Brianna Ruelas:
A lot of people, that makes them nervous because they don't feel like they can really showcase who they are on camera. But I'm telling you if you are focused and really in the conversation, you can 100% bring that energy. And if that's a physical thing you have to do, like a hand clap or a fist pump or chest roll, whatever you have to do to pump yourself up or to bring that energy, then figure that out and do it, because it's just important to really display your best. And I do believe it's possible to have that kind of predetermined strategy and be yourself.

Michael Walker:
It's easy to get lost in today's music industry with constantly changing technology and where anyone with a computer can release their own music. I'm going to share with you why this is the best time to be an independent musician, and it's only getting better. If you have high quality music, but you just don't know the best way to promote yourself so they can reach the right people and generate a sustainable income with your music, we're going to show you the best strategies that we're using right now to reach millions of new listeners every month, without spending 10 hours a day on social media. We're creating a revolution in today's music industry, and this is your invitation to join me. I'm your host, Michael Walker.

Michael Walker:
All right. I'm excited to be here today with Brianna Ruelas. She is a bestselling author of a book called Make Reality TV Your Reality. And she's a Dallas based strategy consultant, reality TV music coach. Most recently, she's launched a Reality Singing Show Success Academy to be able to help independent artists to be able to prepare for and maximize their experience on a reality singing show, so they can really leverage that experience to create momentum in their music careers.

Michael Walker:
So we were just talking a little bit backstage and I think it's so cool, just this main focal point, the angle that she's taking, helping artists. Because obviously, there's such a huge opportunity for artists who are able to get on a reality TV show like this and potentially get exposure to millions of people, even if they're not necessarily like the artist that wins the entire thing. It just seems like a really cool platform and opportunity. So I'm excited to talk more about it today. So Brianna, thank you so much for taking the time to be here today.

Brianna Ruelas:
Hey, thank you so much, Michael, I'm super pumped to be here. And I really appreciate being on your show today, so thank you. Yeah, I'm excited to chat about this.

Michael Walker:
Awesome. So to start with, I would love to hear a little bit about your story and just how you got started down this path of becoming a reality TV singing success coach.

Brianna Ruelas:
Yeah, of course. So I've actually been singing and doing music my whole life. I auditioned for American Idol back in the OG season four when Carrie Underwood won and I made it to the top 100 Hollywood rounds. I believe that year we had about 100,000 people who auditioned, so that was a really big deal back then. And it was one of those things that enabled me to believe in myself in a way that was different. So really looking at this experience going, "Whoa, I was top 100 out of 100,000 people wrapping around stadiums across the country and maybe I actually have something here." So it was a validating thing for me. But back in those days, back in the day, record labels still had a really strong hold on the music industry.

Brianna Ruelas:
So for me it was simply an opportunity to get a foot in the door and meet some people and potentially see myself having a career. When my reality singing show experience ended prematurely like so many other artists experience, I thought my music career was over. I thought that was my last shot. I was depressed, I mean, you name it, right. I went through all the emotions. And literally, I didn't perform or sing for years after that because I thought I was done. I really did. I truly believed that. Thankfully, after a few years I woke up. I had my husband, very supportive was like, "Listen, man, if you don't start singing, performing, writing music, doing what you do, you're not only going to make yourself crazy, you're going to make me crazy." And I was very depressed and I really didn't associate that it was because I wasn't exercising my gift.

Brianna Ruelas:
And so I always tell people, "If you're not exercising your creativity or your gifts, if that's how you're wired, right, I think that music and art is potential, not potentially, but it is how you're wired. It's like the thread, the fabric of your bones, right. If you're not using it, you will suffer. You'll suffer mentally, emotionally and physically. And those around you will suffer as well." So I was happy to get that wake up call and literally, the next month I was back at it, booked to get the house blues, just going full throttle again. So, that was the beginning of me getting back into the now.

Michael Walker:
Hmm. That's awesome. What a great reminder for all of us too. It's something that a lot of my mentors have recommended. And it seems like a lot of the successful people, they put themselves in this ... They imagine the end of their lives and looking back on their deathbed and what ... From that perspective, are the things that they've regrets or that they held back. And one of those, it seems like for so many of us musicians is this idea of dying with our music still inside of us. And the way that you just presented that really rung true of this fact that we have this expressive ability. And if we don't put that out, if we don't exercise our gift, then we're literally holding it in, and it's not only hurting us, but it's hurting the people around us. Really, really powerful.

Michael Walker:
So describe a little bit about this transition to you now that you've been able to ... Because it's been over 30 years, if I read it correctly, that you've been an artist, you've been creating and expressing your own music, which is amazing. And so, I'd love to hear a little about what motivated you to start coaching and helping other artists and what exactly is it that you consider your prime focus now when it comes to working with artists.

