Slack: Keeping Communication Professional and Organized in a Work Environment!

By Madison Moll

During an ongoing pandemic, communication between co-workers and employers had to evolve from being in a typical office setting with face-to-face communication to trying to complete tasks and collaborate on projects through an online world. It can seem almost impossible to get work done when you can’t tap your co-worker on the shoulder to ask a question or knock on your boss’s office door to “grab a moment to chat”. However, Slack, an instant messaging app targeted for companies and businesses, makes it easy to communicate together on all-things business. 

What is Slack + What Are The Benefits of Using Slack in Your Work Environment?

Slack is a (free) channel-based messaging platform which allows people to work together more effectively, connect all their software tools and services, and find the information they need to do their best work. The benefits of using Slack compared to a GroupMe, an iMessage groupchat, or Facebook group is that Slack allows the users to organize the channels however they would like (ex. alphabetical, level of importance, etc.) This allows members of the intended workspace to have access to the files and messages sent in those channels, and even create private channels that are only open to specific users. You also have the option to go back and be able to search for a specific message using keywords in a specific channel or in the whole workspace. Finally, one huge benefit is the option to link and connect your work’s apps and profiles for social media platforms, Zapier, Toneden, Dropbox, Google Drive, and so many more!

The working world is one where you want to keep conversations relevant and professional. There are so many ways to contact a potential employer or current co-worker that can blur some lines between personal and professional (Texting, DM’ing, Emailing, Facebook Messenger), but with Slack you can stay connected with everyone in your workplace and maintain that work environment level of professionalism, plus have the added benefit of everything being in one-access point for the company.

How Olivia Management Uses Slack

My favorite part about Slack is the different “channel” options–which can help moderate and distinguish different areas for specific conversations. At OM, we have many different channels for all of us to communicate back and forth about specific projects or areas of the company! It’s very convenient and relieving to have some separation of ideas and areas for organization sake, plus then we have a way to go back and track specific conversations about ideas or find answers to questions already asked. It’s a way to also keep our messages and emails de-cluttered since Slack is the one-stop space for all of those work conversations. 

There are also options we use to make sure everyone sees a specific message, either about a project that everyone at OM has a hand in or a message about if we will be in person or online for a specific day. By sending @channel in a specific channel, everyone in that channel will get a notification that they have a “mention”, which ensures that most everyone will see the message. Typing @here is another way to notify everyone in a channel about a certain message as well! We can update our status in slack, which is helpful if someone is in a meeting or out to lunch, to notify those in the workspace that we might not see any messages for an hour or two.

To update your status, you click on your profile image at the top right-hand corner, type what you are doing in the “update your status” bar, and then pick an appropriate emoji for the situation. This makes communicating easier and a little more fun online!

Image found at Slack.com/features

Get Started with Slack!

Hopefully, after reading some of the benefits and how we use Slack at Olivia Management, you feel compelled to try it out for yourself. If you’re looking to enter the professional business world or start up your own company– you invest some time into getting comfortable with using Slack!

Instructions and installation download for Mac users click here!

More information on how to get started at Slack.com

3 Tips for Growing Your Social Media Following and Avoiding Burnout

By Devin Renspie

Whether you’ve just started trying to establish your brand on social media or you’ve recently come down with a case of social media burnout, keep reading for three tips on how to sustainably grow your online presence in a way that’s enjoyable for you.

Focus Your Efforts on What Inspires You

First and foremost, you need to make sure that your social media strategy is centered around the platforms and forms of content that feel most authentic to you and your brand. Growing your following will be much easier if you genuinely enjoy the process. Are you the type of person who expresses themselves primarily through images and aesthetics? If so, Instagram and Pinterest could be where you thrive. Are you good at creating intriguing short videos? TikTok, Instagram Reels, and even YouTube Shorts might be your zone. Whatever your strengths are when it comes to content creation, if you put some thought into it, you’ll find a gap in the market that only you can fill.

As such, the majority of your social media activity should occur on whatever platforms inspire you. If you haven’t already, experiment with posting content that covers 3-5 different topics that interest you, and assess what kind of engagement each topic gets. Adjust the scope of your content as necessary. If you have an idea of which platforms and kinds of content you enjoy partaking in and your audience responds well to, then the next step will be fairly straight-forward, and you might have even already subconsciously implemented some of it into your strategy. If you don’t, it will hopefully help you find your content’s focus! You can also check out my last blog post where I discuss a few other things you should consider when deciding on what kind of content to post.

Seek Out Inspiration

The world of social media moves too fast for you to try to conjure up completely original ideas every time you post. Thus, it’s important for you to look to other content creators to help get your creative juices flowing. Start by looking at what other creators are doing that’s getting a lot of engagement. Specifically, pay attention to a variety of other creators whose brands are similar to yours, general trendsetters of the platform, and content curators. Save or take note of any content they post that you enjoy or that speaks to you.

With the content you’ve saved, try to identify which elements of it make it work. Which aspects can you replicate and include in your own content, and which aspects do you need to change to make it fit your brand? These could be anything from the format, the topic, the tone, or the trend that the content embodies. Searching for inspiration is an ongoing process, so if you find yourself bored of browsing content on a specific platform, that may be a sign that you should shift your focus to a different one.

Make Content Specifically for Each Platform

While you should continue to be primarily concerned with posting on the couple platforms that you identified in the steps above, it is also a good idea to have at least somewhat of a presence on every current platform, as well. That way, you will be able to reach the widest possible audience. If this sounds too daunting right now, that’s okay! Many times, however, content you post on one platform can be repurposed in a way that works for other platforms, so you really don’t have to invest much more energy in this process. For instance, if you make YouTube videos, you can take snippets and post them on places like Instagram or Facebook.

However, take heed, since platforms will punish you for posting content that is not native to them and/or directs users off their sites. For example, Instagram’s algorithm will suppress TikToks that are reuploaded to Reels (side tip: editing your TikToks/Reels in a third-party app and then uploading them to each respective platform can remedy this), and Facebook’s algorithm will suppress your post if it includes a link to a YouTube video instead of a video that is uploaded natively to Facebook. Therefore, make sure to upload content natively to each platform!

Moreover, it’s important that you use each platform as intended. While it would be extremely time-consuming to be totally invested in the cultures of every current platform, you should at least know the basics of each platform you intend on using, such as the optimal aspect ratio of pictures and lengths of different types of videos on Instagram. Check out these Sprout Social guides on social media image and video specs, respectively. If you don’t take the time to learn these things, your content will likely look out of place.

Overall, if you’ve grown weary of trying to foster your social media presence, you might just need to rethink the way you go about it! Start by focusing on specific platforms and forms of content that inspire you most, and stay up-to-date with what other creators are posting to add fuel and ideas to your creative fire. Once you’ve got those steps down, start to build up your presence on other platforms while keeping your efforts centered on those platforms and forms of content that inspire you. Best of luck!

