Kara Johnstad - office berlin
Transforming Lives Through the Power of the Human Voice

[Volume 3, Issue 2, January 9, 2013]
 
Greetings!  

if you go out on a limb and share yourself with this world,
rejection is going to happ
en. 
 
It can happen in any business. And yet, the creative arts are a special world; rejection is a bit trickier.
 
You are asking for recognition concerning your own personal voice or story; and the more exposed you are, the more it can happen. 
 
So how do you develop the skills needed to weather these storms of criticism, disappointment, and rejection? 
 
 
Voice Your Essence Podcast by Kara Johnstad
CLICK IMAGE & LISTEN


ENJOY TODAY'S FEATURE ARTICLE

DEALING WITH REJECTION
AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER
  

 


 
When we live from an authentic space, we feel super-charged. Voicing our true essence nourishes us big time. Here's to supporting each other to be the best that we can be and staying playful with it all.
 
Stay Gold,
Kara

 

P.S. Looking forward to see you at the SINGER'S NIGHT on January 19, more info below.

 

Now, I'm off to Zary in Poland - having the privilege to perform some of Michel Legrand's greatest songs like 'Where Is It Written' with a monumental 60 piece live symphony orchestra. Zary is a beautiful historic city just 3 hours south-east of Berlin. Feel like an excursion? Join me this Friday 11, 2013 at the Cathedral of Zary.

 
The 
Voice Your Essence™ Community
is growing every day and reaches around the globe.
 
Everywhere people are starting to VOICE-UP, join in at 

and receive your free gifts at 

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Piano Ballads Show


Piano Ballads Show   

Tuesdays
3-4 PM Pacific (6-7 PM Eastern)

 

00:00 AM Berlin at Midnight
(Nacht auf Mittwoch
) 

 

   

 

Every success is worth a celebration,
so I'm excited to announce that my song 'Wild Garden'
has been selected for the new lineup of WOS Radio's Piano Ballads Show.
Wild Garden cover art
click image and listen

   
T
he playlist for the show will remain  the same for the next 3 MONTHS. 


So you have plenty of time to listen, and give your "thumbs up" or send them a "shout out" from the station page (must be logged into Live365 to vote).
 

WOSRadio plays the BEST female artists, both label and Indie, in all genres, and hand-picks all their music starting with icons of the past like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, ... and so many more. WOSRadio prides itself to select only the best quality artists and songs that can stand up next to the aforementioned superstars.




Please take this opportunity to spread the word to your friends and encourage them to listen and rate the show. 
Here's where you can listen and vote:
Also available on (not voting possible)
and iTunes Radio under the Adult Contemporary Category

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Singer's Night - Link to Event Website
 
Kara Johnstad's
SINGERS' NIGHT
   

 

LIVE & UNPLUGGED

    

 Watch singers dare to voice their dreams and

enjoy a casual evening of intimate song and lots of fun. 

 

 

I'm so happy to invite you to our SINGERS' NIGHT.  Twelve Voice Your Essence™ clients are participating in the event, performing selections of the material they are working on -  live and unplugged, in the intimate setting of a private house concert. It is this unconventional way and this very close intimacy with the performing artist, that makes the listening so enjoyable and special at this concert.

 

JANUARY 19 - BERLIN  

 Singer's Night - Sign Up Now 

Dear Friends, this concert is by invitation only.
Get tickets for you and your friends now.  
There will be no ticket sales at the door!
 

 

 

There is a buzz in the air!

 

I am thrilled to announce that Mr. Reggie Moore will join us for the evening. 

Berlin based pianist-composer-arranger Reggie Moore is a jazz legend in his own right. His unique art, which he himself calls "Communicable Music"and his dedicated teaching at the "Jazz Institute of Berlin", have been impacting the German jazz scene for the last 20 years. 

 
 

There are great singers, fantastic music, and lot's of excitement and laughs, 

so please come along and enjoy the evening.

