Why Musicbed's Blog is My Favorite

I found out about Musicbed because I was looking for quality audio for videos; I became an avid Musicbed blog reader because the posted content is incredible. If you are into filmmaking, music, design, photography, technology/etc. I believe you would find the blog helpful. Their articles contain a variety of conversations and/or advice that can help anyone in [almost] any field. 



Today I read Secret Weapon: Lessons from a Producer's First Feature-Length Film. I was reminded that “It takes one moment of courage and a thousand moments of perseverance and hard work.” People always talk about the importance of having courage to step out on your dreams/passions but rarely do people emphasize the hard work that must take place. Perseverance is not the go to word people use when describing themselves but it is a necessary trait to possess. "If you hold back waiting for the perfect thing to come up, you’ll never release anything. You’ll never step out and do something." I am going to write this down in my quote book because it is so true. There will never be a perfect time to create all of the things I desire to create. I need to not wait but be thankful I have today to do something I'll be grateful I did tomorrow.



Last week I read 4 Lessons Learned by Making Passion Projects. Musicbed explains why deadlines matter. "Passion projects don’t want to be made. They love living inside our heads, and they’ll do everything possible to stay there. So we have to smoke them out with deadlines. Deadlines save us from overthinking and overtweaking." I can relate to that so deeply. My mind contains many projects that like to be ideas; however, in order for them to become a reality, they need a deadline. Passion Projects help you figure out what perspective you would like to take in an industry without costing loads of money for a business. They also give you the freedom to do what you would like. It's okay to fail in a passion project because you are able to learn from them.



Lastly, I want to mention an article I read last month: How to Create Interesting Work. They talked about the importance of being an interesting person to make interesting things. People should know why they are creating things and take a clear stance on a subject. If the viewer doesn't understand the direction of the film,book,etc. They are wasting his or her time. Musicbed mentioned Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. In this book, the Heaths claim there are six principles to a “sticky idea”: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions, and stories. I think this is a wonderful finding because I know I remember things that can be found in these principles. It was nice to have it explained in a six principle way.

Though I recapped three articles found on Musicbed's Blog, I highly recommend reading to find more. I have learned a lot and believe I will continue to learn more.

Kristin

How to Musicbed

If you're a filmmaker looking for good royalty-free music at an affordable price, you should check out the Musicbed. Many artists submit their work in hopes that other makers will use their songs to complete a video project. Musicbed defines the website as a full service licensing platform that provides a highly curated selection of songs to filmmakers for use in media projects. Musicbed makes quality music easily accessible, empowering creatives to tell better stories, and supporting musical artists.

You will be given the option to select music for a "commercial" or "non-commercial" project. You can even filter by the genre, mood and artist. If your project requires an instrumental only background song, you can even check the box for that too! The prices range from $49-$199+ depending on the size and audience of the project. Musicbed even lets you preview the entire song!

I have found Musicbed helpful in my projects and I hope you will too!

Kristin

Creative Spaces TV

Photo from @SaraDietschy on Instagram

If you do not know who Sara Dietschy is, you're going to be glad I told you about her. She is a Youtuber who creates content that is surpassing Youtube's video norm. With beautiful quality, she is sharing stories through her series Creative Spaces TV. Sara encourages the viewer to "get inspired by the creative spaces of artists, the tools they create with and their creative journey." Sara's ten minute or less videos highlight various artists in various fields like: audio engineering, filmmaking, music, fashion, jewelry making, illustrators, and many others.

This still is from "Jen Moulton - Designer & Maker of Jewelry, Pottery and Leather Goods | EP.7 Creative Spaces TV"

I do not remember what video led me to Sara, but I was intrigued by Creative Spaces TV. I think an artist's creative space tells a lot about the actual artist. It is here a person can get to know a bit of the mind behind the artist. The viewer is taken into the space where the creativity is able to be poured out and used. Every creative space looks different, yet every creative space holds a common thread: the artist feels freedom to make.

This still is from "Ted Forbes - The Art of Photography, Filmmaker, Photographer | EP.4 Creative Spaces TV"

Sara does a really great job at capturing the story of how the artist began creating and what keeps the artist to continue creating. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, hope to finish watching the videos soon and cannot wait for even more to be created.

Kristin

"What's a Monopod?"

"What's a monopod?" This is the question I got from a Best Buy employee when I asked if they sold monopods. My initial reaction was to have a mini-freak out. This employee was assigned to the cameras and did not know what a monopod was, but I calmed down. I said, "It's like a tripod but with one leg instead of three." Best Buy ended up having one monopod option that day, but it took a couple employees to find it.

Monopods are one of my favorite inventions because they come in all sizes. I'm short so they help me get angles my height otherwise could not. I like to open the monopod as tall as it can go and hold it from the base while getting overhead shots of people cheering in a huddle. Monopods help me not get shaky shots because they keep the camera steady. It is easier to get running shots because you grip the monopod (opposed to the camera).

I find a monopod super helpful and it does not cost loads of money. You can get one on almost every site that sells cameras. I hope you'll at least try shooting with one.

