Hard Work and Patience 

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A karate black belt is just a white belt who never gave up.

Consistency and a scalloped fretboard, recipe for success.

A really honest, upfront and informative video Mary. Well done and stay true to your dreams...

This principle applies to every thing in life. You can find a thing that gives you comfort and enjoy your weekends, or you can fight your way out and do whatever makes you feel awesome.

Thank you, Mary, for the real talk. For anyone watching this, don't forget survivor bias; just because hard work is starting to pay off for Mary doesn't mean it will pay off the same way for everyone. If you work your ass off, you might eventually "get lucky" and build some traction. Maybe one in twenty who bust there ass will get lucky. The other nineteen will toil in obscurity. Hard work is a prerequisite, but not a guarantee. Dumb luck is always part of the equation. Please understand I don't mean to diminish Mary's talent, hard work, and dedication. It's just good to acknowledge that it's not entirely up to us how things work out.

The people that do the best in there field love what they do. Work to hard at it, you can loose that love for the craft. Balance. Lastly when your feeling down, take a bit and reflect on how far you have come, sometimes in the end it was the journey and steps you took to get there is the true success remembered.

People do need to hear about these things since many seem to believe that being a musician is a walk in the park and makes you rich. A lot of artists and band members have regular jobs on the side. This is perhaps especially true today since music does not sell like it used to, partly due to streaming services and such. One should keep in mind that only a fraction of all musicians actually can live off the music they make. So thank you Mary for this honesty. Keep up the fantastic work! :)

Respect for the honesty. People look at certain personalities in music, Adele, Beyonce, Metalllica whatever, and see the success and the associated trappings. What they don't see is the hard work involved to get there. And yeah the luck element as well. Being in the right time in the right place or being an innovator. The Arctic Monkeys created a massive buzz for themselves via MySpace for example. I've read biographies on Guns N Roses and Nirvana, and they put the hard work, were in the right place and time and had luck. For those that make it thousands don't. Mary keep on being true to yourself and doing the thing you love.

I'm not a guitar player, but I play piano, because it's just fun figuring things out. I don't have the time to have any real proficiency. I paused this video to pass along a Duke Ellington quote I heard in Ken Burns' "Jazz". "Good luck is doing the right thing at the right time in front of the right people." Now I want to compare that what you say in the next 7 plus minutes...

Keep following your dreams Mary. Stay true and strive for excellence. We love you. 🎸 👍👏😉

Even amongst the hustle, it's likely important to take time to listen to the chirpy birds.

"and the wind...cries....Mary...!...! ", Please don't ever ever stop!

Thank you for your honesty. You're so refreshing.

Hi Mary, I love your honesty. It's not easy to always follow a dream, but good on you for following your heart. You are full of integrity and inspiring to other aspiring musicians. Skiing holidays are overrated anyway :) Keep up the great work.

I have nothing but respect for you. I tried so hard to be a musician in the early 2000's I was freshly graduated from the Guitar Institute in Wapping and thought I would get work easily. 2000-2005 I gave it everything I had, working 9-5 for regular money, gigging, practicing, recording every other available hour. After 5 years, I was broke. Someone wrote off my car whilst it was parked and I couldn't afford to fix it, or buy a new one (insurance gave me £250) and I had no way to get to the work I had lined up, including my day job. I looked at the state of my life, looked at what my friends were doing and decided I was going nowhere and my long term future looked bleak. The brutal truth was that I was neither good enough, or thick skinned / pushy enough. I applied for a job as a ski rep (aged 27) to take a break and my world changed, I've not been back to the UK since and I have settled in Europe. 12 years later and I can't imagine ever stepping into that world again. I still love music, I still play, but as a hobby. I have massive respect to anyone who can carve a career out in this industry. The energy and drive required is enormous. I wish you nothing but success.

To be honest, I was in a position at 26 years old to choose. I had a child, a good job, a new house and a record deal, if I signed....I chose well. Godspeed Mary. I think you are super cool and I truly wish you the best.

