Today I joined the library for the first time in about 20 years. Please don't judge me. Most of the books or articles I read have something to do with business or music and so, while I did take out one fiction book, I also had to borrow a book called 'Your Guide to Working from home'. Even though the book was first published in 1997, chapter titles such as 'Discipline and Motivation, 'The Dining-room Syndrome' and 'Good habits, bad habits', sparked my interest. And, of course, the promise of being able to read something without the disruption of some pop-up advert or link distracting me.
The prospect of reading this book made me so excited because I am so blessed to work from home. I hope to eventually work from home completely, but I am counting my blessings.
Here are 10 of the many reasons I love working from home:
1. I am able to create a space that is welcoming for my students
2. I have the freedom to decorate the space as I choose
3. If there are any last minute cancellations, it is super easy to fill that time with household chores or admin.
4. Having the ability to work reasonable hours and put food on the table
5. No added rental costs
6. No travel time is wasted
7. I am fortunate enough to have a separate studio from our house, so people do not have to come into our private space
8. The studio is dedicated space for my work, which means there is no need for me to bring work 'home'
9. I don't need to lug heavy bags with books or instruments to work
10. I have a great big room, which is spacious and clean. What more could a person ask for?
I hope that you all have a musically inspiring week.
While I have been asking babies and toddlers for the last 3 months where their physical heads are, I have also been thinking about where my own head is at. It's a good thing to be constantly evaluating our lives, as that is the only way we can consciously make changes for the better. Today, being a Saturday, I went to work in the morning, and then when I came home, 2 hrs later, I sat on the couch and lounged around. I watched some Youtube and snacked, while my husband did some serious manual labour in the garden.
Can you guess what I am going to say next? A part of me felt really guilty for doing nothing. Things like, 'don't be so lazy', 'you're missing the beautiful weather' and 'don't eat too much' were going through my head. The other part of me was so happy to be relaxing, with the sun beating down on me through the window and my favourite youtuber, organising her household and inspiring me on how I can organise my new home. It's funny how while all this is happening in the back of my head I was also thinking about how I need to vacuum the lounge again, fold up some washing and get stuck into our 'messy' room. I was also thinking about how I desperately need to practice my saxophone for an upcoming gig, and I need to unpack the dishwasher, make lunch, reply to emails and relax. RELAX! Wait, isn't that what I was doing? Then why on earth could I not stop feeling like I had to be doing something else?
I have seen a lot of people writing about being 'present' in the moment. Well, today, I have been greatly challenged by this. It is ok to do nothing at times, and it is ok to do things, even if they are meaningless to others (like decorate my 2016 diary). But to be present in those things, that is the challenge. Maybe it's because I am a woman and my mind is constantly multitasking? My husband is brilliant at all the things he does, but he usually does one thing at a time and does it well. Maybe the challenge is to become focused on doing one thing at a time and being present doing this one thing. So I challenge you out there, if you are relaxing, then enjoy it. If you are cooking, smell the deliciousness. If you are working, give it your all! But do what you are doing with your mind as well and not just your body.
Have a wonderful weekend everybody, enjoy the sunshine and the rugby!
The reason that I have not written a new post in a while is because I have been questioning my motivation for writing this blog. The biggest issue I have had with myself is that the reason I started this blog, has not been what has been motivating me to write posts. In fact many of my posts have had nothing really to do with the nature of this blog.
So while rethinking this blog, I decided to take a bit of a break and come up with reasons I feel that this blog should continue and give you an idea of the kind of future posts that you can expect on this blog.
To encourage other musicians and budding musicians
To teach 'non-musos' something about music and the industry
To learn about other musicians
To learn about different styles of music
To learn more about what is happening in Cape Town
To share about instruments
To help people find out if music is for them or their child
To discover how music can help a person develop their brain
To share my experiences as a teacher and small-business owner
To interact with other musicians and enthusiasts
I feel that if I make sure my posts are in line with at least one of these points, then it will be more valuable to others and more meaningful to me. I want to grow my knowledge and share with others as I do that.
