Designer and songwriter Sharon Glassman writes for The Table Read, the “Best Celebrity Magazine in the UK“, about her musicals gifts business, Smile Songs.
Written by Sharon Glassman
As the designer and songwriter of greeting cards and gifts that sing, I get lots of fun questions from folks. Here’s my story, with thanks for your interest!
Who are you?
I started my career as an introverted fashion writer in New York City.
It was such an exciting time, professionally. Personally? It was super-challenging, because I was terrified of interviewing people.
To distract myself, I’d do phone interviews standing in my bathtub. Being in such a goofy place, would make me laugh. And that would make me feel less afraid of asking questions of people I admired. But I couldn’t take my bathtub with me for on-site meetings, so: not a total cure for my fears.
At a certain point, I started telling reported stories on stage. That format felt much more comfortable for me. I traveled across the United States performing people’s love stories, stories of women in science and giving from the heart.
Then? I added music to these stage stories. And found my calling.
How did music change your life?
I’ve always loved acoustic music. Played violin and guitar as a kid.
I didn’t go as far as I could have with it, because I heard growing up that being a professional artist wasn’t in the cards for me (no pun intended!). I was supposed to be a lawyer.
But now, as an adult performing for a living, I was inspired by music’s healing powers. And songs became a vital component of my stories.
First, I added classical music to a stage story. Then, I collaborated with a renowned pop artist on a 10-minute musical.
I picked up my violin. Dusted off my old guitar.
Risking Everything
Soon after that, I got two letters in the mail. The first said my office lease would end in two months. The second said my apartment lease would end in two months.
Before you could say, “Risk everything,” I was living in Colorado and playing fiddle in a country rock cover band.
From there, it felt natural to start playing guitar in my own band. Writing songs. And singing them.
One day I heard my boyfriend (now my husband) introduce me as a singer-songwriter. And I thought, “Wow! I am.”
Where did the idea for Smile Songs singing cards come from?
Smile Songs were inspired by a fan at one of my live music shows. They said: “If only we could take you home and enjoy your songs while seeing the happy vibe you create.”
I pondered this request for a bit. What kind of happy product could I make sing? And realized folks of all ages love greeting cards.
I couldn’t stop smiling! Being a greeting card designer was another dream of mine, one I’d put on hold while I pursued careers that I was “supposed to do.”
Over the next few months, I learned digital graphic design. Created a home recording studio. Taught myself music production.
But how would I make my cards sing? (Can’t wait? See the answer here)
After some R+D, I realized QR codes were perfect for smartphone lovers. More eco-friendly than plastic chips. And with a little love, I could make them look pretty cute, too.
The response to Smile Songs greeting cards was so encouraging. I began to add music to other things folks loved: stickers, magnets, wall art.
Were there any bumps along the way with Smile Songs?
Definitely! Some people warned me against using QR codes on my products. Said they were ugly, wouldn’t catch on.
But my gut said I was on the right track. And as it turned out, I was.
Another bump: I still get nervous about contacting store owners, but I grow more confident every time I see a stockist or customer jump with joy and say, “I love this!”
What are some of your best-selling Smile Songs products?
May Your Bold Dreams Bloom is a best-seller in every product category. The design features a growing flower with a typography stem and makes beautiful encouragement wall art, a great graduation card, delightful stickers for your water bottle, laptop. They sing this song: smilesongs.com/bloom
Product link: https://smilesongs.com/product/bold-dreams-bloom-8×10-print/
Happy Bee Day is a really popular birthday card. It features the Smile Songs bee and plays this song about personal growth: smilesongs.com/grow
Product link: https://smilesongs.com/product/happy-bee-day/
Singing stickers are very popular among kids and grown-ups, too. This You Are Magic sticker not only sings for you. It has glitter. And sings this song: smilesongs.com/magic
Product link: https://smilesongs.com/product/you-are-magic/
And, our Introvert AF sticker and art print are another best-seller. Yay, introverts!
Product links: https://smilesongs.com/product/introvert-af-diecut-sticker/
https://smilesongs.com/product/funny-introvert-af-poster/
What have you learned as a performing artist running a one-woman creative business?