Make Merch a Pleasure Not a Headache

By Maggie Adams and Connor Kozlecar

I’ll just say it. I hate dealing with merch! History has taught me that I prefer not to deal with any tasks that are in the physical world because I don’t have the same control as with tasks that can be completed online. Social media? Yes. Emailing? Yes. Marketing? Yes. Slacking humans I work with? Yes. Sending a shipment of vinyl across the ocean in hopes that it’ll arrive to a hotel during a very specific window of time that corresponds with an artist passing through on tour? NO. Absolutely not. However, there are some things in this life that must be dealt with! Our intern King, Connor, is amazing at handling the logistics of merch, and saves me from that hassle. I, on the other hand, can tell you about merch from a marketing and sales perspective. Read on if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by either aspect of your merch business! - Maggie

Connor modeling a rare Olivia Management t-shirt and the best trucker hat that ever existed courtesy of Smooth Hound Smith.

1. quality over quantitY

   If you have a plethora of fans that’ll buy up anything and everything you put in your store than you may at first have an averse reaction to this point. If you’re one of those people, I’m not necessarily talking to you. Sounds like you have great fans. But if you’re a DIY musician who’s growing your fan base and who has limited funds, then this is for you! It might seem like the better play to put up a lot of different designs on your store so that there’s something for everyone. However, paralysis of choice is a real thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to an online store with the intention of spending money (even using a gift card!) and become overwhelmed by all the options. To avoid your fans experiencing this on your web store, invest time and money into being really intentional about what you offer. Look at the buying history of your fans, and decide on products and high quality designs that not only represent what your fans like, but also accurately represent your brand. -Maggie

2. Work with companies that you trust or that have come highly recommended.

   Stickers: Sticker Mule - Check out our full blog post about Sticker Mule, and then head to their site to check out their offerings!

   T-shirts & Posters - Friendly Arctic - We can’t say enough good things about this team! They’re a screen printing company that handles all aspects of the merch ordering process from design to printing to shipping, and even in special cases, to fulfillment. Their design team is cool and creative, and you’ve probably seen their eye-catching work in the wild before. Not only are they quality designs, but they’re also affordable. Once you begin the order process, they’re wonderful at communicating about your designs, costs, and what to expect. We work with them for designs as often as possible!

   Fulfillment - Port Merch - These guys are pros at what they do. Just check out their client list, and it speaks to their trustworthiness and expertise in the field of artist merchandise fulfillment. Head to their info page which includes just about everything you’d ever want to know about working with them!

   On-demand products - Printful - If paying for merch in large quantities up front scares you, then consider companies like Printful! You can order on-demand or one-off designs. They’ll print, fulfill, and ship the product to wherever it needs to go. Printful also integrates with most website hosts, which makes life much easier if you want to continue running our online store and just add a few printful products to your existing offerings.

3. Collect designs along the way

   Our very own Smooth Hound Smith does a great job of this! One way to gather designs over time is to be aware of fans that might be posting fan artwork for fun. Usually they’ll tag you. Maybe they’ll even hashtag your band name. Save those to your Instagram account or a dropbox folder with that person’s handle or email address. You can even reach out on the spot to the fan and negotiate a fee for you to use their work on your merch. And oftentimes because they’re a fan, it might be more affordable than going to a popular designer that all of your friends are using! Another helpful habit to start is reaching out to designers or visual artists when you’re scrolling through your feed and you see a design you like! You can even create a spreadsheet or dropbox folder with designers and examples of their work for the next time you need inspiration for a new piece of merch. - Maggie

4. Take the time to work out a manageable process to fulfill orders.

   Process is everything! As a company, we strive to work through every process to the point of ease and excellence. Basically, if we see something that doesn’t work perfectly or could be better in some way, we change it! Recently I took the initiative to migrate our Ecommerce fulfillment system over to a newer, more user friendly, and overall time-saving system called Shipstation. The biggest upgrade in this change was the fact that our new system directly integrated into the selling channels that we use for our artists. What this means is that as soon as we received an order for any one of our artists, our new system would automatically gather all of the information from the website (SquareSpace in our case) and populate a new order with a unique shipping label all on its own, basically eliminating several tedious steps in our old process. Next, after filling out just a few dropdown fields and pressing a single button, our new system will have: 1. Created a shipping label 2. Automatically fulfilled said order in SquareSpace 3. Sent a confirmation email with tracking info to the customer and 4. saved me probably 10 minutes on shipping a single order. And let me tell you, that extra 10 minutes multiplied by a bunch of orders is game changing. Ultimately, taking the time to find a system that works best for you and your situation is paramount. Once you find your groove, get in a routine, and get going with the right tools, you will be able to spend less time worrying about fulfillment and more time doing the things you are passionate about! -Connor

5. Try using a tool or system that will help you deal with organization.

   Try thinking big. When it comes to efficiency for systems like these, it’s all about organization and practice. If you don’t care to work through an online system that keeps track of everything for you because you can’t afford it, thats fine! Just get in the habit of thinking ahead, being meticulous about your logging and inventory tracking, and thinking ahead. For many, the shipping system that you use online will keep track of your inventory for you! For us, since it integrates with several of our other processes, we use Airtable to keep track of all of our artists inventory, and have made it a habit in our fulfillment process to manual adjust it every time we remove or add a piece. It’s all about consistency here people! If you are a pen and paper person, try using a google doc instead! If you already use a typical spreadsheet, look into systems that integrate those options directly into your selling channels! If you have more inventory than you know what to do with, break it up into chunks and take it piece by piece. Its all about what you’re comfortable working with and that you have an organized, consistent plan/process! - Connor

We hope you’ve been able to take away some actionable tips from our experience with merch! Now check out this amazing video of Connor creating his own t-shirt folding apparatus.

The Making of a Great EPK

by Erin Anderson

In the arsenal of tools that artists have at their disposal, EPKs are pretty important. EPK stands for electronic press kit. Years ago, artists would mail physical press kits including paper print outs of bios, full copies of CDs, and full color photos or headshots. Thank goodness it’s no longer that time consuming or expensive to put your music and face in front of managers, agents, promoters, label execs and more. These days, an EPK is a one-page website link that incorporates content and information to help business people get a full picture of the artist, their music, their accomplishments, and their branding very quickly. You can check out an example below.

Here are my top 6 tips for making a great EPK:

1. Consider your audience.

   Your EPK shouldn’t be fan facing—it’s for business people. It’s a place for bragging on yourself, sharing stats that fans don’t care about, and sharing information that is important to the agents, managers, labels and promoters. The goal of your EPK should be to use this one page to give someone, in 30 seconds, an overview of who you are and what you have done. 

2. Bullet points are neat.

   We are all overwhelmed and inundated with information. If someone opens your EPK and sees lots of paragraphs, they will immediately close it. Don’t make them work to find information. Create sections on your EPK so folks can quickly sort through your career and understand what you have accomplished. Suggested sections for bullet points: press, career highlights, touring highlights, streaming/sales highlights, and sync licensing.

3. Get the good stuff above the fold.

   I would recommend using the entire width of the website so you can pack in a lot of things before anyone has to scroll. The name of the game here is: don’t make them work for it. Have a stunning image at the top, have your music embedded to stream right there. Put the most impressive press quotes or sales highlights high up on the page. Hit them with the good stuff! You should ultimately include your bio, but put those paragraphs of information towards the bottom of the page so that people intrigued by your images, branding, audio, and career highlights can read on if interested. 

4. Put your EPK unlinked on your website.

   Let your EPK live on your website, but don’t have it linked. This means, the general population cannot navigate to your EPK from your website, BUT business people that have been sent your EPK link can choose to peruse the rest of your website if they wish.  