I want to me more consistent with posting regularly. I find that this is my biggest downfall when it comes to blogging. I hope that my list will be the motivation that I need to keep me from 'going astray' and off these topics.
Since I'm not always very good at sticking to long term goals, I have decided to give this new approach a month.
If I can be consistent for a month, I will then attempt a second month. If I can't, I may have to try another strategy.
Well, hears to October, a good time to start a fresh.
I'm pretty convinced that Nadine has the most amazing voice ever! They say people who do covers often don't have their own sound, but this fireball has that and more! I remember the first time I saw her perform in Rock Evolution at the BMW Pavilion (I think it was in 2006), and I was blown away at how this young woman had such incredible control of her voice. She sang a variety of songs and nailed every single one and the audience was completely captivated by her on-stage presence. It's not easy to perform lives shows, but to do it every night is admirable.
I'm so honoured and excited that Nadine has answered my questions. If you haven't already done so, then go watch the Time Warp at either one of these Banyard Theatres:
Parkview, Pretoria East from 22nd April to 1st June Gateway, Durban from 3rd June to 20th July Boksburg, East Rand, JHB from 22nd July to 31st August Cresta, Randburg, JHB from 2nd September to 12th October & Willowbridge, Cape Town from 15th October to 31st December
This is what Nadine had to say in answer to my questions:
When
and how did you start singing?
As far back as I can remember, I
could always sing. I have always been singing. Or so I've been told. I grew up
in a noisy, lively household, in which the radio was always playing. I was
never discouraged from adding to that noise by belting along with it and music
in all its forms were always welcomed and available to me in my home.
Did
you have any formal training, and if so where? If not, how did you come to hone
your art form?
I did 2 years of jazz vocal training
at the Jazz Workshop in Cape Town. I didn't see it as training at the time, it
was more of something fun to do on a Saturday afternoon. It is, however, where
I learnt the fundamentals to singing which I still use today. I did 5 years
classical singing training in high school too.
What
inspired you to take up your art form as a career?
Music itself. I know nothing else. I
just always knew I was going to do it.
What
does your current career entail? (Can you give an idea of a day in your life?)
I am currently in a fast paced
musical tribute show called, Time Warp. It’s all singing, dancing and acting.
My job requires me to be versatile when it comes to singing and to look after
my voice and body. Work out and get proper rest. Being a live show, there is
always pressure to get it right every single time I set foot on stage.
How
did you (and do you) approach being in the music industry in South Africa?
Many people who aren't in the
industry have a misconception of what our industry is like. The fantasy
portrayed in the movies of a young starry eyed girl being discovered at her
first ever public performance, who then gets signed to a label who then becomes
rich and famous- couldn't be further from the truth. I feel our industry is
still very green in comparison to that of the states. People’s perceptions of
musicians and dancers is still that it’s something we do for fun and thus, why
should we get paid and have health benefits like regular corporate working
people. We have to fight that much harder for everything we get because of this
mind set, but that also makes the work so much more rewarding at the end of the
day.
What
do you most enjoy about your career?
I love doing live shows. It’s a daily
challenge to get everything right. One shot is all we get to give people the
best night out and to make them forget about the world outside of the theatre
doors. Even though I do the same show 6 nights a week, no show is the same and
that makes coming into work every day that much more exciting.
If
you could, what would you change about the music industry?
Hard to say, a part of me wants to
say everything, a part of me wants to say nothing. Everything, because I wish
there wasn't so much pressure to change who we are as artists so that we can be
marketable and mainstream just so we can afford to have the things regular
people have. Nothing, because the industry is the industry. It has always been
this way and even though its cut-throat and somewhat depressing, for those who
keep at it, it makes them stronger people.
Do
you enjoy what you do now? Is it what you expected it to be?
It is what I expected and more. I
love making people happy with the talent I was given.
What
are your plans for your future?
