How do we know that we will be remembered after we are gone? When you are living your life and enjoying the act of creating, do you ever stop to think about what happens to your work after your gone? What will people remember about you? Did you make a difference in anyones life? Will anyone care or notice that you are gone?
I started to think about this today when I sat down to write my next episode. The idea that my days have been spent creating things that may perhaps get lost or end up in a box one forgotten one day actually frightened me. It’s not that I’m egotistical about my work, it’s mostly a reflection on how my journey effected others.
Questions popped into my head like:
Did I spend enough time with my family and friends?
Makes you think about how you spend your time, doesn’t it?
My first thought was to double check my schedule to make sure I wasn’t isolating myself so much in my creative that I lost contact with people all together. lol Especially after Covid, it’s been pretty easy to find yourself insulated in a bubble contacting people only by text or email.
After I scrutinized my schedule, my mind began to think of ways I could preserve my legacy and thus help you to preserve yours.
I’ve listed all those below for you but first you must be asking..
I recently heard from a friend and talented songwriter, Abby K who lost someone dear to her. His name was Rodger Ainslie. During the pandemic lockdown, Abby met her Scottish friend, Rodger on Twitter. They shared a common interest for songwriting and began to collaborate on a project. Midway into recording their project, Rodger passed suddenly. Abby was devastated and vowed that she would bring his song to life as a way to honor his memory.
Now, 20 months later, his song is finally ready to be launched into the world.
Abby wrote to me..
“I know he will hear it wherever he is. I am grateful for his friendship, even short lived. Rodger’s voice will always soar. This is the only song (my friend the writer and singer) will ever have released into the world as he has now passed away. “
Here’s the song. ‘Looking for a Home’ by Abby K with Rodger Ainslie.
Share your work with the world so people can experience it and get inspired
Write a Memoir of your journey or keep a daily journal to record the important milestones
Record a podcast about your journey to talk about your history and what you have learned
Meet people and share your work with them
Collaborate with other artists so you can build deeper connections
Get involved in your community and add value through your work
Share your work with the world so people can experience it
Make sure that whatever work you do is visible online so that people know about it. Social media is a great way to kick that off but I also recommend keeping a website or blog so you have a dated record of your journey.
Write a memoir about your journey and keep a daily journal
If you have been in the business for a while, this can be a great way to honor yourself and other musicians who have influenced you. Get together with some of your fellow band mates and reminisce about the early days of your career together. It’s easy to forget about how hard it was at first when everything is going well now, so take some time to remember those difficult times (the good ones too). Include photos from throughout your career so that younger generations can see what life was like for musicians when they were starting out!
Record a podcast to talk about your journey to inspire others
Start a podcast and talk to the people who work with you, including producers and engineers about the projects. Share stories and anecdotes about how you create. Answer questions from fans about your process offering ideas to others who may want to learn from you. Talk about your history and what you have learned. Use the podcast to connect your creative with people who will enjoy it.
I used to have a rule of meeting 5 new people every day. Of course now I meet a heck of alot more than that but essentially I try to actually get to know 5 a little deeper than the rest. Usually that starts with social media these days but I have tons of opportunities to do this on my daily walks with my dogs. I love meeting people and asking them about their lives and what they are passionate about. It’s inspiring.
Collaborate with other artists
Collaboration is a great way to learn, grow, and make new connections in the music industry or any creative business. When you collaborate with someone, you share your talent with them and they do the same for you. You can also help each other develop your skills by bouncing ideas off each other or giving feedback on the work to gain a different perspective.
Get involved in your community and add value through your work
An artist should always try to contribute something to their own community. Your creative work and journey will inspire others to find what they love and start their own journey. You will meet friends and develop strong bonds with the people you share your work with.
Get out there! Volunteer and help out with charities and community projects, or just attend events with friends. Follow up on social media after an event or meeting to let fans and share the experience.
