This week, Karen discusses everything you need to know about having a website. It’s easy to think that  technology these days has made websites obsolete. With the many people on most social media platforms, and with the majority of web browsing taking place on mobile devices, it can seem pretty pointless to design, pay for, and maintain your own personal site, in addition to everything else going on in our lives. Here’s why a website can be important for young professionals. 

In any career field, including music,  your website is basically your business card to the world. It’s a central digital location where anyone can learn about you and get in contact if needed. They can gain an in depth perception of you without having to dig through your facebook or instagram and have a clear and easy way to reach out to you. Websites can also function in a full circle action, allowing anyone viewing your website to also have access to all of your other online presences. 

How much does it cost?

Having a website can cost anything from free to thousands of dollars depending on a number of factors. The first thing you will need is a domain name. You domain is your website’s address and how people will find you. This can be personalized but will probably look something like www.yourname.com. A domain usually costs between $10-$20 a year. On SquareSpace, you receive a free domain for a year with the purchase of a hosting plan. 

Speaking of Square Space the next thing you need to do is find a hosting site. There are many options out there but if you’re looking for something user friendly that you will easily be able to edit and maintain, SquareSpace or Wix are going to be your best bet. These run about $150 a year and can also be paid monthly. 

Another cost determining factor is dependent on whether you design and create your own website or if you hire someone to do it for you. Sites like SquareSpace have countless tutorials and explanations for their templates making the process extremely easy to learn and even master.  If you decide to hire someone, this usually runs anywhere from $300 to a couple thousand depending on how complex you want your website to be. Karen personally usually goes this route and has her websites built by an outside source. 

Content

The next step is content. You don’t necessarily need to have the most complicated or fancy page design if you have good content. High quality photos on your website makes all the difference in the world and can truly transform the page itself. A clear, detailed, int

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This week Karen discusses everything you need to know about taking professional photos, hiring a photographer, and why you should invest in photos at all! 

Over the past five years of Cubides Artist Services, Karen has participated in over 175 photo shoots including ones that she herself was being photographed, and those being done for her clients and artists. With that kind of time spent on both sides of the camera, she has picked up a couple of tricks that can make the world of high quality photos seems a little less daunting. 

Budget, Budget, Budget

For many people, budget is the biggest concern but the truth is it isn’t necessary to spend an exorbitant amount for a few great shots. In Karen’s experience, a photo shoot can cost anywhere from $100 to $10,000 depending on multiple factors including the number of photos you want, the location of the shoot, the popularity of the photographer etc. It’s about finding the package that’s right for you. 

Why Do You Need Photos?

The first thing to determine is what you actually need your photos for. Quality photos can set the tone for your website or social media platforms and will serve as a visual representation of your personal brand. It’s the first impression that many people will have of you so having something that truly represents who you are and how you want to be seen. It’s important to think about what you will be using these photos for and that you are able to capture each look you need. 

Setting the Mood

Prior to the actual photo shoot, it’s important to iron out as many details as possible in order to ensure a smooth and non stressful experience. This includes deciding a style or a look for both yourself and your location. Will the shoot be indoors or outdoors? Are you going for a more traditional look in a formal setting or something more relaxed and natural? Do you want an edgy look with graffiti? Or something a little rustic with a railroad track stretching out behind you? If you’re struggling to imagine a look for your shoot, you can try creating a pinterest mood board with images that reflect the kinds of styles that are appealing to you. 

Assemble Your Team

Finding the right photographer is the next step. You want to find someone with a style that matches yours and who will make you feel comfortable since for a lot of people a photo shoot can feel unnatural and awkward. Meeting with multiple photographers to discuss your vision for the shoot and get a few quotes is a good way to see what kind of options are out there and find the perfect fit. You want

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This week, Karen shares some special tips and tricks that she’s learned on her wellness journey as a part of The Musician Wellness Project. In case you're unfamiliar with this project, here is a quick recap. Several months ago, Karen formed the hypothesis of if she were to get as close to 100% health as possible (which included losing 85 pounds) would she see exponential improvement in her overall life and career. Since starting on this journey with our favorite chiropractor, Dr. Cassie by her side, Karen has been drastic changes to her lifestyle and wellness habits including exercising 4-5 times a week, quitting sugar and processed foods (including her favorite, Diet Coke) and getting adjusted at the Chiropractor regularly. Recently, just prior to the most recent Emerging Artist Workshop, Karen faced a cold that would have previously become very severe, but instead she experienced her body serving it purpose and responding to the illness with flying colors. 

