|
|
PROFITABLE MUSICIAN:
FEM FRIDAY EDITION
|
|
|
Happy FEM Music Friday!
It's the second half of September and Q4 is almost upon us (can't believe it!).
Q4 is the time for:
- Holiday gigs and releases
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday promos
- Informed planning for 2027
This is the season when you either scramble at the last minute… or step into it prepared, confident, and ready to shine.
Getting a handle on your time and a system to make sure you can fit everything in that you want to do, without totally losing track of things in the process, is a priority.
Ladies, let's be honest. there is almost never a time we're not spinning several plates at once.
When I started my music career, it was recording/touring + being a mom and working a part-time job in finance.
My next life stage was being a mom + running a multi-six-figure business.
In 2022, it evolved into running a business + working part-time as a worship director at a church.
And starting in 2023... I had to up-level my game even more in the time management department because I took on a pseudo full-time position at my church and am balancing that with running this business (basically another full-time job)...
Plus, I've got one daughter getting married in November (3 upcoming bridal showers!) and the other daughter headed off to college in 2027 (senior milestones, scholarship apps and auditions!).
As I know many of you are multi-talented and multi-faceted with plenty of "life" to juggle along with making strides in your music career, I'm sure you can relate.
What plates are you spinning right now going into Q4?
And do you have a system in place to ensure that you don't drop any of those plates...especially the one containing your music goals and dreams?
Let me be clear, I'm not advocating #hustle. After all, I am living with an auto-immune disease. And I know stress can cause flare-ups, so #hustle is not an option.
I'm talking about a smart, balanced way to enjoy what you're doing with your music, make some noticeable progress, and still have room to engage in all the upcoming holiday festivities.
Whether you're doing music part-time or full-time, there are some important milestones in Q4 that you're gonna want to focus on:
September - mid October: Maximize holiday bookings
Late October - plan your low-stress, high-impact Black Friday/Cyber Monday offer. If you've never thought about a Black Friday sale before, here are some possibilities to spark some ideas:
- A merch bundle that includes discontinued items or something exclusive only during this sale.
- A signed CD or vinyl with a handwritten note or lyric sheet.
- A music lesson package that comes with a bonus session or a personal song critique.
- A private virtual concert for your biggest fans, with a limited number of tickets.
- A pre-sale for your next EP, or album at a special early bird price or a limited-time bonus, or both.
- A pre-order for a course or workshop if you’ve been wanting to teach.
- A bonus gift for anyone who buys during the weekend, such as a holiday song, a behind-the-scenes video, or a personal thank-you video.
- Free shipping for fans who spend a certain amount during your sale.
- A “sponsor a song” offer where fans can dedicate one of your tracks to someone they love, with a personal message.
- A fan experience bundle with a signed album, lyric sheet, and ticket to your next show.
November - final details of any holiday promo (new or "recycled" songs/merch).
- If you're releasing something new, make sure it's ready to go out on time. Plan your promo and reach out to radio, podcasts and playlists. FYI - the Women of Substance Holiday Series deadline is November 10:)
- If you have a previously released holiday song or album, plan a promo around it. What's old is new again every year when it comes to holiday music.
- Wrap up merch and CDs for Christmas gifts to offer at your merch table. Gift wrapping makes your fans more likely to buy because it's easy and appealing.
December - reflect on 2026 and plan for 2027. Analyze your time management, marketing and income opportunities.
- Determine what worked and figure out how you can do more of that.
- Recognize what didn't work and decide whether to stop doing it all together or make tweaks and try a new approach.
- Replace what didn't work with something new to try
Q4 is an exciting time and can be lucrative. It also can be a crucial time for setting you up for success in 2027.
With all this in mind, I designed our Q4 inside the Female Musician Accelerator to support you in all this.
My Goal-Setting Tool, Goaldie, helps you plan out Q4 in a way that balances productivity and sanity, based on your specific desires and availability.
My October workshop gets your Black Friday/Cyber Monday offer nailed down, planned and ready to roll out.
November is our songwriter's round. You can join now and get involved in the FMA Songwriters group. Then bring your song for feedback in November.
December is all about creating a plan for a breakthrough year in 2027. We analyze 2026 together and use the data to create your Q1 plan and beyond.
And because I want to have plenty of time to focus on making your Q4 a success...
I'm closing the doors to new members after this weekend so we can lock in on Q4 work with our members.
So if you've thought about joining...remember, it's only $49/month and you get all this support in Q4. But you've got to join now. We won't open again for at least 2 months.
Always in your corner,
<3 Bree
PS: If you've got questions, please email me at bree@femusician.com
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.