Your commentary is as honest and emotional as your music, Mary. I have two daughters right around your age, and they're in the same boat, working hard and trying to find their way in life, following their dreams. Wishing you continued success, and hope to see you perform live over here in the colonies in the future.

This is the most inspirational thing I’ve ever seen. My daughter is 15 and wants to be a drummer. She’s taking theory grades and violin grades as well as the drum grades. I’ve sent her this video which is better than anything any of her teachers could tell her. Thank you.

Don't you ever lose that wonderful quality you have and uphold - that of Honesty. I truly hope for wonderful things for you! I can tell you favor the lunch you buy yourself because a free lunch just doesn't taste as good as the one you've slaved for! AND deserve!!! Be Happy and feel good about what you're doing as you are going the right way about it! Truly enjoy yourself in what your doing and enjoy these years now because you will look back on them... just don't be too critical as you 'are' a very lovely, level headed lady who deserves things that make you "smile" ! Do things that make you Happy! You have a lovely 'smile'! I wish you the best!

Well said,there is in my opinion no easy way to succeed in music. But what is success. I think the short answer is being content that after all is said and done you did what made you happy. I’m 64 years young and am planning on retiring into music. I think you’ve already succeeded just by inspiring this old man. I wish you all the happiness and success you deserve.

Just wanted to echo most of the comments below. Its really nice to hear someone talk honestly and openly about how hard it is to achieve a career in music and how hard you have had to work. Thanks Mary

I worked a minimum wage job at a factory in the early 2000's with a man who'd turned his back on a career in music. He was "only" making roughly the same amount that he was getting from the factory work. I thought it odd that he chose to do something he didn't find fulfilling rather than something he loved for the same money, little though it was, but I guess he did it for the reasons you brought up in this video: lack of security, struggling to buy equipment...

Hard hitting content and 'o so true. Continued success to you and your music career.

Dear Mary, I am indeed new to your channel and I am devouring all your Tuesday talks, and more. I am working back from the present so it took me some time to get here and find this. I am not sure whether you are changing my life already, but I feel your warm and kind words are injecting something in me that I hope will change my life. So thank you, so much!

Thank you for posting this! I work a 9-5 job, play cover shows on evenings and weekends with various groups, and write in the remaining time. Sadly, I live in an area where original music and art is not preferred, or able to be supported (I live in a small island province with an exceedingly high number of ridiculously good musicians, but a very small population). I have no delusions of "making it", I simply love to play and write. It can be extremely overwhelming and tiring trying to maintain a balance, but it is about hard work, regardless of the outcome. Sure, in 20 years I might be worn thin, but I'll know I tried. I'll know I put in the effort to do what I love. It's so very refreshing to hear someone say these things. Again, thank you for posting about it.

I can so hard core relate to this. I've got friends who are married with kids who are younger than I and i'm a newly moved out bachelor working a 9-5 as well working hard at my craft and thinking of ways to quit that job to make music my living. The sacrifices are worth everything. I would rather spend my evenings and weekends doing what I love to do than sit around (like im doing now haha) and just be lazy all evening. One thing non-musicians dont realize is that music isnt just a career for us but a lifestyle. We cannot turn off the music inside our heads and in our hearts. Its who we are as people which is fantastic! I've driven hrs back and forth from gigs before and ill do it again. Thanks for making this video and being vulnerable. Its not easy to do but so freeing

Mary - Thank you for all our hard work and patience. It's a cruel fact of life that the arts do not pay as well as they should. It's never money for nothing. I hope there will come a day when you can make a living making music full time and your fire burns as bright as ever. I am not a musician, but I have known many and I recognize you are "the real deal", there is no faking that. I wish you all good things because you deserve to be happy making music

Open. Honest. Authentic. Great stuff!

You really do deliver Mary. Many reasons exist for delivering such very rewarding to watch video series. I really think you impulse to let us get to know you, the real you , vs. marketing Mary or showing us the goings on of a life that is music at the for and same with talented people around you. But taking questions that can only be answered by letting your viewers know you as in who you are instead of what you are was I think, having outdone yourself. A particularly musically inclined person will end up knowing Mary in a way others are unable Thanks for Tuesday Talks and the valid sense of knowing you - as a friend, a kindred spirit! Cheers!!