Brianna Ruelas:
Yeah, thank you so much. So when I started performing again, I had a daughter who was probably around four at the time. And I was able to manage the gigging scene and the rehearsals with the band and all of those things. But two more babies later, I'm a mom of three, and it became such a chore for me. Now, this is something I love to talk about in some regards, because I always tell moms in music, "You can have a music career. It's not easy, but you can do it." There's so many women out there that when ... Well, first of all, they either think that they can't have kids and a music career, or they think that once they have kids, their music career is over. And I bought into that lie too for a while, so I just want to ... If you're listening to this and you're a mom and you love music and you're a part of this industry, I promise you, you can make it work.

Brianna Ruelas:
But I decided to actually go into more of a vocal coaching realm because I had so many parents reaching out to me, asking me to vocal coach their kids. And I quit my nine to five job at that point after having three kids, and I started my vocal coaching practice. And from that experience, I realized I was getting so much ammunition for a book. I wrote my first book, Performing Artist Pathway. And then when I wrote my first book, that led to me speaking at music conferences and meeting more artists, then that turned into consulting because artists wanted to work with me on a different level. My husband and I are also restaurant owners, so I have a lot of brick and mortar entrepreneurial skills in my back pocket as well, which I bring to my coaching and my consulting.

Brianna Ruelas:
And then keep going, a few more years, I realized I get asked the question a lot, "Will you prepare me for my American Idol audition or my voice audition?" And it is actually something I get really amped up about. I light up, I get really excited when I get those requests, because it combines my passion for performance and coaching on performance in addition to all the other little things like the mindset and the online business strategies. Because I see so many artists go on these shows and they miss out on an opportunity to maximize and leverage it, and they fall into the trap that I did, which is they go on the show, they don't make it as far as they want, they think their music career is over and you never hear from them again. It makes me nuts.

Brianna Ruelas:
So, that is how I decided to niche down even more. So I'm a strategy consultant for independent performing artist in addition to a reality TV music coach. And I absolutely love the reality TV music coaching side, because first of all, I don't know anyone else out there who does what I do. And I really just want to be the go-to girl for reality singing shows quite honestly, because I'm passionate about it and I know I can help artists.

Michael Walker:
Hmm. That's awesome. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. And one thing that it seems like has become more understood through experience over time has been the role of a coach versus ... One common misinterpretation, I think, or misunderstanding might be thinking that the best coaches are always going to be the people who are like Michael Jordan, right, of the NBA. But what I so appreciate about you and about this whole industry of educators and mentors and coaches and consultants, is that a lot of times there's a totally complimentary and a different skill set that really has evolved around being able to help and support and coach other people.

Michael Walker:
And sometimes, I know for me personally, finding a huge passion from being able to coach and help other artists. And I think that you having the background as an artist yourself who made it to the top 100, gives you this perspective that is really important, that really comes into your coaching as well. So yeah, I just wanted to say I appreciate what you've really been able to contribute and provide for other people. And I can relate with this transition of going from my main role, being touring full time to becoming a coach and helping other people with it. And I've gone through identity things before where it's like, "Well, if I'm not touring full time anymore, should I be?" I'm like, "Yea, no, it's okay, you can be ..." A lot of times in most cases, the greatest coaches of all times, they might not even necessarily play the game, right. So, but I think that there is a great correlation that happens there.

Michael Walker:
So I brought out a little bit of rattle to add too much detail there, but I would love to hear ... I know now, what's great about you is that you have the experience to be able to relate both from the standpoint of being an artist yourself over 30 years and being on the reality TV shows, and now also consulting and coaching with other artists and seeing what works for them. So I would love to hear from your experience, what are some of the biggest misconceptions or mistakes that ... Let's say that there's an artist right now who's thinking, "Man, this seems like a really cool opportunity. I would love to go on this reality TV show," what are some of the biggest mistakes that you see artists making commonly when they first get started?

Brianna Ruelas:
Absolutely. Well, I believe the first mistake is thinking that this is their one track to fame, their fast track to fame. Reality singing shows are a lot different than they were at the conception of it, so to speak, like on the Kelly Clarkson days and even the Carrie Underwood days, right. They are not your fast track to fame anymore. However, they are an excellent marketing opportunity or marketing arm for your music business. Because as we were discussing earlier, you have an opportunity to get in front of millions of ears and eyes, and if you are prepared strategically moving into this experience, you can put forth what you want them to hear, your brand message, your music. I mean, they are more open now than they ever have been to showcasing original music, just your whole light, your attitude, all the things.

Brianna Ruelas:
And I always tell people, reality singing shows are not for everyone. I certainly don't shout from the rooftops that they are. However, if you are listening to this and you are interested, I would start by always remembering you must have a clear plan or strategy going into it. But also you need to evaluate your motivation, your intention and your why, because you need to know ultimately, what you're trying to get out of this. Is this because you want to expand your audience base? Is this because you want to share maybe your signature song? Is this because you want 100,000 followers? You have to decide that for you. But having that clear intention of motivation, really being very clear on what that is, then we can set up a plan to ensure that you achieve that goal. Right? So having all of that in place, as far as a strategy moving into it is really important.