5. Update your EPK often.

   Much like a resume, it is helpful to always have an updated EPK ready to go in case the need arises. Every time you get a new great review, release a new song or video, or hit a career milestone, make sure to update your EPK to reflect that!  

6. Do not lie or exaggerate.

   More often than you would believe, I am sent an EPK that has a gross exaggeration or straight up lie on it. If you played at 11am at a festival where Radiohead headlined at 11pm, you did not open for Radiohead. If your track has 22K streams on it, it does not have 30K. Do not round up, do not exaggerate. That just makes business people question what else that you have told them is smoke and mirrors! 

Okay. Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, here is what I suggest you include in your EPK! This is not an exhaustive list, so get creative with what you include. Just remember: the goal is to put your best foot forward and display who you are to business people quickly. 

What should be included in your EPK? 

• Photos — this is where your branding can shine. Use professional, on-brand photos. Use more than one.

• Embedded streaming music — use Soundcloud or Youtube, NOT Spotify because people without a Spotify subscription cannot listen to an embedded Spotify playlist. Make it easy for someone to listen to your music right there on the page and listen while they read more about you. 

• Embedded music videos — include both live performance videos and regular music videos if you have them. 

• Bullet point list of career highlights (can including touring, press, streams/sales, sync, awards, etc) 

  • However, if you have enough in one category, you could break this out into further more specific sections.

• Artist Bio

A Playlist for Your Nashville Valentine

by Kylie Rose

Valentine’s Day, but Nashville edition. No matter your relationship status this Sunday, we’re bringing you stellar music to celebrate this holiday.

Check out our playlist, “Nashville’s Valentine,” for a perfect date night or an evening exploring new tunes!

Nashville based artists and their tales of love, for your Valentine's Day listening.

Happy Valentines Day <3

Street Corner Symphony!

by Mackenzie Fey

In case you haven’t heard, things have been pretty exciting over here at Olivia Management. With the new year came a new addition to the roster: Street Corner Symphony. We’re beyond honored to be working with these guys and absolutely over the moon about getting to be a part of the art they bring into the world.

Street Corner Symphony is a contemporary a cappella group based out of Nashville, Tennessee, founded in May of 2010 to compete in NBC's all-vocal competition, The Sing-Off (which they did more than great on). They’ve done countless amounts of shows performing across the US and globe with albums for any season on every platform you can think of. Their music reaches every corner in music ranging from pop, rock, gospel…you name it, they sing it. There’s truly something in this for everyone. Not only are they incredibly talented guys, but they’re kind, smart, dedicated, driven, and so much more.

Partner Series: 5 Questions with Tone Tree Music

By Erin Anderson and Maggie Adams featuring Elly Tate

One of our favorite parts of doing business is finding partners that we trust and using them as much as possible. Tone Tree is one such partner. Erin met the founder Shawn Fowler back in 2010 when she worked at Amazon Music and he was distributing the Civil Wars. Who would have guessed that more than a decade later we would still be working closely together on music we love? A few years ago, Shawn brought Elly Tate on board at Tone Tree and we have loved working with her ever since. Elly is the organizational backbone of Tone Tree, in charge of wrangling assets from artists, meeting deadlines, and setting up clients for success by covering all of the logistical bases. During her time in the music industry, she has worn hats including manager, business management, agent assistant, and now distribution coordinator. Elly is well-versed in artist relations and organization, which makes her a huge asset to our team. As a part of our on-going mission for music business education, we asked Elly some of your questions about distribution, and she thoughtfully answered them for you.

If you’re an independent artist looking for a distributor, what you’re really doing is starting to build your own label.

1. How long of a lead time do we need to put a single out? 

I’d recommend delivering 3-5 weeks ahead of the release date, though depending on which online distributor you use (Tunecore, CD Baby, Distrokid, etc.) they may have different guidelines. Each release ultimately goes through a review process before it’s sent to DSPs, so allowing for a longer lead time gives you space to

1. Address any edits/corrections that the review process kicks back

2. Ensure that your release goes live with all DSPs at the same time (each platform has a different turnaround time once sent)

3. Utilize the Spotify for Artists Pitch Tool, which is available up to seven days ahead of your release.

Getting assets together can sometimes be out of your control, so my best advice is to work ahead and give yourself time for master revisions, artwork revisions, and other unexpected delays before delivery. And it’s not a big deal to shift your plans. The most important thing is that you’re happy with the final product!

2. What timeline is optimal for putting out an album and/or a single?

Digital distribution is a singles-driven market, but we’ve found that most programmers still like to see projects culminating in EPs and albums. For that reason, we recommend releasing several singles spaced 3-7 weeks apart ahead of a full project. Each single is an opportunity to build momentum around the release, grow your numbers, and get in front of curators for potential playlist placement. Sometimes we’ll release as many as six singles ahead of a ten song album if that makes sense for the rest of the artist & team. 

3. What should we look for in a distributor?

If you’re an independent artist looking for a distributor, what you’re really doing is starting to build your own label. Look for someone who loves your music, understands your goals for the future, and can confidently communicate your story to the folks at Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, Pandora, etc. There are tens of thousands of songs released in the U.S. each week, so a good distributor will be someone that programmers look to week after week for suggestions of what to pay attention to. 

4. What does Tone Tree look for in artists?

First and most importantly, we have to love the music. From there, we’ll consider several other factors. Do we love the music and feel that we could have playlisting success with it (sometimes the answer is no!)? Do we have space in our schedule to give the release the right amount of attention, and does the artist’s ideal timeline work with ours? We’re a small company that is hyper-focused on the artists we work with, so balancing our calendar is an important part of doing our job well. 

One of my favorite parts of my role at Tone Tree is being involved in the early stages of release strategy. Shawn & I both love to work closely with artists from the start of a project to map out a plan and help them connect with other team members (like PR) if needed. For that reason, we choose not to work on one-off singles or projects that are already partially released. 

5. Do some distribution companies help get songs placed on Spotify playlists?

Yes, some do! But places like Tunecore, CDBaby, DistroKid, Ditto and others are aggregators, so they do not. The value-add of working with a company like Tone Tree is that we will both get your music on DSPs and, through our relationships, be your advocate at places like Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music that curate playlists with high listenership. This is different from submitting your music to third-party playlisters, though we do have a few partners in that space as well. It’s worth mentioning that no distributor should guarantee playlist placements. A distributor's role is to pitch the music, but it’s ultimately up to the programmers to make the final call. 

Thanks to Elly and Shawn for being our partners and contributing to our efforts in educating, supporting, and believing in artists! Go check them out @tonetree or at their website www.tonetreemusic.com, and give their roster a listen on all the DSPs.

Welcoming New Interns to the Team!

New year, new semester. We all know what this means: great new additions to our team! As we begin to put 2020 behind us, we’re so excited for what lies ahead with these new interns we’re bringing on board. We’re over the moon to introduce you to Madison Moll and Kylie Rose. Keep reading to hear a little bit about why we just had to have them join us this semester.

Madison Moll

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

I sing and songwrite on my own time, I love to collect crystals and color in coloring books. I also have been making candles recently out of my old candles, and that's been fun. I love to write in general, I've tried to start a blog multiple times to no avail, but I'm working on it! I love exploring Nashville, going to coffee shops and thrift stores. When it's nice out I love to go on walks, hammock, and swim!