There is an old saying "The harder you work, the luckier you get" paying your dues is what you are doing, and not giving up on your dream! Hat's off to you!! The education system we have is there to produce debt slaves. Why should you start your working life with a huge debt, just because you wanted to go to university to get a decent job, which seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate anyway? The secondary school system should be teaching kid's about money management, avoiding debt, the pit-falls of gambling, etc. But where is the profit in that, right? Keep doing what you're doing Mary! You are a smart, talented lady and you will manifest your dream, because that's what you want to do!

Congrats Mary, someone finally speaks the truth about all the hard work and the reality of being a pro musician and Internet celebrity. "Internet wonders" are just people who have worked their arses off like crazy to get where they are. Thank you for this very healthy and honest statement. Cheers

Thanks for the honesty Mary. :)

You are so amazing! Thank you for your videos, I love your honesty and such a positive and inspiring way of expression🙏✋

If you love it and get joy performing then all sacrifice is worth it. I find that true of my endeavours and I don't regret a day. Hope you continue to move forward. Good luck Mary 🤗

Good work. Persistence is a rare trait. But one of most successful people

As a non-professional musician I would like to say that you can get to where you want to be, it just takes time and sacrifice. I am 41 years old and I work 7am to 5pm in IT. I get up at 5am and practice, I practice when I get home. I have a house, a spouse, 2 kids and a dog. My goal is to retire at 50 and play music. Not trying to brag or anything like that, just saying if you have a dream and the drive you can get to where you want to go. We all take different paths in life, find yours and get to walking :) Mary seems like you are going to be blowing up soon, good for you!

If I've learned anything in life, it's that even modest success in something you're passionate about, will always fill your heart more than great success in something you don't care about. Stick with it. I see a corner being turned for you very soon.

Mary, each of your songs tells a story. Expand those musical stories into a Rock Opera or musical with dances, etc. This will just promote your music more at local theatres. You came this far, just try one more step!🌺

After watching this, I guess I'll have to give up my dream of having Mary do "Monday Musings", "Wednesday Wanderings" "Thursday Thoughts", "Friday Finger-picking" et al... :-)

I dig your honesty on the matter i was having this converation with a coworker. I think some people have this misconception that doing music is easier than having a regular job and its alot more work than people think.

It's kind of ironic that the internet has killed the music industry but a musician can make good money here on RU-vid. I had a pretty successful RU-vid channel, not huge but pretty good size (100,000 subs) and it made me a LOT of money. Great video Mary, keep on keeping on!

Mary, your openness and honesty is just refreshing, awesome, and inspiring. Good on ya.

Mary, this is the best of the "Tuesday Talks" editions I have viewed. I applaud your honesty and your candor. Your insight is invaluable. My life experience is different than yours. I am a church musician so I get my "music fix" on the weekends (but that requires 20 to 25 hours per week of personal rehearsal to be ready for Sunday mornings). Music is an important part of my life-in fact, I cannot imagine life without it. There is no such thing as "luck." Luck reduced to its essence is simply being completely prepared to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. Nothing more, nothing less. Networking with other like-minded people is also important but nothing is as important as putting in the rehearsal time and taking care of business. You are doing that and I am certain that you will achieve your personal and professional goals. Keep up the hard work. You are very special and you make great music!!!

Way to go Mary! You're doing what you love and that it what it takes to be successful but more importantly, happy with your career. I wish you much success and happiness from the U.S.

Mary. You Are Awesome , Beautiful , Talented, and Honest . I am sure you will get to your destination .

Excellent advice, Mary, thank you for sharing. As someone who did the corporate thing for a number of years before stepping back for health reasons and focusing on music (mostly teaching, but some performance and recording too), I'm well aware of the sacrifices involved... I'm in the fortunate situation now where my wife has a great job with good benefits, but that too comes at a cost - we left the UK for Hong Kong, where there's not much of a music scene. And approaching 40, I'm well aware that time isn't on my side! But we keep on at it, because it's what we love. Keep up the great work!