Brianna Ruelas:
And I think that a lot of artists, as far as mistakes, I think they rely on their talent alone and they think, "Oh, I'm good looking, I've got a good voice and I'll make up a story maybe," or whatever. Like, "I'm interesting enough," but that is a huge mistake because this is so much more than your voice. You got to be the complete package, and you have to be prepared to showcase it in a compelling and consistent way. And that requires work, and potentially coaching. So that's, I feel like a very important thing or mistake to avoid. And I would also say another mistake that I see is just the egos, right. So one misconception about reality singing shows is that reality singing shows aren't for real artists, right, "Oh, you're going to sell out if you're an indie artist," or whatever, and you go on The Voice, you're selling out, whatever, right. And that's fine if you believe that. That's cool. Reality singing shows are probably not for you.

Brianna Ruelas:
However, at the end of the day, you've got the greenest of green singers, the 16 year old bright eyed, "Oh my gosh, I just want an opportunity," who is amazing probably. And you have the maybe 50 year old or even 30 year old who has been releasing music for years, probably he's been on tour, gigging forever, right, you're up against each other. So it's an equal opportunity for both. And so it's really important. I always say, "Check your ego at the door, because at the end of the day, you can't compare yourself to others. You have no idea what the judges are looking for. And the best thing you can do is focus on your own game and go in there and do what you intend to do, which is share your music, share your message, share your story."

Michael Walker:
That's awesome. Yeah. So, it sounds like what you're saying is that it's important to go into it with a fresh, with an open mind and be willing to admit that you don't know exactly how ... So it sounds like a couple of things. One is, you want to go in with a plan, with an intention, right? So it's not like you just go in with no intention at all, you just hope like, "Well, I hope something cool happens." You go in with an intention, but at the same time, you have the openness where you check your ego at the door, where you, at a certain point, you go like, "All right, well, this is who I am. I'm going to do my best, I'm going to show up." Then how do you recommend that people find that balance between letting go entirely and just being themselves and just showing up, and being in the moments or versus having a planned intention or goal. Yeah, I find that an interesting point. How do you show up and be present without being attached to the outcome while at the same time having your goals in line?

Brianna Ruelas:
Yeah, that's a great question. So part of that, I feel like comes from the preparation because I ... For example, when I work with clients, we're really hitting on, "Okay, make sure you have your back pocket of songs. Make sure you have at least five songs that you'll be ready to pull out." I don't want artists to be so consumed about what they're doing, they're all up in their head, because that strips away from their authenticity and bringing who they are to the table. Because they want to see you. They want to see your personality, they want to see you having fun, they want to see you lose. And if you're all up in your head about, "Oh my God, what, wait, what song am I singing? What are the lyrics? Wait, what's my story. What am I supposed to say again?" Then that's going to take away from you just being you, right.

Brianna Ruelas:
So I think the preparation piece is very important. I think that also breeds confidence when you are very prepared. Going into a situation like this, it's also a pressure cooker. So understanding those expectations, expect that it's going to be stressful, expect that it's going to be hard. But as far as advice, I always say, "Okay, if you're talking to a producer, literally just pretend like that producer is your best friend. Now, don't be picking your nose and cursing or anything like that. But pretend like that producer is your best friend and have a real conversation with them." We can set up the framework of what you want to share, because it is important that you know exactly what you want to share and what you don't want to share. That's very important. But that's just a framework. So when you're having these loose conversations, you can relax, you can take a deep breath, and you can just focus on having a conversation with a friend, so they have an idea of who you are, but bring the energy.

Brianna Ruelas:
The energy has to be there because if you aren't sharing that energy and I'm pushing myself into the camera right now because it's so important. A lot of these initial interviews are going to be online, they're going to be virtual. And a lot of people, that makes them nervous because they don't feel like they can really showcase who they are on camera. But I'm telling you, if you are focused and really in the conversation, you can 100% bring that energy. And if that's a physical thing you have to do like a hand clap or a fist pump or chest roll, whatever you have to do to pump yourself up or to bring that energy, then figure that out and do it because it's just important to really display your best. And I do believe it's possible to have that kind of predetermined strategy and be yourself.

Michael Walker:
All right, let's take a quick break from the podcast, so I can tell you about a free, special offer they're doing right now, exclusively for our podcast listeners. So if you get a ton of value from the show, but you want to take your music career to the next level, connect with the community of driven musicians and connect with the music mentors directly that we have on this podcast. Or if you just want to know the best way to market your music and grow an audience right now, then this is going to be perfect for you.

