February 12, 2025 • 10 mins
Join Laura Clapp Davidson in Episode 101 of Song 43, where she shares her journey of balancing life as a mom, full-time worker, and creative artist. Discover her insights into leveraging digital platforms like TikTok for music success, considerations on launching a Patreon for creative freedom, and managing the multitude of resources available to modern creators. Get inspired by her personal stories and learn more about upcoming projects, including exciting collaborations and festival plans. Whether you're a creator or simply curious, this episode is packed with valuable lessons from real-life experiences. Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes peeks into the world of a thriving musician and creator!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:24):
SONG 43
What's up, everybody?
Welcome to Song 43, a podcast forthose of you looking to get a deeper
look at how this creator createswhile being a mom, working full
time and doing all the things.
This week finds me two weeksafter my 100th episode of Song 43.
And that was quite a funmilestone to celebrate.
And it was fun to put it out thereafter kind of second guessing myself
(00:48):
and just taking way too long to do it.
So here we are.
Episode 101.
And this week finds me in a strangespot in terms of next creative
steps and creative directions.
So why I say that is because I'vebeen doing some videos on TikTok
and experimenting to see what that'slike and what that could be like.
(01:10):
Because as a creator who started mymusical journey, When I was, well,
seven, when I started playing thepiano, but really started when I got
out of college, it was so daunting.
And not to say that it's notdaunting now, but I feel like
now there's so much more freedom.
Like you look at people on socialmedia and they can just put anything
(01:31):
they want up and maybe it'll stick.
Maybe it'll go viral.
Maybe there'll be.
annihilated.
But you know, it's so coolto be part of this time.
So I started putting up TikTokvideos and they got well received.
So I'm thinking, what does that look like?
What's next?
And I think as a creator, that's theother thing that's challenging at this
(01:51):
time and this place is that there are somany resources available to us out there.
When I say that, what I'm talkingabout for me is all the different
things that I have to keep track of.
So I have a website that's there.
Transcribed by https (02:06):
otter.
ai Since 2001, I've owned lauraclapp.comclap.com and that lives on a site called
Band Zoogle, which is where I manage it.
I distribute my music through CD Baby,although now I'm switching to Distro Kid.
I do my graphic design work in Canva.
I send invoices out using Excel.
(02:29):
I. I record my music in Logic.
I record this in Descript.
I use Calendly for my scheduling.
So there's all these things.
And then there's all thecontent distribution.
So maintaining Instagram, YouTube, TikTok,Facebook, all these social media things.
And it's very, it's a time suck,but the double edged sword is that
(02:53):
it's a fun time suck because itis giving me that creative outlet.
So all that to say.
I look at other creators who are outthere doing it and they're putting
out their digital products, whichare like, courses and whatever.
And I think, I don't really know ifthat's for me, but then I wonder if I
should do something like Patreon whereI have monthly subscribers who get
(03:15):
exclusive content and access to content,because then it would allow me to kind
of have some more freedom to create.
And not worry about paying for these sillythings because I'm paying for Descript.
That's a monthly fee.
I'm paying for Canva.
Well, actually, Work's paying for Canva.
But, Descript is not inexpensive.
(03:38):
And there's all these other platforms.
So I've been toying with that idea.
But as someone who came up at a differenttime, It feels weird, like it feels
really weird to think about puttingout can, or putting out a Patreon and
asking people for money regularly.
It's just like, what?
But if you think about it, that'show we consume content now.
(04:02):
We have this kind of instant gratificationmodel or this go online to consume model.
So why not?
Why not use Patreon orsomething like that?
If you're not familiar with Patreon, it'sa monthly subscriber service where people
can become your patrons or your patreonsor whatever the heck you want to call it.
(04:23):
So I've been toying with that.
I've been trying to getmy website tuned up.
I've been trying to think aboutwhat the graphics will look like
for my album if it ever comes out.
I've been tracking harmonyvocals for Oak Tree and they're
coming along really nicely.
And I just got my old friend DaveSpires to agree to do the guitar
(04:43):
tracks for it, which is so exciting.
He's a fantastic steel player inNashville at the Grand Ole Opry.
And a guitarist, andhe's gonna play my track.