Thank you Mary for your honesty and for sharing your life. You are inspiring.

I'm a normal guy I've always had a day job ..but I've also wanted to learn to play the guitar ...Good Luck work hard that's the only way to get what you want

Candor, humility and several teasers for future possibilities - I'm intrigued! I'm sure you have moments of quiet desperation, but your persistence is inspiring to me. To thine own self, be true.

Great video. If you give 100% effort, you will never have to wonder "What if I had taken a music career seriously,? Where would I be?" Wherever you wind up, you gave it your all and answered that question. No regrets.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity, good attitude.

Hey Mary, I play very different music to you but you have a really good honest attitude. Total respect to you.

It's great that platforms like you tube can offer an audience to dedicated and talented musicians like Mary. I am envious that it wasn't and when I was trying to find an audience. I really do hope that the cream can rise to the top and both the creators and the audience can benefit. Good luck with your career!

Hi Mary. Thank you so much for this. It is exactly my situation right now. I'm about to graduate high school (18 years old) and I have to do something with my life. I am not the person to go and study to become a doctor. I have been believing that music is what I have to do since being 13 years old. Point is, I'm grateful to here the truth about that lifestyle instead of watching the fake stuff from a music video. Keep going!! You're doing great!!

Good job! It is traditional for an artist/artiste to 'struggle'; it goes with the territory. Your smile, your singing, your playing, and that little twinkle in your eye brings me back every time I see a new vid posted. Keep going, stay strong, work the craft, be kind to yourself, and most of all - chin-up! FWIW: good stuff comes to those who 'struggle'. DV

8:22 truer words have not been spoken...took me more than a few years to learn this lesson! Mad respect Mary! You are an inspiration...you give me the courage and the kick in the butt I need to follow my dreams and commit...while remaining grounded in reality! Thank you love! Wish you the very best :)

Very inspirational Mary ! Follow your passion and thanks for sharing!

God bless you Mary don't give up on the dream

I only discovered your channel recently... I really appreciate your honesty in this video. I can tell it was hard for you to explain at times. My sister went into music on leaving college and I’ve admired her for it ever since. Being able to have your hobby for a job is fantastic, and few people get that opportunity. There are peaks and troughs as you touched on, but I think the sacrifice is worth it when you get those highs, be it through recognition (or £££ !). Hopefully those moments are what spurs you on. Please carry on doing what you love. You have a growing audience who appreciate what you do. Thanks! (I signed up on your patron site the other day too - hope that helps! 🙂)

Hi from New Zealand Mary, it's all about hard work. Thanks for sharing

Very raw and honest Mary. Hats off. But to be honest it was a little depressing too. Makes you wonder what life is all about and if all that hard work is worth it in the end. It did sound like you have been missing out on life quite a bit. Wish you all the best for your future and hope it's what you wish it to be once the success comes.

Heres how i see making money by music or anything els. I agree with you if you don't put in the hard work into doing what you love your not going to see results . I have been in a band for 3 years as a drummer for them. We are now making money slowly. We play at a place in Long Beach and they help us make money. I also make RU-vid videos but don't do it full time. I also plan on getting a job soon so i can make money and still play shows at the same time.

Great stuff.

I'm now an official "old man" (as in retired). Was never a musician. Was room-mates with a fair number of semi-pro and even pro musicians (those who make a full time living performing). Before the term "guitar tech" came into general use, that was me, helping my roomy's keep their stuff running, fixing gig damage, etc. What I know is you have to do what you have to do... Any art form is unique the individual. You have to build skills and market at the same time. So it means getting out there any way you can. You have to get noticed and appreciated. If your art does not align with public taste, you either have to keep on until it does, or switch up to what "they" want. Either works, but it's a tough choice that only you can make. You seem level headed, you have done your basic 10,000 hours and you have your craft. Now it's about appeal and market. Buzz, and support. This channel is doing you good, and keeping us entertained in a straight forward way. Good on you :)

its a long way to the top if ya wanna..... Dont forget there is also talent (which you have). Luck is where others notice the combination of talent and effort. thanks for sharing.

