Balanced Artist

What is considered "enough" as an artist? If you’re a painter, do you need your art displayed as you walk into the front door of the louvre? If you’re a performing artists, and you’re currently in the bar scene, maybe you want to upgrade to theaters, then arenas. So what you’re telling yourself is that you will not be satisfied with your career until you’re headlining a stadium!? Let&apo...

In this episode, we talk to independent artist Hazel Smith about overcoming mental blocks. How you react when you hear "no". What's the worst that can happen? So why not try? Connect with Hazel: https://www.instagram.com/itsmehazelsmith ………………………………………… https://www.balancedartist.com https://www.facebook.com/BalancedArtist https://www.instagram.com/rorygardinermusic https://www.inst...

If you show up, put in the work and do your best, it's gotta pay off eventually...right?! Consistency is what delivers results. Some days are going to deliver better than others, but one sure way to miss completely is not to show up at all. Let's discuss.... ………………………………………… https://www.balancedartist.com https://www.facebook.com/BalancedArtist https://www.instagram.com/rorygardinermusic...

Want to get what you want? Try at least 10 times. You’ll either get what you want, or you’ll get something you never thought possible. Regardless, you’ve set it in motion, and now you’re in pursuit. Let's dive in... ………………………………………… https://www.balancedartist.com https://www.facebook.com/BalancedArtist https://www.instagram.com/rorygardinermusic https://www.instagram.com/balancedartist       

Described as "Lady Gaga for Kids", today we talk to Twinkle. Growing up as performing artist & actor, she's been seen in classic shows like "My two Dads", "Blossom", "Boy Meets World", & Broadway shows like "Jesus Christ Superstar". In her girl band days, she opened for acts like Backstreet Boys & Britney Spears. She reached a poin...

Often we wait for the perfect moment to start something, then put it off, then forget about it. Then 10 years go by and you're a completely different person. Although it is never too late to start something, you have missed the opportunity to time stamp your art in that particular era of your life.  Todays guest, Musician & Producer, Lewis Hill released his first album after the age of 40...

A discussion with up and coming artist Regina Bianca about overcoming self doubt, and the hurdles that come with getting started. Having the confidence to step out of your comfort zone, and pursue something that your friends or family may not be fully on board with. In this episode:  When your parents ruin your Rock Star plans by forcing you to get educated When not fulfilling your true calling ca...

Have you ever asked the question(s) "Does what I do matter?" "Is there a purpose to this?" "Is what I am doing offering value to the world?" Those thoughts usually enter your brain just before a big change occurs.  Something unexpected will happen on your current journey, or you're about to pivot down a new road of creative discovery. In this episode I share a li...

You’ve heard the expression “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. But today we are looking at 10000 backyards.  Comparison is distorting our perceptions of what is good enough to share with the rest of the planet. If you don’t sound as good as Lady Gaga, then what is the point in even getting out of bed, right? Wrong! Let's discuss... ………………………………………… https://www.balan...

There is a lot of smoke in mirrors in the entertainment industry, where your perception will lead you to believe one thing, but the reality is something completely different. Are all artist making a living from their art, or the bi-product of their art?   Let's discuss... ………………………………………… https://www.balancedartist.com https://www.facebook.com/BalancedArtist https://www.instagram.com/rorygard...

You know that group of people who won’t start something because they don’t think they can compete with the "big dogs"? Then there is the next group of people(or dogs) that are currently operating in that small to mid-level pool, who think they have what it takes to run with the wolves. Whether you do or don’t have what it takes, it’s great that you’re confident enough to even consider it...

Humor is a skill. Writing something that is funny is one skill, but delivering it in a funny way is another skill. I had been doing music for 15 years before getting into stand up. People assumed it was a smooth transition because I am so use to the stage. Not at all. It’s a completely different skill. That’s like saying you’re good at basketball, you must be amazing at soccer cuz you love to play...

