What’s the best way to show up in everything you do? How can you demonstrate enthusiasm in all you take on?
In this video, David shares about the value of adopting a front row mentality in music, life, and everything. He explains how it works, and how to apply it.
Video Highlights:
- 00:00 – The difference between tactics and mindset
- 00:57 – Excitement and anticipation
- 01:22 – What’s special about being in the front row?
- 01:48 – The added responsibility of being in the front row
- 02:17 – Carrying the mentality into our music careers
- 04:00 – The illusion of time
- 04:58 – Don’t count on your fans
- 05:40 – Closing thoughts
Transcription:
Hey, it’s David Andrew Wiebe with Music Entrepreneur HQ.
Today I wanted to riff on front row mentality.
At the outset, I wanted to share that this is not a message to receive with your head. Meaning it’s not tactical, it’s not idealistic, it’s not perfectionism. It’s a message to receive with your heart. Mentality is a mindset, and a mindset is an attitude. It’s a way of being we want to carry into everything we do.
Where I got in trouble, and where you can also get into trouble, is when you think of this as head knowledge, as being tactical, something to try to apply and live up to and be perfect about every single time.
So, when it comes to mindset and mentality teachings – and there are teachers out there who teach it without knowing it is mindset and try to turn it into information – mindset is not information. It’s a message to receive with your heart and it’s a way of being.
You’ve probably had that experience. You were excited about an event or a concert and you were sitting on your computer minutes or maybe even hours before tickets first went on sale. And the moment they went on sale, you hit “click” and entered your payment details. And you went ahead and bought the ticket.
That’s front row mentality. Regardless of whether you got a front row ticket, your mentality was front row. You wanted to be in the front row.
What’s special about being in the front row? You get to be up and close with your heroes or the people you want to see.
It’s not always the best vantage point. In some concerts or theaters, it is. Or in some venues.
It’s about being there and showing your face to your hero and being able to see them up close that is so appealing.
So, when you are in the front row, you have kind of an added responsibility. If you’re texting, if you’re looking at your phone, if you’re distracted, if you’re talking to your neighbors, it’s obvious to the presenter or speaker or whoever is on stage, that you are not paying attention.
Front row mentality is also waiting on bated breath for what’s coming next, and paying attention, and being present in the moment.
And that’s the mentality that we want to carry into our music careers. We don’t want to lose excitement or passion for the thing we’re working on right now.
And I know it’s so easy to do, especially when you’re recording new music. It’s kind of like, “I’ve been working on this forever, I just want to put it out there.”
And by the time it’s out, you don’t know if it’s any good, you don’t know if you like it. And that kills some serious momentum in your marketing and promo efforts.
All around, it doesn’t do you any good for you or your career, to not carry that passion into the marketing side as well.
And you should be just as weird in your marketing as you are in your music. You should carry over that personality into your marketing and try weird things and do guerrilla marketing. Because that’s how you’re going to stand out. You’re not going to stand out doing the same thing everyone else is doing.
So, when your album is released, you should have a front row mentality about your music. The moment it goes live, you should be the first to stream it, you should be the first to buy it on iTunes, you should be the first to share it on social media, you should be the first to share it in your email, you should be the first to get it out to everyone you can possibly get it out to, and text it, and send it in messages. Do everything you can.
That’s front row mentality. We want to take that into the excitement of sharing about our craft. Not just making our craft. Making our craft is great, and it’s fun, but as I’ve just proven, you find that it’s not fun when it’s gone on for too long. Whatever that means. That’s not even something we can fully define. So, you should never lose your passion.
Today is a new day, and tomorrow will be another new day. And every moment is new. So, we’re moving into a new moment right now. And you may have forgotten the previous moment, but the new moment is here. You see what I mean? Every moment is new.
You’re not stuck in the same situation. This is a new moment and you’re already new. Your whole body’s new. Every part of you is new.
So, it’s not about time. Time is an illusion. We can’t define it. We try our hardest to define it and to measure it, but in many ways, it’s impossible. So, if you are in this moment, then this moment is new, and the next moment is new, and there is no time.
You want to be front row with your music. That’s the enthusiasm. That’s the intensity we want to bring into everything.
Again, as I said, it’s not tactical. It’s an attitude. It’s a way of being. That way of being is what we want to carry into everything we do.
We don’t want to count on our fans to do that for us either. Because our fans may not display the same level of excitement, passion, or intensity.
Some of them might. You may have some superfans. And some people might hear your music and go, “holy cow this is incredible!”
But it must start with you. Because your fans are in the front row looking at you trying to figure out what you’re thinking. And how you’re going to respond. And how you’re going to get them fired up.
If you’re fired up, they’re going to be fired up. But if you’re like:
“Hey guys. New release. Just came out yesterday. Yup. Hope you like it.”
Then what reason do they have to be excited?
So, that’s front row mentality. Try to carry that into everything you do and see how it changes. Show up early, stay late, shake hands, say “hi” to everyone, answer everyone’s questions, share excitedly and passionately about what you do.
Show up. Always show up. Keep your promises. Keep your commitments. That’s what front row mentality is all about.
So, I hope you enjoyed this, and if you’re watching this on YouTube, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe. We’ve got plenty more great content like this.
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