Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you so much for following along this month! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being Breedlove’s Featured Artist for February, and I hope you stay in touch. Feel free to follow me on Spotify and Instagram, and send me an email to info@connercherland.com if you have any questions! Since it’s my last blog post, I’d like to answer some of the questions you all have been asking during the social media takeovers.
Q: “Who is this?”
A: My name is Conner Cherland! I’m the product of a Filipino falling in love with a Minnesotan. I’m 5’9,” and smell nice. If you see me, please say hello.
Q: “When is your next show?”
A: I play between three and six gigs every week! As of writing this, I’ve done over 700 gigs total. A lot of those gigs are playing background for different wineries, breweries, weddings, and corporate events, but some are more music focused! Feel free to shoot me an email if you’d like to hear my recommendation for which show you should come to. Otherwise, feel free to check out ConnerCherland.com/dates!
Q: “Did you ever take singing lessons?”
A: Yes! Singing lessons made me want to become a musician. Eight years ago, I had no idea how to sing, and I’m so glad I learned. Everyone has a voice, yes … even you. Some have stronger, more versatile voices, but the world needs your voice.
Q: “Are these songs vegan?”
A: Some songs may have been tested on animals prior to human consumption.
Q: “What do you do during the day?”
A: I have one of the weirdest jobs, in that there’s not a “right” thing for me to be doing during the day. Currently, I’m doing another self-imposed songwriting challenge of 40 songs in six months, so I’m writing a lot during the day and playing gigs at night. I’m also a one-person company, so I’m often doing accounting, bookings, equipment repair, social media marketing, etc.
Q: “Where do you get inspiration for your songs?”
A: Everywhere! Here are some specifics:
The Choices of John Still—this entire EP is a concept album inspired by my vocal pedal (Vocalist by Digitech). The pedal lets me sound like a woman, a chorus or a monster, so, I wrote from those perspectives and connected them in a single narrative.
I Will Keep On Loving You—there’s a scene in How To Train Your Dragon 2 where the dad and mom come back together in a happy reunion. For some reason, the song makes it okay that she left him for like ten years?! I figured I should make one of those songs in case I ever screw up my marriage. Seemed useful.
If You Want It—I finished packing up my stuff after a long three hour gig where nobody paid attention. On my way back to my car, a hotel patron said he regretted missing my performance and asked if I’d be playing anymore. The first line of the song came to my head…
”One more, in the corner
Ignore, say you like it”
I want to do so much more than make a living with my music. I want to really touch people’s lives, and hear them sing my songs for years to come.
Q: “What’s your favorite guitar that you own?”
A: My favorite guitar is my 2012 Passport D/MMe by Breedlove. Everyone who hears it loves its tone, and I honestly couldn’t imagine a better guitar to have carried me for seven years.
Q: “What piece of advice would you give to someone who wants to become a full-time musician?”
A: A few things! The best piece of advice I ever got was, “This job is not for the faint of heart.” I’ve wanted to quit a few times, and if it weren’t for my wife with her integrity and patience, I would have quit a long time ago. Here’s a few key ways you can set yourself up for success:
1) Consider your financial “metabolism.” How much money do you need to keep the ship afloat? Can you reduce expenses? How many more gigs per month can you play in order to meet those expenses?
2) Consider why you want to become a full-time artist. Rilke says that the only reason you should be a vocational artist is if you believe it’s what you must do. If you can be happy working a great job and playing music regularly on the side, it might be a great alternative!
3) Make allies. You have a long road ahead of you and will need help getting where you want to go.
4) Acquire new skills. Be leaps and bounds ahead of where you were last year. Focus on constant improvement, and remember to celebrate how far you’ve come.
I wish you guys the best of luck, and really do hope our paths cross in the future.
All the best,
Conner
