• Woman looking up at empty purse. When you love what you do but the numbers just don't add up

When you love what you do but the numbers don’t add up

Some of my coaching sessions start with a voice. Others start with a sigh.

This one began with a heartfelt download: a small, friendly, non-auditioned women’s choir. A good vibe. Loyal singers. And… not quite enough of them.

“I don’t really earn any money for the preparation. I’m paid for the hour and a quarter I’m there, but not the rest. It would be better if there were more people.”

This is the reality for so many musical professionals. You’re doing something meaningful. You’re good at it. You’re making a difference. And yet it still doesn’t fully work.

Financially.

Energetically.

Logistically.

So what do you do when something brings you joy and frustration in equal measure?

You get help.

Shift #1: Defining the Actual Need

My client wasn’t floundering. She had the pieces in place – a Facebook group, a regular schedule, performances. What she didn’t have was clarity around the next step.

“I want more people to join.”

Simple, but not vague. That kind of clarity allows a coaching session to shift from “talking about the problem” to actively designing the solution.

Shift #2: Working Out What Will Work For Her

We didn’t just jump into ChatGPT prompts. We slowed down and asked:

  • What kind of people do you want to attract?

  • Where are they likely to be?

  • What do they need to hear to feel welcome?

This is the part that gets missed. Most advertising advice focuses on “reach.” I focus on fit. Her choir isn’t for everyone – and that’s what makes it so powerful. It’s welcoming. Lyrics-only. No music reading required. Friendly but not chaotic. Small but not exclusive.

We started crafting a messaging plan that shows that – through Facebook posts, Instagram reels, and possibly a landing page (without the pressure of a full website).

Shift #3: Testing Tone, Not Just Tactics

I asked her: What makes someone say yes to joining?

“Word of mouth has worked before… people come because someone brought them. But I’m wondering whether posts or a landing page might help too.”

So we drafted example texts. Looked at what her ideal new singer might need to hear. Considered what not to say.

Because sometimes it’s not about a hard sell – it’s about making the right people feel safe enough to show up.

Shift #4: Matching Personality to Platform

Not everyone is a TikTok wizard. Not everyone wants to do five reels a week. So part of the session was designing realistic, low-effort, high-trust ways to market what’s already working.

We talked:

  • Where to post (and where not to bother)

  • What kind of messages might land

  • How to describe the choir so that people know exactly what they’re walking into

No false polish. No over-promising. Just real human warmth in real human words.

This Is What Coaching Can Be

This session wasn’t a vocal masterclass. It wasn’t a career overhaul. It was about getting strategic inside the reality of my client’s musical life, and tweaking one part of it.

She didn’t need a total reinvention. She needed a clearer path forward – one that respected her time, her people, and her values.

And that’s what good coaching does.

Whether you’re running a community choir, launching a solo project, or finally getting your professional act together after years of saying “maybe later,” a coaching session can be the difference between:

“I don’t know what else to try.”

and

“I know exactly what to do next.”

 

Want that feeling?

Book a coaching session with me. We’ll focus on your next step – whether it’s technical, practical, professional, or a mix of all three.

Because your work deserves to feel sustainable as well as satisfying.