Showing posts with label artist challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artist challenge. Show all posts

Friday, January 10

A Farewell To Writer Amiri Baraka


Poet, Writer, and Activist Amiri Baraka was born Everett LeRoi Jones in 1934 in Newark, New Jersey. Baraka who was an ardent figure in the Black Renaissance of Art and Culture in Harlem was noted with the likes of Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright and others as one of the eight figures who have significantly affected the course of African-American literary culture. 

As a Writer and Poet, Baraka was praised for speaking out against oppression and injustice. By the early 1970's Amiri Baraka was recognized as an influential Writer in America, influencing writers such as Nikki Giovanni and Don L. Lee. Arnold Rampersad wrote of Amiri Baraka in the American Book Review that  “More than any other black poet . . . he taught younger black poets of the generation past how to respond poetically to their lived experience, rather than to depend as artists on embalmed reputations and outmoded rhetorical strategies derived from a culture often substantially different from their own.




Baraka wrote and published poems, essays, and works of non-fiction.  He was most famously noted for "Blues People" which was an in-depth history of music from the time of slavery throughout the various incarnations of blues and jazz, with integrated social commentary. Baraka became the second Poet Laureate of New Jersey in 2002 and 2003.



Amiri Baraka contributed greatly, perhaps understanding the sacredness and gift of writing... along with the power of having a voice. We salute his life, works, and contributions with thanks. The craft of writing will continually be developed in excellence. With the upcoming Writer's Workshop, the plan is to give strength to voices and keep the power and progress alive. A Special Farewell and thank you to Mr. Baraka. Rest In Peace.

The first creative writing workshop and boot camp will be held in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets can be purchased at shewrites.brownpapertickets.com/

Thursday, January 24

Nobody Knows My Name! The Value of Personal Branding with Shannon Skinner & Artist Challenge Day 4



When it comes to personal branding, Shannon Skinner has managed to create a brand that is authentic to her passions and purpose. Her resume is quite extensive: creator/ host of a talk show, author, inspirational speaker and public relations professional. When it comes to introducing yourself as an artist to the world, Shannon understands the value of being your own promoter, showing the world exactly who you are and going for what you want despite the fear that may try to convince you to sit in standstill. I’m so happy to have Shannon come speak at The Millionaire Artist workshop on February 2nd!

Here are 3 lessons I believe Shannon will be able to offer you all:

On pursuing your dreams despite the fear

When I had the idea of creating my talk show Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner, I had a lot of fear and, although I knew I would do it "one day," I was waiting for all the conditions to be right. I had envisioned doing something like this since I was a child, as I was born and raised in a family of television broadcasters. I spent much of my youth in a television station. But instead of doing it, I sat on the idea. Fast-forward...one beautiful summer evening in 2010, a good friend of mine gave me some bad news: he had less than one year to live. Shocked and saddened, I later asked myself a question: "If I had one year to live, what would I do?" That quality question pushed me past my fears and other obstacles, and within a short time I birthed my show -- and my new career was started. I since realized that conditions will rarely be right to follow your heart, so you just have to do it.


The importance of having an inspirational source to continually refer to when needed

"The Whispering Heart: Your Inner Guide to Creativity" is a book I wrote a few years ago. It is my favourite book, not because I wrote it, but because I keep re-reading it to take my own advice when I need a courage boost or clarity.

Putting your best foot forward & creating a great impression is just as much about creating the right appearance as it is about your talent.

The best advice I’ve received in this industry is to never wear short skirts or dresses for television interviews.


Artist Tip #4: Nobody Knows My Name! Tell the World Who You Are!

It's never too early to tell the world what you do and who you are! Usually when I start working with my coaching clients, their first complaint and biggest concern they share is that no one knows who they are! They then proceed to tell me they aren't "big" enough yet, to have a following or it too soon to think about branding themselves!!! 
Well, how do you think you are going to start to build a following unless you start today??? 

When I first started in the business, my first show was in a Brampton Public Library, I had about four people in the audience! And two of them were family members who felt sorry for me, so they showed up! But even back then I knew the importance of branding and building my audience. I faithfully mailed out flyers, and newsletters monthly! Yes mailed them! Licked envelopes! Remember those days?! There was no internet or Facebook back then!  

My shows eventually grew from 4 people to 10, to 100, to 1000, and now 'da Kink in my hair theatrical show has been seen by over 125,000 people! Not bad for a person who had four people at her first show!  

START TODAY--- start to think about how to build your audience and how to find clients for your work. Start by buying your domain name, start a fan page on Facebook, get a twitter account, get a Youtube channel, create a website, start a blog...  Let people know what you are doing!

