S1E12: Melanie Devaney—Country Songstress
These are show notes taken from an audio interview. To listen to the actual interview, please use the player above.
Melanie Devaney is a singer/songwriter based out of Los Angeles and is described by the San Diego Kensington News as “a real gem,” her music is “ At times country, at times pop, she’s like a mix of Carole King and Emmy Lou Harris with confessional lyrics and heartfelt music to spare.”
Melanie takes us into her life as a performer and tells us about how she discovered music and her desire to make it her profession which included romantically quitting her day job on a whim to pursue her passion.
Failure Moment:
Any time she hasn’t fully prepared for a show. Hear about how she had to cancel a booking because of a dead battery!
Biggest success:
Melanie’s biggest success is her latest album, Single Subject Notebook. In recording it she was able to work with some true professionals in the industry.
What would she have done differently?
She would have planned out and taken a more calculated transition instead of quitting her day job like she did.
Unique selling point:
Her background in creative writing, and the fact that she’s a rural girl living in the city of Los Angeles, essentially a fish out of water, gives her a unique angle to her craft.
What’s working for her business-wise?
Consistency and scheduling out her work day goes a long way to helping her achieve her success.
Interesting story:
Hear a strange story involving a couch, a strange man, and a Christmas concert in a basement.
Has she “made it?”
Not yet, she still has so much she’s working toward.
Other topics touched upon:
• Talks about resistance she encountered from her family when trying to go pro
• How she can butcher a chicken. (Tongue in cheek)
• How many new bookings vs repeat bookings she gets
• A bit of her method to booking new gigs. (Michael Hyatt’s podcast, This Is Your Life, is mentioned)
• Tells us the jobs she had before striking out on her own and what she originally thought her career would have been
Parting advice:
Don’t give up! Especially when trying to contact people about gigs.
Recommended books and resources:
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you’re enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we’re doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Performance Specific Book
Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream by Neil Young
Non-Performance Specific Book
Earn What You’re Really Worth: Maximize Your Income at Any Time in Any Market by Brian Tracy
Resources:
Index cards help Melanie organize her thoughts and projects.
Buy Melanie’s Latest Album—Single Subject Notebook
Where can we find Melanie?
Facebook | Twitter @MelanieDevaney | Soundcloud | ReverbNation | CDBaby