So I can't wait to see how that comes out,or hear how that comes out, I should say.
So that track's coming along, and Markwants to get that one done and dusted, and
then maybe we can make some more progress.
(05:03):
So it's now on me to get stuff done,which, this is the thing unless
you carve out the time to really,really create and focus on that
creation, how do you get it done?
I'm asking that rhetorically, but alsoasking that, because I'm struggling.
This album has been taken five years.
(05:25):
It's time.
It is time to get it out there.
But it's also like, when, when do Ihave the energy and the bandwidth?
I just cut tracks duringmy lunch break today.
I work from home.
So my lunch break is a veryloose term, but like I block
out 12 to one every day because.
Otherwise, I would never eat.
(05:45):
Actually, that's not true.
I would totally eat.
I'm one of those people whereif I don't eat, um, I fall over.
And those people that don't eat all dayand are like, oh, all I had was an egg
for breakfast, or all I had was a raisin.
I'm like, what the hell?
Like, no, no, no, no.
I have to have three mealsand snacks every day.
Or I am, like, falling over.
(06:08):
It's not good.
Anywho, finding that time, carvingout that time to do the tracks today
was cool, or maybe it was yesterday.
I think it was yesterday.
Not important.
Now I have to figure out how todo the rest of them because I
just laid down rough ideas andMark was like, yes, I like this.
No, I don't like that.
Try this again.
Blah, blah, blah.
I just have to take the time to focusand do it because I'm going away this
(06:32):
weekend and that's the other thing.
You have life.
Like you want to live your life and I'mgoing, but I have all these things I
want to do creatively and it takes time.
So I'm trying to figure out how toget time back and thinking about
going the Patreon route so that Ican streamline a few more things.
And, keep you all apprised of what'sgoing on because I know you're all dying
(06:55):
to know what is happening in my world.
No, I'm just kidding.
I know you're not.
But that's, that is what'shappening right now.
We're facing a little bit moresnow in the forecast right now.
Don't know what that's going to be like.
I love snow and I love winter, but theolder I get, the more I don't love it.
I'm ready for spring andI'm ready for warm weather.
(07:18):
And it's only February.
Whatever, 11th.
And I've just been, yeah, thinkingabout what it's going to be like to
go outside and have the sun stay upmuch longer and do things outside
and that's going to be great.
So I wonder if you'refeeling the same way.
Is February getting too longand we're only, halfway in?
(07:40):
I guess we are almost halfway in though.
with February.
It's a nice short month, mercifully.
So yeah, then we're heading into winterbreak in our school district, which
is fine, except, I'd like to be homecreating, but it's also prime ski weekend.
So you gotta, I gotta juggleand that's, it's hard.
(08:02):
All that to say, I just booked acouple more shows and I just joined
the board of Guilford Green Stage,which is a really cool festival that
happens every two years and then putson cool events throughout the town that
are musically focused or art focused.
And now I'm on that board again, ornot again, but I'm on a board again,
(08:24):
and it feels really exciting to bea part of that and to see what the
programming is going to look like.
Because that's why I got broughton to, to see how we can add
some new programming to the mix.
And there's already some fantasticartists lined up for the August festival.
So now my job is to fill the rest ofthe slots and see where we land and so
(08:46):
I've got Some shows coming up in March.
I've got some shows coming up in Juneand July and This festival so lots
of things creatively are happening.
It's just separating that from regularlife And work life, and also, yeah, doing
my job because, wow, it's busy at work issomething that I still haven't perfected.
(09:09):
So if you're listening to this and you'rejust getting started, know that you
are not alone, and that even the oldsare still struggling, because, yeah.
I'm trying to figure out what's next, whatthis looks like, how I can get my creation
up and off the ground, if I shouldbe even making TikTok videos because
(09:30):
it feels very strange, but also fun.
So that's where I'm at this week.
I'm thrilled to be 101 episodes into this adventure and looking forward
to seeing what's next and finding newways to bring all of you into the mix.
So if you have anybody who thinkyou think would be a great guest
(09:50):
for Song 43, please let me know.
You can email me at laura at lauraclap.
com.
That's C L A P P. And let me know.
Let's get them on here.