 

Event Website

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DEALING WITH REJECTION 
AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER


Written by Kara Johnstad

 


Most people do not go for their dream of standing on stage or writing an album of their own songs, because deep down inside, they are terrified of rejection.
 
So they wait. And dream. And talk of all things they wish they could do, would do if only the world would be more loving, fairer, and kinder?  
Truth is, if you go out on a limb and share yourself with this world, rejection is going to happen. It can happen in any business. And yet, the creative arts are a special world; rejection is a bit trickier. You are not putting a white teacup on the marketplace or selling a new set of screws you designed. You are asking for recognition concerning your own personal voice or story.
 
And here is the deal,
the more exposed you are,
the more it can happen.

This is simply one of the rules of the game.
 
Whether the rejection comes from the club owner or a conductor, a music critic or a publisher, truth is rejection is in the air as much as acceptance.
 
At some point in your career, it is going to happen. At some point wild applause and wide beautiful smiles are also going to happen. And yet, why do we tend to cling to our scars and stay attached to the memories of being hushed down and?
  
 ROAR.
 
Someone, somewhere, somehow is going to reject you and your art that you have created.
 
  
 
Breathe that in.
 
Someone, somewhere, somehow, is going to love you and support you and your art that you have created.
  
 Breathe that in.
 
So how do you develop the skills needed to weather these storms of criticism, disappointment, and rejection? 
postcard Wild Garden by Kara Johnstad
click image & listen to the song
 Many coaches say
you need to develop a tough skin.
I disagree. 
 
Why? Because an artist needs openness and sensitivity to be able to listen in and not only connect with their inner worlds but stay connected to the world around them. We cannot afford to be covered in a protective coating if we wish to make a valuable contribution to our society.
 
A big part of many artists drive, is the longing to let go of that shield of protection and feel one with us in all our many colors. There is nothing more beautiful than feeling one with ourselves and with our audience.
 
When we put up walls and develop a tougher skin in order to survive the nay-sayers, we suffer. Our voice closes and our pen wobbles. We do not feel free.
 
We stutter and are more cautious and we hate ourselves for being so careful and cautious when we used to be so carefree.
 
So what do we need to do with the rejection letters and disappointment?
 
The first thing I usually ask my clients is, "Who dished out the criticism?" Many of us are asking the opinion about our songs or our voice or business for that matter, from friends and family and people that have NEVER written a song or sang on stage or run their own show.
 
How in the world will someone who has never been able to hold a tone and sing solo in front of an orchestra, be able to tell us what we did right or wrong? My first rule of thumb is.
 

1.  Never take a critique that has not been asked for.


 Ever. 
When you are ready to know, you will seek and ask. If someone is criticizing and "sharing" with you what you should have or could have done better. Politely decline the conversation and move on.

     

2.  Never ask for an opinion from anyone except an expert 


that is highly experienced and that you greatly respect. Never ever. 
If the person you asked has been in the business for a long time and has done valuable work and has contributed important insights, than ask.   This is why we have coaches and excellent producers and editors and directors. There is no need not to take advice given because we are afraid of rejection.  And yet there is a difference between great advice and negative unsolicited criticism. If you have asked an expert in your field and you receive a negative comment, be grateful. It is a comment, based on his or her experience. Nothing more, nothing
less.

 

If there is a bit of truth in it,
learn from it, or let it go.    

 

So again, always, check your sources and see why you are giving any energy at all to the comments or letters that make you feel "rejected" and pull you down.  You cannot believe how many people I have coached who let some off the cuff comment about their performance from the waitress in the club, ruin their mood and make them uneasy about their choice of songs. Epic Fail. 

 

3.  LET YOURSELF FEEL WHATEVER YOU NEED TO FEEL.

 

If rejection does come up, don't push it down. Allow yourself to feel. Don't talk and distract yourself, have the courage to see where the rejection is dwelling. The person, most likely, was not consciously trying to hurt your or reject you. You feel rejected. That is a different thing.  So, allow the energy to move in your body, before picking up the phone and chit chatting and blaming and complaining.

