“HEY JEALOUSY“

As I scroll through my facebook feed, which I only do once a day because ummm….hello, it’s depressing!  Beyond all the horrible political sadness and the killing of wildlife or poor treatment of children and animals- the worst part of my feed are the things others are doing that I compare myself too. It can add so much to my jealousy of life and business.

That sounds so shallow, right?  

It is. But the truth is those things are harming me and I am letting them. That affects me more than politics and the things I can’t control. It affects me because if it is making me feel bad about myself which is then reflecting into the world that I feel bad about myself. Self love is important because LOVE is important and we need to share it with ourselves so we can give it to others. This is a way to help the world. I can control how I feel about myself, and that is why I avoid facebook except for business.

It’s ok to have a healthy sense of competition but it’s crucial to conquer jealousy in life and business

Looking at others, feeling competitive and not feeling good enough is never going to get you to where you want to be. Although, I do think it’s ok to have a healthy sense of competition because it can be inspiring and motivating. Like, if I feel like I am just being complacent then some competition can kick me in the ass and get me thinking some new thoughts- but you need to keep it in check. SO- if looking at others is making you feel unworthy, sad or shitty than that is not a healthy sense of competition. 

Moving too slow can cause jealousy of life and business

To be honest, I often feel this way when looking at facebook or Instagram. I see everyone’s achievements (even ones I don’t want) and I start to feel inadequate. I feel like I am moving too slow and not getting anywhere. Why is everyone doing so great?? I see my old teachers posting about former classmates, some that I was in classes with, hugely succeeding in our field. This one is in an Emmy winning tv show and just keeps working like crazy, another one is in a movie that got nominated for an Oscar, and this one is in Hamilton!! Are you freaking kidding me?! 

It’s hard to not have jealousy in life and business especially when it’s people you know. The right thing is to be happy for them- and you are- but then you just silently compare. Are you as good? Can you be as good? Did they get a break you didn’t get? Do you just suck so superbad? 

Human Thoughts

These are silly, pointless, totally human thoughts. And they are dangerous to your psyche, soul and business! Although, I try super hard to not compare my journey to others and I try not to get jealous in life and business. It’s a tough thing to conquer when you look at Instagram or Facebook and see all the fabulous lives everyone is living. Like everyone is living these fabulous lives? Every day?? No they are not. Just no. 

This is not real life 

No one is showing the worst parts of themselves. The heartbreak, the ugly photo, the one millionth rejection. No one is showing those things in a true, unfiltered light. But seeing it on Social can teach you something. Everything does if you look deep enough. Use this power tool to check yourself. Look at them- (your “friends” feed) and bless them- be happy and move on. Be inspired by what others are doing. Let it motivate you. Try not to be in a competitive mindset about it but use it. Let it fuel you. And don’t hang onto it. Change your thoughts- get off Social media and be proactive. Use action to help you feel empowered. No one has the same gifts, talents, expression as you do. No one else has that flare, that unique way of looking at things, or working at things. 

Jealousy in life and business may be hard to conquer but it is vital to recognize and change for your success and well being.

Remember this-  ignore everyone else.

The post Jealousy in life and business appeared first on Little Rockers.

YOU’RE BASIC.

Basically, you have a talent, went to school, didn’t go to school, etc. but you are off on your merry way to pursue your dreams. Firstly, I say you start a business and register it as a DBA. (Doing Business As).  Why do you need a DBA?? HERE’S WHY and HOW:

Filing a DBA gives the sole proprietor the freedom to use a business name what helps market their products or services, as well as create a separate professional business identity. SmallBIztrends.com/May 2, 2018

TO REGISTER AS A DBA IS TO OWN YOURSELF

You actually don’t need to register yourself as a DBA – particularly if you are operating your business as yourself but I feel it is more important in other ways.  Generally, my thought of you filing yourself as a DBA is that is gives you a sense of ownership over what you are doing. This creates ownership over yourself as an artist and a money maker. Firstly, you will take what you are doing more seriously and start to set up what’s to come. Secondly, you will speak and treat your art as a working entity and as a company that is generating work and income.

You will begin to act like a professional and will therefore be treated like a professional.

Heck yeah!

Even if you’re not required to register a DBA, you might want to anyway. A DBA lets you conduct business under a different identity from your own personal name or your formal business entity name. As an added bonus, getting a DBA and federal tax ID number (EIN) allows you to open a business bank account. Now any gigs or payments you get can be deposited into a bank account. Most of your expenses living and doing the thing you are doing can be deducted.