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Ooooooh, honestly, probably pasta. There are so many ways to prepare it and I basically already eat it everyday! I also love sushi.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a manager, but most of all a creative in the music industry. Whether that be management or marketing or a creative director of a publishing company or label, I want to be able to be creative every day that I work.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

Some of my favorite musicians of all-time include Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, and Sara Barielles, buuuuut, recently I've been listening to a lot (and LOVING) Clairo, Maude Letour, Hippo Campus, Josie Dunne, Phoebe Bridgers, Ben Rector, Lennon Stella, and Still Woozy. One of my favorite shows that I went to was a band called "Joan" in the Highwatt, also in the Highwatt I went to a "Vacation Manor" show that was really cool! I love listening to Alternative, pop, some christian, folk-pop, and some country music!

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

The live music, pre-Covid and hopefully sometime in the near future! Nothing is better than hearing music live in Music City surrounded by so many creative people, getting to meet those people, and make connections! I also love Love Circle because I can see the whole city.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I first heard of Olivia Management at a Music Row Promotion Event with Smooth Hound Smith and it was one of my favorite events. I love OM’s vibe and mission and I think they are very ambitious and a great place to learn. I have since only heard the best things from previous interns and other peers about OM, which drew me in. I'm very passionate about learning more about the industry, especially artist management, so I felt that this was the best and most perfect opportunity for me and my development as a professional.

What would you like to get out of this internship?

I want to connect with my co-interns, with the team, and learn more about artist management! I'm hoping to learn more about myself and what I truly want in the industry as well as gain some new skills!

Kylie Rose

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

Above all else, I honestly just love being around other people. Anything where I get to learn about other's stories and what makes them come alive! More specifically though, you can find me watching Sing Street, at the GoodWill Outlet, grabbing some matcha, making a slightly above average apple pie, attempting to learn photography, or memorizing each and every Just Dance routine.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Vegan chicken nuggets, it's honestly questionable how much my diet consists of them.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I would hopefully like to be managing world tours, or working at a label in Europe. My biggest passions are travel and music, but wherever I end up, I hope to be constantly evolving and helping inspire others.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

Favorite Artists: Jon Bellion, Novo Amor, Jack Garratt, Joy Oladokun, Passenger, Sleeping at Last, Declan McKenna, Anderson Paak, The Wrecks, Jet Black Alley Cat, and Mr. Ed Sheeran himself. Favorite Genres: Acoustic-Folk and Indie-Rock Favorite Shows: The "Live. Life. Love." suicide prevention benefit concert last November will always be one of my favorites. Not only was the message so beautifully empathetic, but the lineup was incredible. That night consisted of Jon Bellion, Lizzo, Lovelytheband, Chelsea Cutler, Louis Tomlinson, along with a few other Nashville local acts. I remember screaming the lyrics "Tell me what you hate about me", from Jon Bellion's "Good Things Fall Apart", to some random strangers. Those random strangers are now some of my closest friends. That was the last time I really got to experience that live-music adrenaline before COVID-19 hit, and I miss it so dearly.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

Coming from Louisville, Kentucky, I love how Nashville still has that southern charm whilst maintaining a bigger city feel. I also love the inspiration everywhere you turn, and how people aren't afraid to go after their passions.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

Reading about Erin's story was my biggest pull to interview for Olivia Management. Female empowerment within the music industry is lacking big time, so it was incredible to find a company with women at its core. OM first appeared to me as a confident, genuine, and values-based business that I could not wait to get to learn under.

What would you like to get out of this internship?

I want to experience the artist management industry's most intricate functions, especially under the lens of a global pandemic. I hope to understand how to adapt when change comes around, and how to maximize growth among artists.

The BEST Christmas Songs

by Kaila Divak

Hello, hello! I’ve put together a playlist of my favorite Christmas songs to fuel your gift wrapping and cookie baking this holiday season. These are some I’ve got some classics and some newer tunes in there, as well. Shameless Christmas music listening is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, and I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do. Happy Holidays!

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Giving Tuesday: Girl's Write Nashville

A few years ago, we hosted a fundraiser in the form of a concert at the Analog for our 7th anniversary. The funds raised through ticket sales (almost $1K!) were donated to Girls Write Nashville, a spectacular local Nashville organization that uses music to help students process trauma.

Girls Write Nashville participant performing. Photo by Jonathan Sommer at Olivia Management’s 7th Anniversary Concert

Here’s how they describe their mission: Girls Write Nashville is a songwriting mentorship program and production community for middle and high school girls in Nashville, TN. (We're also a 501(c)(3) public charity which means your donation is fully tax deductible!) Our organization is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity and so all of our programs are entirely scholarship based! The cost/value for one girl to complete our six-month online program is about $500. In this program, students are guided through the process of writing and recording original work by a professional teaching artist in a supportive community of peers. Our program also provides important Positive Childhood Experiences that are scientifically proven to reduce the longterm negative effects of trauma, so we are proud to continue to serve during the Covid-19 pandemic as our society undergoes a collective trauma. 

Throughout 2020, Girls Write Nashville has stepped up their programming because they know how important their work is helping students process their lives, and what a year to process! They have:

• moved all programming to distance learning

• extended programming through the summer and fall because we know how important the Girls Write community is to our students

• offered free online songwriting classes to all of MNPS during the month of May

• Partnered with The Contributor (local newspaper) to publish bilingual youth-written pieces

Girls Write Nashville participant performing with her songwriting mentor. Photo by Jonathan Sommer at Olivia Management’s 7th Anniversary Concert

Today is #GivingTuesday, and I am raising money for 501(c)(3) nonprofit Girls Write Nashville and their Community Powered Scholarship Fund! I really believe in this organization and the way they are reimagining music education and working to make it empowering, equitable and accessible for all. We’re looking to raise $5,000 that will go directly toward free participation for smart, cool, deserving students in Title I schools in Nashville in virtual programming that 95% of students said was essential to their mental health during a time of isolation! Would you consider donating today? 

WAYS TO DONATE

• FUNDRAISER: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/girls-write-nashville/givingtuesday-help-students-singthroughthequarantine-with-our-community-powered-scholarship-fund

• VENMO: @girlswritenashville

• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/donate/380281096381971/2014574065345287

Small Business Saturday

By Erin Anderson

My favorite thing about working with independent artists is helping them think about their music career as a business. I have been teaching entrepreneurship at the college level for 8 years now, and I love incorporating entrepreneurial concepts into managing artists. It's exciting to build new revenue streams, identify new opportunities, and optimize their businesses.

On Small Business Saturday, consider the ways you can support small businesses and independent artists that you love. One way you can support us as a small company that’s been in the business of helping artists for 8 years now is to check out our artist’s online stores that offer apparel, vinyl, cameos, handwritten lyrics, and more. Shop small, y’all! Click the links below and scroll down to see some of our other favorite small businesses to check out today!

Ruthie Collins

Visit the Store

Smooth Hound Smith

Visit the Store

Hush Kids

Visit the Store

Derek Webb

Visit the Store

Jill Andrews

Visit the Store

Local businesses we love

Backslide Vintage

Our favorite Nashville vintage shop is owned by our very own Smooth Hound Smith! Check out their unique stock and their Yelp page here!