Simply feel the space, with no judgment. No good or bad attached. It is pure energy. When we have the courage to feel without object, we reconnect with our life energy. Being present to the moment, and feeling the hurt without judgment, is a great gift.

 

When we are able to unhook
from the acceptance-rejection pattern, we are free.
  

Voice Your Essence Podcast by Kara Johnstad
CLICK IMAGE & LISTEN TO PODCAST
Feel it, do not feed it.
 
The sky also has clouds that come and go. This is one of those moments. This too shall not only pass. It is a necessary place to tap into so that you can stay tuned into your inner sky and stay true to your own unique voice.
 
Remember: Walt Disney. The 'imaginaire' and visionary behind Disney World and Mickey Mouse was fired by a new editor because he lacked imagination. His first animation company went bankrupt and he was turned down more than 302 times before he was able to get financing for his big dream, DISNEY WORLD.
 
Take Barbara Streisand: People used to call Barbra Streisand "mieskit," as a kid. Mieskit is a Yiddish word meaning an ugly person.
 
 "Streisand -- Her Life," a new biography by James Spada shares with us that
Streisand was described by her teachers as "a culturally-starved sponge"; self-centered, quiet and a recluse. Her only passion growing up was show business -- movies, music or television -- and her reputation reflected that.
 
Yet, even after selling millions of albums and winning many awards, Streisand still had problems finding studios and monies that would believe in her visions of great stories, such as Yentl.
 
Although Streisand is widely recognized as one of the most 'bankable' stars in motion pictures, studio backing was still difficult to obtain. "Even though I had my own production company and had produced several moneymaking films, I was still viewed as an actress, and therefore not assumed to be responsible with money," she asserts. "So for a long while, no one was willing to take the gamble." "I remember having to go into an executive's office to play my tapes and tell the story," Streisand continues. "It was like being eighteen again and auditioning for a Broadway show. Now that I look back on it, I know it was good for me."
excerpt from http://barbra-archives.com/films/yentl_1.html
 
 
Something I learned long ago,
rejection is not a reflection of quality.

 
Remember that your favorite writers were all rejected a bazillion times before they published their breakthrough works; as were your favorite singers and performers and songwriters.
 
Focus on your work.
Stay productive and on point. 
You are here to share your gifts and live your essence.
 
Which brings us to the very last point, a community is so important for building resilience
A community is supportive and there's a sense of exploring together. Here at the Voice Your Essence Community you don't have to go it alone. It is my experience when we stay connected with our values and our vision, it is almost impossible for rejection to rule our days.
 When we live from an authentic space, we feel super - charged. We are too busy LIVING from that core. We do not have time or energy for the nay-sayers. 
 
 
 Voicing our true essence nourishes us big time.
 
A dear friend of mine said once, when I had allowed a critic to get to me and couldn't seem to brush it off. "Be like a duck." A duck? I replied, a bit baffled. "Yes, a duck, let the rain hit and roll of your back."
 
And I did. ever since then, when I am swimming and navigating fast waters and someone tries to pull me under, I either shake it off  and do a little waddle, or I do a loon's deep dive and leave them swimming far behind me.
 
Here's to supporting each other to be the best that we can be and staying playful with it all. 

Stay Gold, 
Kara  

  

 

 

 

 

P.S. Share your experiences of how you are setting up your business as an independent artist, and feel free to join the Voice Your Essence™ Community over on Facebook: www.facebook.com/voiceyouressence. I'm really excited to hear what you have to say.
 
Thank you, as always, for tuning in, reading and contributing.

 

 

 

Voice Your Essence Podcast by Kara Johnstad
CLICK IMAGE & LISTEN
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE?
Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it.
 
Kara Johnstad is a creative visionary, transformational catalyst and a powerful voice in the time and age of transition. She is a singer / songwriter, founder of the Voice Your Essence Community  and creator of the Voice Your Essence™  and Voice Your Biz™ Programs.  If you are ready to take your voice and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription of her weekly eZine, at www.karajohnstad.com




I truly believe all is PERFECT.
And any rot or decay you have in your life
is there to fertilize and assist you to blossom BIG TIME.

