Allen C. Paul's Blog, page 5

Smack Me If I Do This in 2024 [The Creative’s Checkup]

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January 3, 2023

I’m starting this year by humbly asking for your help.

This isn’t a New Year Resolution, but is something I am resolved to follow through with, and I’m asking if you’d help hold me accountable.

I’m resolving in 2024 never to use the phrase “build my / your audience”.

If you hear it come out my mouth or typed on a screen, feel free to give me a whack on the hand, or at least a disapproving glare.

As we kick off this year, I’ve su...

🎁How to Finish What You Started + 12 Days of Giveaways Starts TODAY [The Creative’s Checkup]

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”​
​― Leonardo da Vinci​

As we’re finishing up this year, you may be feeling more like you’re just finished.

I get it. The end of the year can be demoralizing if you didn’t complete all the goals you set for yourself.

But is it just a fact of life?

It doesn’t have to be. You can avoid being a non-finisher by watching out for these danger signs.

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You’re ALMOST there….

First of all, be aware if you are becoming overwhelmed by the size of the t...

Are you “wrapping” the right way? [The Creative’s Checkup]

Tis the season to wrap…

Ok, not just wrap gifts…. but apparently to wrap up your Spotify stats from 2023.

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As one of the most popular music streaming and podcast services, Spotify has created a tradition of sorts by releasing their Spotify “Wrapped” lists for their listeners at the end of every year, as well as providing stats to the artists and podcasters who share their work on the platform.

Now, we could enter the debate on Spotify in terms of the amount of money they actually p...

Black Friday Deals I’ll ACTUALLY Purchase [The Creative’s Checkup]

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$20 BILLION dollars.

That’s how much people spent over the Black Friday / Cyber Monday weekend last year.

Here’s my question about that astronomical amount of cash… how much of that money went to things people actually used?

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(I remember most of the toys I bought for my kids were in the donation box the following year…)

If you’re thinking of investing in your creative career and taking advantage of the deals offered this weekend, you need to make SURE these are things that will...

Spark Your Soul: 4 Major Mindset Keys for Christian Creatives

Only those who grew up in the days of Sunday School remember this song’s first line….

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going”…

That line from “Pass It On” resonates still as I think about how one chance encounter can transform a dry area into a blazing fire.

And that’s what happened this weekend as I attended the Spark Media Ignite Conference in Houston, TX.

So much good poured into my creative life that it overflowed, and I’m still processing all the highlights, relationships an...

The Problem of Pain: Why hurting artists must keep creating

The wail of a blues singer. The mournful tone of a requiem. The sad echoes of a song to a departed loved one.

Pain has always motivated artists to create expressions to deal with loss and sadness, and some of these expressions become our most beloved works of art.

We channel our wounds into works full of emotion.

In fact, sometimes it seems we are at our creative best when we feel the worst.

Why is that?

Is pain a necessary part of being a great artist?

Do we have to go through...

3 Stages to Developing a Creative Career That Makes Money [TGGS 247]

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If you’re searching for financial sustainability for your creative business, you’re currently moving through the three stages that every creative entrepreneur goes through. 

What are those three stages, and which one are you currently in? 

In this exclusive look behind the scenes of a God and Gigs coaching call, you’ll discover how  grace and profitability intertwine – and we’ll share some transparent facts about how God and Gigs is doing as a business. 

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Unbreakable: How RAII & Whitney Earned The Trust of Top Artists as Married Vocalists [TGGS 246]

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Imagine working side-by-side with world-renowned music artists like Alicia Keys, Ed Sheeran, and Common.  

Now, imagine your musical / business partner and co-vocalist is also your spouse. How would that all work? Is it possible to manage the incredibly high expectations of these artists, and still keep a solid, God-centered marriage intact? 

That’s the story that husband and wife duo RAII & Whitney are living out.  In this episode, they reveal how working togethe...

Accidental Viral: How To Unlock Your Creative Career with Just One Post [TGGS 245]

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Unleash your authentic voice and revolutionize your creative journey as host Alan C. Paul shares how one blog post helped establish God and Gigs.  You’ll be inspired to align your passion with your purpose and overcome the struggle for popularity.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Learn the importance of spotlighting genuine issues in your craft and how it helps draw deeper audience engagement.Explore the transformative effects of instilling p...

Expand Your Mind! Rich Kirkpatrick Reveals How to Be Productive AND More Creative [TGGS 244]

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Has the arts industry…or even ministry…. become an obstacle to your love of art? 

Many creatives both inside and outside the church have been struggling to find the balance between making a living and being free to explore their creative passions. 

To help you find the sweet spot between productivity and creative magic, we’re talking today with Rich Kirkpatrick – author, coach and speaker on the topics of creativity, faith and leadership. His latest book i...