Journal (WARNING..there may be typing errors):
4/6/08 - YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD IF IT MAKES YOU CRY
The reason I started writing songs was to express myself on a higher plane. One that is above only words. Songs have the power to move you and make you feel like your heart is bursting or make you feel like you could conquer the world. Movies do that to because you have the added visual, but when you hear a song you love most people sing it (if not out loud, then in their heads-if out loud, sometimes at the top of your lungs). Songs actively involve you in a moment. Sometimes they are the soundtrack for the moment. Not all songs move me to tears, but great songs definitely have a lasting effect. With my own writing, I've never been the kind of writer that wakes up at 8am or 12pm and treats writing like a day job. I have to be inspired. My writing comes at 3am. It's like it's not enough that I'm alone in my studio. I have to feel like the rest of the world is asleep and can't hear me. I've learned that the music business, that learning self-preservation and survival is a must-especially in a big city. Hell, even driving is about self-preservation and survival. But that mentality of an artist is about free expression, passion, and creativity. It's very hard to have both and you can see it when you go to LA or NY. Survival is the priority, creativity/dreams are second. Overall, that's a pretty normal situation for most people in general. But most people's goals are so statistically small that the chance of them succeeding is like "find the walkingstick in the Amazon." And most don't make it past survival. Sad, huh? Well, that's the risk a person takes. Anyway, that wasn't where I was going. I've recently noticed that my writing process is kind of an emotional free for all, oh, which is what made me think of self-preservation, which made me think of it's conflict with artistic expression. I've noticed that sometimes when I start writing a new song and it comes from a personal place, I will just all out start crying. I'm not talking about a tear. I'm talking about the crying that comes from your stomach and makes your shoulders heave. It usually lasts about a minute, then I continue working . It's a very odd reaction I know. I haven't quite figured if I'm unearthing some sort of deep seeded despair, or just utilizing my most emotional moments to add emotion to the song, or have so much emotion stirring inside of me because of the creative process that it immediately needs to be released. It's not every song, but there are 10 songs that have started out like that. The weird thing is the four songs I've recorded from those 10 have been my most popular songs. So at this point, I'm thinking "is intense weeping an indication that people are going to like it?" I'll let you know after my next album released.
3/15/08 - TRASHING OUR RESOURCES
For the better part of the last five years I've lived in big cities. Because they are inherently extremely polluted and congested, recycling and smog tests on cars are common place-as are water shortages and droughts. I have become very conscious of our resources and recycle any scrap of paper or glass I can, turn off water between brushing/rinsing and shampoo/conditioner, and have a compost. Unfortunately at the moment, I am living with two people who are not conscious about the environment. I constantly find the heat at 72 in winter (67-68 is recommended) and have to wait for 30 minute showers, and constantly find myself frustrating or watching the clock as the water is on full blast for 3-4-5-10 minutes, getting more agitated by the minute. I gasp when I see recyclables in the garbage and get upset when I find boxes of individually wrapped crackers. Now, I do realize that you, the reader, may be someone who does some or all of the things above. And I am by no means perfect, far from it, but what I can't for the life of me understand is how unaware we as a country pretend to be. I've have learned in life that sometimes it is better to let things go. But this I can't. This is too big of a deal. So please bear with me. I don't understand how can we think that just because we don't see trash, it has just disappeared. Have you ever been to a Waste Management Center (they changed to Waste Management Center to create a more positive image). Call it waste management or a junk heap or trash pile and it is all the same thing. Rotting food, scraps of metal, diapers, broken appliances, batteries (although they aren't supposed to be in there), not to mention every kind of rodent that exists in Michigan-rats, mice, possums, roaches, flies, and you name it. There are man-made mountains in most cities because inside them holds trash. And we never even see it. Plastic and styrofoam is something that NEVER goes away. It may disintegrate, but the particles don't break down. Plastic. There is a gathering of plastic in the ocean the size of a continent. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean researchers have found billions of plastic particles floating virtually everywhere in the ocean. If this is news to you, check out this website. http://www.alguita.com.
View this article. The plastic breaks apart and floats on the surface. Birds can't tell the difference between krill and plastic. The plastic gets in their system and it can kill them if they ingest enough and it also poisons them. Plankton is the natural food for fish and birds. Researchers found that in the middle Pacific, there were 6 pounds of plastic to 1 pound of plankton. That is so, SO scary. I've been emailing my senator because this can't wait until I hold a government office. I feel we need to do these things :
-eliminate plastic bags at the grocery store (see San Francisco-1 trillion bags are used/wasted every year)
-trash collectors must charge by the garbage bag, encourage people to recycle, reuse, and reduce waste
-biodegradable garbage bags must be used by law
-the makeup of plastic must be unified and all manufacturers of goods that contain plastic in any form must adhere to a condition that all plastic must be recyclable regardless of its size-bottles, wrappers, caps.
-give tax breaks to companies actively going "green" and endeavoring to reduce their pollution.
-put a bottle fee (minimum of 7 cents) on all plastic drink bottles, including water, soda, juice.
If you agree with me or have similar feelings, please email your senator. We can't afford to let politicians take the initiative to encourage change. We have to encourage them. Find your Senator.
