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From the mind of Michelle Markwart Deveaux…
Do you own a business that helps people use their voice? I do too. Here on the FcK blog, I do my best to provide actionable tips, words of wisdom, and high fives of encouragement so that running your voice related business will be easy and feed your soul.
Velvet Ropes Boundaries for Tired People
People who set up “velvet rope boundaries” are able to save their mental energy. If you’re tired, and need to set boundaries, use systems and tools to save the day! Read more to discover some examples of velvet rope boundaries.
Resist Scarcity Mindset: It’s Not as Difficult as You Think
Do you find yourself constantly thinking about all the things you have to do and feeling overwhelmed? If so, then you may be suffering from scarcity mindset.
Scarcity mindset is the belief that there is never enough of anything to go around. This includes time, money, resources, etc. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm.
Scarcity mindset is the belief that there is never enough of anything to go around. This includes time, money, resources, etc. and can lead to anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. Read on to explore ways you can resist scarcity mindset with an exercise.
Five Questions Better than “How are you?” to Start off a Voice Lesson
Learn the questions Voice Teachers can ask at the beginning of lessons instead of “How are you?” when you just don’t have the capacity to be a pseudo-therapist for your singer/client (you know those low-key energy vampires) and need some emotional regulation.
Do You Need an MBA to be a Successful Music Studio?
Here's a (very) shortlist of things today's studio owner needs to understand: How to develop an effective marketing strategyHow to choose and use payment gateways, scheduling software, and other online tech toolsHow to create a sustainable business...
How to Make Time for a New Program or Membership
You know you want to join a particular program or membership and you know that it will 100% meet your needs. That is, if you can actually take advantage of it. You’re already overwhelmed and these action items will help you overcome your frustrations.
Being Unproductive in a World that Glorifies Productivity
It's the time when we choose words for the year. It's an extremely valuable exercise - one that allows us to choose an intention and stick with it. There are no real rules around the process, of course, and many words are intentions that are chosen...
Why a Year-Long Tuition Plan Isn’t as Impossible as it may Sound for Voice Teachers – Moving to a 12-Month Tuition Instead of Following the School Year
If you are a voice teacher that begins their tuition plans in September, follows the school year, and loves it, this blog isn't for you. If you are a voice teacher who uses the school year as your tuition and is left irritated and scrambling in the...
How to Have (and implement) Boundaries During the Holidays
Every year, I read multiple comments and stories about what it's like to run a voice studio during the holidays. We are singers, after all, and even now in the semi in-person/semi-virtual world, we add performing, extra worship/church services,...
Zero-Based Scheduling for Voice Teachers (and everyone else who needs help with time management)
Time management is the hardest part of running your nano-business. You wear all the hats – you’re the CEO, CFO, CMO, and chief service provider. Learning Zero-Based Scheduling can help you go from overwhelmed and under-fun to overjoyed and under control. Let me teach you Zero-Based Scheduling.
Three Ways to Start Building a Budget – Even if You’ve Never done Budgeting before
Never made a budget before? Afraid to know the truth about your money? Here are three simple and (hopefully) stress-free ways to begin to look at your independent studio’s money.
What to do when Things get Difficult to Manage
Content Warning: Grief/Death/Difficult Times I've been coaching myself on this question - "What to do when things get difficult to manage" - since November of 2019 when my father was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a non-curable (horrific) form of...
Get Rid of Being Uncomfortable with Voice Business Sales
If you own a business, you have to sell. You have to market. You can’t get away from that. What we really want is for our clients to say “hell yes” without feeling manipulated into doing so. Let’s get off this myth that it’s inherently bad to sell, that it’s always dirty or shady.
How to Write a Difficult Email to an Irritated Client
Learning to write professional emails is one of the most valuable skills you can have. Having the knowledge and wisdom to break down a hard conversation and solve a problem, via writing a difficult email, gives you a leg up in terms of customer service and transformational work with clients.
How to Transition to an Online Voice Business – Marketing Needs and Strategy
How to Transition to an Online Voice Business – Marketing Needs and Strategy