Thistle Farms

Treat yourself or a loved one to candles, essential oils, lip balms, and more while also benefiting women survivors. Click here to shop.

Friendly Arctic

Friendly Arctic has been our longtime favorite company for merch AND they have a Small Business Saturday sale going on now! You can purchase beautiful screen printed posters and more on their website here.

Partner Series: Sticker Mule

By Maggie Adams

Welcome to our brand new blog series featuring some of our favorite people and companies to work with! In this series I’ll be sharing and recommending companies that we have personal experience with so that it hopefully makes your life a little easier when you’re searching for the same type of partners.

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3 Things We Love About Sticker Mule

There are only a couple merch companies that we can whole-heartedly recommend and Sticker Mule is one of them! They offer high quality and affordable customizable products including stickers, buttons, acrylic pins, branded packing tape, labels, and more.

1. Amazing weekly promotions

Empower Music Therapy LLC buttons

It sounds a bit silly to be a “fan” of a merch company, but if you get an adrenaline rush from good deals like I do then you’ll understand. What made me remember Sticker Mule after ordering from them for the first time was that every week they put a product on sale, and send out a very short & sweet email about it. And by “on sale”, I mean you’ll usually save well over 25% on your order. This makes a huge difference when you’re ordering small products that you likely can’t make too much of a profit on. The weekly promotional sales are also a great time to purchase promo products for your merch store or your business! Recently, we purchased 50 buttons for $20 with their weekly promotion, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find prices like that at such a low order quantity. If you want even more bang for your buck, use our referral code for $10 off your order!

2. Easy ordering process

Hush Kids magnet for our office fridge

No matter what product you’re ordering, you can easily upload your custom design, and then get a proof of the order before it’s finalized. You’ll get a text and an email when the proof is ready, and from there you can make changes if the product doesn’t look how you imagined. One Friday night, I was trying to get my order in before midnight so that I could take advantage of that week’s deal. I was a bit worried the proof wouldn’t come back in time for me to finalize the order, but was pleasantly surprised when my revision of the proof was ready to view in less than an hour.

If you’re ordering stickers, quality is super important especially if you envision the stickers being used outdoors on car windows or being put up all around town for some good old fashioned, guerilla-style marketing. Thankfully, there’s a helpful sticker printing guide so you can make sure that the quality of your custom stickers will be up to snuff!

Free swag with every purchase

3. High quality service + products

I’ve purchased several different products over the years for our artists, and what I’ve received in the mail has never disappointed. There’s something nostalgic and exciting about receiving a physical package on your doorstep, and Sticker Mule includes a bunch of well-branded swag with each order so that it actually feels like you’re getting a gift delivered to your house. When it comes to ordering online from a company, what keeps people coming back for more is the small, unexpected touches of detail that you receive with an order. Sticker Mule does this super well, and even offers branded packaging on their site in case you’re inspired to up your merch delivery game too.

P.S. Don’t forget to use the handy sticker printing guide to order your custom products in a pinch!

P.P.S. Check out our friend Kate Kelly’s new company, Empower Music Therapy!

5 Work-Life Balance Tips For Working From Home

By Devin Renspie

In times where much of our work and life is forced to occur in the same place, a.k.a, at home, it’s extra important to make sure your work/life balance is maintainable for you. While ultimately everyone's healthy balance will look different, here are a few tips to get you thinking about how you can make this new norm work for you.

Create a separate working space

If you’re working from home, you need a dedicated space to work from. If you have a spare room, say hello to your new office! If not, no worries! Designating a spot with a comfortable chair and enough counterspace that you can center your workspace around works, too. Having a separate space for work is critical in creating a productive work environment at home. Moreover, this separate space makes it easier to switch between work and personal time.

Make transitions to and from work

When working away from home, your commute acts as a buffer between your work time and your personal time, but when you’re working from home, you have to develop this buffer on your own. To do this, think about what your usual commute entails. Maybe that means listening to music or a podcast to mimic what you do on your drive to work, or maybe that involves walking around the block to mimic your walk to work. Whatever you choose to incorporate, make sure that you’re consistent in the amount of time you spend doing your new routine. It’s best if your evening routine is your morning routine in reverse, but ultimately, stick with what works best for you.

Find time to socialize and take breaks

Working from home can be isolating and draining, especially if you’re used to breaking up your workday with the casual interactions that working at an office can bring. To combat the loneliness that working from home can bring, make an effort to reach out to your colleagues a few times a day. At Olivia Management, we have a #random Slack channel where we can talk about anything non-work related, which helps to encourage these casual chats that would usually occur in the office.

Taking regular breaks can also help if working remotely has been leaving you drained. The Pomodoro Technique recommends taking short, 3-5 minute breaks between 25 minute work sessions. After four pomodoros, take a longer, 15-30 minute break before beginning the cycle again. Even if you just use this time to get up and stretch, taking breaks can help your motivation last throughout the day and boost your time management and organization skills.

Disconnect outside of work hours

In the spirit of keeping routines around your work, make sure you stick to your set work hours. You might be tempted to work later into the night than you normally do since you no longer have a commute to worry about, but doing this is a slippery slope to having work take over your entire day. To further separate your work from your personal life, consider disconnecting from the channels you use to communicate for work in the evenings and on the weekends. For me, this means putting my Slack on do not disturb outside of my work hours.

Plan out your down time

Even with the above tips, you might still struggle with separating your work life from your personal life when working from home. That’s why it helps to plan out your downtime so that you’re more motivated to get off of work on time. Maybe that looks like going for an after-work walk, catching an episode of a show you like, going to the grocery store, cooking dinner, or FaceTiming with friends or family. Plan to do something that takes your mind off of work for a while. Bonus points if that something involves a change of scenery, since it’s easy to forget that there’s a whole world out there!

Work! Life! Balance! Oh My!

Written By Kate Cosentino

Work life balance-the hardest balance to strike. There’s never enough time to live all of the lives I want to live, much less to check every box on my list or else I’d be a famous singer/songwriter, professional roller skate dancer, polyglot with the cleanest house you’ve ever seen. But alas— I’m only a fraction of that dream human being. In elementary school, I remember reading The BFG by Roald Dahl and learning that his mythical “Big friendly giants” did not have to sleep-saying, why sleep when you can live double the amount of time? That thought has always stuck with me. Life is so amazing and I don’t want to waste a second! It’s no wonder I’m a a three on the enneagram and I feel every single second cramming each one as full of as much productivity as possible. With that being said, I am constantly studying ways to combat my need to fit everything into the 7 days a week. Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the most recent book to change my life layout.

Covey divides his schedule into quadrants to be re-evaluated weekly (or however regularly you want).

