I want
to talk about a phrase that is used to describe a common idea about
breaking into the music business. That phrase is 'getting discovered'. I
wish I could say that this term and all the emotions and elements of it
were something relegated to just the 'secular' side of music. But,
sadly, that's not the case. Christian music deals with it just the same.
I hate the term 'getting discovered'. It
conjures up the image of a starry-eyed amateur being catapulted into
fame and fortune by the "suits" at a record Company. The term panders to
that part of the Christian musician that wants to serve God with his or
her talents but is both distracted and lured by the flash of
Nashville's neon lights. Perhaps what is more disturbing is the reality
that this term does indeed get an emotional rise in an artist. It
appears that right next to each other in the human heart lies the
humility of a servant and the haughtiness of an ego. It's always
shocking for me to discover this kind of partnership inside of myself.
But, fully accepting the stark reality of that contradiction is a large
part of what being a grown-up Christian is all about. Then again, I hate
this growing up thing. But that's another seminar altogether.
A third reason I'm uncomfortable with the term
"getting discovered" is that as the president of a music ministry
incubator company and small record label (Incubator Creative Group),
we have a very unconventional paradigm of operation that is often
contrapuntal (a fancy word for going opposite directions, you might
remember it from any music theory classes you've taken) to our peers in
the music industry. Incubator's strategic focus is on the emerging
artist who must make his or her ministry work in the context of the
local church marketplace. As I am fond of saying, getting discovered is
something larger, more respectable record labels are more qualified to
offer -- you know, the ones without chickens on their logos.
hen
I reflect on what it means to get discovered, my mind predictably
starts into its own 'contrapuntal' mode. Maybe that's just the way I
think. My brain seems to be "wired" this way (an "NT" for you Jung fans
out there). I often discover a fresh angle on truth by thinking in
ironies or opposites. For example, here are a couple to ponder: "Instead
of studying the Bible, let the Bible study you," or "Instead of seeking
God's will, let His will seek you out." Wow. Those can keep me going
for hours.
So, when I apply this kind of thinking to the
idea of getting discovered, a few interesting twists develop. Based upon
my learnings from over 30 years in the Christian music field, I've
developed three "brain-shifts" that can give you a preliminary action
plan for getting discovered. We'll discuss two of them in this article
and get to the third in the next article.
#1. Discover yourself before someone else gets there. A sad legacy in common with the history of all discovered continents is the abuse they suffer at the hands of the discoverers (and their sponsors). Think of yourself, your talents, and ministry potential as an undiscovered territory. It becomes really important that you discover it yourself before the big boats arrive. The richness, beauty, and God ordained purpose of the land may never be maximized if the 'natives' don't have a chance to explore and fully inhabit it. Who would tell the record company execs with those big pilgrim hats what the land is really like (a reference to the discovery of American for our friends out there on the rest of the planet)?
Those who excel in any field, music included,
usually do so by proceeding career "discovery" with self-discovery. The
greatest fulfillment and happiness come from understanding yourself
first - both the good and the bad. It's not hard to find teaching on how
to succeed by focusing on your strengths. But discovering and
accounting for your weaknesses and brokenness is the other half of
success seldom talked about-particularly in a Christian subculture
fixated on the impossible concept of perfection in a fallen world. In a
ministry context, our brokenness (i.e. the stuff that's wrong with us)
is usually more important than all our great giftings and strengths. The
apostle Paul said it simply in explaining how God's strength is made
perfect in our weaknesses. The power of the resurrection only has merit
when it's connected to something dead.
Success comes from intimately knowing how you
naturally excel and how you very naturally fail. Wisdom in accounting
for both of those elements in your plan is crucial. Planning only around
your talents and positive potential is only 50% of a plan.
self-discovered person stands out in a crowd. Art and music created by
them makes its own way and attracts its own audience. Even if it doesn't
attract a large audience, it's always a loyal one. Successful ministry
(and marketing) in the 21st century western world will be determined
more by the strength of your grip than the length of your reach (for
both your effectiveness as a minister and your success as a marketer of
your ministry). Self-discovery leads to vulnerability. Vulnerability
drives you to God. God and vulnerability makes for great art. Great art
connects with people at a deep level. It can all be a scary process, one
you may not have the courage for. That's why you need God. He's not
afraid. He's seen it all before - when he was contemplating that whole
Jesus on the cross thing.#2. Become the discoverer, not the discovered. Let's face it. The music business is confusing. The complexity of it leads to all kinds of weird presuppositions for how to get discovered, depending on whom you last talked to.
Instead of passively awaiting discovery, become a
discoverer. Search out for yourself as to just how the music business
actually works. History is filled with stories of inventors,
discoverers, and adventurers who ended up finding something they weren't
looking for. Like all discoverers, you may do the same - perhaps
discovering something of even greater value.
To be a successful discoverer you need to learn
to shift paradigms - see contrapuntal opportunities. This will often
give you a new framework on which to hang your thinking that can change
the outcome of your situation. In a course like this, learning to think
differently is foundational to making a significant change in your
success level as an artist.
It's much like John showing up at Ellen's house
to help her move into a new apartment unit right next door to her old
one. John arrives to find Ellen struggling with a large couch stuck in
the middle of the entry door. He quickly runs up and starts helping.
After several minutes of mutual groanings and strained muscles, it's
obvious the couch is hopelessly jammed in the doorway. "We'll never get
this thing inside," says John. "Inside? Whaddaya mean inside?" says
Ellen. "We're trying to get it OUTSIDE!"
That's called a paradigm shift. None of the
facts have changed, but a whole new opportunity exists through that
simple discovery!
ecause
of the way each of us is uniquely "brain-wired" and "sin-broken", and
with the surprising nature of the discovery process, here's an idea for
structuring your own personal discovery plan: If your heart pulls you
toward a ministry orientation for your music, study the music business.
If your heart pulls you more toward a business orientation, study the
ministry. In either case, you might be surprised at what you discover.
When you decide to be a discoverer instead of
the discovered, you adopt an active (verses passive) approach to your
future. You've got stuff to do when you're a discoverer. If you are
'America' waiting to be discovered, you could be sitting around for 1492
years (another America reference, for my international readers).
