, we can give you a helping hand in launching a professional music career for you. .

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Photography for musicians BEST IN THE UK

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Contact Marcus Maschwitz who tops ever other photographer on the SEO search list. marcusmaschwitz.co.uk/contact-bookings/ Over the years I have been asked a lot of questions about photography and my work (specifically from music photography students and other photographers) which I have always tried to answer but most of the time I get asked the same things so I thought that it would be best to post them up here to save time … at the end of the day it is important that I spend my time photographing and looking after my clients as apposed to answering a million emails … unfortunately there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Give these a read and if there is anything else you need to know then contact me and I will try my best to get back to you when I can. Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1982 and was brought up there. I have traveled a lot during this time and I am now currently based between Central London and East Sussex (United Kingdom) but frequently work between the UK, Europe and South Africa as I have clients and commitments in these countries. Essentially, I’ll travel anywhere that a shoot takes me. How and when were you introduced to photography? As far back as I can remember, I have always had an interest in photography. Let me correct that and rather say that I have always been amazed at photographs and the stories behind them. I remember my parents always shooting photographs of us, as a family, on holidays and then the exciting feeling we used to share looking back at those images and telling stories about what we were looking at. In high school, I started skateboarding and reading skateboarding magazines wishing that we could capture our group of friends the way those magazines had done. We used to steal our parents camera’s and shoot photographs without them knowing but when we received the photographs back from the printers, we realized that we never had a clue. I couldn’t understand why we were taking photographs of the same kinds of tricks we were seeing in adverts but our images had no grandeur. I started investigating what worked and what didn’t and I eventually convinced my dad to buy a decent SLR so that we could learn a bit of photography together. We had a lot of fun from then on and although I have a bunch of really good photographs from our high-school skateboarding days, I also have a lot of rubbish. In 2000, I traveled to London for a few months and then onto Los Angeles, California, for a few months and I used this time to explore photography and try to get images that I could bring back to my family and friends to try get them to experience what I had over those months. I loved it, I loved the process of getting the images developed, I loved thinking through each shot before I took it, I loved sharing the images, I loved seeing peoples faces when I had a good photo and I love it now that so many years on, I can look back and remember things almost exactly as they had happened. I ended up studying photography and digital design for 2001 and 2002 and during this time, I had started working for a big design company and shooting as much as I can. Quite a few of my images were published and I really enjoyed the feeling of opening a magazine and seeing my work, it pushed me a lot to improve and work hard. I was trading under the name of Melon Graphics for all my freelance work and towards the end of 2002 I decided to resign from my job and really concentrate on what I was doing. Through Melon Graphics, I have shot photographs for top agencies, magazines, newspapers, bands, celebrities and companies and really had a lot of fun doing what I enjoy and trying hard to do it well. Now that I am based in the United Kingdom, I am freelancing in my personal capacity and am focusing on portraiture as well as band photography including music press, live music and promotional portrait photography. What equipment do you use? I started out with Canon back in the day but never really felt comfortable with my camera. I decided to pack it in then and make a shift to Nikon which I have never regretted. My first Nikon was an F801 shortly followed by an F90X. This became my favourite camera and this was the camera that I shot my entire portfolio on during my studies. I still think the results of this camera are amazing but due to the rush that photography brings, I have since had to shift most of my work onto digital. My first digital SLR was the Nikon D70 which served me well. It was not a professional body but I achieved some amazing results with it and had plenty work published proving that the operator and lenses are way more important than the gear. I think I shot 180 000 photographs through my D70 and I decided to purchase myself the D200 when it was launched and keep the D70 as a back up body. Since then things have progressed a lot and I have spent a lot of money investing in equipment.I ended up moving on to the D3, then the D3s, then the D800 and then the D810 which I loved a lot but had a bunch of faults that I just couldn’t stand … resulting in a move, after 20 years, back to Canon. I never thought that would happen and after the first few weeks of stress and panic I feel like I’ve found my sweet spot and am now happy with my kit. I currently use the Canon 5DS as my body of

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Seeing your goals clearly

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Having a distinct vision of your objective allows you to envision the end result of what you aim to accomplish. This clarity is vital when conveying your artistic expression, whether through music videos, songs, or personal style. It essentially defines your brand. To achieve this, it is essential to document your ideas. This can be done through written notes, audio recordings, or a combination of both. I personally recommend utilizing both methods to capture your ideas in comprehensive detail. A clear vision can serve as a source of motivation, particularly when your enthusiasm is high while jotting down your thoughts. It is quite common to feel energized one moment, only to have that energy wane within a couple of hours. However, if you meticulously record your ideas during those high-energy moments, you can remain aware of how the elements that excite you can lead to success, thereby preserving your motivation alongside the content. Allow me to clarify further… If you conceive a brilliant idea for a music video that resonates profoundly with your current or prospective fanbase in your mind, it is crucial to capture those thoughts in the moment and recognize what made them so impactful. While this may sound straightforward, it underscores the importance of motivation. If it were easy, everyone would succeed, but it is indeed possible, and that is what truly matters. As soon as an idea strikes you, create a voice note detailing your concept. Be thorough in your description. It is worth noting that the more exceptional the idea, the less inclined you may feel to record it if you lack motivation. This is the challenge; however, if you take the initiative to document it, you can rekindle the excitement that inspired that fleeting burst of motivation. You will understand how people will respond, and before you know it, you will find yourself in front of a video director, fully aware of what you want and ensuring it aligns with your vision, confident in the results you will achieve. There’s a believe that you have to work against the greys and you can’t really know what results you will get when you put out your work but it’s a myth for the most part. You can be sure that your work will be successful, how successful; not so sure. (but it’s worth making predictions so you can aim for what you want) But once you tap into this awareness, motivation could potentially then be second nature. One thing I will say for sure is that you’ll end up doing it eventually if you have tapped into this.   Sign up and join Bishop. We can support you in seeing exactly what you need to do to accomplish what you want.