EASY PEASY

And it’s super easy to get a DBA and usually very low cost- like under $50. The rules, requirements, forms and fees associated with filing a DBA are different in each state and county. The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) provides a chart which details DBA filings state-by-state. By using a legal document filing service, you can make sure that you’re following your county and state requirements perfectly and won’t be accidentally operating outside of the law.

Register as a DBA-

So how do you do it??

1. Choose your Name- You can do a DBA as a stage name. You can make up a name or use your name, a combination of names or you can just use your regular name. Any checks can still be made out in your name or the name of the DBA. If you aren’t using your own name then do some research to make sure the name being isn’t being used somewhere else.
2. Register your Name at the County Clerk’s Office for the County you live in. Easy process of filling out some paperwork. File the forms and your off! Some states may not require any forms for a DBA and some may require that you you to publish notice of your new DBA in a newspaper for a period of time. Check up on this and see what your County requires. For most, it is just some paperwork and a fee. Done. 

Don’t Be Scared

Never let the thought of paperwork scare you or exhaust you from doing something! (Like filing for a DBA). I was so daunted when we began talking about starting a business. I was like, we need a lawyer to get us going and lawyers are expensive and we have no money, blah, blah, blah. But thanks to the internet and our smarts we found the forms and registered ourselves as an LLC. And it was inexpensive because we didn’t pay a lawyer. Easy Peasy. 

So sometimes, the things we have to do intimidate us before we even start them and so maybe we don’t start them because they intimidate us. Horrible silly cycle.

Just do it. (Thanks Nike!) No really. You are smart enough to read some sentences (even if it takes a few times). Surely, you can understand what you are doing and fill out the damn paperwork to get going. I know you can do it. Because If I can do it, you can do it. There are also a million resources on how to fill out the forms and free help available at your local SBA (small business association.) Or message me if you have any questions!

Surely, filing for a DBA will get you ahead of the game. You want to be a successful person, right? Part of success is money and business and handling it all. In that case, if you have a DBA and a business bank account it gets you going in the right direction. Towards being a successful artistic entrepreneur who is taken seriously by yourself and others!

So do it!

The post The Basics: Register as a DBA appeared first on Little Rockers.

Life for you is dance.

Everything you are is music.

Art is your passion.

Above all, those are the skills and talents that drive you.

It’s a big deal to have something you love to do.

Never ever ignore that.

Most people have NO CLUE what they want to do with their time or even have the guts to study it as a career path.

Even if you haven’t gone to school and studied your craft. Which I highly suggest you do for just a few classes. If you are passionately obsessed with the thing you love to do, than do it. Try it. Ignore the haters and go for it. 

What is your business?

What are you?

Who are you as a business?

Above all, know what it is because saying you’re sometimes a painter but you’re also trying to get a job in architecture is just too far out there. Or being a dancer but then working on monologues to try to become an actress can just be distracting.

Focus on one thing.

For example, I was super focused on theatre and Broadway and I was not spreading myself thin by working on film and tv.

Once in awhile, I would doubt myself and think “I should be working on getting commercials” and consequently I did. However, I was more passionate about theatre and singing than I was about competing with a bunch of models for commercials. I also wasn’t trying to get a bunch of gigs singing with a band. My focus was Broadway so that’s how I spent my time and I feel like it paid off. 

Be diverse- for sure.  

Yes, you should be a better actor if you’re a dancer and you should be interested in design and architecture as a painter but don’t try to do everything at once. There will be time to delve into all of your talents but focus on your favorite for a time and give it the love it deserves. Certainly, it can take time to explore your creative nature and to hone in on it. For instance, taking a photography class as a model or learning to surf when you are interested in painting surfboards. These things will help you but don’t let them take you completely off course, until you are ready. Always think about who are you as a business.

Stay true to what drives who you are as a business. 

Finally, don’t get distracted by what you THINK you should be doing. As long as you are doing things that make you want to practice you will get better and be more driven in the direction that’s right for you.

The post Who Are You as a Business? appeared first on Little Rockers.

 I am not a business expert. I am an artist who started a business and through that I have learned.

I was thinking of all the things I wish I knew when I set out in the world to become a professional actress. One morning while walking the dogs, I had the thought that I wanted to contact the Dean of the college I graduated from, a small art conservatory in Miami, and ask her to start offering business classes for art students- I don’t know, maybe something like “Business for the Artist” or “Learn how to take yourself seriously as a freakin’ Business, 101”.

