Reach Your Dream!

A Message from Workshop Leaders:

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves to earn the success you deserve? If so, then we’re ready and eager to help you.

Success in the arts results from a combination of heart and business. First, you have to believe in your God-given talents. Then you need to understand how to carry out the many professional aspects of career building... from developing an in-depth “Artist Success Game Plan” to carrying out an effective publicity campaign on local, regional and national levels. Other ingredients include hook discovery, craft honing, team building, product development, copyright protection, manufacturing, sales, event development, media pitching, and social networking. We’ll be covering those things and more during our life/career-changing “Reaching Your Dream” arts weekend.

Our Independence/Galax, Va., arts weekend will run from Sept. 12-14, 2014. We’ll begin on Friday with a media tour, followed by a “Tunesmithing” show spotlighting songwriters. Much of Saturday will be devoted to a hands-on seminar with instruction, discussion, examples, hands-on activities, and special Q&A artist spotlights featuring some of the region’s most successful artists. On Saturday night, we’ll stage an artist vision sharing show called “Arts On The Row”. It’s always a moving experience. We’ll wrap up on Sunday with a brainstorming/critique/Q&A lunch.

Did you know that a big news story about you can remain in the Internet search engines for years. But landing one isn’t always easy. Reporters and editors are very particular about what they write about, and there are a host of artists and entrepreneurs competing for limited space and time. That's why it's essential to find a one-of-a-kind news hook, use the inverted-pyramid story structure, and follow the rules in the Associated Press Stylebook. The easier you make it for the media pros, the better chance you’ll have to land the “big story”. Chuck Whiting, who started his career as a newspaper reporter, is ready to show you the PR ropes. 

About The Workshop Leaders:

Amy Allen - Country/blues/Americana artist with two Top-15 country hits from her new album, “Someday Is Today”. Amy has performed at venues ranging from the White House to the Ryman Auditorium, opening for stars such as John Conlee, Patty Loveless, and Brooks & Dunn. She has overcome a major health-related challenge to become successful in the arts. Learn more about Amy Allen at www.TheAmyAllen.com .

Joyce Rouse - A singer/songwriter/eco-activist whose motto is “helping heal the planet one song at a time.” A 15-year voting member of the Grammy Awards, Joyce has written songs for stars such as Maureen McGovern, Marie Osmond, and the McCarter Sisters. She recently released the new CD, “A Sense of Place”. Her state tribute song, “Virginia Beauty”, is receiving airplay on public radio. Learn more about Joyce Rouse at www.EarthMama.org.

Chuck Whiting - Founder of Whiting Publicity and Promotions, a 21-year-old PR firm specializing in the arts in Nashville, Tenn. Chuck is a former newspaper reporter, the author/co-writer of the book/song “The Littlest Star”, editor of Music City Arts Update, and host of the songwriters show “Tunesmithing”. He teaches communication courses at Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College. Learn more about Chuck Whiting at www.WhitingPublicity.com .

Bonnie Cranmer - Marketing Director and Business Strategist at Blue Ridge Green Media, publishers of Natural Awakenings of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. A social networking expert, Bonnie has been named a HootSuite Ambassador. Learn more about her work at www.NABlueRidge.com.

A Creative Environment:

The workshop and arts sharing event will be held at various arts venues in Independence and Galax, Va. We’re adding a number of new activities to help bring the arts career building process to life. Our goal will be to help equip artists, entrepreneurs and organizational leaders with the tools they need to land significant exposure on local, regional and national levels.

Tuition:

Seating for “Reaching Your Dream” activities is limited. Tuition is only $145 for all all activities if you register by Sept. 1. Tuition includes your participation in the media tour, the “Tunesmithing” songwriters show, the workshop, “Arts on the Row” artist vision sharing, and the press release and artist game plan critiques.

For more information or to register for the workshop, call (615) 423-9857, send an e-mail to Arts@WhitingPublicity.com, click on the Registration Button below, or print out and mail the registration form (click on “Registration” in the menu at the top of this page).  Checks should be made payable to Whiting Publicity & Promotions and mailed to Chuck Whiting, “Reaching Your Dream”, C/O Whiting Publicity & Promotions, P.O. Box 331941, Nashville, TN 37203-7518. 

Note: Credit card payments are accepted through Paypal with an add-on transaction fee of $2.95.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at the workshop!