The Bet Is Paying Off! | Bet On Myself Summer
Summer is flying by (how are we almost to August?!) and I realized it’s been a minute since I’ve sat down to update everyone on my blog about how my Bet On Myself Summer is going!
Since my last entry (READ IT HERE!) I’ve uploaded more episodes on my Youtube channel for the Bet On Myself Summer Series! We’re officially six episodes in and I can truly say that this summer has taken me by surprise.
(If you would like to catch up on all six episodes, you can watch them HERE)
So, how are things actually going for me?
Amazing!
When I set out to go full time with my music back in April I had a lot of excitement about what the summer would hold, but I also had a lot of fear. I told everyone I know that I’m “betting on myself” this summer, but what if I get to August or September and don’t have much to show for it? What if the results are disappointing or the growth over all isn’t that impressive?
Now, I can truly say the bet is paying off. I’ve managed to match the income I was making at my full time job and I’ve been able to do it using the talents God’s given me. Not only did I match the income, but I had a really cool full circle moment. Remember when I mentioned how Molly Grantham inspired the Bet On Myself Summer? She actually hired me to do some freelance video editing work on her team for the new app she launched recently called The Wave. I get to edit videos weekly of members on the app sharing their own stories of betting on themselves! (And the income from this job is the exact amount I was making for a health stipend at my old job!)
Bet On Myself Summer has been about so much more than music. I’m not sitting behind a desk from 7am-6pm wondering if I’ll ever have a life outside of work again. I always thought I would have to choose between financial stability and my love of music/wanting a creative life, but I’m starting to realize that maybe it’s not an either or situation. Having time during the week to pour right back into my music, whether that’s making videos, editing, learning new songs to add to my live show set list, or writing new music, I’ve been able to focus on the actual business side of things as well as the creative.
When I was working any of the jobs I’ve had in the last 10 years since moving to Nashville I was always busy trying to juggle both a job and music. In the end, I wasn’t doing any of it well. My music suffered from my day job and my day job suffered because I’m the type of person who was maybe never meant to work behind a desk — and you know what? That’s okay!! If I absolutely needed the money I know I can do it, but right now the only person I have to provide for is myself… and Huckleberry haha. That’s also not to say I don’t recognize the incredible privilege I have right now to focus on my music and build a creative business. I’m realizing now that even though I’ve always believed in my music, I’ve also doubted its ability to provide for me. I was devaluing my own talents and strengths just because it didn’t look how everyone else’s job looked.
That all changed this summer.
A hot day at the Christmas House - Southport, NC
Being able to see what I could bring to the table with my music when I had the time and capacity to show up as professionally as possible and really invest in myself (because that’s exactly what betting on myself actually is) has opened my eyes to see that it’s not a choice between music or money.
Now that’s not to say that my success with my music looks exactly how I once thought it would when I started performing 16 years ago. I’m not selling out arenas or even the smallest of small clubs, but I’m making an honest living sharing songs that make people happy. I’ve been super blessed to have some amazing venues that took a chance on hiring me this summer and continued to add me to their calendar. (I’m actively adding more dates into the fall! My November is completely booked!)
On top of my live shows, I’ve been enjoying getting to make my weekly videos for my channel. Sharing pieces of my life and reconnecting with slow living that comes with country life & coastal life has been another level of healing I didn’t know I needed. If you’re curious what life has looked outside of the Bet On Myself Summer Series you can watch my week in the life vlogs where I share the small moments that mean so much to me. Being able to have a flexible schedule and be home with my family has been one of my biggest “wins” this summer. I’ve gotten so many comments from people about how happy I look this summer and a majority of it is due to the fact I get to be with them!
If you didn’t know, I’m a garden girl now.
Speaking of my YouTube Channel. If you’ve been following along for a while you’ll know I’m on a journey to monetize my page. I need 4,000 watch hours to be able to see money from the ads that they’re already placing on my videos. I wanted to share this little growth snapshot for anyone that’s been trying to help me reach my goal. Numbers aren’t everything and my channel is growing slowly, but this has been something I’ve been so proud of this summer.
YOUTUBE GROWTH
April
1,801 subscribers
2,082 watch hours
Mid-July
2,034 subscribers (WE HIT OVER 2,000 FOLLOWERS! THANK YOU!)
2,525 watch hours
Growth Since April
+233 subscribers
+443 watch hours
Something else I recently discovered, when you view my Facebook/Instagram Reels or TikTok videos and engage with any of them (viewing, liking, commenting, sharing) - I get paid for that engagement. Right now it’s very small potatoes, (I’ve been paid $8 total for May-July on Facebook) but it’s something that doesn’t cost you a thing to do except two seconds of your time. I appreciate every person that’s helped build even $8 worth of engagement this summer!
My main source of income right now is mostly coming from live shows, but my hope is one day my videos can add to that so I can continue to create more and give people a little corner of the internet that feel safe and full of music/soft living.
VMD Charlotte
For now, I’m enjoying the fact that my Bet On Myself Summer is looking like it will continue into a Bet On Myself Fall.
If you need a sign that when you bet on yourself it pays off, then I hope this blog entry can be that for you. Take that leap of faith. Stop underestimating what you bring to the table.
If you’re reading this, thank you! Thank you to anyone that’s commented on a post, come to a live show to support me, or watched one of my videos. The fact that you care about me at all means more than I could ever express.
xx Carson
P.s. Some of you might be wondering, “Well, what’s the update on where you’re going at the end of summer?! Are you leaving Nashville? Have you moved/Are you moving?”
My answer to that is — read my next blog post to find out. ;)