Charlotte's Marketing Plan

There’s an obvious problem when it comes to marketing. Tons of people want what you want, do what you do, and maybe even have more resources to do it. In other words, there is competition for our attention.

Remember the report from a few years ago stating that human attention spans are now shorter than those of goldfish? The media snacked on that for awhile, before it was busted as just a tasty soundbite.  

But the crumb of truth is that rather than getting shorter, our attention spans have evolved, and that we do pay attention, as long as the content is compelling enough to overcome the constant stimuli. In one of the greatest lines of all time from one of the greatest plays of all time, Linda Loman says at Willy’s grave, “Attention must be paid.”   

How did Arthur Miller get us to pay attention? What makes his content so compelling? Of course, you know! It’s story. Great story.

But how do you cut through all the noise to tell your story? Simply put, you need a plan.

One of the best plans ever came from the pen of E.B. White. Remember Wilbur and Charlotte? Fortunately, Wilbur shared his pigpen with the world’s best arachnid marketing expert. When Wilbur learned that he would be slaughtered once he got fat enough, Charlotte helped him develop a plan. 

Charlotte knew she needed to get people to pay attention, and her cobweaving of extraordinary adjectives was her plan to get that done. She got the whole menagerie to cooperate so she could call attention to this special pig. Charlotte’s fine webmanship saved Wilbur’s life. Now that was a terrific plan.

But, unless you happen to have a very talented and compassionate spider in your life, you need to know how to market yourself in the digital age. If you recall, Charlotte’s web was her last opus, and she died shortly after weaving it. Even if your marketing plan doesn’t literally kill you, it surely saps your energy and can be an exercise in frustration and ego deflation. So you’ve gotta focus on what’s important. And it all begins with your brand and digital presence. Lucky for you, we’ve got a free guide on 5 Essentials for a Strong Brand and Dynamic Digital Presence. You can download that over on our homepage. Happy planning!

Client Spotlight: Justin Guarini

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Justin Guarini’s robust performance career launched with the first season of American Idol in 2002. His stage and screen appearances since then include Broadway productions of Wicked, American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, In Transit, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Justin is a musical theatre coach and the host of the Audition Secrets podcast.

Justin has hosted shows shows like Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight along with live events for the TV Guide Network, the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys. He continues to reprise his role as the lovable Lil’ Sweet in commercials for Diet Dr. Pepper.

Justin is a generous humanitarian: he has advocated for music education funding on Capitol Hill by lobbying for the International Music Products Association. He has worked with Education Through Music Los Angeles, a nonprofit utilizing music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school, and self-confidence in underserved communities. Justin has also partnered with RandomActs.org and GISH.com to participate in global kindness campaigns.

Justin is dedicated to his loving family; his wife, daughter, and sons make up his happy home. It is here that he draws his support and the desire to live his best life.

Learn more about our awesome clients.

12 Simple Tips to Maximize Your Productivity

Feeling unmotivated? We’ve compiled 12 simple tips designed to re-energize and inspire you to maximize your productivity. Go get ‘em!

1. Find your window of peak productivity.

For some folks, it’s first thing in the morning. For others, it’s midnight to 3:00 a.m. However you work, try planning your day around the window of time that allows you to get the most accomplished with the least amount of distraction.

2. Stop multitasking.

Although lots of people claim to thrive while doing five things at once, we’ve found that doing so ultimately decreases the quality of your work. Instead, create a list of to-dos in order of importance, and tackle them one by one.

3. Set the mood with some background music.

Whether you prefer jazz, hip-hop, or EDM — or even the cacophany of a bustling coffee shop — the soundtrack can make all the difference when it comes to sustaining your productivity. Instrumental music is most likely to keep you distraction-free.

4. Take a break.

When you feel your focus and energy start to wane, don’t throw in the towel! Just take a 5 to 10 minute break: take a walk, grab a snack, or stretch. More often than not, you’ll come back refreshed and ready to dive back in!

5. Get specific.

When we feel overwhelmed by or, worse, disregard an item on our to do list, it’s usually because it’s not specific enough. Break down your tasks into individual, actionable steps so you know exactly what it will take to get them completed.

6. Sleep.

Eight hours minimum. No excuses. Just do it and thank us later.

