Moving into a new market is rarely a linear success story. It requires a lot of groundwork and a little bit of nerve.
The Focus (Accountability)
- Deliver the second show of our three-gig commitment in Durbanville.
- Monitor audience growth and feedback compared to the first show.
- Establish a foundation for the final gig in the series.
The Insight: Commit to the Objective, Not the Comfort
Sometimes, you find yourself on a stage that isn’t a perfect fit, playing to an audience that isn’t quite right, and hauling gear that feels heavier than it did ten years ago. It’s tempting to decide right then that a particular venue or strategy is a mistake.
But when we committed to three shows in Durbanville—an area where we were effectively unknown—the objective wasn’t to find an instant home. The objective was expansion.
We are treating this as an experiment. Success isn’t just about packed rooms; it’s about testing a new market and introducing our sound to a different demographic. After seeing decent growth from the first show, we are optimistic about the third.
The lesson: when the going gets physically uncomfortable or when the reception is cooler than you’d like, refocus on the original strategic goal. By seeing through a multi-show commitment, you gain the data you need to make long-term decisions. We haven’t lost anything by introducing ourselves to this market; we’ve gained clarity, even if we are literally shattered by Sunday.
The Sign-off
Keep moving the project forward, even when the stage feels a bit too high to climb.
This post is part of an effort to commit to a daily ritual; An (almost) daily reflection designed as both a mental health exercise and a tool for general accountability. By spending a few minutes each morning carving out these pillars, I’m creating a personal record of where the energy goes and what’s actually keeping me busy. The goal is to build a reflection journal I can look back on to see which ideas grew and which ones fell away—while hopefully providing a few lessons and talking points for those of you navigating your own creative paths.
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