Kristin

How to Google Forms

Sometimes you may end up in a situation where a survey needs to be created. The initial thought of creating a survey could potentially trigger emotions of distain or fear. Today I want to share a helpful way to create a survey with Google Forms. 

First, log into your Google account and go to google.com/forms

You will be greeted with a user friendly interface where you can easily change the text to say what you desire.

For example, I asked "What year are you?" The four options are: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior. Google allows you to add even more options if you would like!

If you would like to personalize it more, you can add a picture or video!

You precede to fill out the survey following the previous instructions with your questions. Once you click "send form," you will have the option to send the survey to several e-mails or get a link to share.

When people begin to respond, you will be able to see their results in a programmed pie graph. I find this helpful because I do not have to enter data; Google will take every question and individually calculate the data.

I hope Google Forms is as helpful for you as it has been for me!

Kristin

"Nicely Said"

"Nicely Said" by Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee is a book I believe every person should read. Its beautiful design drew me in but its substance brought a sweeter depth. Fenton and Lee share how to write for the web and ways to make your writing better. They know what they are talking about and share it in a simple way. 

"Nicely Said" was made with a goal to unravel the writing process and help you create useful and meaningful web content. Fenton and Lee write, "Understand your topic and use as few words as possible." Many writers do not understand what they are writing about and ramble. It is not necessary to ramble if you understand what you are sharing. They encourage the writer to have a purpose in the writing and to know what that purpose is. If you do not understand why you are posting, you should not post it.

Fenton and Lee encourage writers to write a mission statement. If your post does not align with the statement, do not post it. I like this idea because some people do not stop talking. They share mindlessly and could stop talking a long time prior to when they actually do. Fenton and Lee say do not let weeks and weeks go on before you post something. It seems contradictory to what they previously stated, but it makes sense. An audience needs consistency or the audience will not continue to be engaged.

Overall, it is a really lovely book and you can purchase it here

Kristin

6 Helpful Levo Articles

Levo

“Levo arms you with the tools to develop your talent, build connections and stay inspired day in and day out as you grow and develop. We believe you can create a life you’re passionate about.”

I have been reading Levo articles for a couple of years now. I find some of the greatest career/life advice to come from the site. Today I want to share 6 Levo articles I have found helpful in beginning to put language to my thoughts.

1. My Grandpa Taught Me About the “Spenders and Savers” by Dominique Broadway

This article breaks people up into those who spend and those who save. It does not give any room for people in the middle. I found it helpful because I’ve always thought of myself as a saver and didn’t comprehend why/how my friends were always spending. It helped me understand why.

2. How to Build A Network in a New City Before You Move by Idealist Careers

Sometimes people move to cities where they absolutely know no one. This article shares the importance of leveraging your social media and current network. Chances are a friend knows someone who lives in the town I am moving. Idealist Careers suggests researching the area and finding events/organizations that you have already joined to fill up your calendar.

3. When Your Ambition Doesn’t Line Up With Your Friends by DailyWorth

The article begins by quoting Sheryl Sandberg who said, “The most important career choice you’ll make is who you marry.” DailyWorth goes on to say, “I worry I won’t get the support I need from people whose ambitions don’t match my own.” I think this blog was an interesting one to begin thought processes in my brain. I always like to think about the friends I have and how I am learning/growing from their friendship.

4. 3 Skills Every Professional Should Have by Rachel Maleady

Rachel talks about the importance of knowing how to speak publically, use technology and understand analytics. It is written in a concise manner and easy to remember.

5. Want to Earn More and Find a Job Faster? Learn a Foreign Language by Brazen Life

I’m not sure how much money can actually be made by knowing multiple languages. I think it depends on the job and the language known. However, this article makes several great points. There is a steep learning curve to learning a language. It can be pricey to achieve a fluency level and not every career will benefit from knowing two languages. 

6. Ways Women Sell Themselves Short in Writing by Candace Faber

Candace addresses the difference between men and women writing about themselves. She says many women get stuck talking about the process taken to overcome an outcome rather than the result. Instead of sharing about the individual’s work in a group, women are more inclined to use words like “together” or “we”.

6 Helpful Travel Apps When Traveling Internationally

 

 

Labor day weekend is upon us and many people will be traveling. They will go back home or to a new place. Some people will even go somewhere internationally. Today I want to share 5 travel apps that have helped me when traveling internationally.

1. Gogobot

This app is somewhat of a hidden traveling gem. I can type in the city I am visiting, find photos/reviews on restaurants/museums/attractions, and even make lists for my future travels. I have used it several times and the suggestions have always been great.

 

2. The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel app gives me exactly what I need when I need it. I can look at the weather by the hour and know exactly what is happening/will happen. I even find it to be more accurate than the original weather app my phone has.

3. Dgrees

It takes me awhile to mentally convert from Degrees to Celsius. This is why I really like Dgrees. It is beautifully designed and I can easily scroll to find the temperature and receive an accurate conversion. It helps me properly dress when I am not in America.