My plan is to try everything in this industry. Even
if I dip my toe into different aspects, I still plan to try. Be it dancing,
acting, producing, costume design etc. I hope to stay excited and passionately
invested in what I do, for a long time.
Last weekend I went to Durban to spend time with my brother, who is a horse veterinarian. I discovered that almost the whole area of where he stays and works is surrounded by horses. Now, you must understand that while my brother grew up riding horses and doing first-aid (aka stitching people up) I grew up dancing every day and playing music. In other words, I know very little about horses. Having a terrible allergic reaction while being around horses once as a child did little for my lack of desire to ride one.
Anyway, it was great watching my brother bandage a horse's leg, see him take his horse to her first training 'show', meet other people who share his affection for horses and not have a chronic attack while being in the presence of the horses (I do have to take allergy tablets and nasal spray every day of my life, so that might have had something to do with this).
This experience reminded me of a question I often ask myself; "Am I really meant to be in the music industry?" I know that teaching is a great thing, and I love it, but I'm still not performing as much as I would like to and, in truth, I don't practise enough. So, I often think, maybe I'm not hungry enough. Maybe I only think it's what I want. Like I am obsessed with the idea, but not willing to 'man-up' and do the work. Maybe all my attempts to start my own bands were not done with enough commitment on my part?
Then, I sometimes think that if I was 10kilos lighter and 2 heads taller I would have naturally chosen ballet as my career path. I truly loved it, and I don't think I was too bad at it either. In fact I was just getting to have my confidence up (or I started to not care what others thought of me any more) when I had to quit. Cold Turkey. Because it was starting to consume so much of my time (along with a few other things that happened in my life at that stage) and I had to choose. Well, I was already studying music so that was the obvious choice. But I chose it. Nobody else. My parents have always supported me, but it was wholly my decision. While I have missed dancing and have gone for a few odd classes over the years, I have since never felt particularly lead to go back and take it up as a career.
Then, while in Durban, I observed the 'horse world' and realised that I never had a desire to ride horses like brother did, or be a vet. At one stage I thought I wanted to study medicine, but after doing my job-shadowing, I realised that was not for me either.
Put no one pushed me through my degree, no one 'made me do it'. My friends and family supported me, but no one said 'this is what you must do'. There must be a reason that I have been teaching music since my 3rd year at college and have had teaching jobs ever since. I have loved learning as I teach. I love getting to meet different personalities and understanding how they learn. I love seeing a students face when 'the penny has dropped'. I treasure those light-bulb moments.
And so after all of this brain-hurting thinking, toing and froing, I realised that I am exactly where I need to be. I have never been happier in my job situation than I am now, and it has only been just over 3 months. I've got the rest of my life to keep pursuing my dreams. And helping others do the same in the process is quite fulfilling.
When starting out your own business it can be hard to stick to your guns. You may feel that you have to do everything to get work, and often times you do have to make sacrifices. But are these ones that you are going to be able to live with long term? And I mean, not that it's a stepping stone and you might regret doing it, but is it going to set a president for the way you are going to run your business?
So currently I am teaching from home. I have a home studio. But I want to grow it into something much bigger in the future. Not because I want to earn more, (which of course would always be nice) but because 'I have a dream'. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a home studio, or tutoring from home (loads of my friends do it), I want to set my studio with the potential to grow it and move into a separate venue. This entails much more than I'm going to discuss now, but I realise that the things I do now will hugely affect how I run my business in the future.
So to be more specific, I have decided not to teach from students homes. My one student is 9 and every weeks asks me to come to her house to teach her. I also get people who regularly query if the lessons will be at their home. These are a few reasons why I have chosen not to do so.
1. I have a home studio, it is all set up with (almost) everything I need.
2. I do not want to spend my time driving abound from place to place all day. (This is actually one of the reasons I decided to open up my own studio)
3. It's not just the money, it's the time. So even if you are being paid petrol money, are you being paid for your time to get from one place to the next?