Kara Johnstad
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NEW RELEASE  

 

NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

at CD BABY,  iTunesAmazon, etc.

Journey Me Home - Kara Johnstad
CLICK IMAGE & LISTEN

 

music and lyrics by Kara Johnstad / cover art by Linda Gavin  
 

 

A powerful voice of unbridled passion and purity. 

Truly, poetry has never sounded so good. 

 

 

It started out as a poem. A deep longing. Was it a longing, or was it a deep need? 

I was fine alone in my world of many wonders, and yet I knew that there was a big chunk, a big piece missing. Truth be, I was missing a playmate. There were parts of me I could only feel, through another's touch. I was curious, deeply curious.

 

 
 
NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

at CD BABY,  iTunesAmazon, etc.


 
... and while there, please leave me a comment.


JOURNEY ME HOME is the tenth single in singer-songwriter Kara Johnstad's

NAKED THOUGHTS Album Series, a very special unplugged album of Kara's most intimate originals, capturing rare moments of Kara with Mr. Steinway, unplugged and pure.

 

"Truly, Poetry Has Never Sounded So Good." In spring 2012, Kara began releasing one new single of the album NAKED THOUGHTS each and every month through her Voice Your Essence™ eZine and live stream concerts, and available for download at all major music portals.  

 

 With more than 100 songs written, all of which she has produced and published under her own indie label, Kara Johnstad is an acclaimed artist with "... something of a female Leonard Cohen song writing sensibility with a bit of Renee Fleming mixed in, who is truly hard to categorize," as music critique Paul Wolfle best describes her unique signature sound.

    

I welcome you to my Naked Thoughts concert series.

 

www.karajohnstad.com

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Kara Johnstad at Domus Talenti
 
 
   KARA JOHNSTAD
IN CONCERT

 

Kara will be performing songs off of her current Naked Thoughts album and well known songs from the Paths Cross and Pages of Sand Albums.  

 

February 17 - ROME 

  

Kara Johnstad  

A Voice of Unbridled Passion and Purity
Truly, Poetry has never sounded so delicious!

 


Come join us for a big wonderful evening in Rome, Italy. A city Kara adores, creates and records in. Songs that many of you know such as Message of Hope and Love Never Fails. 

Venue: Domus Talenti 




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Kara Johnstad is creative visionary, transformational catalyst and a powerfuvoice in the time and age of transition.
 
She is an acclaimed singer/songwriter with more than 100 songs written - all of which she has produced and published under her own indie label, creator of the Voice Your Essence Artist Development Program and founder of the Voice Your Essence Community.

  

Leading change agents, healers, personal development speakers and others recognize her as being a unique source of powerful truth and wisdom. As a top voice expert she has helped thousands with her "break-through" voice techniques and shares with us the secrets behind this powerful instrument and the role the human voice plays in fine tuning our Mind-Body-Spirit systems.

Kara connects each and every week with subscribers from around the world via her Voice Your Essence eZine

If you liked today's issue, you'll also enjoy listening to Kara's soulful music as part of your daily ritual of reconnecting to source or jump onto the next level and experience personally the power of your true authentic voice with Kara Johnstad's Voice Your Essence Programs.
 

  

 
Images of Kara by Joerg Grosse-Geldermann
Image: "Rose After A Shower" by Susie B / freedigitalphotos.net 
Images of Women of Substance Radio by courtesy of WOSRadio
Image of Domus Talenti by courtesy of Domus Talenti
Cover Art for "JOURNEY ME HOME" by Linda Gavin
Cover Art for 'Wild Garden' by Linda Gavin
Image: "Male Showing Pointing Down" by imagerymajestic / freedigitalphotos.net
Image: "Smiling Buddha - Chinese God Of Happiness, Wealth And Lucky Isol" by Lavoview / freedigitalphotos.net
Image: "Young Lady With Reflection" by adamr / freedigitalphotos.net
Image: "Woman On The Rose" by Danilo Rizzuti  / freedigitalphotos.net