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Getting yourself in a good mindset to succeed with music therapy

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Musicians are vulnerable to facing challenges with there mental health. Spend some time with John Mews as he speaks on music therapy. In most of my music therapy groups this week I dedicated time away from engaging in music but rather to engage in conversations around music and mental health since May is mental health awareness month. I know some of you just gasped and thought, how dare a music therapist do a session without engaging in music !  Well, I did and it was quite powerful! In most of the sessions the clients were engaged in some deep and emotional discussions around music in our culture and artists that have contributed a great deal to our music as art; many from their own experiences with mental health challenges. Artists names such as Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, and so many others came to surface. Clients shared that these artists music has touched their lives in so many ways over the years of their personal struggles with mental health issues. Some have expressed, “It was the only thing that got me through” while others expressed “It was a relief to know that I was not alone”. Client’s have described these songs as being a “source of strength in times of adversity”. I encouraged the clients to share songs from artists who gave them words of encouragement that in turn were also dealing with similar mental health challenges. Music in all forms has been therapeutic for centuries and I want to highlight that even though many of these artists songs are therapeutic I want to honor and thank them that they had the courage to step into vulnerability and share their hurt and challenges through words and song with us. These artists shared personal stories in their songs that continue to support, validate and help many of the clients that I work with in our music therapy groups.  This month let’s recognize that much of the music we listen to on a daily basis very likely has been a form of music therapy for the individual artists themselves. Its been a way for them to share their story, their pain and help support others along their journey. That’s the beauty in music and creativity — it can often come from pain but then transform into something beautiful and powerful, similar to the Eminem song, “Beautiful Pain”.  I encourage you to share your story, share your song, share your art and help others find comfort and peace and normalize that mental health issues are real and we can shed some light in the darkness. Find a list of songs below that clients have chosen in music therapy groups throughout the month that were created and performed from artists that too have struggled with mental illness. This is just a small representation of the many artists out there that struggle and have used their voices and creativity as an outlet, a way to help heal others and help empower their listeners from not feeling alone in their experiences with mental health challenges. (click on song titles to view the video) Do you have other songs that you could add to this list? If so, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a link to the video or artist below in the comment section. Thank you. #musicandmentalhealth

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developing confidence with Carolyn Edlund

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How to Develop Confidence as an Artist by Carolyn Edlund In a competitive art world, confidence plays a crucial role for every artist.     Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, nurturing self-assurance can have a significant impact on what you do and how you succeed. How can individual artists gain self-confidence and move ahead? Be Your Own Best Advocate The first step in gaining confidence as an artist is to embrace who you are, and use the term “artist” to describe yourself. Don’t question whether you’re good enough. There is no universal definition of what makes someone an artist. Instead, focus on what you can control: your ability to create. Let your creativity flow freely and act as your own cheerleader. The act of making art itself means you are an artist, and the more you work creatively, the greater your confidence will be in assuming that identity. Develop a Thicker Skin Everyone has an opinion, but other people’s feelings don’t determine your worth as an artist. You’ll encounter positive feedback, negative criticism, and sometimes, no response at all. It’s essential to understand that these reactions don’t define you or your art. Developing resilience to criticism is crucial for maintaining confidence. Define Your Own Success Success in the art world isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept. There are numerous paths to success, varying markets, diverse audiences, and a multitude of opportunities. Instead of trying to fit into someone else’s definition of success, create your own. Stay open to different options and design a path that aligns with your personal goals and vision. Take Advice Selectively While it’s valuable to listen to others’ perspectives, remember that no one has all the answers, You can accept advice – or not, depending on whether you find it valuable to you personally. It’s up to you to choose your own direction and set your own goals. Let go of the need to compare yourself to others or feel diminished by critique. Your individuality is your strength. You’ll never be exactly like other artists, and that’s precisely what makes your work special. Focus on developing the skills and techniques that best communicate your unique perspective and style. Persistence is Key Art careers rarely follow a straight path. There will be times when progress seems slow, and sales may stagnate. During these periods, it’s crucial to remain persistent. Keep creating art, continually improve your skills, and stay true to your passion. Success often comes to those who never give up, so stick with it through the ups and downs. Building Confidence is an Ongoing Process Self-assurance involves recognizing your worth, developing resilience, defining personal success, making informed decisions about advice, and maintaining persistence. Remember that your unique voice and perspective are valuable contributions to the art world. Confidence also grows with experience. Each piece you create, each challenge you overcome, and each positive interaction you have contributes to your self-assurance. By focusing on these aspects, you can build a strong foundation of confidence that will support you throughout your artistic career. Your art has the power to touch lives, spa

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