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A New Kind of Book

Too many aspiring artists don't know what they are getting into. Why? Because our society feeds us a constant diet of fable and fantasy about careers in the creative arts. That puts most new artists at a great disadvantage. And those careers are already hard enough.

The most important thing they need to gain is not some particular artistic trick or insight, but an adjusted set of attitudes and expectations. Without that, it’s like they're trying to find your way around St. Louis with a Denver roadmap. You’ll get lost.

This book is ideal for anyone already in or entering into a career in music, acting, visual art, filmmaking, dance or writing. How to handle criticism, How to know if you have enough talent, What else you need besides talent and What constitutes real creativity are just some of the topics dealt with in this short but powerful book.

While these and other essential artistic issues are ably treated, Michael Shumate manages to do it in a down-to-earth style. One minute you’ll feel like you’re an engaged seminar participant and the next like you’re having a fireside chat. For complex material, it’s amazingly light,  understandable and memorable.

Read a review by Patricia Fry

Table of Contents

Section 1: Personal Experience
1. Who Is the Grand Poobah?
2. Fame at an Early Age
3. Trial By Ordeal
4. The Issue of Talent
5. To Catch A Monkey
6. Challenging Decisions

Section 2: Talent
7. Everybody has some talents
8. Discover Your Talents
9. Models of Talent
10. What is Creativity?

Section 3: Smarts
11. Using Your Smarts
12. Conventions, Rules & Principles
13. Getting the Breaks
14. Don’t Pop Your Own Bubble
15. Prima Donna or Professional

Section 4: Heart
16. Paying Your Dues
17. You Gotta Have Heart
18. Getting and Giving
19. What If I Don’t Make It?
20. Final Words

For a detailed Table of Contents click here