At the workshop I will give several valuable tips on how to grow your audience and how to let the world know who you are! I will also let you know a secret tip on how to immediately make your brand/ yourself look more professional! It works every time trust me! See you there! 

****** Today's give away, the seventh person to Facebook me and say, “I want to know how to get paid and paid now!” will win a ticket to my Millionaire Artist workshop


Tuesday, January 22

Day 3 Millionaire Artist Challenge: Does Your Workspace Inspire You to Create Your Best Work?

Today evaluate your work space. Does it inspire you? Where do you do your BEST work from?  When I first bought my home I made a big deal about ensuring that I had an efficient working "office." So, I made sure I had a big desk top computer, a fancy desk, a "proper" office chair and a humongous filing cabinet! 

Yet, I never did any work in my fancy office!  I was much more comfortable sitting in my living room on my big comfy couch with my lap top on my lap!  I rarely went upstairs to my "office" unless I had to grab a file. Eventually it dawned on me that the reason why I liked working in my living room was, this was the space in my home that received the best direct sunlight. My living room has huge ceiling to floor windows. The windows also face the trees. And each morning while working I could watch the sun rise. I'm a morning person and I love feeling the morning sun on my face while I work! I also like sprawling out on the couch and having all my files and books nearby.

However, my original "office" upstairs, got no natural sunlight and  the 'view' was the brick siding of my neighbor's house! I'm now currently converting my screened in sun porch to become my new home office because it gets lots of sunlight and faces the trees. In order for me to be creative I need bright, airy, well lit spaces! I also prefer big chairs with over stuff pillows than fancy stiff office chairs and I like my lap top in my lap!

So, figure out for yourself where do you do your best work? Does your work space truly inspire you? Are you a morning person or a night person? Are you a person who needs to sit at a desk or do you prefer a big comfy chair? And remember if you want to be very effective, ensure that everything that you need is at your finger tips  including all your files! Don't waste valuable time like I did running up the stairs to grab files, pens etc! * I will give more office tips at the workshop on Feb 2nd.

Drum Roll please...The winner of Monday's Artist Challenge is Jordan Clarke who posted my Artist tip #1 on her Facebook page on Monday morning! Jordan please contact me via Facebook to claim your free ticket to the workshop!  You have 24 hours! 

Remember if you want to be a winner, it's easy either share the Millionaire Artist flyer on Facebook or Twitter, respond/comment on this blog post, and share it with friends, or change your status on Facebook to state, "I'm going to trey anthony's Millionaire Artist Workshop on February 2nd!" Remember to tweet or facebook me to let me know. It's that easy to WIN!!! 

Register for the workshop here: www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca

Sunday, January 20

Welcome to Day One of the Artist Challenge!


Artist Challenge Tip #1Start your day in inspiration.

Be fully aware of how you start your day and who you start your day with! 

Do you start your day in a panic? Jump out of bed, frantically rushing through the door? Do you yell at the kids first thing in the morning, get caught up in the frenzy of rushing them to catch the school bus? Or are you constantly groaning about getting up, and do you start bitching right away about your day? Or do you grab the morning paper and get depressed by all the negativity in the world or listen to the morning news to hear about the murder/shooting the night before?


Not me anymore! I know how essential it is to start your day with inspiration!  I usually get up each day anywhere between 530-7am. While lying in bed I first list five things that I'm grateful for and I have a quick mini conversation with God.

Once out of bed, I never turn on the television, watch the news, listen to the radio, or answer the phone before 10am.  I start my day in inspiration. Usually my day begins with me listening to Hay House radio online as I brush my teeth, shower, make my morning tea and prep for the day.  I always do about 20 minutes of yoga and 10 minutes of meditation. 

I "guard" my time and energy from all forms of negativity so I try not to speak to anyone before 10am, who I feel is going to "dump" on me first thing in the morning or bring me down.  I know my morning times are sacred and I honour my mornings.  Often I try to watch an inspiration video on YouTube to get me inspired. My favourites are Les Brown, John Maxwell and recently a coaching client of mine introduced me to Eric Thomas, who I really love – especially his talk about Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas! Brilliant!

Some mornings I will pick up my very well read copy of You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, and randomly just open the book and read a few pages of whatever the book may land on and truly believe that whatever I read in these pages is a message from the universe/God to me. 

You may ask how starting my day in inspiration makes me a better artist. Well, if you start your day from a place of inspiration each morning you will be inspired to see the world differently, be different and inspiration will fuel your creativity!  Below are some of the inspirational videos that I watch in the morning and hay house radio!

Today I challenge you to start your day in inspiration! I bet it will change your life!