This is the week to optimize my website. What a great idea, you know, putting the newly written pitch in all the right places, making my whole online presence look and feel consistent, make my music available, provide exclusive freebies to those loyal fans that agree to be on my mailing list , and so on.

The only problem is, I don’t presently have a website! What I have is a thrift-minded Groupon for the development of my website. The web design company is waiting patiently for me to exercise my on-line deal.

However, I have another thrifty Groupon to use first - one for a professional photo shoot that will provide me some of the content necessary for my web site.

At the risk of saving even more money I have decided to grow my hair and beard before the photo shoot so I can have a variety of looks available to me the same day. So the plan is to start the photo session quite hairy getting all those rough looking shots then interrupt the session, change clothes and remove some of the facial hair, take some more shots, then change clothes again, remove the rest of the facial hair and maybe do a quick hair cut and finish the photo session clean cut and clean shaven, resulting in a variety of poses that look like they were taken over a longer period of time. 

I know, all you girls are so impressed by how thrifty I can be!

Seriously, the week’s task has been a big eye opener about web site design and what types of things need to be included and what things to avoid. I plan to develop my site with these in mind. Keep your eyes peeled for donsawchuk.com coming soon to a browser near you.

Musically Yours, Don.

Don Sawchuk

Building community one song at a time.

I pitched a tent in week #2 instead of the 15 second elevator pitch I was supposed to complete. 

Well it sure has seemed like I moved in to hang out on week #2 seeing as I didn’t get this one done within the week - but here I am now, finally!

In my back pocket and on the tip of my tongue there must be a quick, clever and memorable spiel that I can deliver at any given moment when an opportunity arrises to promote my musical self. That was my task for the week and although it seems easy enough, well it wasn’t, not for me and many other fellow songwriters involved in the 9 week challenge.

Cutting to the chase - here’s my pitch:

My name is Don Sawchuk and I am a Singer Songwriter specializing in Bluesy Rock and Ballads. I am an exceptional guitarist with the energy of James Brown and the emotional singing style of Colin James playing superbly crafted songs that root for the underdog. I align musical and lyrical content for maximum emotional impact. Come check me out in concert or on-line at www.donsawchuk.com. If you like what you hear, share it with others! Building community one song at a time.

So that’s it. I’ve been practicing the verbal delivery and updating my web presence to include it wherever I can.

Tell me what you think. I’m always open to comments and suggestions.

Thanks again for following along and for your encouragement and support.

Musically Yours, Don.

Don Sawchuk

Building community one song at a time.

Well it’s time to come out of the closet, so to speak.

My life has been completely turned upside down. 

• I am no longer married. 
• My kids are grown and in college or working. 
• I no longer own a home.
• I have moved to a new city. 
• I now live alone, not even with pets anymore : (
• I no longer work for the company I’ve been with for the last 17 years.
• I no longer work in the pharmaceutical industry like I have for the past 22 years.
• I even lost my old Buick to a metal scrap yard.
• So, I have decided not to return to the workforce.

I have decided instead to give the dreams of my youth a shot. 

I am now officially a full-time self-employed singer/songwriter.

I write this with excitement and trepidation.

I’m not getting any younger or sexier. If I’m ever going to pursue my dream of doing music for a living, now is the time.

The Songwriter’s Association of Canada put out a challenge to all of its members to collectively execute the 9 week guide to music success found in the book Music Success In 9 Weeks by Ariel Hyatt. So, with that in mind, I have put an exhaustively detailed business plan together outlining goals and milestones for myself as a professional singer/songwriter for the next 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 years. 

Coming out of the closet for me means sharing my plans and my music with the world.

The 9 week program mentioned above includes a weekly blog from me outlining my progress, and guess what, this is week #1. This has been so overwhelming to adjust to so many new things and set myself up to make the best go of it I can. I’m grateful for this PR program as it will force me to shout from the hilltops who I am and what I’m now doing.

Each week involves something new to boost my music career. I’ll share what that is and how well I managed. Follow along if you can and let me know I’m not just blogging to the ether.

Thanks for your encouragement and support.

Musically Yours, Don.

Don Sawchuk

Building community one song at a time.