7. Find the right environment.

Context is everything. If you work remotely, find the workspace that’s best for you. A coffee shop or coworking space lets you work where other people are working, but a library or your desk at home are quieter, more controllable environments.

8. Batch your emails.

Does your workflow get interrupted by a constant trickle of emails? Instead of leaving your Gmail tab open all day, try checking and responding in batches every 4 or 5 hours. If you’re bold, only check your email once a day and watch the spike in your productivity.

9. Just pick three.

Don’t get cocky thinking you’re going to knock out fifteen tasks in one day. Instead, set a realistic goal and tackle the 3 most crucial items on your to do list. Best case scenario: you’ll exceed your own expectations!

10. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Incentives work! If you are lacking in productivity, build in a reward at the end of the task that’s overwhelming you. These rewards could range from a latte at the coffee shop down the block to tickets to the performance you’ve been wanting to see.

11. Eat and drink well.

An engine is only as good as its fuel. Eating well and staying hydrated is as important for work as it is for the rest of your life! That loss of motivation you always feel in the middle of the day may actually just be dehydration.

12. Just start!

If you’re struggling to get things done, don’t just sit around waiting for the inspiration. Dive in, get going, make like Nike and Just Do It. Chances are the doing of the thing will inspire you to keep going.

Want some help? Schedule a call.

On the Road: Virginia Workshops with Justin Guarini

Broadway star, American Idol favorite, and our client Justin Guarini traveled to Stephens City Virginia this month to lead four performance workshops in partnership with CCLTalent. Designed for actors and singers ages 12 and up, these workshops focused on Pop Singing, Musical Theater, and Audition Techniques for Actors, providing valuable tools and techniques to performers of all experience levels.

Justin’s robust performance career launched with the first season of American Idol in 2002. His stage and screen appearances since then include Broadway productions of American Idiot, In Transit, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. He is also the host of the weekly podcast, Audition Secrets, with guests like Patti LuPone, Laura Osnes, and Laura Bell Bundy.

CCLTalent, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, is a full-service talent agency for all ages that specializes in children, teens and young adults. They collaborate with artists who possess a passion for the art, (theatre, musical theatre, film, television, new media and voice), an understanding of the industry, a dedication to continued training, and a strong work ethic.

Client Spotlight: Clipper Erickson

With training from Juilliard and Yale, Clipper Erickson has earned many prizes and widespread critical acclaim in his career as a pianist. He has played at Moscow Conservatory, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall, and his performances demonstrate a commitment to underrepresented composers, past and present.

“One of the finest pianists of his generation in interesting repertory that shows off his considerable skill and artistry as a consummate musician.”

— David Canfield, Fanfare Archive

In addition to his powerful renditions of the great classical repertoire, Clipper continues to be active in premiering and promoting new works by American composers.

An essential part of Clipper's musical mission is the inspiration of future generations of musicians by encouraging the love of music through his commitment to education, performance in schools, and master classes. His teaching career has included appointments at Bucknell University, Temple University, and Westminster Conservatory. We are so happy to have him as our client!

Learn more about our awesome clients.

The Rooms Where it Happened: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II

Song leader Jessie Barth, along with pianist Lori Rosolowsky and members of her band, presented a free sing-along for all ages celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II’s most treasured songs and highlighting his many humanitarian contributions. On Saturday July 14, 2018, the Doylestown Township Bicentennial Committee, in honor of one of the Township’s most beloved residents and in partnership with the Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center at Highland Farm, hosted this SING!

The public was welcomed to meet esteemed guests Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and humanitarian in his own right, and Julie Henning, who lived with Pearl S. Buck as her adopted daughter. Vocalist Keith Spencer was one of several featured performers.

Oscar Hammerstein II was one of the twentieth century’s most influential lyricists, and his collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers include some of the most successful musicals in the history of the American theatre—including The Sound of Music, South Pacific, The King and I, and Carousel. In 1940, three years before the Broadway debut of Oklahoma!, he purchased Highland Farm in Doylestown Township, and he lived there with his family until his passing in 1960. The three-story residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Mr. Hammerstein's work has been recognized with countless Tony, Grammy, and Academy Awards, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He is one of Doylestown's many notable residents who have made profound contributions to the performing arts.

This event was presented in partnership with Open Sky Artists, the Doylestown Township Bicentennial Committee, and friends of the Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center.

Learn more about our events!