Building a career in the arts can feel like a complex and frustrating puzzle. How does an aspiring songwriter become an established performer? How does an artist bridge the gap between practice room and performance venue? Is it possible to book shows, tour and perform without the assistance of a manager, booking agent and publicist? How does an artist build a career from the ground up?

I’ve been trying to answer these questions for most of my adult life. I don't have all the answers, but I've learned a lot. I've found that no one thing makes a career in the arts possible: there are no magic bullets. In my experience, there are a wide range of elements that need to be present to help things fall into place...