Image made by Kate Cosentino on Canva

As you can see in the image above, Quadrant 1 represents things that are both urgent and important. Examples include: deadline driven projects, urgent occurrences (like a car crash or leak in a pipe). Quadrant 2 are things that are important but not urgent. These are the things I typically care the most about like making music and working on my passion projects and career. Quadrant 3 is urgent but not important like maybe a call you have to answer or upkeep tasks you have to do. Finally Quadrant 4 are things not as urgent and not important so your Netflix and your Fortnite. Below is what a lot of my quadrant activities look like:

For me, Quad 1 & 3 are ever present so I use my planner to make sure I prioritize items in Quad 2. For example, I block out an hour or so daily for physical activity/exercise. That is not an urgent task but it is important to my mental and physical health. I also have to block out time where I’m working on me and my music because no one will give me that time but myself. Covey also suggests blocking in a healthy amount of leisure time from Quad 4. I think that is important or else you risk burning out and living in Quad 4. If I work too hard without a break I will get lost in movies and TV shows because I have no more brain power to keep going. If I schedule in fun nights with friends or time for my favorite show during the week, I get a healthy break that makes me more motivated to keep working.

I personally love using a physical planner with color coded pens and highlighters. I assign each quadrant a color. Quad 1 is pink, Quad 2 is purple, Quad 3 is blue and Quad 4 is yellow. It helps me visually how much time I am spending on each activity. This works well in Google Calendar where you can color coat activities as well-with the added bonus of a notification to your phone or two your email. Personally I love having the visual of these planners and blocking off time so that I don’t get too far behind on any of my goals—especially if they’re not urgent. And it makes sure I’m balancing work and play!

If you want a physical planner yourself I would recommend the Happy Planner of the Passion Planner. They come in varying sizes and layouts. I love the fun stickers and designs! Happy planning!

7 Patreons We Support + 7 Tips for Patreon Success

by Maggie Adams

Launching Patreons is a new-found hobby of mine thanks to the pandemic. During a time when all of us in the music industry are experiencing financial loss, how do we make up some of that income? For us it’s been partially through tapping into an artist’s fanbase, and creating a new monthly revenue stream. I’ve enjoyed the new challenge of brainstorming, building, launching, and largely managing a few Patreon accounts over the past six months. I’ve also been able to talk to a Patreon artist liaison to get tips on best practices for Patreon setup and get critiques for how to improve our own artists’ accounts.

In this post, I’ll go through 7 Patreon accounts that Erin or I support, and point out something we like about each so that you can steal some of these smart ideas for a Patreon of your own.

1. Alex Wong

Tip #1: Give the people what they want.

If you haven’t heard of Alex Wong before, we urge you to check out his beautiful music. Alex is a consummate creator, and Patrons will get the benefit of all of the amazing videos, vlogs, and series he is running. One tip you can jot down from Alex’s Patreon is that he has a $100 tier for super fans where after 1 year of patronage, you get a private concert. It’s a great idea to have a higher level of patronage like this even if you want to limit this tier to a few people, so that it can remain manageable for you. There is likely someone out there who wants to give you the big bucks. Let them!

2. Ali Sperry

Tip #2: Offer more than music.

Ali is a seasoned songwriter AND yoga instructor, so she created a tier designed for her Patrons to learn something from her. Patrons can take advantage of her knowledge and request lessons on either topic. If you’re like Ali, and you have skills you know people would like to learn from then offer that up! While talking about music 100% of the time may make sense, Patreon is a place to give fans more of a window into your day-to-day life. Whether it’s yoga, cooking, or poetry, you can take what you’re already doing on a daily basis and turn it into a benefit for your Patrons.

3. Alright Alright

Tip #3: Branding, baby!

We love Alright Alright for their creativity and authenticity. When creating a Patreon, it’s important to remember to build the tiers the way that best represents you. One benefit the band is offering is a monthly happy hour Zoom where they share a cocktail, the recipe for it, and share some music. The perfect pairing. Not only are their benefits on-brand, but the aesthetics of their Patreon has a cohesive look with branded tier images and names to make Patrons feel like they’re part of the musical process.

4. Andrew Duhon

#4. Consider the effort tiers will require. Make it manageable.

There are many ways to set up a Patreon, and to be honest, if you’re an artist that’s doing most everything yourself, it can be overwhelming to manage a bunch of tiers and figure out how to value different benefits. We like that Andrew Duhon has opted for a simpler approach that’s just as effective. He has one tier only at just $5, but has acquired a whopping 192 patrons since his quarantine launch. He posts at least twice a week with consistent and fresh content, offering new covers, new songs, and free access to livestreams. On his about page he also describes his Patreon as a “testing lab,” inviting Patrons to give feedback about what they want out of their Patronage. We love this manageable one-tier method!

5. Derek Webb

Tip #5: Content windowing on socials is essential to grow.

Where do we start with Derek Webb? Having an entrepreneurial background and a mind for marketing, Derek hits all the right notes on his Patreon. He delivers multiple weekly series with branded images for each, a consistent format for each, posted on a consistent day and time. He teases everything on socials, which is an essential key to success with Patreon. How will your fans know what they’re missing unless you tell them? One cool thing in particular that Derek does each week is create a public post on his Patreon that he references in social posts as his “blog.” Fans go to this blog, end up on Patreon, realize how cool it is, and then stay and pay for a tier because of the free thing he got them to view by posting to his socials. Funneling at its finest.

6. Jill Andrews

Tip #6: Share the raw recordings and dusty demos.

If your voice often gets compared to that of an angel, it’s safe to say that even your most basic demos and work tapes will be considered magical to your fans. This is the case for Jill Andrews. She could literally sing the phone book, and I would listen to the whole thing. Of course I’m biased, but the the point is, don’t be afraid to share things that you may never release to the public. Patreon is a place for your true fans, and these fans likely don’t write songs for a living. Give them a glimpse into the process by sharing work tapes, demos, and the stories behind them. In doing so, you will also have the chance to give those old recordings a home where they’ll be appreciated. Let go of perfection, people! It’s tough, but it’ll pay off…literally.

7. Ruthie Collins

Tip #7: Give fans one-on-one, personal access.

Although not everyone may have the time for this, it behooves you to have weekly benefits for your Patrons. Patreon states clearly that your Patrons are more likely to stick around if you post at least twice per month. Ruthie goes above and beyond by posting weekly affirmation videos, which bring comfort and peace for the week ahead. Another thing we’d highly recommend doing if you’re comfortable and able is to set up a way to chat 1 on 1 with your Patrons. Ruthie offers weekly messaging back and forth with her highest tier of Patrons via the Marco Polo app. There are many different apps or services you could use for something like this, but the important aspect is the personal access you’re giving to fans. Your super fans will pay top dollar to feel like they have a close relationship with you. After a while, those fans may even end up feeling like family!

5 Social Media Tips to Build Your Artist Following

By Devin Renspie

If you clicked on this article, you’re probably an artist just starting to try to establish yourself on social media. If this is the case, you’re in good company, and hopefully the following tips will make this process feel a little less daunting!

Have a Cohesive Presence

The first step in building a social media following is to make sure that you have accounts on every relevant social media platform. Even if you’re not as invested in some platforms as much as you are in others, this assures that you already have your profile claimed in case you decide to use it more and that you reach the widest possible audience.

Moreover, it is essential that all of your accounts look and feel the same so that fans of yours can easily find you across all platforms. While a big part of this is ensuring that things like your username, profile picture, and bio are the same (or at least similar), it is also important that you have the same content on each platform. Software like Later allow you to easily schedule content that will automatically be published to your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts, or any combination of the four (and there’s a free version!), so you don’t have to worry about remembering and scrambling to post on each platform simultaneously.