“You can not supplement, medicate, or exercise your way out of a bad diet”

When it comes to making these kinds of changes, Karen wants us to know that it is not easy! It’s not easy getting your body moving or ditching your favorite snacks. Here are a couple of things that she implemented to allow her new lifestyle to remain sustainable and keep her goals attainable.  

Water

Since beginning on this journey, Karen has started drinking half her body weight in ounces of water every day. As a major Diet Coke addict, this was pretty challenging at first but she found ways to trick herself into meeting this daily goal including drinking from fun tumblers, adding natural flavors, and consuming plenty of La Croix. 

Sleep

Karen has found that prioritizing sleep and makes sure she gets 8 hours a night plus several naps throughout the week that allows her to relax and meditate in the middle of day which leaves her feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the rest of the day.

More Healthy Fats

Many people believe that you must avoid fats to be healthy but it turns out that by increasing the amount of healthy fats into your diet can extend your energy throughout the day and give your body some much needed nutrients. 

Community

By immersing herself in a community of others who were also prioritizing their health, Karen found that it was easier to stay in the zone and stay on track with her goals. 

Getting Educated

When Karen learned that her favorite treat, Diet Coke was actually full of aspartame, a chemical that has many

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Ready for your closeup? Have you ever wondered how you could go about producing a high quality video that features you!? This week, Karen tells us everything you need to know about hiring a videographer and having your moment on the silver screen! 

Since adding video to the list of CAS services two and a half years ago, Karen and the CAS team have participated in a number of video shoots of varying styles. Having professional videos done can be an excellent way to portray yourself and what you have to offer as a musician, educator, or whatever your would like to share with the public. It’s easy to think that having a professional video is only for people with a lot of money to spend, or when it comes to musicians, only for genres besides classical music like rock or country. The truth is quite the contrary on both fronts. 

Much like photography, there are a number of factors to consider and decide on when producing a video and selecting your videographer. In addition, having a video (or videos) doesn’t have to break the bank if you don’t want it to. For many classical musicians, it has become the norm to be on the stage of a concert hall with pianist and a single camera stationed in one place for the duration of the recording, but the good news is that this is no longer the case! The fact is that everyone is entitled to engaging and entertaining video footage regardless of musical genre or budget. 

This leads to the major aspects to be considered when beginning the planning process for your videos. Cost and Scope. To start, you must consider what you want your budget to be. On average, the standard rate for a video shoot is about $450 for 4-5 hours of recording time, including editing. This may seem like a bit of a stretch for many people but it’s important to know that many videographers are willing to make it work for you depending on what you need for your project. 

Next you want to think about the scope of the project. What type of video are you looking to film? Performance? Talking head? Montage? Promo? This decision leads to the length of the video which directly affects the time it will take to film. Location is also an important factor to consider. Typically filming inside is a great way to control your environment and ensure that the process goes smoothly without any outside interruptions. 

Preparation can make or break a video project so making all of these decisions are crucial before you reach the big day. Having everything lined up and your ideas ready to go is a great way to streamline the process and keep costs down. Once you have made your decisions

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Emerging Artist Evan Clifton is back on the podcast to discuss his recent big move to Nashville, TN. He tells us all about why he left Michigan and the steps he’s taking to make this the most successful move ever!

Back in Michigan, Evan had a very “successful” career as a musician. He played in a number of regional orchestras and had a full studio of private students. And yet, he realized that this wasn’t the life that he wanted to be leading in five years. Even though he was very happy and comfortable, he felt like he really needed to shake things up and make a change and to possibly even do something reckless. Michigan was were his friends, family, and all his musical connections were, so leaving meant uprooting his life and career, and starting from nothing. Luckily, knowing Karen and having visited Nashville a number of times, the choice seemed clear. 