What would you do with the gift of invisibility? What would you pursue if you knew you wouldn’t be judged by failure? Would it encourage you try more things, or take more chances? Let's discuss... ………………………………………… https://www.balancedartist.com https://www.facebook.com/BalancedArtist https://www.instagram.com/rorygardinermusic https://www.instagram.com/balancedartist       

Are you overcompensating as an adult for things that happened when you were younger? Or try to succeed in spite of people who doubt you? A lot of self-doubt stems from how you grew up, inadequacy, or a major failure(s) that have paralyzed you from stepping out of your comfort zone. Should you try to find peace with your bruised ego, or lean into it and let if fuel you? Let's discuss... ………………...

We always talk about one day. One day I’ll be successful, and then I’ll be happy. One day, I am going to get in shape, clean myself up and find a smokin’ hot partner to grow old with. Why would you wait for a one day to live a healthy lifestyle, or put off “happiness” to a later date? I think we need to detach ourselves from a destination mindset.  Let's discuss... ………………………………………… https://ww...

I heard something recently called “praise addiction”. We've been trained to seek out incentives like good grades, stickers, trophies. Impressing people with our achievements gives us a temporary feeling of happiness. However, the more we try to impress, the more frustrated we feel. Or can we use it as fuel? When people ask “what do you do”? Do you feel ashamed for not pursuing work that is in...

I read a great book recently by @jameslstucher called “skip the line”.   When I read it, it was like he was narrating the way I operate my creative life. It isn’t about hacks and shortcuts, but transforming the way you think, work, and live, letting go of the notion that you need 10,000 hours to master something. I’ve been skipping the line for years, but nobody has put it into words quite like th...

Steve Martin has a quote “be so good they can’t ignore you”. Having a product that is undeniable and creates the type of attention that cannot be ignored. I heard a money quote “It’s not about becoming a millionaire. It’s becoming the person that you must become to be a millionaire”. So true. This is why so many lottery winners with no financial intelligence squander their winnings away in the fir...

They say success is like being pregnant. Everyone congratulates you, but they don’t know how many times you’ve been f**ked.. It takes a lot of pounding to get to the top. But what if you changed your perception of these hard times? You’ve heard people say “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey”. How many times have you been on your back, “practicing making baby’s” and thought, “wow this is te...

One of the biggest issues with the traditional marriage model right now is that it measures success by longevity, rather than growth. A relationship that has ended after 5 years of romance, growth, connection & intimacy isn’t considered as successful as a 20 year commitment to bickering over which parking spot is the best at Walmart.  A lot of the time we treat our careers the same way. No gro...

When you’re not the rock star you want to be, there can only be 2 main reasons. You’re not good enough, or you’re not exposed enough. You may be sitting on a gold mine of music, but not enough people have heard it.  You may have all the opportunities in the world, but when you get your chance at bat, you strike out. It doesn’t mean “give up”, it just means recalibrate. Let's discuss... ………………...

Most people become rich because of the actions they’ve taken to build their wealth, and not from putting all their hope into a lotto ticket.  A lot of us treat our artistic career the same way. Going through the motions, hoping that we get discovered by a record label, agent or management company that is going to introduce us to a fairy tale world where everything is done for us, and we sip champa...

Is there a reason that Oscar winners gravitate from shooting movies in remote locations for 6-8 months, to a series regular on a TV show filmed 20 minutes from home? Or why Celine, Brittany, Garth, Aerosmith, Shania, etc had a residency in Vegas, playing the  same venue 5 days a week, every week. "Oh, you mean “a JOB”!? Even the people we look up to in our industries crave that comfortable fe...

It's hard to find total equilibrium. You put energy into your family, and your work suffers. You put energy into your art, and everything else feels neglected, to a point where you feel guilty for doing something creative. When you finally have time to create something, you're rushing through it. Squeezing it in, instead of being present and finding a flow. Isn’t this true for parents. M...

I hate it when people say “you’ve sold out”. Followed by “I’d never sell out”. Really? Have you ever had the opportunity to sell out? What even is a “sell out”? The betrayal of one’s artistic principals, in exchange for monetary compensation? Who defines one’s artistic principals?  I wanted to be a country star, but instead I’ve made most of my music income though song licensing. Does that make me...