Let's hear their story and hear how theycreate while being a mom working full
time and doing all the things or beinga person working full time and doing
all the things or just being a person.
(10:12):
I don't know, that sounds interesting too.
So that's what I'mthinking about this week.
What are you thinking about?
I hope that you have a fantasticrest of your week and as
always, thanks for listening.
SONG 43
What's up, everybody?
Welcome to Song 43, a podcast forthose of you looking to get a deeper
look at how this creator createswhile being a mom, working full
time and doing all the things.
This week finds me two weeksafter my 100th episode of Song 43.
And that was quite a funmilestone to celebrate.
And it was fun to put it out thereafter kind of second guessing myself
(00:48):
and just taking way too long to do it.
So here we are.
Episode 101.
And this week finds me in a strangespot in terms of next creative
steps and creative directions.
So why I say that is because I'vebeen doing some videos on TikTok
and experimenting to see what that'slike and what that could be like.
(01:10):
Because as a creator who started mymusical journey, When I was, well,
seven, when I started playing thepiano, but really started when I got
out of college, it was so daunting.
And not to say that it's notdaunting now, but I feel like
now there's so much more freedom.
Like you look at people on socialmedia and they can just put anything
(01:31):
they want up and maybe it'll stick.
Maybe it'll go viral.
Maybe there'll be.
annihilated.
But you know, it's so coolto be part of this time.
So I started putting up TikTokvideos and they got well received.
So I'm thinking, what does that look like?
What's next?
And I think as a creator, that's theother thing that's challenging at this
(01:51):
time and this place is that there are somany resources available to us out there.
When I say that, what I'm talkingabout for me is all the different
things that I have to keep track of.
So I have a website that's there.
Transcribed by https (02:06):
otter.
ai Since 2001, I've owned lauraclapp.comclap.com and that lives on a site called
Band Zoogle, which is where I manage it.
I distribute my music through CD Baby,although now I'm switching to Distro Kid.
I do my graphic design work in Canva.
I send invoices out using Excel.
(02:29):
I. I record my music in Logic.
I record this in Descript.
I use Calendly for my scheduling.
So there's all these things.
And then there's all thecontent distribution.
So maintaining Instagram, YouTube, TikTok,Facebook, all these social media things.
And it's very, it's a time suck,but the double edged sword is that
(02:53):
it's a fun time suck because itis giving me that creative outlet.
So all that to say.
I look at other creators who are outthere doing it and they're putting
out their digital products, whichare like, courses and whatever.
And I think, I don't really know ifthat's for me, but then I wonder if I
should do something like Patreon whereI have monthly subscribers who get
(03:15):
exclusive content and access to content,because then it would allow me to kind
of have some more freedom to create.
And not worry about paying for these sillythings because I'm paying for Descript.
That's a monthly fee.
I'm paying for Canva.
Well, actually, Work's paying for Canva.
But, Descript is not inexpensive.
(03:38):
And there's all these other platforms.
So I've been toying with that idea.
But as someone who came up at a differenttime, It feels weird, like it feels
really weird to think about puttingout can, or putting out a Patreon and
asking people for money regularly.
It's just like, what?
But if you think about it, that'show we consume content now.
(04:02):
We have this kind of instant gratificationmodel or this go online to consume model.
So why not?
Why not use Patreon orsomething like that?
If you're not familiar with Patreon, it'sa monthly subscriber service where people
can become your patrons or your patreonsor whatever the heck you want to call it.
(04:23):
So I've been toying with that.
I've been trying to getmy website tuned up.
I've been trying to think aboutwhat the graphics will look like
for my album if it ever comes out.
I've been tracking harmonyvocals for Oak Tree and they're
coming along really nicely.
And I just got my old friend DaveSpires to agree to do the guitar
(04:43):
tracks for it, which is so exciting.
He's a fantastic steel player inNashville at the Grand Ole Opry.
And a guitarist, andhe's gonna play my track.
So I can't wait to see how that comes out,or hear how that comes out, I should say.
So that track's coming along, and Markwants to get that one done and dusted, and
then maybe we can make some more progress.
(05:03):
So it's now on me to get stuff done,which, this is the thing unless
you carve out the time to really,really create and focus on that
creation, how do you get it done?