4. Kurrency

Similar to Dgrees, Kurrency converts for me. It takes the currency of the place I am visiting and converts it to dollars (or whatever currency you need). I like it because I do not always have wifi and it can program the exchange rate for me. I don't have to worry about someone receiving more than he or she should because Kurrency will correctly convert it.

5. Whatsapp

Whatsapp is the main texting app for many countries across the world. When you make friends internationally, it helps you keep up with them for free. You can call, text, and video chat through the app. It is also kind enough to use Wifi!

6. Instagram

I know; I know.. Instagram? Many people use it to just scroll through their friends' feeds, but I have used Instagram to find many places I [most likely] would have never found. Cities typically have a trending hashtag that showcases the city. You can find almost anything you desire to find on Instagram and see photos of it. I can typically get a feel for a place through the photos people post; I highly recommend using it in your travels.

These are a few of my favorite travel apps, and I hope they help you as much as they help me.

Kristin

6 TEDTalks I Think You'll Like

TED talks are ideas shared through various social platforms. People share what they have learned (or even experienced). You can subscribe to TED's Youtube channel, visit TED.com, listen to podcasts, or even watch video podcasts. I have been watching TED talks for a few years now and today I'd like to share six of my favorites. The talks I've chosen to share may seem random in nature, but I think they have great ideas to take away.

                                                 Monica Lewinsky: The price of shame

Monica Lewinsky is a name many people know, but few people have heard her side of the story. The media talked about her in a time when social media was not a common thing. She speaks of what she went through and how hard it was for her to find work following what happened. I really enjoyed this talk because it gave me a perspective I never thought about having.

                                     Takaharu Tezuka: The best kindergarten you've ever seen

Tezuka speaks about an innovative kindergarten in Tokyo. Tezuka was the architect and the school was built in 2007. Interestingly, it is shaped in a circle and kids can run around it. If a kid is in class and wants to go outside, the kid can just walk outside. The rules are atypical from the traditional stereotype of a school, but it seems like a wonderful idea. My only concern is students who go here have to continue going to higher grades and I imagine transitioning from this school to a traditional school takes some adjustment. However, they're young so I bet it is easier for them to do so.

 

 

 Sarah Kay:  If I should have a daughter

Sarah Kay is a talented lady. She shares her poems and this particular one is about her future daughter. She speaks for 18 minutes reciting what she has written and learned. I placed this one in because I watched this several years ago and am still in awe.

                               Will Porter: The Secret US Prisons You've Never Heard of Before

I watched this TED talk last year and was shocked that I had never heard of the secret US prisons. It made me wonder about various institutions that have yet to become public knowledge. Since this TED talk was released, there has been talk about shutting down these CMU's (Communication Management Unit), but only time will tell.

                             Elizabeth Gilbert: Success, Failure and the Drive to Keep Creating

Elizabeth Gilbert talks about life after her book: "Eat, Pray, Love" became a success. She had the opportunity to succeed or fail after she had already succeeded. I think the beauty of this talk is it is okay to succeed and it is okay to fail. We should not be afraid of either. One or the other will happen, but we must continue to create when either does.

                              Simon Sinek: Start With Why: Why Great Leaders Inspire Action

Start With Why was my first encounter with TED talks. It still holds to be my favorite talk I have ever watched. Many people/businesses like to tell people what they do, but Simon Sinek encourages them to learn why they do what they do. He says, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it."

I hope you like these TEDTalks as much as I do!

Kristin

Why I Find Google Flights Helpful

I love to travel. There is an excitement that comes when I drive into the airport. I peer out of my car window and see thousands of parked cars. These cars signal people are traveling as well. I imagine the different types of people and why they're traveling. Some are traveling for business, others for vacation. Some people will be re-united with loved ones and others will have to attend a funeral for a loved one. There are loads of reasons why people travel; simultaneously, people leave their normal lives for a bit and plane tickets can be expensive. This is why I find Google Flights helpful.

I no longer have to consistently check the price of a flight because Google Flights tracks it for me. All I need is a gmail account. Once I am logged in, I go to google.com/flights. I type in where I am flying from, where and when I would like to go, and Google finds the flights. Google is even kind enough to suggest changing my dates for an even less expensive flight.

After I find my ideal flight, I select the "Outbound" and "Return" flight, scroll to the bottom and click "track price." Google will continue tracking the price of the flight until it takes off. This method bypasses proxy settings airlines typically use to make their customers pay more. I have bought several flights on here and I plan to continue this purchasing method.

I have seen flights begin low and steadily increase, but I have also seen flights begin incredibly high and rapidly decline. I think it helps to research what a typical flight costs from your currently location to the place you would like to visit and either check Google Flights pretty often (or sign up for their price alert emails).

The only [current] downside to Google Flights for Southwest fans is Southwest is not currently on Google Flights. I know many people who prefer to fly Southwest, but many other airlines can also be found on Google Flights.

I've always believed if something is helpful to me, it will be helpful to someone else. I hope this helps you get a better price on your upcoming travels.

Kristin