Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Devine . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nicole , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my dad. He has always been the hardest worker I know. He works in logistics and is often working way past a standard 9-5 schedule. He makes sure that his customers are always getting what they need. He does a great job with every aspect of his role as he handles everything from “cradle to grave” as he calls it . He taught me from a young age that if you want to be successful you have to put the work in. He is an awesome role model.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a singer-songwriter. I am currently working on brand new music. This year has been a great year for me so far as well as gigs. It was my goal to get to 100 performances for the year and I am very close to that right now. It makes me very happy and I am proud of how far I have come in the last five years. I really appreciate all of the venues as well as fans that have been with me since the beginning as well as all of the new venues and new fans that are continuing to support me.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Persistence- a lot of venues will say no at first. That’s okay. I had to keep going and never quit when I heard no. I still don’t. That goes for auditions as well. Not everyone is going to like my music, or me quite frankly, but that’s okay. I will focus on those that do and keep doing the best I can do with my skills. 2. Attention to detail- I’m a paralegal for my day job and it’s very important to pay attention to details there. I am proud to say that I book all of my own performances myself and I make sure to keep a tight and organized schedule.
3. Gratitude- practicing gratitude in life is just a great thing to get in the habit of in general, but with music it’s extra important. People don’t have to stay at a venue I’m at. They don’t have to tip me. Venues don’t have to hire me. But they do. I am SO grateful that they do. They allow me to do what I want to do and turned a hobby and passion of mine into a business. I am so lucky I get to perform the covers and originals I love every week. I love putting smiles on people’s faces whether it be a song I just decided to play or doing a requested song justice.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I love endurance sports. Running is my favorite and I am trying to do a marathon in every state. I have done a full Ironman in Wisconsin and 9 stand alone marathons including Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL (3 times!), Walt Disney World, FL, Las Vegas, NV, Nashville, TN, New York City, NY, and San Antonio, TX. Running helps clear my mind. I definitely recommend exercise to help with dealing with feeling overwhelmed or stressful situations.
I also LOVE my dogs, Brantley and Miles. They’re the best. If I am ever overwhelmed Brantley is very emotionally intelligent. He can tell something is off with me and comes up to me and licks my face. Miles is my little ball of energy. He is such a happy guy and just seeing his cute little face makes me feel better when I get stressed. He loves to cuddle too. Hanging out with them at our house is always a great way to relax.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nicoledevinemusic.com
- Instagram: NicoleDevineMusic
- Facebook: NicoleDevineMusic
