Voice, Breath, Songs

EPISODE #21 From Networking to Negotiating Your Salary to Work on the Selena Gomez Tour

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Bio of the artist

Nayanna Holley is an L.A. based Singer-Songwriter and Vocal/Performance Coach. She has served as a backing singer on American Idol and The Voice. Major tours have included Selena Gomez, Sheryl Crow, Robin Thicke, Allen Stone Johnny Hallyday and Robbie Williams. Her YouTube Channel, “The Practice Room”, provides insider tips on singing, auditioning, music business, and health and wellness for the working musician. Nayanna earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University

What she shares on this episode

I must say that Nayanna has quite an interesting definition of success. She says success to her is the freedom of being able to choose what you do with your time. We live in a time where you are assessed based on your result. Your product. It takes a lot to get to a place where your results are able to speak for themselves, but you’ve got to do it in order to grow.

As singers we usually tend to give our stuff away for practically nothing at all. It doesn’t have to be this way. Money is important, even if the focus is on the music and art. That’s just the way the world works. And It’s easy to be taken advantage of in the business. To avoid this from happening be more intentional when talking about money. Its uncomfortable but do it anyway. Look out for yourself. “Starving artist” is cliched and cute, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

You never get taught the nuances of the business aspect of music when you are in school. You learn by asking people, doing research, experience and practice. Learn how to negotiate in the business. Write down the conversation if you know its going to be difficult. You need to look after yourself in order to be able to perform effectively.

 

In this episode of the creator mindset podcast

  • Nayanna’s take on the music business.
  • How to break that wall of discomfort when it comes to talking about money.
  • Current projects she’s working on.

Key takeaways

  • Networking – people have to know who you are and what you can do.
  • Use social media as a networking tool.
  • Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of.
  • Talk about money.
  • Ask questions.
  • Have a sense of power and confidence within you.
  • Have goals for yourself. Having a clear vision helps as you are trying to narrow in your focus of the business sense.
  • Successful people do not procrastinate. Set at least three business goals every day.
  • Be intentional about business side of things.
  • They key to be a working artist is to commit

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Connecting with the artist

YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/ThePracticeRoom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NayannaHolley

Instagram: http://instagram.com/nayanna

Episode on how she became a backing vocalist: www.arianeleanzaheinz.com/5