More please - along with your festival tips video your most constructive and informative video I have seen so far. And a comments section full of many wise and insightful words to boot. Candid stuff from both sides of the camera. Great stuff.

Mary, thanks for your honesty and your hard work!! Your hard work shows through on the quality and content of your videos/music you create!!

I'm smelling a John Mayer collab :) Good for you Mary! I know musicians struggle in their careers, and I thank Lee Anderton for inviting you to Anderton's TV, which is how I found out about you. Stay humble, and keep writing songs. You're one of the singers alongside Metallica, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, that are an inspiration to me. And I've learned a lot from you. Thank you

Mary this is a fantastic video. I'm in university and grappling with figuring out what I want to do with my life, and I can feel the clock ticking with only one year left. I need to put my head down and push myself towards what I want to do and sacrifice some things. I might not know what it is yet but I know I want it to be something to do with music. God bless Mary x

Your music is so much better than anything that can be called Pop. No doubt you'll succeed.

At 17 I had a full time job as a machinist and began playing out in bands. At 21 I got an offer to join a San Francisco based originals band with the goal of gaining a record deal and touring. The machine shop I worked at (in SF) was understanding enough to let me take time off to do the tours and hire me back when I was finished. At 25 I stopped touring and worked 12 hour days 6 days a week to save money to go to Musicians Institute GIT program without incurring debt. At 27, after graduating, I was asked to become a Guitar Counselor at GIT, decided not to go back into machining and pursue music as a living full time. I moved to AZ and started my own music education business at 29, while still writing, playing, and touring with my originals band. At 33, I got married and my daughter was born, I stopped touring so I could be a solid part of my new growing family and focused my efforts on my music education biz. My daughter graduated a year ago and is finding her place in the world as an artist, my music education biz is still paying the bills and we are all in a good place. I may even start gigging again soon. Since starting music as a full time career, I have always worked evenings, almost never taken a vacation, and regularly put in 6 and 7 days a week working in some form. I have never regretted my decision to pursue my dream. I love what I do and cant imagine doing anything else. BTW, music as a living also allowed me to home school my daughter, start and partner in several other successful businesses, and volunteer at events that I never would have been able to had I been at a conventional job. Doing what you love requires sacrifice, dedication and stamina. It's no easy road, but it's the most rewarding pursuit if you put your heart into it. Of course it's a tremendous amount of effort, but it's never felt like work to me. Thanks for the great vid Mary!

Thanks for sharing your life and for being so honest. I wish you continuing good fortune from the hard work you're putting in.

Thanks for the honesty. It was nice.

Enjoy your channel and your spirit, you can make it! will be watching

What a great video to make, thank you! I wish I'd found you 5 years ago. So much has changed in the industry and you're so inspiring. Thank you. Keep being you

Hello Mary still loving the channel. Thanks for being so open and honest. It's refreshing to know.

Really enjoy all your work... and remember whilst much of your day is hard work .. your friends on the traditional career paths aren't really working a 9-5 .. at least the medical ones aren't ..they got endless expensive exam fees and weekends to work .. Your decision to pursue your craft for a living was spot on..and whether you headline Wembley or not isn't really the issue.. whatever happens your a successful creative musician.. money can't buy that experience.

Damn! You're a warrior! I really respect you!

Love love love your determination and honesty. Your voice and playing aren't too bad either ;-) Just purchased both EPs and can't wait to get them!!! Wish you nothing but the best!!!

Nothing but admiration for your conviction and dedication. I am one of those people who chose a scientific path and subsequent career over music back when I was a teenager. I have recently taken up the guitar as I cannot play the Clarinet any more ( I can always hear the 18 year old version of myself when I try to play now and this is 😬😔). I wish you all the best and look forward to your upcoming content et al.

you have a beautiful thoughtfulness and honesty to your videos.