I'm asking that rhetorically, but alsoasking that, because I'm struggling.
This album has been taken five years.
(05:25):
It's time.
It is time to get it out there.
But it's also like, when, when do Ihave the energy and the bandwidth?
I just cut tracks duringmy lunch break today.
I work from home.
So my lunch break is a veryloose term, but like I block
out 12 to one every day because.
Otherwise, I would never eat.
(05:45):
Actually, that's not true.
I would totally eat.
I'm one of those people whereif I don't eat, um, I fall over.
And those people that don't eat all dayand are like, oh, all I had was an egg
for breakfast, or all I had was a raisin.
I'm like, what the hell?
Like, no, no, no, no.
I have to have three mealsand snacks every day.
Or I am, like, falling over.
(06:08):
It's not good.
Anywho, finding that time, carvingout that time to do the tracks today
was cool, or maybe it was yesterday.
I think it was yesterday.
Not important.
Now I have to figure out how todo the rest of them because I
just laid down rough ideas andMark was like, yes, I like this.
No, I don't like that.
Try this again.
Blah, blah, blah.
I just have to take the time to focusand do it because I'm going away this
(06:32):
weekend and that's the other thing.
You have life.
Like you want to live your life and I'mgoing, but I have all these things I
want to do creatively and it takes time.
So I'm trying to figure out how toget time back and thinking about
going the Patreon route so that Ican streamline a few more things.
And, keep you all apprised of what'sgoing on because I know you're all dying
(06:55):
to know what is happening in my world.
No, I'm just kidding.
I know you're not.
But that's, that is what'shappening right now.
We're facing a little bit moresnow in the forecast right now.
Don't know what that's going to be like.
I love snow and I love winter, but theolder I get, the more I don't love it.
I'm ready for spring andI'm ready for warm weather.
(07:18):
And it's only February.
Whatever, 11th.
And I've just been, yeah, thinkingabout what it's going to be like to
go outside and have the sun stay upmuch longer and do things outside
and that's going to be great.
So I wonder if you'refeeling the same way.
Is February getting too longand we're only, halfway in?
(07:40):
I guess we are almost halfway in though.
with February.
It's a nice short month, mercifully.
So yeah, then we're heading into winterbreak in our school district, which
is fine, except, I'd like to be homecreating, but it's also prime ski weekend.
So you gotta, I gotta juggleand that's, it's hard.
(08:02):
All that to say, I just booked acouple more shows and I just joined
the board of Guilford Green Stage,which is a really cool festival that
happens every two years and then putson cool events throughout the town that
are musically focused or art focused.
And now I'm on that board again, ornot again, but I'm on a board again,
(08:24):
and it feels really exciting to bea part of that and to see what the
programming is going to look like.
Because that's why I got broughton to, to see how we can add
some new programming to the mix.
And there's already some fantasticartists lined up for the August festival.
So now my job is to fill the rest ofthe slots and see where we land and so
(08:46):
I've got Some shows coming up in March.
I've got some shows coming up in Juneand July and This festival so lots
of things creatively are happening.
It's just separating that from regularlife And work life, and also, yeah, doing
my job because, wow, it's busy at work issomething that I still haven't perfected.
(09:09):
So if you're listening to this and you'rejust getting started, know that you
are not alone, and that even the oldsare still struggling, because, yeah.
I'm trying to figure out what's next, whatthis looks like, how I can get my creation
up and off the ground, if I shouldbe even making TikTok videos because
(09:30):
it feels very strange, but also fun.
So that's where I'm at this week.
I'm thrilled to be 101 episodes into this adventure and looking forward
to seeing what's next and finding newways to bring all of you into the mix.
So if you have anybody who thinkyou think would be a great guest
(09:50):
for Song 43, please let me know.
You can email me at laura at lauraclap.
com.
That's C L A P P. And let me know.
Let's get them on here.
Let's hear their story and hear how theycreate while being a mom working full
time and doing all the things or beinga person working full time and doing
all the things or just being a person.
(10:12):
I don't know, that sounds interesting too.
So that's what I'mthinking about this week.
What are you thinking about?
I hope that you have a fantasticrest of your week and as
always, thanks for listening.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.