4. When I open up my dream studio, I will not be offering lessons at my students homes, so why do it now.
5. I want this to be a business, not a coffee date. One of my teachers once advised me against it and this is why: She said that you end up being offered coffee (which sounds great), but then also offered to watch a video of your student's last recital, then a baby starts crying in the other room, you have to help cook supper and it can just spiral out of control. So, as a beginner teacher (in my youth lol) I decided I would try it with one student. I would put what my teacher had said to the test. After all, surely it can't be that bad!? And as sure as Bob, it was just as she had said. It was not a 'bad' experience, but certainly not conducive to running a business. And perhaps it also depends on your circumstance/situation, but my experience was just as my teacher had explained. Since there was no dedicated room to give the lessons, they started out in the lounge. The mom would 'pop-in' every now and then to ask something. I would be asked to watch a concert on dad's cam-cord, which is all very well if you haven't got somewhere else to be. And then there was building that started happening. And the whole house was in dust and the lessons were in a cramped bedroom, which is not ideal. So that was that. I decided from then, that I would never do it again.
I know that some of my friends have arrangements where they teach from their students homes. I'd love to hear from people how they make it work. What is your opinion on this matter?
In December last year, I was finally able to attend one of these fabulous events, where people get free breakfast and true inspiration. A speaker is invited each month and they discuss what it is that they do and how they got to do this. It can be someone who has been successful in their career or someone who has come up with a superb concept that is empowering to others.
The speaker at the event I went to was Sera Holland who owns her own company, 'handmade by me'. She designs and creates beautiful fabrics, as well as making them into gorgeous items. She also makes to order. In her attempt to get her name out there, she organised a pop-up shop, called 'The Shoestring Collective. It was a great space in Gardens for her and a selection of other designers to showcase and sell there work. Although it was not a permanent shop, many connections were made and now Sera has paved a way for herself in the industry. It looks like she has a lot more creative ideas up her sleeve. Do check out her stuff at http://www.handmadebyme.co.za.
We really need entrepreneurs in our country, and if you look around there are amazing free courses you can go on to get you started and help you to connect with like-minded people. Although Creative Mornings is not exactly a course, it opens up a platform for creative people, to share and receive knowledge and connections. Without these, no business or person can succeed. I have been to two other free courses in the last 6 months, both also with free meals, and I have been so encouraged with how much is happening in Cape Town and even the great South Africa. There is good in this fallen world.
I LOVE ice-cream. If I could it eat every day, I would. The Creamery dessert cafe opened their doors recently, in Newlands, and my husband and I can't stay away. As you can see below they also sell waffles, but being a dessert cafe, banana split, milkshakes and coffee are also available. This particular day was the second last day of work for me (last year) at RGHS. I really miss seeing my two work buddies every day. But I'm so glad we get to do tea and dinners often :-)
So this is my first blog of the year simply because so much has been happening, I have not made the time to write. I was planning on notating about my last few days of teaching at Rustenburg, but things were hectic and emotional (in a good way) and there were farewells and birthday celebrations to be had. Of course don't forget & friends' family time over Christmas and New Year. I do have a few pictures that I will put up soon.
On this side of the New Year, I have been getting my business up and running. I have bigger plans for the business, but until then, it is to run my music school from home. I have also been blessed to have a part-time job and to be doing a few other odds and ends (gigging and temping a bit), which are a tremendous help financially while I build up my student (client?) base.
I have also managed to do some spring-cleaning in our home, I've learnt to pickle onions and jalapeno peppers (next is to make them into chilli poppers), I've been able to do more gardening, went on a killer hike, read my bible more, went to the gym a few more times and got into a better cleaning routine. I have also started using Instagram and Twitter. I have been so busy doing things that I feel are important for me to be doing, and I feel so happy and relaxed for it. Even though it's only the second month of the year, but so far, so good and I'm not complaining!
I still have a lot of other things that I want to do this year and I hope that blogging will be one of those. I hope to blog more consistently about all the awesome things I get to experience living in Cape Town.
