Let that memory steady your breathing and soften your shoulders.
As musicians, we're bombarded by so many to-dos, marketing "musts", and the tyranny of the urgent.
So I want you to STOP and sink into those stories and the emotions that come up when you put yourself back there.
I have two of those moments etched on my heart.
After a coffee shop set, a man I did not recognize walked straight toward me, pressed a twenty into my hand, and told me his father had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He said my song helped him understand his dad in a new way and it comforted him.
The money mattered. We all know cords need replacing, gas tanks need filling, and babysitters need paying. But what stayed with me was the look in his eyes. Something sacred had passed between us that had nothing to do with a price tag.
Another time, I sang Healing Waters, a song I wrote after a hospital stay while navigating an autoimmune disease. People told me later that it spoke to their battles with depression, chronic pain, or their pervasive anxiety. They felt seen and understood, even though I never shared their exact experiences.
The melody and lyrics were mine, but the message seemed to belong to anyone who needed it. That is the role of true art and the currency I want you to remember today. Not the algorithm. Not the comparison game. The lasting currency
Money matters. It helps us keep doing what we love so the mission keeps moving.
It signals to the world, and to our own need for validation, that this is not a hobby.
It is a tool that gives us options that make our art more generous.
It allows us to fund the album, hire the help, and show up rested instead of wrung out.
I am unapologetic about teaching women to earn from their music because financial stability supports the cause and sustains the calling. After all, my umbrella brand is Profitable Musician.
But there is something that matters more. It is that quiet, unmistakable feeling that you are doing the work you were made to do.
The way your shoulders drop when a lyric finally clicks. The way a room leans in on the last line. The way you feel at home in your own skin when you are creating, serving, and telling the truth.
That feeling is what keeps the tank full when life tries to crowd out your music.
Here is how to hold both without losing your center.
Anchor your choices to your message, mission and values.
When you think about Fan Attraction, remember that you are inviting people into a story that can help them heal, laugh, or worship.
When you send an email or social post, write to one person who needs courage today, not a faceless list or nebulous avatar.
When you plan your next 90 days, choose goals that extend the reach of that feeling rather than distract from it. And each day, do 3 things that move the mission forward, small faithful steps that add up to a life’s work.
Yes, I want you to get paid. I want you to sell tickets and vinyl and Patreon tiers. I want you to see the fruit of your labor because you are worth it and your art is worthy.
But when you lie down tonight, I want you to feel something even better than pride in a well-paid gig. I want you to feel that deep, steady knowing that you're living within your purpose and the music and content you create has a ripple effect.
If you know that you're called to make a lasting impact with your music, check the PS below.
Money matters. But this matters more. Keep your eyes on the reason you began, and let the revenue be the river that carries it farther.
Always in your corner,
<3 Bree
PS: If you resonate with this email, I'd love to have a quick conversation with you on zoom as research for a project I'm working on for Message-Driven Musicians. I value your time and input, so after we get through my questions, I'm happy to help you out with the #1 thing you're struggling with right now. If you haven't signed up for a slot yet (I opened a lot but they are filling up fast), you can sign up at this link: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13259521&appointmentType=83697221
PSS: If you prefer to read FEM Friday on Substack, you can Subscribe Here
You're reading the Profitable Musician Newsletter, FEM Friday Edition. This Friday newsletter is created for Female Artists & Advocates, and focuses on our mission to amplify quality music by Female Artists & Female-Fronted Bands in all genres and help them build a thriving music career and solid business. If you'd like to unsubscribe from FEM Fridays but still receive our regular Wednesday Profitable Musician Newsletter, click here and we'll note your preference.