Leading up to the big move, Evan confesses that he had extreme doubt and had many spouts of “crippling fear” that had him questioning everything. He states that he was basically useless as a person in the few days before the move and felt that all he could do was question this decision. 

There is no question that moving to a new city is stressful and difficult for everyone. To help himself cope with the sudden change of scenery, Evan has been focusing on routine. Everyday, he wakes up and starts his day with a cup of coffee and a run. He’s also trying to make the city is own through simple tasks like going to the grocery store and finding the best pet store to buy things for his two cats.  

 He knows that overtime, he will begin to find his place and make more of a name for himself this new place. He’s mostly excited about exploring the numerous playing opportunities that Nashville has to offer and that he was not otherwise able to access back in Michigan. He was previously mainly restricted to regional orchestras but now he hopes to explore more new music and the recording scene. He’s looking forward to having more opportunities to not be the center of attention for once and actually being a musician. 

Evan is trying to take advantage of this time to really get to know himself and piece together the parts that he really enjoys and admires about himself and find a way to create the big picture that he’s been looking for. 

His advice to young musicians? 

“Be a good person and play your a** off.”

If people like you, enjoy you, and respect your playing they will want to be around you and even hire you. Keep it simple and you’re golden. 

You can find Evan and follow his ad

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This week, Karen talks with Puerto Rican Trombonist and Emerging Artist, Xavier Matos Perez (aka Xavi) about living in Puerto Rico and his path to a career as a musician. 

Xavier started playing trombone at the age of 15 in a local marching band where had the opportunity to audition for a specialized music school in a nearby town. Having been very invested in sports up until that point, Xavi wasn’t sure if music was the right path for him. However, after winning a scholarship to attend a master class at the Conservatory, his mind was completely blown and his decision was. There was no question in his mind what he was going to do for the rest of his life and he went on to audition for the Conservatory that very next year. 

For this interview, Xavi has traveled to Nashville to partake in the CAS Performance and Musician Wellness Workshop and is most looking forward to meeting other musicians and growing as a person and musician. For some time now, he has noticed his own personal interest in working behind the scenes for these kinds of workshops and events. Back in Puerto Rico, he has even organized a number of seminars with other musicians. He looks forward to being apart of and collaborating in many more events and feels that it is a necessity for musicians in Carribean countries like Puerto Rico to have access to these kinds of workshops and seminars. 

Xavi loves living in Puerto Rico and would recommend his hometown of Cabo Rojo to anyone wanting to visit and explore the island. He loves going to the beach with his dog, playing trombone in local folkloric events, eating his mom’s home cooked meals, and drinking refreshing mojitos. Xavi says that there is a lot of musical talent in Puerto Rico and many resources for musicians looking to further their careers. 

His advice for his younger self? “Keep Going and Work Harder”

You can find Xavier on Instagram, Facebook, and his new website coming soon!

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This week, Karen recounts her experience at the International Trombone Festival that took place in Muncie, IN a few weeks ago. She talks about the top three things that she learned and the importance of attending festivals, workshops, and conferences.

1. Showing up 

It can’t be so easy for anyone to come up with a reason not to attend a workshop or music festival but showing up is the first step! Karen experienced such growth and change amongst ITF participants just from being surrounded by their peers and attending masterclasses led by their heroes. By putting yourself in these situations, you can easily find your people and continue your journey towards having a successful career. 

2. Get Involved 

The next step in making a change and moving forward in your career is to get involved! During ITF, Karen found herself as a member of a diversity panel amongst a number of incredible trombonists simply because she asked and showed interest! Despite not even being a trombonist herself, Karen knew that she could have a voice and make a difference in this situation and ended up having her voice heard.  You don’t have to have a big title or have a place in a major orchestra to be making a difference. Taking a chance and simply asking can make all the difference in helping you find your place and how you can have an impact. 