Do More Than Promote Yourself

While there is a time for self-promotion, that time is after you’ve given your audience content to connect with. If you’re like me, you like to have a game plan before you dive into something as expansive as building a social media following, and luckily, the 70-20-10 rule exists to help you do that! The 70-20-10 rule is a general guideline concerning how much of each type of content should appear on your social media. As such, 70% of your content should build your brand, 20% of your content should build your network, and 10% of your content should be self-promotion. For more information on the 70-20-10 rule, check out this sonicbids article. If you still aren’t sure what to post, the following two points will give you some more insight regarding how to create content that your audience will engage with.

Focus on an Area of Content

Going back to having a cohesive presence, in order for your social media content itself to feel cohesive, it’s important to focus your efforts on one area of content. These main areas are documentation, education, and entertainment. When choosing an area, be sure to think about how it will fit into your brand, since whatever area you choose will be the basis of your brand-building content (the “70” in the 70-20-10 rule).

If you choose documentation, your content will mainly focus on the journey of your music career and what it looks like behind-the-scenes. A great example of an artist with this type of content is Jon Bellion, who posts a lot of “making of” videos, such as The Making Of All Time Low. Alternatively, with education, your content will mainly focus on teaching your audience a skill such as music production. Andrew Huang does an amazing job at this. Lastly, the arguably hardest area of content to make is that of entertainment, since your personality has to be the driving force. That being said, it is possible to include aspects of entertainment into the other two areas of content, as well. For more information about how to utilize the three types of content, check out Burstimo’s article.

Connect with Your Audience

Connection is the basis of social media platforms, and it should be the basis of your social media accounts, too. When you’re deciding what to post on your socials, be sure to keep in mind that social media is there to help you form relationships with your followers (and other music industry professionals). Therefore, no matter what area of content you focus on, make sure that you’re speaking to your audience, not at them. That is, find ways to allow your audience to communicate with you. If you’re thinking of focusing on documenting your journey as an artist, consider asking fans what they think of your unreleased songs. If you want to focus more on educating your audience, consider asking your followers what they want to learn more about. If you’re basing your content on entertainment, consider making content reacting to your followers’ questions or submissions. There are infinite ways to connect with your audience, but the bottom line is that your followers need to feel involved in your work and in your life in order for you to have a lasting impact on them.

Be Consistent in Your Efforts

If you only take one thing away from this article, let it be this. Social media is an art form, and like any art, there is no one way to do it. That being said, consistency is key to getting better at anything, and it is also key to growing an engaged following. To maintain such consistency, try to post on your socials around once a day. If this sounds too overwhelming, consider posting consistently at whatever interval feels maintainable to you, but keep in mind that once a day is ideal. To get the most engagement, check out Sprout Social’s best times to post on social media.

By consistently creating content and making efforts to connect with your followers using the tips I listed above, you are sure to accumulate followers that are invested in you and what you do. Best of luck in your social media endeavors!

My Favorite Music in TV & Movies

by Kaila Divak

1.     “Tiny Dancer” – Elton John – Almost Famous

I honestly think this song has to be at the top of my list, because it is tattooed on my wrist for the rest of my life. When “Tiny Dancer” plays in Almost Famous, the whole band is singing together on the bus. Sir Elton John himself said that this song became as famous as it is today because of this movie. It came at such a pivotal part of the film, right after a huge fight, where nobody was speaking. One of the men in the band begins to sing along with the song, playing on the radio, and everyone else just follows suit.

2.     “Epilogue” – Justin Hurwitz – La La Land

This one really pulls at the heart strings for me. I think I’ve always loved this song, but the idea that it was in the most frustrating part of the movie for me really made me overlook it for a long time. Once I watched La La Land a few times and understood that not every movie needs to end on a happy note, I realized how amazing this song was. It brings you along on a seven-and-a-half-minute story, and you don’t even need the video to picture what is going on, in my opinion. I also love how the end of the song is so simple, yet so heartbreaking. If you really listen to the end of the song, Sebastian doesn’t play the last note on the piano. I always thought that that was symbolism for him not wanting him and Mia’s relationship to end.

 3.     “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” – Jim Croce – Stranger Things

This one was awesome to me. I remember watching this part of the episode in season three of Stranger Things and immediately wanting to be a music supervisor. It obviously fit perfectly because the title is “Don’t Mess Around with Jim” and the scene was focused on Jim Hopper. He just successfully managed to get his step-daughter and her boyfriend to break up, and he is over the moon about it. It cuts from his initial satisfaction about the breakup to him screaming along to the song in his Bronco truck. The transition to this was unbelievable and could not have been placed better.

 4.     “Joshua Tree” – Ruthie Collins – The Ranch

I love the way this Ruthie Collins song was placed in the Netflix series, The Ranch. The song has a pretty melancholy sound to it, and in this case, it is playing in the background at the bar where Mary meets Heather and Luke to pick up the things that they saved for her when she was evicted from her house while in jail. It is a very powerful scene, as she refuses all help from them. “Joshua Tree” is super powerful in this part of the show, and I think that the music supervisors did a great job at placing Ruthie’s song here.

 (This one’s on Netflix… Part 7, Episode 5 of The Ranch)

5.     “Between the Bars” – Elliott Smith – Stuck in Love

I love the music in this movie. This song is played as Louis and Samantha sit in his car and share their favorite songs. Louis asks Samantha to close her eyes and listen, and she starts to cry because she’s scared of committing to having feelings for someone. I think that this song was a very indie choice, and it fits so well. It became sort of mainstream because of this moment in the movie. And I will always think of this moment in this movie when I hear this song.

Let's Talk About Mental Health: World Mental Health Day 2020

By Devin Renspie

Find a list of mental health resources by scrolling down the article or see them here.

When I work with artists, I sometimes feel like a large chunk of my job is to protect them from burnout and provide them encouragement when the industry gets them down. Personally, I have the same struggle that my artists do. Burnout is real, and some weeks I feel like a failure when I cannot get any doors to open for the talented people that I represent. Add in a pandemic, lost wages, cancelled shows, and double the work for half of the pay, and it's been a crazy combination of bad these days. One of the ways I am combatting the burnout and depression is carving out a consistent chunk of time for myself, and letting my staff and artists know that I am taking a mental break for my own sanity. I have decided to start taking 3 hours off on Tuesday mornings, and let me tell you… it has been life changing. Sometimes it's the little things we do for ourselves that can turn the tides.

-Erin Anderson

When talking to team members and artists this week about mental health, I was confronted with the reality that it’s very hard to share about our own journeys! The sentiment that kept coming up was, “I don’t feel equipped to share because I’m still on my mental health journey. I’m not perfect.” This resonated with me because that’s just it. None of us have our mental health completely in check and squared away because it’s an ongoing and ever-changing situation, but when we talk about this we realize that it’s OK not to have all of our shit together all the time. Lately, I’ve realized I’m at my best when I’m making a point to connect with others. It’s easy to get into a pattern of isolation during this wild year, but if you spontaneously call up a friend, chances are your day will get better. It’s OK to ask for help, and it’s OK to lean on your nearest and dearest.