Michael Walker:
So right now, we're offering a free two week trial to our music mentor coaching program. And if you sign up in the show notes below, you're going to get access to our entire music mentor content vault for free. The vault is organized into four different content pillars. The first being the music, then the artist, the fans, and last but not least, the business. When you sign up, you unlock our best in-depth master classes from a network of world class musicians, and industry experts on the most cutting edge strategies right now for growing your music business. On top of that, you'll get access to our weekly live masterminds, where our highest level modern musician coaches teach you exactly what they're doing to make an income and an impact with their music.

Michael Walker:
Then once a month, we're going to have our music mentor spotlight series. And that's what we're going to bring on some of the world's biggest and best artist coaches and successful musicians to teach you what's working right now. And one of the most amazing parts is that you can get your questions answered live by these top level music mentors. So a lot of the people that you hear right here on the podcast are there live, interacting with you personally. So imagine being able to connect with them directly. On top of all that, you'll get access to our private music mentor community. And this is definitely one of my favorite parts of music mentor and maybe the most valuable, is that you're going to have this community where you can network with other artists and link up, collaborate, ask questions, get support, and discuss everything related to your music career.

Michael Walker:
So if you're curious and you want to take advantage of the free trial, then go click on the link in the show notes right now, sign up for free. From there, you can check out all of the amazing contents, connect with the community and sign up for the live master classes that happen every week. This is a gift for listening to our podcast, supporting the show. So don't miss it out, go sign up for free now, and let's get back to our interview.

Michael Walker:
That's so good. As you're talking about having that back pocket thing is yeah, that's become the yak, yeah, but it's a very nice event for me. That's awesome. And what it reminds me of is this idea that's really served me well around setting up the environment so that the thing you want to have happen just happens on its own without you having to ... If you can set things up so that the frame is in place where you can let go, and then you know that the thing you want to have happen is going to happen. It seems like that's such a great tool in a way that you can prepare, but you set the boundaries so that you can just express yourself. And it sounds like that's really what you recommend with preparation, going in so that you feel confident to let go and you have your core things, your core frame, but you also have the freedom and the energy to just express yourself. Awesome.

Michael Walker:
One question I want to circle back around to, based on something that you said that I think is a really good question for anyone who might be listening or watching this right now, was around how reality TV shows, they might not be for everyone, but if they're for you, they're an amazing opportunity. So for anyone who's listening or watching this right now is ... Because that's also the kind of thing that a lot of people who would be great for reality TV shows might question themselves or doubts or think like, "Yeah, what do I have that's special about me? Or what do I have ..." And so I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on what is it that makes someone a really good fit for reality TV shows, and if someone's listening to this right now, what would you recommend for them?

Brianna Ruelas:
Yeah, absolutely. So here's the thing, there's a lot of different ways to look at this because there are so many different types of singers and performers that go on shows like this. If you're someone who's been, let's say, a seasoned independent artist, right, which is probably a lot of your audience, I would say, think about, have you weighed out the pros and cons of going on a show like this? Are you at a point in your career where you're looking for an additional marketing avenue to expand your audience or gain new followers? But those are just a couple things to consider. Are you okay with cameras flying in your face or does the thought of that completely freak you out? Because there is an element of getting out of your comfort zone. If you're ready to just embrace a new adventure, get out of your comfort zone and step into something very different, then you might want to check this out. But if the idea of that paralyzes you, then it may not be a good fit, right.

Brianna Ruelas:
Like you said, that element of letting go, this is a entertainment television show, so that's what they're looking for. If you are the type of person that shines on camera and is born to entertain, and you are just ready to ... You don't always have to ham it up every day, you don't have to be the biggest personality in the room, but you do have to be compelling. It is entertainment television. So, that is something to keep in mind. They do not owe you anything, okay? But remember that they need you just as much as you need or want this opportunity to satisfy any sort of marketing goals that you have for your career.

Brianna Ruelas:
So I always say it's a two way street. They need talent, you have talent, bring it to them, right. And then I always just say why the heck not? If you looked back, earlier we talked about when you're on your deathbed and you look back and you kept that music inside of you, is this something you're going to regret? If you could care less, "Oh, I don't care," then maybe it's not for you. But if you were going to look back and go, "Gosh, darn it. Why didn't I do it? Why didn't I just try?" It doesn't hurt to try. And it's easier now than ever to audition because of everything going to virtual in those initial rounds. So there isn't a major expense out of your pocket to audition anymore. And there's also, you can leverage Instagram and social media because that's where casting producers are. They are literally casting based on what they see on Instagram. So, there are more ways now to get an opportunity on a show like that than there ever have been.

Michael Walker:
Yeah. So, it sounds like what you're saying is that you need to go into it, expecting that it's going to make you feel a bit uncomfortable and be okay with stretching your comfort zone. And if you're not okay with stretching your comfort zone, then okay, that's something that you should know going into it, that it's going to stretch your comfort zone. But at the same time, what are you here for? We have a limited amount of time. And if you're looking back and this is the kind of thing that you'd regret not doing, then you should at least give it a shot, right? You should at least give it your all. And yeah, absolutely, it seems like there's such a low risk, I guess. What are you losing by doing it? Nothing, except for maybe it's going to be uncomfortable. It's going to be a little scary to do it.

