The challenge
In a world changing at an ever-increasing rate, many musicians do not have the skills, knowledge or imagination to create sustainable career models. Entire sectors of the music world seem to have lost their footing and are in dire need of fresh vision, direction and strategy.
The solution is more complicated than writing a resume, mastering social media or learning about taxes (though these things are certainly helpful). The most successful artists today are innovative entrepreneurs and leaders who out-think, out-design and out-perform the rest. They are savvy musicians with the courage to take action.
Though there are no predictable formulas for success, a number of vital skills can be developed.
The retreat
Each day of this solutions-based event is built around a different challenge facing the music world, combining interactive presentations, games, team challenges, breakout groups, video conferencing, mentorship, networking and competitions.
Whether you are a student, performer, educator, faculty member, administrator or business owner, this experience will prove transformative, teaching you what it takes to thrive professionally and increase impact in our unpredictable world.
Led by pianist, composer and “The Savvy Musician” author David Cutler, this retreat brings you face to face with thought leaders and entrepreneurs from the arts world on the beautiful campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Questions?
Email retreat@mozart.sc.edu.
The experience
Most musicians choose this career path because it’s something they love and do well. And although these are wonderful motivations, they are rarely enough to guarantee a full-time living or sustain an arts organization or business. They also don’t ensure that the impact of your art is maximized.
The Savvy Musician in ACTION provides a dynamic environment for developing practical entrepreneurial and leadership aptitudes that benefit your career or organization.
Our educational approach empahasizes hands-on learning, not lecture-based presentations. You’ll have practical learning experiences by developing business and marketing plans to generate revenue and impact for an arts-based business. By the end of the retreat, you’ll possess skills and a process for applying these lessons to your own musical life.
During The Savvy Musician in ACTION, attendees:
- Develop entrepreneurial tools
- Pitch arts-based business concepts with the potential to generate revenue and impact
- Design a comprehensive business model and marketing strategy
- Attend a variety of sessions on relevant topics
- Present to judges, receive feedback and compete for awards
- Reflect on next steps, integrating lessons learned into your own career or institution
- Form teams and vote
Who should attend?
Whether you have extensive entrepreneurship training or are just beginning the journey, The Savvy Musician in Action will grow your understanding of this crucial approach to career and art.
This retreat is geared towards:
- College music students from all disciplines, both undergraduate and graduate, who want to develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills that lead to professional success.
- College music faculty and administrators interested in experiential education and/or the pedagogy of music entrepreneurship and leadership. Please note, this is not geared just to teachers of career classes. Lessons explored are relevant and applicable to all faculty/administrators interested in creating a greater culture of entrepreneurship throughout their institution.
- Professional musicians in search of solutions that further advance their professional and financial level of success while expanding impact.
- Full chamber ensembles are encouraged to attend.
All levels of experience are welcome.