Thank you for sharing your heart with us Mary . Keep working hard , Believe in yourself always and don't take shit from anyone..You'll get there. Sacrifice and perseverance are the key . I started making them back in my 20's towards being a full time musician , And it became more than I could bare..Or wanted to bare , So , I work during the day and love My wife, my son and my guitar in everything else...No regrets .......Thanks again :)

Great and inspiring video, Mary. Very brave of you! Thank you for speaking so candidly and from the heart. You are amazing!

Thanks for this ,Mary. I'm pulling for all of your hard work to pay off like you want it to. Anxious to hear more about your up-coming opportunities!

Always enjoy it Mary! I will stay tuned. Absolute! Thats what Value is all about..anything worth something takes sacrifice and the hard yards : ) you are on the right track.

Thanks for clearing up the day job reality. When I was in art college, nobody talked about money. It was a dirty word. You might get government grants or you could sell your work. Yea right! But you were expected to be a pure artist and maybe teach, if you had to. But the truth is that even if you choose your job, you have to do things that aren't part of what you would consider your job - as you said, the finances (ugh!), the PR, marketing, selling - THE HUSTLE. Romantic notion bubbles need bursting! Well done for this :) It is all about priorities. In forty years, you won't look back and wish you had that new BMW or the ridiculously large house. You'll be living your dreams, and your Ferrari-driving Aspen-skiing friends will be jealous!

Fantastic video - thank you so much for sharing. Being a full time musician I can totally relate :) In fact I went from a really high paid profession to being a musician - the challenges were so worth it for me and I'm grateful everyday that I get to do what I do now :) Have an amazing day Mary :)

Your progression in this past year as been very cool to see. You've built an awesome channel, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

This might be the best one of the series

Right on, Mary! I'm forwarding this to my twenty-something...

Well said Mary. Well said indeed.

As inspiring than ever! So glad I found this channel! As I told in an other video's comment, I'm 30 and just decided to all in for my dreams.. I quit keeping multiple jobs (and managed up how to adapt myself with this less-income-reality).. and It's awesome to listen to your story and see I'm in the right way towards the goal of doing what I love.. I'm really heartfully thankful for your words

Thanks for your dedication and love of music.

Thanks for being so upfront. I am currently a university student studying music and could understand quite a bit of what you were saying. I've already had my fair share of unpaid gigs and studio sessions. I also stumbled upon Gary Vee some time back and am trying to implement some of his mantras in my life (maybe I'll try my hand at social media). Thanks for being so honest, your information will be helpful.

Great and honest thoughts, always good to hear things like this from musicians a couple of steps ahead of you!

You just made my morning Mary! thank you and i wish you the best of good luck.

Mary, your answering these 2 questions we're great. Yep, I know all of the things one can go through in trying to make a living playing music. Your incredible honesty was so great to hear from you as well as about your own personal experience's so far. Any type of treatment that you've been getting as of late comes from all of your hard work from the past as well as right up to the present day, are well deserved. I truly wish you nothing but the best and much, much more success. Always keep your mind open and never stop learning and continuing to grow musically. It really does my heart good to see someone with your natural talent as well as still reaching for a higher education in music. However I do agree that I think you would have been better off at more modern music College or school instead of just learning Classical music and theory. I mentioned in another post that your recent affiliation with Anderton's Music is great and the guy that really knows his modern theory on the guitar and about music is Pete. I'm sure you must know this by now just listen to him play as he really knows how to use his theory when just playing a made up on the spot chord progression's. In any event you've said it best and most honestly that it takes HARD WORK AND PATIINCE. As for myself I'd also say an incredible amount of "DEDICATION" too. I'll be waiting for your next video no matter what the subject is about as far as Guitar's, Gear, Gigs, your vocal ability (which is absolutely incredible)!!! My best,

Ok, I know now I am on a right path, thanks Mary.

Thank you so much for sharing, you are truly inspirational, I love your honesty, happiness, motivation, and friendliness in your videos.