-Maggie Adams

Everyone’s journey with mental health looks and feels a little different. One common denominator, however, is how real it is. Everyday, I’m learning something new about myself, my own mental health, and what that can look like for me. I’ve always struggled with allowing myself to feel any sort of emotion, ultimately suppressing what makes me human. I’m not always the happy and sunny person that I want those around me to believe I am, and that’s okay. For me, it’s working on being open, honest, vulnerable, and reaching out for help. It’s allowing myself the space to healthily process what I need to in my own time.

-Mackenzie Fey

My mental health is something that I've struggled with for a long time. While I have worked hard to get to where I am now, there are still days when I feel overwhelmed by feelings of depression and anxiety. With everything occurring in our country and in our world, I have found it especially important to make sure that I am carving out time for myself. For me, this looks like scheduling a few hours a week to get my thoughts out in the form of journaling or poetry/lyrics and to work on making or accomplishing something for myself, such as writing music. I also have found the need to remind myself to take the time to chat online with friends that I can't see in person and that it's okay to just exist for a bit without tending to any responsibilities. I think it's essential for us to stay focused on the things and people we love so that we can remember why we're here when times are tough.

-Devin Renspie

Mental Health Resources

Below are a few resources we’ve compiled that we’ve personally used and/or think could be useful to you. Find comfort in knowing that you’re never alone in what you’re going through and that these feelings are temporary. Never give up on yourself because you are worth more than the space you take up in this world.

Immediate Assistance/24-Hour Helplines

In case of an emergency, or if you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

• Crisis Text Line - Text TWLOHA to 741741

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 800-273-8255

  • For hearing and speech impaired with TTY equipment: 800-799-4889

  • Español: 888-628-9454

• National Child Abuse Hotline - 800-422-4453

• National Domestic Violence Hotline - 800-799-7233

• Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) - 800-656-4673

• The Trevor Project - 866-488-7386

• Trans Lifeline - 877-565-8860

  • Canada: 877-330-6366

• Veterans Crisis Line - 800-273-8255 (press 1)

• List of Country-Specific Suicide Crisis Lines - find your local crisis helpline if you are located outside of the US.

• Drug & Alcohol Abuse Hotlines - 844-597-0006

Nashville-Based Resources

• Entertainment Health Services (EHS) - receive counseling, life coaching, and workshops from counselors who understand the demands of the entertainment industry.

• Porter's Call - obtain short-term counseling, encouragement, and support geared toward touring artists at no charge.

• Onsite Workshops - travel to a rustic retreat environment that offers six-day group programs, residential treatment, intensive individual counseling, adventure therapy, and professional training.

• Empower Music Therapy - Adult support group (virtual) every 3rd Thursday of the month. Also offers music therapy and music lessons for mental health and transitional challenges of all ages

• Nashville Therapist Resource Doc - short list of reputable Nashville therapists

Music Industry-Specific Resources

• MusiCares - receive short-term financial assistance for personal or addiction needs.

• Music Health Alliance - get health-related guidance and assistance in paying medical bills.

• Backline Care - connect with a case manager who can direct you to mental health and wellness resources.

National Resources

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - access education, support groups, informational publications, and presentations geared towards both those with mental illness and their family and friends.

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - obtain government-sanctioned research surrounding mental health.

• Psychology Today: Find a Therapist - search for therapists across the US that fit the criteria you enter.

• Psycom - discover overviews of various substance abuse and mental health issues as well as articles on mental health and wellbeing.

• To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) - find free or reduced-cost counseling and other mental health services in your community.

• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) - browse treatment providers for disordered eating and access the helpline for support and resources.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - locate treatment for a variety of substance abuse and mental health issues.

• Alcoholics Anonymous - receive support targeted toward those with drinking problems.

• Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)/ Dysfunctional Families - access support for adults whose lives were affected as a result of being raised in an alcoholic or other dysfunctional family.

• Narcotic Anonymous - receive support targeted toward those with drug problems.

• Al-Anon - receive support targeted toward those who have been affected by someone else’s drinking problems.

Resources for Specific/Minority Populations

• Black Lives Matter Resources (by NEDA) - access a list of mental health resources mainly focused on serving the Black Community with general BIPOC resources mixed in.

• Inclusive Therapists - find therapists who cater to specific needs such as those of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, the LGBTQIA2S+ community, people with disabilities, and the full neurodiversity spectrum.

• The Trevor Project - access a support network for LGBTQ youth providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

• National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (AANHPIMHA) - access a list of mental health service providers focused on serving Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

• https://bedrockrecoverycenter.com/lgbtq-addiction-treatment/ - a guide to addiction and recovery specifically for the LGBTQ community

International Resources

• OK Rehab - read about addiction treatment options for yourself or others

• World Health Organization (WHO) - learn more about this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign and its focus on investment in mental health.

• 7 Cups - get online self-help guides, support chat rooms, and online therapy.

Useful Apps

• Calm (iOS | Android) - access guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music for $12.99 a month.

• Headspace (iOS | Android) - get guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music for $12.99 a month (or $9.99 per year for students).

• Simple Habit (iOS | Android) - access guided meditations focused on various life challenges for free.

• Calm Harm (iOS | Android) - learn to manage self-harm urges with DBT-based principles and distractions for free.

• Sanvello (iOS | Android) - learn CBT techniques to track and better deal with mental health concerns for free.

• CBT Thought Diary (iOS | Android) - learn to reframe your thinking by tracking your thoughts and identifying cognitive distortions for free.

• MY3 (iOS | Android) - develop a suicide safety plan and trusted network for times of crisis for free.

• What’s Up (iOS | Android) - learn CBT and ACT methods to better cope with depression, anxiety, anger, stress, and more for free.

• eMoods (iOS | Android) - track and learn to manage your moods for free. Designed specifically for those with bipolar disorder, but useful for everyone.

• MoodTools (iOS | Android) - alleviate negative moods by utilizing a thought diary, activities, a suicide safety plan, and self-help guides for free.

• Recovery Record (iOS | Android) - manage your recovery from disordered eating by recording your food, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors for free.

• PTSD Coach (iOS | Android) - manage PTSD symptoms with information about professional care, a self-assessment for PTSD, opportunities to find support, and tools that can help users manage the stresses of daily life for free.

• Nomo (iOS | Android) - track your sobriety/recovery from negative habits with clocks that show your milestones and the benefits you are receiving from recovery for free.

• Lifesum (iOS | Android) - access resources to increase your overall health and fitness for free.

10 Tools for Posting like a Pro

By Maggie Adams

Whether you’re a social media manager or an artist, or just want to grow your own personal platforms, it’s essential to come up with a posting system that’s sustainable for you. Consistency is key for any social platform, and there are a plethora of tools out there that’ll help you become more efficient so that you can focus on creating authentic content.

Check out my interview with Marissa Begin of Riss Entertainment to learn about what tools I use on a daily basis to manage our artists’ socials. (Note: the original live video abruptly ended due to connection issues, so this video is a recap of our full conversation.)

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WOW! @srta_margarita did not hold back on episode 3 of #WeeklyBits with Riss! Maggie walks us through her process with content from the planning stages to the scheduling and posting stage. She also lists over 10 applications that help her stay organized, efficient, and create killer content. . . . . #contentmanagement #artistmanagement #oliviaManagement #digitalmarketingtips #rissentertainment

A post shared by Riss Entertainment (@riss.entertainment) on Apr 20, 2020 at 2:46pm PDT