It’s weird because they seem so opposing- like anyone interested in studying business would also want to study the arts and vice versa? However, I think the two SHOULD go hand in hand.  As an artist we have to start thinking of ourselves as a business instead of just this creative being that everyone is going to want as soon we get out in the world.  

I am an artist who has succeeded in making herself a business

I wanted the Dean of New World (my college) to tell the students that they are a business. Not just that they are artists. I want them to get more insight into being an artist and making money. But then I realized that I should tell everyone that. I think all creative workers need this information.  

Yes- “I am not a business expert” but I am an artist who has succeeded in making herself a business and that is story that needs to be told because I wish someone could tell it to me now. I went through this whole college process and the whole learning to be an actress thing but I never learned anything about business. To me this is a problem.

 It’s called Show BUSINESS, right??

So, when do we focus on the business part?? 

This is a super important concept that is missing in the art school college curriculum. We are learning how to practice our craft, learn our songs, do our monologues with perfection and dance steps for every style we can manage but we do not learn how to manage ourselves as artists.

That’s what I am hoping these words will do. Help others- actors, writers, singers, visual artists, dancers, painters, musicians, woodworkers, teaching artists, children’s performers, writers, jugglers, clowns–really anyone who has a career that is “outside the box”.

I want to help you understand that you are your own business and the sooner you focus on that, instead of audition pieces or works of art, then you become a serious career oriented artist instead of someone who is practicing a hobby.

Yes it is important to work on your craft, whatever that may be, but it is equally important to work on it as a BUSINESS. Now that may not sound fun but you are actually working on yourself. You need to market, sell, network, brand yourself as a business. Treat it seriously. You are working on yourself as a business and you are definitely worth the sale. And if you don’t think you are worth it- well, that’s for another time…

And I know most of us in arts related fields are more on the creative side and not into numbers or business but that’s a silly excuse, really. Because artists also are slightly narcissistic and we secretly love ourselves SO we should be super psyched to focus on ourselves especially as a business because it’s going to make us money!! That’s the SO SO SO exciting part. You are doing this so you can do what you love AND make money at it. Say what?!

No more starving artist bullshit. That is just an excuse. Let’s please stop telling ourselves this horrible story.

And don’t stress that once your business generates money then you will have to deal with more numbers and spreadsheets because but isn’t that a good challenge to have? You can handle it. I promise. In the beginning, focusing on yourself as a business doesn’t involve much but a plan and follow through. 

But you should think of it as fun. As empowering. You are taking the control away from someone else. To give you a job, to cast you, hire you, etc. Yes you need the job but think of them as customers or clients. You work for yourself and the beauty of being your own boss is having control of your life and time. Yes, there are risks involved. But you knew that, right? Or else why would you be on the road less travelled??

It’s time to pull out the scroll and make a map for yourself!

The post Get Out the Map! appeared first on Little Rockers.

There are plenty of resources to help an artist become a better artist, but how about becoming better at managing the artist as a business?? I think it’s super important and something I hope to help others with and possibly gain more insight for myself on how to do it better.

This is for the creative person trying to make a living being creative. This is also for me talking to the me in college and telling myself to not be afraid of numbers and math and of being a leader.

I started a business (with my adorable husband) based on our talents and a day job that we loved and met doing. This business utilized our talents AND paid us money (score!!). We started with just 50 families who came to our music classes and now we have over 2500 who come to our classes, book us for parties, and come to our shows. As well, as a pretty popular YouTube channel and brick and mortar music school and playspace in NJ. 

Along the way I have become more interested in business and becoming better at it. This is not something I ever thought I would care about but Little Rockers has compltely changed me. Owning a business and owning my power has helped me with my purpose, which has always been creative and artistic but was never thought about ina real monetary way. Like being a a surviving thriving artist as a living! Yes! In college I was taught a bunch of things in my field (Butoh Dance and Suzuki Acting, anyone??) but I was never taught to think of MYSELF as a business and I am hoping to help others do that. 

I am going to provide information, tips, tricks, and pick me ups to help the creative entrepreneur, which is any person pursuing a career in the arts. It is time to start thinking of yourself as a business owner because your business is YOU. It is not enough to think of yourself in a creative aspect but it is crucial to think of yourself as an industry- a money making creative industry!

The post Why? Jessie, Why? appeared first on Little Rockers.