The Pep Talk: Don't Wait for Permission.

The Pep Talk: Don't wait for permission. - Melinda Massie blog

This past weekend I co-hosted a marketing workshop and also sat on the artists & speakers panel at a dance convention. At the end of the panel Q&A, the moderator asked is to give a final piece of advice. What I said made the entire room gasp so OF COURSE I had to share it with you too, in case you need to hear it as well:

Don't wait for someone else to give you permission.

Here's the truth: nobody is going to give you permission.

Here’s the better truth: You don't have to wait to get permission!

If there's something you want, go for it.


Let's face it. We're in an industry where we do actually have to wait for permission quite a bit - to get an audition, to get cast, or to get hired just for starters. It's easy for that feeling to bleed over into everything else that we do.

Spoiler alert: it doesn't have to. As a matter of fact, I highly encourage you to NOT allow it to spill over into those other areas of your life as they'll serve you no purpose.

If you want something and it doesn't exist, create it.

When I started my professional organizing company, the industry was barely known. I didn’t even realize it was a thing when someone asked if they could hire me to help them organize! There were no other organizers in my city and only a few scattered across North Texas. Now it's a massive industry that I helped bring to life in my own small way. When I decided I wanted to help market the performing arts, I originally looked for a job. I didn’t see what I wanted so I decided to apply my knowledge into teaching all performers and performing arts organizations how to do it themselves. (Waves and thanks to everyone who has worked with me so far!!!)

Once upon a time, newspapers were a huge avenue to market the performing arts. That doesn't exist anymore. Many newspapers have cut reviews. Some have cut arts coverage altogether. Create your own marketing channels to pick up the slack and become your own marketing machine.

If you aren't sure how to do something, figure it out.

My entire entrepreneurial life has been about figuring out what I don't know. I didn't know graphic design until I did. I I didn't know self-publishing e-books until I did. I didn't know self-publishing print books until I did.

Google is there for you my friend.

If you don't understand marketing, learn it. There's a ton of free advice on the internet and on this blog. I'll also have books and workshops coming out as quickly as I can create them. You can work with me if you want direct, personalized advice beyond what exists online. ﻿

There is a wealth of information out there, and performers posses a wealth of skills that are transferable off the stage. Channel those skills into your goals.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's inspirational quote schlock but seriously, this is real:

If you can dream it. You can do it.

It may not turn out how you have in your head, but whatever the results, at least you did something more proactive than waiting on someone else to say it's OK to do it.

Take action.

Don't wait for permission.

But if you need permission - *poof* there it is.

What are your biggest dreams? What's holding you back from pursuing them? Share with us in the comments!

Need a little extra help getting there? Click the “Let’s Work Together” button below and let’s chat!