// The Word This Week

So here we are again. You, me, and that overwhelming feeling that your music career is a flaming dumpster rolling downhill toward a fireworks factory.

Last time we talked about your story—that precious narrative you've been accidentally hiding under layers of generic bio text and forgettable social posts.

But today? Today we're talking about something even less sexy: systems.

I can literally feel you about to click away.

Don't.

Here's an uncomfortable truth: the difference between the artists who make it and the ones who don't isn't always talent. Sometimes it's just having your shit together.

While you're hunting down that invoice from three months ago, forgetting to post about your show until the day of, or realizing you never followed up with that playlist curator who actually responded to you (you monster), some less-talented but hyper-organized artist is steadily building their empire.

One song release at a time. One newsletter at a time. One non-chaotic day at a time.

THE MYTH OF THE CHAOTIC CREATIVE

"But Lance," I hear you protest, "I'm an artist! Chaos is my natural state! My creativity thrives in disorder!"

Sure. And I'm secretly a professional basketball player despite being 5'9" with the vertical leap of a sedated sloth.

The "disorganized artist" trope is just that—a trope. A convenient excuse to avoid the unsexy work of building systems that actually support your creativity instead of sabotaging it.

Look at the artists you admire. The ones with sustained careers. The ones who keep creating year after year while everyone else burns out.

I guarantee they have systems.

Maybe they're not color-coded Google Calendar systems (though honestly, don't knock it till you've tried it). Maybe they're just consistent habits and routines that keep the machine running.

But they exist.

Because making art is hard enough without also being your own worst enemy.

THE THREE SYSTEMS EVERY ARTIST NEEDS YESTERDAY

1. The "Don't Make Me Think" System

Decision fatigue is real, and it's killing your creativity. Every time you have to decide what to post, when to release, how to promote, what email to send—that's creative energy you're not putting into your actual music.

Solution: Templates and automation.

• Create post templates for different purposes (new release, show announcement, behind-the-scenes)

• Set up email drafts you can quickly customize

• Use scheduling tools to batch your social posting in one sitting

This isn't about being robotic. It's about saving your creative brain for the stuff that actually matters.

2. The "Where The Hell Is That Thing" System

How much time have you wasted hunting for files? That press photo someone requested. That master you need to reference. That contract you signed and immediately lost in the digital abyss of your downloads folder.

Solution: A centralized asset library.

• One folder for all press photos (labeled by date and photographer)

• One folder for all masters (clearly named with version numbers)

• One folder for all legal documents (named with dates and what they are)

I know this sounds obvious, but if you're like most artists I know, your files are scattered across three hard drives, Google Drive, Dropbox, and that USB stick you keep meaning to find.

3. The "Who Was I Supposed To Email" System

Relationships are the currency of this industry, and you're probably leaking money. That connection you made at the show, that producer who expressed interest, that blog that wanted to premiere your next release—all slipping through the cracks of your non-existent follow-up system.

Solution: A simple CRM (that's Customer Relationship Management for the acronym-averse).

• A spreadsheet with names, contacts, how you met, and when you last talked

• Regular time blocked in your calendar for follow-ups

• Templates for different types of outreach

You don't need fancy software. A Google Sheet will do. But you do need something, because your memory ain't it.

BUT I'M TOO BUSY FOR ALL THIS

Are you, though? Are you really too busy to spend one afternoon setting up systems that will save you hundreds of hours in the coming years?

Or are you just avoiding it because it's not as immediately gratifying as writing a new song or posting on Instagram?

Time is the one resource you can't get more of. And every minute you spend doing things inefficiently is a minute you're not creating, performing, or—gasp—actually enjoying your life.

The most successful artists I know aren't working 24/7. They're working smarter within the time they have. They're protecting their creative energy by systemizing everything else.

HOW TO ACTUALLY DO THIS WITHOUT WANTING TO DIE

Start small. Pick one area of chaos in your music life and spend 30 minutes today making it less chaotic.

Maybe that's:

• Creating folders for your digital assets

• Setting up a template for your show announcements

• Starting a simple spreadsheet of industry contacts

Don't try to overhaul everything at once. That's a recipe for overwhelm, and you'll be back to your chaotic ways by dinner.

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is just a little less friction between you and the stuff that actually matters.

Because every minute you're not spending on trivial chaos is a minute you can spend making music that matters.

ONE LAST THING: THE WEEKLY REVIEW

Here's a system even the most system-averse artists can handle: the Weekly Review.

Every Sunday (or whatever day works), spend 20 minutes asking yourself:

1. What went well this week?

2. What didn't go as planned?

3. What's one thing I can do better next week?

This simple practice is like a GPS recalculation for your career. It keeps you from driving in the wrong direction for too long.

And honestly? It feels good to acknowledge your wins, even the small ones.

Look, I get it. Systems aren't sexy. They don't make for great Instagram stories or riveting dinner conversation.

But neither does being perpetually stressed, constantly forgetting important stuff, or watching opportunities slip through your fingers because you couldn't get your act together.

The artists who last aren't just talented—they're intentional.

So which one are you going to be?

THE LAST WORD (FOR NOW)

In my book "Build Your Foundation," I break down exactly how to set up these systems and more—from productivity routines to financial frameworks that keep you from eating ramen at age 40 (though no shade if you are, ramen is dope).

Because despite what the industry wants you to believe, sustainable careers aren't built on viral moments. They're built on consistent, intentional action over time.

If you're ready to stop feeling like you're constantly drowning in your own chaos, grab my book Build Your Foundation at v13.store/products/build-your-foundation.

And if this newsletter spoke to you, forward it to another artist who needs to hear it. We're all in this hellscape together.

Until next time, get your shit together (but like, lovingly).

—Lance

P.S.

Next week: The tools and templates I actually use to keep the chaos at bay. Because telling you to "get organized" without showing you how is like telling someone to "just be happy" during a panic attack.

If you want to join our community and learn from us in real-time, check out our V1LLAG3 Discord server. Ask questions about music, the industry, promotion, and anything else your heart desires. Just don’t ask us to write your essay (Lance might actually do it)