Successes and Failures in 2015

A couple weeks ago, I decided to list everything I could remember that was a success and failure in 2015. It turned out to be a nice long list in one of my longer Celtfather podcasts.

Below, I've listed Successes and Failures, both personally and as a professional, that I've remembered from 2015.

Failures and Successes of 2015:

  • Success: Had a second baby!
  • Success: Awesome Celtic Invasion of Donegal and the Giant's Causeway
  • Failure: St. Patrick's Day for Kids has a CD did not meet expectations. The digital downloads are still pending
  • Success: Dragons versus Pirates was kick-started successfully and a whole lot of fun to promote!
  • Success: Kilted Kings exceeded expectations at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, even if tips and cd sales were low
  • Success: Released 4 unique episodes of the Celtic Christmas Podcast.  I love the new format
  • Success: Irish & Celtic Music Podcast hit #8 on the iTunes music charts on December 21
  • Success: Released nearly 50 weekly episodes of the Irish & Celtic Music podcast.
  • Success: Added about 60 new patrons of the podcast since last year
  • Success: Published near-weekly episodes of the Celtic Music Magazine, and I have a better more engaging format
  • Failure: Celtic Music Spotlight never really took off, and I'm still not sure how to make it work
  • Success: The Celtfather podcast is still being produced on a regular basis semi regular basis, though it has now turned into an audio blog for my personal website
  • Failure: I have not figured out how to increase the listens to Celtfather podcast to make it something that more people have to hear
  • Success: Created autoresponder series for Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers mailing list, was successful at selling using it
  • Failure: Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers website is not getting much web traction
  • Success: DragonCon was an overwhelming success this year with the Brobdingnagian bards and themed shows
  • Failure: My part in Friday night live for GenCon was not great, in my view
  • Success: I did better tracking of sales during individual sets after GenCon
  • Failure: St. Patrick's Day Internet Music Festival never seem to catch on and get people excited
  • Success: Because of Dragons versus Pirates storyline, I have a exciting, new plans for the Pub Songs Podcast in 2016
  • Failure: Never finished the compilation CD – Irish Eyes
  • Failure: Can't seem to establish a routine for exercise
  • Success: I have an idea for a daily work schedule for 2016. This will be working from 9 AM to 1 PM daily. Between 8 AM and 9 AM will be either exercise or accomplishing stuff around the house. From 1 PM until when and Kenzie get home, I will do regular maintenance tasks or work around the house
  • Success: Melinda was an outstanding virtual assistant for blogging and office tasks online
  • Failure: I can't figure out how to effectively hire a virtual assistant that will be financially worthwhile
  • Success: My website is beautifully updated
  • Success: Completed 2nd annual Celtic Halloween Music Special
  • Success: Monthly show at Johnnie MacCracken's Celtic Pub is turning into an event to go and see friends, PLUS listen to music! Love it! Booked for 2016
  • Success: Hobbit Drinking Songs show included guest musicians. Bring more people into the fold to provide a better experience for all
  • Success: Created and booked most of the attendees for Celtic Invasion of Cornwall before end of October
  • Success: Celtic Music Challenge and 10 year anniversary of Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was a hit
  • Success: David and Sonya Reiland successfully took over the reigns of the Renaissance Festival Podcast and have made it their own with more involvement from other people.
  • Success: Invited to be Master of Ceremonies for LibertyCon in 2016
  • Success: Quietly celebrated 10 years as a full-time Musician and Podcaster
  • Success: Wrote new hobbit song, “The Prettiest Hobbit“, that got a great response
  • Success: “Name On My Soul” became my most-requested song on CD at LARF. It's still unrecorded, but I've never had a song I wrote receive so much praise!
  • Success: Good turnout for Concert Window shows, even though not overwhelming, I was developing a regular fan base at Internet shows
  • Success: Gaining new LIKES on Facebook by posting videos of me performing my songs
  • Failure: #CelticThursday only got an handful of people interested in using the hashtag to promote all things Celtic
  • Success: Nice interview feature in Ceili Magazine, the newsletter of the Southwest Celtic Music Association
  • Success: Pirates vs. Dragons turned into a podiobook. just not sure how much people like it though.
  • Success: Interview with Nancy Lee Badger
  • Success: Recorded a good video review of CUBE Street Amplifier
  • Success: Irish & Celtic Music Podcast once again nominated for Podcast Awards
  • Success: Featured as one of Top 100 Favorite Renaissance Festival Performers
  • Success: I officially released 20 full-length solo albums
  • Success: Getting better interaction with fans of the Irish Celtic music podcast
  • Failure: Did not release Dragons versus Pirates in October as planned
  • Success: Reached one of my podcasts goals of $300 per episode
So what were your successes and failures in 2015? Anything in particular stand out? And how do those affect your goals and aims for 2016?

If you enjoy this episode, then please post a review on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Subscribe to the show at www.celtfather.com where you can join my mailing list to download a free album of my Celtic and comedy music. Special thanks to my Patrons. You can support my craft for as little as $1 per month. Become a Patron at www.marcgunn.com/patron
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