Michael Walker:
But especially if you have a good plan, you have some guidance around it, then it seems like it's a great way to stretch yourself and stretch your comfort zone. And even if you don't make it super far into the contest, whatnot, are you going to be better having done this or are going to be ... Where are you going to be having done this and having not? And if it's going to move you closer to your goal, if it's something that's going to challenge you, then it's probably something worth considering at least.

Brianna Ruelas:
Yeah, absolutely. And as far as the risk, maybe you get your ego hurt a little bit at the ... But this is again the entertainment industry. How many nos have you gotten in your lifetime as an artist? How much rejection is out there? A lot. So I always say as far as the benefits, it's a huge opportunity to expand your music, impact your, like I said, your sound, your music, your message, all of those things to connect. And isn't that why we do music to begin with, because we want to connect with more people? We want to share our message and our music with others on a large scale? Many of us want that, right.

Brianna Ruelas:
I also think it's just an extension of your music marketing efforts as an indie performing artist. It's also a great place to network and create lifetime music industry connections. A lot of my clients who go on these shows are just collaborating with a lot of the contestants that they meet. They're gigging with them, they're going on tour with them. They're songwriting with them. It's a really terrific place to expand your community as an artist. So there are so many benefits as well, not just getting more followers on Instagram, for example, but as far as long term big picture, the networking aspect of it is huge.

Michael Walker:
Awesome. Yeah. And to circle back to the one downside is that maybe you get your ego bruised a little bit, or someone says, "You're not good or you're never going to make it." But even if that happens, how many times have there been ... Some of the greatest artists of all time who are told that they're never going to make it, they're never going to be successful. And then they went on to become some of the greatest, most successful musicians of all time. You can just go to Google and type that in, you'll get a huge 10 pages of examples, right. So, that's the great news. Even if your ego gets bruised or if someone says you're not good enough, then who cares? That's fine. That doesn't mean that you don't have what it takes, but that's the worst case scenario. Best case scenario is all the things that you're talking about. Awesome.

Michael Walker:
So let's say at this point, people are like, "okay, cool. I wasn't really coming into this podcast thinking that I was going to submit for a reality singing TV show, but I think I've got to give it a shot. I think that it's something that I want to push myself in my comfort zone and my comfort in the middle bit." So let's say that someone is now at a point where ... Well, I guess here's the next question, I guess, would be, what are the different opportunities that are available to them at the time right now? What are the different types of reality shows? And are there any that you would recommend that they start with or for beginners or yeah, what would your thoughts be around just the landscape?

Brianna Ruelas:
Sure, sure. So the cool thing about reality singing shows is I feel like there's a new reality singing show all the time. There's a lot of different options. So definitely do your research. Also, there are reality singing shows all over the world. So no matter where you're tuning in from, there's probably The Voice Germany, or The Voice Australia, or Britain's Got Talent, or there's going to be shows wherever you're at. I just had a client go on The Voice Germany over at the Reality Show Summit. We had Annabel Williams who's the key vocal coach at Britain's Got Talent. And they just had their biggest season yet because they were off for two years because of COVID, so they are looking for talent. American Idol has age restrictions, so always be looking at what are the requirements to go on these shows?

Brianna Ruelas:
I get the question a lot, "If I live in London, can I go on American Idol or The Voice America?" Right? And it all comes down to visas. So if that's something that you can easily acquire, a work visa, then you should be able to audition, just so you know. But yeah, I want to say American idols capped right now at either 28 or 29 years old. So if you are beyond that, I would highly recommend one of the Got Talents or The Voice. I get another question a lot about, "Well, do they really want ..." "I'm 42. Do they even want old ... I'm old for the music industry, I'm not a spring chicken anymore. Would they want someone like me?"

Brianna Ruelas:
And they're casting all ages and stages. So I just wouldn't get hung up on that. I mean, I think at the end of the day, that just becomes an excuse. It's an excuse that we often make. It's legitimate because of what we see, but it doesn't matter at the end of the day. What matters is if you're excellent, if you're an amazing talent, then go out there and give them what you got and see how it goes. Have a plan and execute it and then you won't ever regret it, ever. So I think just always start with the research. There's opportunities all around. I mean, even I can see your voice, it's not as long of a process. So thinking about, "Well, I don't want to spend four months, I want to release music," so that's another thing to think about. If you have music coming out on the next six months, don't audition until the music comes out, because that's going to hold up your music release.

Brianna Ruelas:
Or if you don't want to spend that much time on a reality singing show, consider other shows. There's also, is it Songland, there's a bunch of other shows for songwriters as well. So they're more like songwriting competitions. They're not all into the drama of the teams and team this, team that, and the long process, Canada has a few right now going on as well. So yeah, there are so many out there, so many. Just do your research. Does that help? I feel like I've rambled there, but.

