3 Reasons Songwriters Should NOT Quit Their Day Job

Marshall Ayers Career Advice, Music, Performing Arts, Songwriting

This article is being published jointly on Artzray and Soundfly  in celebration of #SongwritingWeek! By Alan Semerdjian, featured photo by Kenny Janosick There’s this idea out in the world that unless we’re working as songwriters and doing music full-time — music solely — we’ve somehow failed or compromised our integrity as artists. I’ve come to understand this notion as flawed thinking.

5 Things to Do Before You Shop Your Screenplay

Andrea Davis Beyond, Career Advice, Film, Getting Started, Getting Started, Screenwriting, Television, Tips, Writing

So you wanna write a screenplay. We’re not going to tell you to rewrite it and make it the best story you can. We’re assuming you already know that and will do it. These are practical points from story analysts who have read thousands of scripts . . . each. Story analysts (casually called “readers”) are employed by studios and …

Daydreaming With Indie Folk Singer Juliet Piper

Jacqueline Abelson Artist Profiles, Career Advice, Music, Practical Advice, Songwriting

Juliet Piper was destined to become a musician. Born into a musical family in Los Angeles, Juliet has been writing songs, singing and playing instruments including guitar and piano for as long as she could remember. In 2009, Juliet released 5 acclaimed EPs, then in 2010 she received her first major radio support from Rodney Bingenheimer at KROQ and Jim Nelson …

Behind the Scenes at Summer Music Festivals

Jacqueline Abelson Ask TVK, Career Advice, Cool, Cultural Experiences, Music, Uncategorized

The sounds of summer music festivals are in the air! Across the US (and around the world) there are thousands of summer music festivals of every type and genre, from classical to jazz, from New England to the Southwest. If you are an aspiring musician, stage manager or production designer, a music festival looks like a dream summer job, right? …

Finding Success as a Freelance Musician

Marshall Ayers Artist Profiles, Performing Arts

Cellist Ginger Murphy is a busy freelance musician with a journey to share. By Christine Witmer Living the life of a freelance musician. Ahhhhhh. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Hopping from gig to gig, playing all sorts of different genres and types of music, and ultimately being able to contribute to multiple performances and artistic showcases sounds pretty great, right? And …

Life is an Improv – Artist Profile with Jully Lee

Jacqueline Abelson Acting, Acting, Artist Profiles, Career Advice, Performing Arts, Sponsors

Jully Lee began her performance career in sketch comedy and improv performing in Telemongol, her first theatrical production in 2006. Since then, Jully has continued to perform improv with Cold Tofu, and has received critical acclaim for her performances in over 25 productions on-stage. Most recently, she was seen in Tokyo Fish Story at South Coast Repertory, playing the role of …

California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) Bridge To College

CSSSA People – Katie Levine

Marshall Ayers Artist Profiles, Performing Arts

California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is a four-week intensive residential program for motivated and talented high school students. It offers seven disciplines, including: Animation, Creative Writing, Dance, Film, Music, Theater, Visual Arts. All California students who qualify are awarded scholarships to attend by the CSSSA Foundation. Busy composing, teaching, performing,  it’s hard to catch up with musician …