For gigging musicians who are looking to uplevel their career with a solo project of their own but don't know where to begin…
Inspiration to Implementation
Practical tools and strategies to launch a successful performance or album, allowing you to impact the world with your unique voice…
…without feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, or breaking the bank.
By the end of this program,
you will have…
- Articulated your artistic mission (and created a compelling bio for your website to reflect that mission)
- Created a realistic project budget (and developed a fundraising strategy to pay for it all!)
- Leveraged a mix of marketing and networking techniques to connect with your audience and turn them into superfans
- Stepped into the leadership role you were meant for
Have you ever felt like...
- Your entire career rises and falls on the whims of outside forces - audition panels, agents, or arts organizations?
- You have been dreaming about a project or two but you never did anything about it because you weren’t sure how to finance them?
- You struggle with putting yourself out there and STAYING out there?
If so, you’re in the right place!
Read on to find out how this course can give you the tools, ideas, and support you need to produce your very own creative project with confidence and ease.
Hi there! I'm Maren - singer, writer, and business coach to musicians.
You might have seen me performing at Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, or even on stage with the Rolling Stones (I'm still pinching myself about that one)!
…or you might have seen me wandering about the Renaissance Faire in full garb, complete with requisite cleavage on display. 😘
On the outside, it might seem like I've got it all together…
- I'm singing on 3 GRAMMY Award winning albums
- I collaborate with and record works by Pulitzer Prize winning composers
- I wrote and produced a one-woman show exploring sexuality and gender power dynamics - and successfully premiered it in the middle of a pandemic!
But the road to where I am now has not been a straight line. It's full of twists and turns and a whole lot of heartache.
For years I lived in a constant state of self-doubt, knowing deep down that I had something really special to share with the world but worried what other people might think of me if I took the spotlight. I was plagued by an insidious voice in my head telling me I wasn't worthy of any attention… the few solos I did get were clearly flukes, according to this voice.
(I wonder if you are familiar with that voice too.)
Because of these doubts and fears, I figured I should content myself with staying in the background - being the helper, the sidekick.
But something else - a different voice, a quieter voice - kept nudging me forward, bit by bit, asking me what my legacy would be. At first I thought having children would be my legacy…but as each childless year went by, it became clear that motherhood was not in the cards for me.
It wasn't until I was faced with the possibility of having to start my career over completely (my husband had just gotten a new job and we were considering moving across the country to a place where I had very few connections) that I took a chance on the power of my own artistry.
I recorded and produced my debut solo album, one which featured music exclusively written and performed by women.
And suddenly I realized what kind of legacy I wanted to leave on the world: one in which marginalized voices are given a platform on which to be heard.
Fast forward to today: that album has led to opportunities like…
- Prestigious recitals
- National tours (in which I was a featured soloist)
- Composers reaching out to me because they wanted to write for my voice!
More importantly, creating that album - producing it by myself, fundraising for it and marketing it all on my own - gave me the confidence I needed to show up as a woman who believed that amplifying diverse voices could make a positive impact on the world.
Leaning into my own creative project upleveled my career more than any audition ever could.
I want this success for you, too.
Because I truly believe that when we stop listening to the voice of fear - the one that tells us we're not worthy or that nobody wants to hear us - and start paying attention to that still, small voice in our hearts… THAT is when we tap into the impact we are meant to make on the world.
And THAT is when we become our most powerful, our most visible, and our most magnetic.
(and all of a sudden very hireable!)
So I want to know… what is YOUR inner voice nudging you to create?
Whatever it is, INSPIRATION TO IMPLEMENTATION can help you bring that creation into the world with confidence, so you can uplevel your art and take control of your career.
Inspiration to Implementation
February 1 to March 27, 2021
What we cover:
- How to articulate and refine the foundational details of your project (the who, what, when, why, and how of it all)
- Audience building techniques
- Budgeting tools and tricks
- Marketing dos and don’ts
- How to find the right performance platform for your project – especially in a pandemic
- Fundraising 101 - from crowdfunding to grant writing
All sessions take place on Zoom and are recorded.
Every training comes with worksheets to give you some practice in a sandbox environment, building that confidence you need as you move forward with your project in the real world.
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“The course has helped me not only to pursue my own creative vision with a sharper set of planning tools, but it's also affirmed a lot of my doubts. Our circle of artists felt so supportive to me. That helped me to work through my hesitations and to take bigger risks with my project in the end.”
- Michele Kennedy, Soprano
“One conversation with Maren revealed more about how I was holding myself back than weeks of brainstorming on my own. She invites you to see the world as she does — with optimism, curiosity, and positive energy.”
- Christopher Still, Trumpet
“I've been frustrated with the information available online to help new non-profit arts organizations learn how to write grants, and consequently, have struggled with my own grant writing ability. After Maren's course, I am equipped with a new tool box, and feel much more confident!”
- Lauren Kelly, Mezzo-Soprano
OVER THE COURSE OF 8 WEEKS, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE...
BASIC PACKAGE - $497
- 8 weekly workshops
- 5 90-minute group coaching sessions
- Guest discussions with industry experts
- Opportunities to make strong connections with like-minded artists
- Lifetime access to a video library with 16+ hours of valuable content as well as all the worksheets that go with each lesson
VIP PACKAGE: $997
- All of the above plus...
- Four one-on-one coaching sessions (90 minutes each) with Maren
- Additional support between sessions via Voxer (a walkie-talkie app for voice and text messages)
OR
On the fence?
Listen to the words of Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor and Executive Director of the Constellation Men's Ensemble in Chicago.
While Ryan was enrolled in the course, he had several wins, including submitting a grant application for his project and gaining access to some exclusive research material.
Ryan's performance project, Letters to Jackie, is an album, performance, and touring project which promises to be ambitious, thoughtful, and impactful, just like all of Ryan's endeavors.
One final note...
I know how difficult it is to take a step into the unknown.
Nobody can guarantee that your art will be seen by millions, win a fancy golden statue, or bring world peace, but the people who do experience your art will be forever changed.
And that is all we can ask for.
In a world where there is so much uncertainty about when the next gig will come - especially right now - leaning into our own authority and believing in the power of our own art is increasingly important.
While you will ultimately create your project on your own…
For now, I want to make sure you have all the right tools at your disposal.
I believe that your voice is uniquely exceptional.
You have the ability to impact the world in countless ways: whether it is by...
- Inspiring others to do what you do...
- Providing comfort to those who need it most...
- Or provoking a shift in perspective.
But just because I believe it doesn't make it true…
You have to believe it, too.
No matter what you decide today, I hope you take a step in the direction that your muse is nudging you... because the world needs YOUR voice.
Our world is changing. By putting your art out there, you will be helping build that new world, with your voice, your imprint, your impression.
If you've gotten this far, there's clearly something in what I am saying that resonates with you.
So if you are seeking permission to invest in your growth, build up your skill set, and to let your creativity loose with intention and focus - get quiet and check in with that voice. You'll know what to do.
And even if you don't end up navigating these waters with me, I'm still super excited for what you will be bringing to us all - to the whole world.
What is the mark YOU want to make on the world?