Michael Walker:
It definitely helps. Yeah. And one thing, I'm not sure if you probably already have a resource like this, maybe we can add it to the resources that you're creating, but just like a PDF file, that's like, "Hey, here's a list of all-

Brianna Ruelas:
Quick links.

Michael Walker:
... the available ..." Yeah, quick links. That'd be super cool. Yeah. So-

Brianna Ruelas:
Okay, yeah. I'll make that

Michael Walker:
... I don't want to put words in your mouth-

Brianna Ruelas:
No.

Michael Walker:
... but yeah, if you're listening to this right now, then probably at this point, maybe again, I don't want to throw you on the commitment, but if you were able to put a spreadsheet, that'd be really cool for anyone listening to us right now. "Hey, we got a gift for you. You can go here with the PDF. Here's all the links to these different opportunities."

Brianna Ruelas:
Yeah, I already have it, so that's easy for me to give to your audience. Happy to do that.

Michael Walker:
Yay. Thank you. That's awesome.

Brianna Ruelas:
You bet.

Michael Walker:
Cool. So let's say that someone is moving on to this next step. So now they know that they've got one lined up, they know when the audition is happening, they're ready to go do it. And now they're sitting at a blank screen, wondering, "Oh, what do I say or do, or how do I actually improve my odds to be successful and to make it far in this?" Where do you recommend that they start in terms of cementing in that frame that we talked about?

Brianna Ruelas:
Yes. So there's a process. I take artists through a three phase process, and it's the preparation where it's not just what song do I sing, but it's also mindset because there's a lot ... This is a lot mindset at the end of the day, because we can get up in our head about a lot of different things during the audition process. And even when you get on the show, there's even more in that arena. Then there's the prep for the live performance. And then the last phase is the leveraging and maximizing phase. When you get cast on the show, how do you squeeze the most juice out of it? So for the beginning preparation phase, we talked about understanding your intention, having a clear strategy, knowing your why, your motivation for doing this in the first place. Song choice is very key.

Brianna Ruelas:
And the number one thing that I would recommend is knowing who you are as an artist. Start there. Because if you go into the situation being unclear of where you fit into their grand scheme of thing, and you're confusing, a confused casting producer cannot cast you. So knowing who you are as an artist, or if you're a new singer or just trying to figure out your stuff like your artist's brand ultimately. And I know a lot of times when we talk about artist brand, it confuses people because they think that maybe it's just like, "Oh, these are my colors. My artist brand colors are yellow and blue." But we're talking more about, what do you represent? Your values, what are the types of the music you want to write and share? Who are your fans and or who do you want them to be, right? Who do you want them to be?

Brianna Ruelas:
So really establishing who you are as an artist, the type of music you want to make going into it, because that's going to inform your song choice. So understanding your artist brand before you choose your songs is very important. Because again, you want to make it very clear and obvious for the casting producers where you belong inside their show, inside their cast, which they are casting, right? So, that's where I would start. And then you move into the mindset piece. I always talk about daily success rituals and getting into warrior mode. And when you're gearing up for this, creating a rhythm for yourself. Because here's the thing, if you don't prepare before your audition and I think this would be the biggest thing I would say is, think big picture, think long term here.

Brianna Ruelas:
Don't just think first step, have my first audition. You have to think way beyond that because when you have your first audition, your second or third audition could come on the heels of it, very, very quickly. And if you're not prepared with your story, if you're not prepared to have interviews with casting producers, without saying every two seconds or by saying, "Well, tell us a little bit about yourself." "Well, I've been singing all my life." You and everyone else auditioning. Tell me something interesting, right. So you have to have all of these things prepared before your first audition. And that includes what I like to call getting your online business ducks in a row, because you do have a little bit more time for that, especially if you get cast, because there's about ... Could be a month or two months before you actually go to Hollywood or go to that judge's round.

Brianna Ruelas:
But if you are only thinking about step one, you're going to probably feel overwhelmed and unprepared. So giving yourself time to prepare adequately for the process, for the whole journey, the whole enchilada, right? So, that would be my biggest advice as far as ... And that feels like a lot but at the end, some people ... I'm sorry, I'll say one more thing. I think a lot of artists are afraid to put that much effort into it when it's just an audition. But if you're going to be successful and truly maximize and leverage the experience, why wouldn't you train and get coaching and prepare yourself as best you can to be successful?

Michael Walker:
Yeah. That's super smart. And it seems like that's just a common practice of people who are successful, is that they're not going into a situation planning to fail or making excuses on ... That's the easy thing to do, is just to be like, as soon as something comes up, "Oh, I'm too old," like you talked about. Our brains are like safety devices that are like, "Don't die, don't make yourself uncomfortable," so it comes up with all the reasons. And so I think that one of the most valuable things about what you offer and having a coach or a guide, is that they can help establish the right expectations, like, "Oh yep, that's actually normal that your brain is doing that and what's going to happen because your brain wants to keep you safe." But also, you don't have all those excuses and you want to go in and plan for it as if you're going to be successful because that's how you're going to be successful.

