We were lucky to catch up with Mary Martin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mary, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Earning a full-time living from my career as a musician has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I began performing one-off gigs in 2018, when I had the time and opportunity between work and life in general. I always wondered how other musicians were able to make a full-time job out of performing and releasing music, it just didn’t seem to be a feasible option for me.
I was working as a makeup artist for years before I finally realized that my key to happiness and fulfillment in my career was a complete career change that reflected my biggest passion – music. The transition was, thankfully, incredibly smooth. I was working a full-time job and playing gigs at night, truly overworking myself. One day, I looked at how many shows and opportunities I had to turn down due to my work schedule, and it became extremely clear. I could make a living off of music, and I knew it was the path I had to take.
I made the decision to become a full-time musician in January of this year (2022). Because I had been performing and building a rapport with venues and listeners, I was able to quickly fill my calendar with quality bookings at venues that excited me.
My advice for anyone considering becoming a full time musician is to hone your craft and control your product – you and your music! Practice, book gigs that make you comfortable with performing to a crowd, build meaningful relationships with local venues, support other musicians, promote yourself. Be confident in your talent and always seek growth.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
If we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet – hey! My name is Mary, and I am a musician. I perform multiple times every week, usually at bars, breweries, private parties, and listening rooms in the metro-Atlanta area. I specialize in a blend of rock, country, and blues, but it’s incredibly hard to define my genre. I have a bit of everything for everyone, and I love all music!
As far back as I can remember, music has always been my biggest passion. I was classically trained in piano from ages 2 – 13 (I learned to read sheet music before I could read – thanks, Mom and Dad!). However, after my first shaky and nerve-racking local open mic night performance in 2017 with just my guitar, three original songs, and some whiskey… I was addicted to the rush I got performing my songs with that intimate feel.
What I’m most proud of in songwriting and performing is the relatability and connections I’ve made from the stories I tell. I’ve met so many amazing people because they heard my songs and felt like I was telling their story instead of mine. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings to create a true emotional response with something I’ve written and created, and the feeling never gets old. Sometimes it can be an isolating experience to create music – for me, it usually looks like sitting in my room, playing around with words, notes, and chords until I get the right sound to reflect my vision. To then bring something so intimate to a stage and audience, and receive such a good response, is overwhelming.
So, if you’re reading this and you haven’t heard my music or been to a show yet, first of all – thank you for taking time from your day to get to know me! I hope you’ll take a moment to turn on one of my songs (available on all streaming services), sit back, and enjoy.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
With regards to my music goals – the sky is truly the limit. I’ve gone farther than I ever thought possible, and I want to continue to amaze myself with future accomplishments. I want to open for my favorite artists, play on the biggest stages, see my name on festival lineups, and continue writing music I love. I could truly go on and on, but I’m manifesting and working hard towards big things for myself.
In my more immediate timeline, I have some very exciting releases coming and big plans for my live shows in 2023. I’ve had the amazing experience this year of working with my producer, Brian Collins (an incredible musician himself), and studio-owner Will Turpin (mega talent and bassist of Collective Soul) at Real2Reel Studios here in GA. We are working on my next project that leans heavily into the country rock and blues feel. I’ll be bringing my live show to venues across the Southeast, and beyond.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The best thing someone can do for a musician is to genuinely support them. Whether coming to a show, buying merchandise, or sharing a post, it is all necessary to be successful in the music industry! As contrived as social media can be, it is a huge means of getting my music out there, and every bit of engagement is so amazing. Every like, comment, and share does more for a musician than you can imagine! Any time you see an artist pushing a new release on social media, please understand that they have poured their heart and soul into it. Once it’s out into the world, we need your help to spread the word and gain new listeners!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marymartinmusic.com
- Instagram: @colormemary
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/marymartinmusic.ga
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marymartinmusic
- Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0j9cqKirxnWBBFV9ACsGp9?si=Dz69p4AwSdeaucHx6MohHQ Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mary-martin/1434417846
Image Credits
Ashley Anderson