There’s an element of performance in business. Connecting with your audience. Reading the room. Deliver a message of love and hope and beauty and kindness with all the instruments at your disposal. And those instruments include your Self.
Where can folks connect and shop with you?
Follow me on Insta: @smilesongs.com Twitter: @sharonglassman
Shop my online store: smilesongs.com
Order Wholesale:
Faire smilesongs.faire.com
Abound helloabound.com/smilesongs
smilesongs.com/wholesale
Smile Songs is also featured on the new Tailorie App. Its mission is to help real people find good things they truly love, made by real people they can trust.
I feel like they may have some introverts on their team.
Anything else?
Thanks for chatting with me! If anyone has any more questions you’d like to ask me, I’d love to answer them.
ps: The Table Read readers can get 20% off when you join the Smile Songs mailing list: smilesongs.com/vip
Smile Songs product links:
Musical greeting cards: https://smilesongs.com/product-category/greeting-cards/
Musical Stickers: https://smilesongs.com/product-category/stickers/
Musical Wall Art: https://smilesongs.com/product-category/eco-art-prints-that-sing/
Introvert Gifts: https://smilesongs.com/product-category/gifts-for-introverts/
Photo Credits: Sharon Glassman, Smile Songs
We strive to keep The Table Read free for both our readers and our contributors. If you have enjoyed our work, please consider donating to help keep The Table Read going!
I’m in awe of the author’s ability to make complicated concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds. This article is a testament to his expertise and passion to providing useful insights. Thank you, author, for creating such an captivating and insightful piece. It has been an absolute pleasure to read!
Somebody necessarily lend a hand to make severely posts I’d state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this particular put up extraordinary. Magnificent process!
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also?I’m happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I?ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I’m quite certain I?ll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement? My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do you know any ways to help protect against content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.
I like the valuable information you supply for your articles. I?ll bookmark your blog and take a look at once more here regularly. I am somewhat sure I will learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for the following!
Thanks for your valuable post. Over time, I have come to be able to understand that the particular symptoms of mesothelioma cancer are caused by this build up associated fluid between lining of the lung and the chest muscles cavity. The infection may start while in the chest region and distribute to other limbs. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include fat reduction, severe respiration trouble, fever, difficulty eating, and bloating of the neck and face areas. It must be noted that some people having the disease do not experience any kind of serious symptoms at all.
Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your effort.
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
hello there and thank you for your info ? I?ve definitely picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the site many times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I?m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon..
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your weblog. You have some really great posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Many thanks!
Hello, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring? I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
I think this is among the most significant information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
Throughout the awesome pattern of things you actually receive a B- for effort and hard work. Exactly where you lost me personally ended up being on the details. You know, as the maxim goes, details make or break the argument.. And it could not be much more true right here. Having said that, allow me tell you just what exactly did deliver the results. The writing can be extremely powerful which is probably the reason why I am taking the effort to opine. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. Next, despite the fact that I can certainly see the leaps in reason you make, I am not really convinced of how you appear to connect the details that help to make the final result. For now I will yield to your position however trust in the near future you actually connect the facts better.
I like the valuable info you supply in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at once more right here frequently. I am somewhat sure I?ll learn many new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the next!
Heya i?m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
I have learned a few important things via your post. I might also like to state that there is a situation where you will have a loan and do not need a co-signer such as a Fed Student Support Loan. However, if you are getting a borrowing arrangement through a common loan service then you need to be ready to have a co-signer ready to make it easier for you. The lenders may base their very own decision over a few issues but the most significant will be your credit history. There are some loan providers that will additionally look at your job history and come to a decision based on that but in many instances it will depend on your report.
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anybody get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
Good post. I be taught something more difficult on totally different blogs everyday. It would all the time be stimulating to learn content from different writers and apply a little something from their store. I?d desire to make use of some with the content on my weblog whether or not you don?t mind. Natually I?ll give you a link on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.
Howdy I am so glad I found your webpage, I really found you by error, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a remarkable post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb work.