Michael Walker:
One question I would love to dive in with you, because I know this is something that probably the question you get a lot, and it seems like one of the biggest challenges for artists. And it's probably especially relevant to reality TV shows and when it comes to identifying their story and figuring out like, "What is it that is special about me or unique?" And trying to be able to communicate their story in a way that's compelling, but at the same time authentic. You don't want to invent a fake story, but at the same time you want to make sure that you're communicating in a way that actually has a good narrative and it's clear. So what are your tips in terms of, for anyone who's listening, who's wondering, or like, "I don't know if I really have a story, if I'm unique or what is it." How do they get started really identifying that?

Brianna Ruelas:
It's a great question. And I do hear that a lot where artists believe that because they don't have a sob story or a sad story that, "Well, I wouldn't get cast on a show like that because I don't have a sad story," right. I think that everyone has a story. And I actually take artists through a seven question process were we just unpack the journey. But we answer these questions in full, and then we essentially have the long, the medium and the short version, right. And the short version is the elevator pitch, that's the thing that's going to roll up your tongue. It's going to be aligned with the big story, but just in a very small little chunk. And it starts with simple questions like how you got started. It starts with identifying what kind of challenges you've been through. It's your artist brand story, ultimately.

Brianna Ruelas:
But the cool thing about having that is that you can use it for everything. You can use it when you're releasing music and you're sending it to your publicist or when you're writing your own press release and you're pitching it to press outlets, right. You can use it on podcast. You can use it when you're pitching yourself for opportunities that are maybe a little more creative or out of the box. So having this core brand story is not just important for a reality singing show, but it's an important part of your artist arsenal, when you're connecting with your fans, when you're connecting with these music supporters that you want to bring into your world. And ultimately, having that connection point with them. Because when you are being vulnerable and you don't have to share everything. Being very clear on what you're okay with sharing, what you're not okay with sharing. But always be aware that your fans, they want to know you. They want to get to know the real you. They don't want just this polished, perfect picture all the time.

Brianna Ruelas:
And so your story is an opportunity for you to create that connecting point. And as it pertains to reality singing shows, it's creating a connecting point to the viewers, to the millions of people who are getting to know you for the first time. And it also, if you can have a great compelling, clear story, it also sets you apart because you are going to be competing against a lot of great singers. So if you have a compelling story that's really told, well, then that's the type of thing that's going to give you that audition edge and set you apart. If it comes down to you and Sally Joe who's equally as a terrific singer, they're probably going to go with you because you have a story.

Brianna Ruelas:
So, really taking the time to walk through your journey, being real about it, maybe not sharing everything, identifying those challenges, how you overcame those challenges. And the most important thing that I always talk about is where's the hope piece in there? How can you encourage others? Because it's not just about me, it's about how my story can connect with you. And it's a way for you to say, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it," right. That's that really beautiful connection piece that reality singing shows can use to connect with viewers.

Michael Walker:
Hmm. That's so good. Yeah. It seems like that's something almost just a part of being human is that we have a story to tell, right. And it sounds like what you're saying is that, it's almost like you don't have to invent something that isn't true. You can just chisel away. You have this block of ice that is you, and you can chisel away the block of ice to really refine and share your story in a way that's authentic, that's also this beautiful piece of art. One point that you brought up that I think is a really good one is that when you're telling your story that you want to be thinking about the viewer and you want to be thinking about how this relates to them and what you want to be able to share with them or what they get from the story as well, which I thought was an interesting point. Have you ever heard of The Hero's Journey framework from Joseph Campbell?

Brianna Ruelas:
Absolutely.

Michael Walker:
Yeah. Is that-

Brianna Ruelas:
Yes. And that's a lot of how I model. When I walk my clients through it, that's a big way of how I model that framework for them because I find it ... It actually makes it very simple. It simplifies the process of crafting your story. And it also helps the artist think outside of themselves because I don't know, I personally think that it's wonderful when you can say, "Okay, I battled obesity or I battled eating disorders and I wasn't ready to tell this story, but I'm healed now. I'm ready to tell the story. And what I can share is that self love and ..." There's all of these really beautiful components that you can share versus shame. It's like aligning with the love versus the shame.

Brianna Ruelas:
So many people want to just hold onto the shame of, "I still battle with an eating disorder." Oh, there's hope. I don't have to be ashamed. I can get through this, I can get help because I'm watching you. You did, you got help, you got through it. So, I think that being able to provide that encouragement side versus, "Woe is me, feel sorry for me," all the things. And not to downgrade anyone's story because there are some awful, awful things that people have been through. And yeah, I would never try and downgrade that or say it's not important. But as it pertains to how we connect with our audience and how we want to be ... The type of story we want to share on a show like this, I think it's important to have an angle that's encouraging and hopeful.