3. Playing Well With Others

Doesn’t matter who you are, how well you play, or what you’ve accomplished, you will not advance in your career if you can not play well with others. Being kind and flexible can open doors for you that you never even thought possible. At ITF, Karen’s husband and COO of CAS, Nick Laufer, was the yes man. He did everything he could to help as many people as possible and ensure that everyone was getting what they needed to have the best experience possible. Nick’s selflessness and willingness to go the extra mile for others resulted in him being asked to judge the trombone quartet competition that he and his quartet had won a decade earlier! It just goes to show that if people enjoy you and appreciate you as a person, you are more likely to be given more opportunities and ultimately lead to greater success. 

So get out there and show up, get involved, and be a good person! If you are the smartest person in the room you are in the wrong room. 

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 This week, we have Matthew Jermiason back on the podcast for the second time during his time at the CAS Performance and Musician Wellness Workshop in Nashville this summer. Matthew tells us about the struggles of “making it” as a musician in NYC, the joys of having and day job, and overcoming burnout. 

Hello NYC!

Since arriving in NYC just eight short months ago, life has been a nonstop whirlwind for Matthew. From the culture shock and learning the mass transit system to acclimating to living with so many other people in such a small space, Matthew admits to needing a few months to get into the flow of such a change. After spending most of his life in North Dakota, Matthew studied music at Bowling Green University in Ohio before finally taking the plunge into the Big Apple. Like many aspiring musicians, Matthew was intrigued with the idea of “making it” and if that was something within his reach. He reflects on how he’s realized how much his idea of “making it” has changed over the years as he’s had different experiences as a musician. Back when he was getting his degree, the idea of playing in a major orchestra was “making it”. Now, as a working musician in NYC, he feels as though he has already “made it” just by living in such an incredible city and making it work while he follows his passions. He sees this new chapter and way of life as a third degree to go along with his Bachelors and his Masters. 

Matthew attributes his success to the many other musicians in the city that helped him through this first year. Everyone is from somewhere else and they all had to go through something very similar when they first moved to NYC. It’s the teamwork and comradery amongst musicians that allows everyone to survive this crazy lifestyle. 

Burning Out

Feeling burnt out can be a very true fact of life for anyone looking to truly develop their skills and make something of themselves. Musician’s are no exception. Matthew has personally experienced burn out several times in his life and is not afraid to talk about it. After completely both of his degrees, he felt tired, worn down, and simply had no desire to play trombone or make music anymore for the time being. For so long, he had to be 150% and was constantly being told what to do and how to do it on a daily basis. To overcome his burn out, Matthew says that he tried taking a break from music all together and dove into his other interests to allow his mind to focus on other things that made him happy. He felt that disassociating himself as a musician really helped him find himself outside of

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Jennifer Cubides interviews our host Karen Cubides and gives us a unique perspective on their relationship and growing up together. 

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The Miracle Morning is a popular book by Hal Elrod that teaches you how to start your day to ensure productivity and success. Karen tells us about how she incorporates The Miracle Morning into her life and how you can too!

The six daily activities that make up The Miracle Morning are: 

1. Silence
2. Affirmation 
3. Visualization
4. Exercise
5. Reading
6. Scribing

Also known as S.A.V.E.R.S

The first step to incorporate these activities is to set your alarm one hour earlier than your normally do. By adding one hour to your day, you can spend ten minutes on each of these activities. 

Silence: Karen recommends spending your ten minutes of silence somewhere other than your bed to prevent yourself from falling back to sleep. This time is for medication, breathing, reflection, praying, etc. 

Affirmation: Your brain doesn’t always know what is real so by reciting positive affirmations to yourself, you will begin to believe and embody these affirmations. Remember to only use positive language! 

Visualization: We need to give ourselves permission to dream and want things, having a visual reminder of what you want in your life keeps things in focus. 

Exercise: Use this time to continue to wake up your body by stretching, doing some yoga or even some High Intensity workouts. It’s a great way to feel more connected to your body early in the day. 

Reading: Find a topic that you are interested in or passionate about and use this time to educate yourself. 

Scribing: Use this as an outlet for your thoughts and perhaps even as a time to express gratitude for things in your life. 

By completing these six activities first thing in the morning, you will feel accomplished and ready for your day! Check out the book for more information on making The Miracle Morning apart of your daily routine!

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