Everything I Learned Writing Music for a National Ad Campaign

I had the opportunity to write music for RealTruck, Inc., the U.S.’s top seller of truck accessories.

The goal of the project was to create a 2-minute brand anthem that can be used across multiple campaigns (TV, web, social, etc.) and multiple years. To create the soundtrack of RealTruck’s brand.

After the project was over, I scribbled down “micro lessons.”

Bite-sized lessons of everything I want to remember for the next time I do a project like this.

Reply with a number and I’ll break it down in an essay or a comment.

I Took My Students' Melody...And Did This

I surprised my music students this morning.

On Friday I had my Arts Entrepreneurship students give me random notes between A and G.

We came up with this 10-note melody (see the whiteboard image).

I surprised them with this track this morning. They had no idea I was going to produce a track based on our little insignificant composition.

We're calling it "MVP (Maximum Vibes Possible)," and we are going to run an experiment: how many plays can we get before the end of the term?

Arts and EntrepreneurshipMark SamplesMay 22, 2024mvp

How to Create a QR Code: Two Quick and Trusted Methods [Video]

A QR code is a great way to share linked resources with others. But there are so many QR code generators, how do you know which ones you can trust? Here are two methods using trusted companies that are widely used: Adobe and Canva.

Arts and Entrepreneurship, DesignMark SamplesOctober 5, 2023

This Is the Way

Things worth doing take sacrifice. One reminder of the principle of sacrifice comes from The Mandalorian, a television series in the Star Wars universe. As the story begins, it follows a mysterious, helmeted character called "Mando." At first Mando seems like a ruthless, lone warrior,

Teaching, Writing, Productivity, Arts and EntrepreneurshipMark SamplesJanuary 30, 2021

The Humbug and the Nightingale: What we can learn about music promotion from P. T. Barnum

In a brand new academic article published by Musical Quarterly, I tell the story of how P. T. Barnum used strategies of branding to create the most successful music tour of the 19th century. The singer he brought to America was Jenny Lind. Lind was already a star in Europe, but was relatively unknown in America before signing a contract with Barnum.

Barnum did something unprecedented:

How to Identify Potential Mentors, for Music Professionals

There are few resources in your career more valuable than a trusted mentor. In this post I will share with you:

What is a mentor, who needs one, and why?
Two short quizzes (one question each) that will give you my personalized recommendations for where to look for your next potential mentor, based on your career stage and situation.

Two Mistakes to Avoid when You Get Advice from a Mentor

What should you do when you actually get through to a potential mentor, and get advice? How can you turn one-time advice into long-term mentorship?

In this short video (about 3 min.), I talk about the two big mistakes people make when they get advice from a potential mentor, and what to do instead.

10 Million Sold and What Now? Interview with Wanz

Arts and Entrepreneurship, Music and BrandingMark SamplesMay 12, 2017Wanz, Macklemore, Thrift Shop, music entrepreneurship, music industry

The Creative Arts Entrepreneur's Path

Arts and Entrepreneurship, Music and BrandingMark SamplesJanuary 3, 2017arts and entrepreneurship, music

Interview on A Musical Life Podcast

Music and Branding, Classical Music, Arts and EntrepreneurshipMark SamplesNovember 8, 2016podcast, branding, classical music, a musical life, hugh sung

Fight Against Perfectionism by Using an 80/20 Analysis: Productivity Deep-Hacks for Musicians, Part 2

Arts and Entrepreneurship, Productivity, WritingMark SamplesSeptember 11, 2016productivity, arts and entrepreneurship, deep work

Designing Your Primary Workflow: Productivity Deep-Hacks for Musicians, Part 1

Arts and Entrepreneurship, Productivity, WritingMark SamplesSeptember 8, 2016productivity, music, arts and entrepreneurship

Career Models Through Music History: CMS Summit Presentation

Arts and EntrepreneurshipMark SamplesMay 25, 2016jenny lind, arts and entrepreneurship, music history, mark samples

How to Not Sell Out, Expressed In One Diagram

Arts and Entrepreneurship, Music and BrandingMark SamplesFebruary 15, 2016selling out, musicians

Use a “Pre-Mortem” to Help Your Projects Succeed

Arts and Entrepreneurship, TeachingMark SamplesApril 8, 2015teaching, arts and entrepreneurship

Yoda Would Never Say This to Young Musicians (On Arts and Entrepreneurship)

Yoda would never say this to a young musician apprentice:

“Are you an artist or an entrepreneur? Choose you must.”

He also wouldn’t say:

“Anger, fear, entrepreneurship. The dark side of the Force are they.”

But he might say:

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”

When I was growing up, practicing my Bach and Chopin...

From ASAPP to ASAP: Is Business Correspondence Becoming Less Polite?

Arts and Entrepreneurship, Music and BrandingMark SamplesAugust 6, 2014arts and entrepreneurship

Why don’t all classical music concerts provide child care?

I love classical music concerts. I have two young kids. These two facts are not in harmony with one another. Let me tell you why, then let me propose a solution.

Writing and Videos

There are few resources in your career more valuable than a trusted mentor. In this post I will share with you:

“Are you an artist or an entrepreneur? Choose you must.”

“Anger, fear, entrepreneurship. The dark side of the Force are they.”

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”