Michael Walker:
Yeah. I mean, that makes a lot of sense. And I mean, it seems symbolically going on a reality TV show or something like this is almost like stepping into the light, right. And it's like you're putting yourself out there, you're stepping into the light, and that can be really scary to be fully seen. But that it almost creates this platform where if you have something, all of us have something inside of us that we've struggled with, that we've been ashamed of.

Michael Walker:
Shame seems like a really powerful place to go searching for a story, especially if you have something you're ashamed of that you are able to overcome, and that you're able to have this purpose, and maybe that's just part of the global humanness of being a human is that we're storytellers. And a lot of our stories revolve around us transforming, and shame is a very powerful compass that points at where we, not stepping into the light fully. And when we can go through that inner work of stepping into the light, and then we can use that as a tool to be able to help other people step into the light. That's where, what you're talking about, stepping on in front of these reality shows, you can really be a light and you can really help inspire so many other people with your story and your message and your music.

Brianna Ruelas:
Absolutely. Yeah. And it's a platform to do just that. And if you are prepared and ready to leverage it or use it in that way, then it's also ... I mean, people watching you on stage being that light, sharing your story, and then also hopefully you being able to feel like you could be yourself and showcase your personality a bit too. Because they want a little bit of you, but they also want the artist. So you're bringing all of you, you're bringing all of you there. So you're right, it is a bit of showcasing some vulnerability. But at the end of the day, these people who are going to follow you from the show are following you because they really like you and they want to see you succeed. They want to see you do well. So it's pretty cool.

Michael Walker:
Hmm. That's super cool. Well, Hey Brianna, thank you again so much for taking the time to come on here and share some of your insights, experience. And for anyone who is listening or watching this right now, and someone is interested in learning more about your coaching and your courses and your free resources and whatnot, where's the best place for them to go to dive deeper?

Brianna Ruelas:
Awesome, yes. You can go to briannaruelasmusic.com. That's B-R-I-A-N-N-A, Ruelas, R-U-E-L-A-S music.com. And all of my books, online courses. I have a blog that I put a lot of information on as well. A lot of stuff you can find there. And I'm actually doing a free masterclass in early June. So depending on when you're tuning into this, you can get a free training if you would like. I even have a free video training series, I think, on my website too, so.

Michael Walker:
Hmm. Awesome. Well like always, we'll make sure to put all the links in the show notes, so you have easy access. And yeah, I just super appreciate you coming on here and sharing. I mean, everything you talked about as it relates to reality TV shows is totally applicable to every artist, whether it's on reality or anywhere. So I think it's super valuable and relevant to everyone as a musician. But also, I love that you really have this focus on such a cool opportunity. And I would highly encourage anyone who's considered or is been on the fence of, "Is this something I want to take a leap into?" Go check out Brianna's resources and see if it might be a good fit, so you can actually, yeah, you can have that experience and potentially have an amazing opportunity come from it. In worst case scenario, have a learning experience that sets you closer on your ultimate path to being successful as an artist, so.

Brianna Ruelas:
Absolutely. And if people want to tune in or check out The Reality Singing Show Success Academy, then you could go to briannaruelasmusic.com/modern musician, and it'll take you straight to a page where you can learn more about The Reality Singing Show Success Academy, what's involved and how you can prepare, as I talked about earlier in this episode, long term, thinking strategically as you move into an experience like this.

Michael Walker:
Hmm. Awesome. Yeah. So we'll make sure to put that in the show notes as well. And yeah, I would highly encourage, I mean, anyone, especially if, for someone who really wants to set yourself up for success. I mean, all of my mentors, all the most successful people I know, they find people like you who've done the thing and are working with people that help them do the thing. And they shortcut their own process by connecting, collaborating with those people. It's like the Abraham Lincoln story of sharpening the saw, right. So, yeah, I would highly encourage anyone who has resonated with this, who's pursuing this to actually look seriously into that, whether it's the free master classes or the actual consulting coaching. And yep, Brianna, you're awesome. Thanks for taking the time to be here.

Brianna Ruelas:
Oh, man. Thank you so much for having me, Michael. I've really enjoyed it. Appreciate you.

Michael Walker:
Hey, it's Michael here. I hope that you got a ton of value out of this episode. Make sure to check out the show notes to learn more about their guests today. And if you want to support the podcast, then there's a few ways to help us grow. First, if you hit subscribe, then I'll make sure you don't miss a new episode. Secondly, if you share it with your friends on your social media, tag us, that really helps us out. And third, best of all, you leave us an honest review, it's going to help us reach more musicians like you who want to take the music career to the next level. It's time to be a modern musicians now, and I look forward to seeing you on our next episode.