2/17/08 - A NEW LOW FOR ADVERTISING
A few months ago I was reading about artist promotion and how to increase your fan base-blah, blah. It lead me to an article called "The Brand Called You." It was completely disappointing. It takes what makes your unique, different, and special and turns into a commodity you can purchase at your local gas station. This a personal dilemma for me because I absolutely hate advertising. I never wear clothes with their brand names on them, I will not knowingly buy anything endorsed by a celebrity, and mute all commercials. That being said, I do realize that there is good reason to have brand names (simply for recognizing a product) and trusted manufacturers. And I agree with wearing things that you are passionate about like "stop global warming" or "pro-life/choice" or even a great figure like MLK or Lincoln-if that is something/someone you are passionate about. However, I do not and will never see NIKE or the GAP as something people feel strongly to endorse. I do realize that you may be reading this right now and thinking, "I have shirts with brand names on them"-which is fine for you, it's just not my thing.
Two weeks ago I was at a Shell. The only time I get Shell gas (Apartheid) is when there are NO other gas stations and I have been on "low fuel" for more than 10 miles. I would rather run out of gas than go to Exxon. I was getting gas when this annoying TV above the pump started talking to me telling me about new products and shows starting this season. This wasn't a commercial for Shell products which would have been annoying, but would at least relate to my current location. This was obviously paid advertising and I thought "HOW DARE THEY." How dare they exploit the act of getting gas-a necessity in today's world. It would be like going the grocery store and having your cart come with a TV advertising not products in the store, but what's on Fox this week. I found it completely intrusive. There wasn't even a mute. I was so upset I wrote Shell and told them of my DISGUST. But it doesn't stop there. EVERYWHERE I see brand names and someone telling I have to have this new product. Most recently, I was on Sara Bareilles's website. I think she's great. We've played at some of the same clubs in LA. She's hard-working, passionate, and deserves success. However, I was on her website, clicked on a video on the homepage and what preceded it-a commercial for Old Navy. How DISGUSTING! I'm sure this idea didn't come from her and I do realize that because of illegal downloading the music industry is having a hard time paying the bills it takes to even get you to notice a new artist. However, I found is dreadfully disappointing-as I did the Branding article.
It's a tricky balance between being an artist and being a brand. Britney Spears and Hannah Montana to me don't represent artists, they represent a face for a product, much like the apple for Mac computers. The thought of an artist 'selling out' so to speak makes me cringe. I do realize that it's for income, but at what point does promoting yourself become selling out?
2/05/08 - ASCAPLUS AWARD
Happy Fat Tuesday. Some good news...I received an ASCAPlus award. This is an award given by the performing arts organization, ASCAP, to promising music artists that are under the national radar. I've finished the studio and am very excited about it. Oh my goodness, I have so much to learn...but as a life-long musician and songwriter, it will only benefit me. As far as summer touring goes, I've been invited to play at several concert series around the Midwest. I'll be posting those dates soon.
1/09/08 - BUILDING A RECORDING STUDIO
Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and ate tons of delicious food. I was able to hang out with my family and relax a bit. However, I'm back to work now. As far as the album goes, I've decided to produce it myself and am now taking a few college courses in music production. This will be a huge step for me because not only would I be able to produce my own albums, but I'll be able to eventually help produce other songwriters and artists. I'm building a small studio and actually have quite a lot to learn, but am still planning on releasing some kind of album this summer-acoustic or fully produced not sure yet.
12/15/08 - LOVE EM OR LEAVE EM
No I don't have a new man in my life. My love/hate relationship is with technology. Personally I think technology is amazing. I love technology. All my business now-a-days uses technology-correspondence, recording and cataloging, everything. But recently technology betrayed me. It's my fault. I trusted too much in the fact that it would keep my information safe and be there when I needed him...I mean it. I know I'm being dramatic, but I had one of those awful experiences when you go to your computer, planning to write an email and all your emails are just gone. And you start to panic and ask where are they. Thousands of emails from fans, booking agents, family, friends-gone. You call for help(support line for your computer) and ask what they can do, but they really can only just listen and say "I'm really sorry, but they are gone" And you have to start all over again, salvage what you can, and hopefully go on a little wiser.
11/10/07 - LOWS AND BLOWS
This isn't a woh-is-me type of journal. I consider myself to be very fortunate that I am clothed, fed, and warm. But as far as my career goes, I've had a couple of setbacks recently regarding the album. The biggest one being that I was working with someone who was going to produce the record and he backed out. It's not that he didn't think I was talented, but he just saw me as something that I am not and at this point in my life don't want to be. That's a huge deal. It's like editing a book you don't like or supporting a friend's decision you think is wrong. It's not easy and usually not for the best. If I listened to other people more than myself I would never have quit teaching, moved to Los Angeles, quit my cushy job in Los Angeles, went on tour with no money and by myself. I could go on and on. The bottom line is, as I have learned through experience, you have to trust your gut. I think of it as God telling me what to do. My gut says I need to put out the songs I have now and am working on this Spring.
Whenever I feel my career is falling, I think, why didn't I just stay in teaching. I never imagined being an artist would be as hard as it is. Besides the whole business side-educating myself on booking tours, promotion, website design, graphic design, funding projects, finding collaborators with the same vision, and being my own manager. Beside that stuff, just the profession of being a performer and having my "product" or my music being one of creativity and not usefulness is something challenging. My natural instinct in life is to not care what other people think. Not to care if someone doesn't like me or if they don't like how I look or how I act. That helps me a great deal with creativity and expressing myself and making decisions that are logical to other people. The hard part is that being in a position that if people don't like me or what I do, they won't support what I do-see live shows, buy CDs, and help spread your music. So that's puts a songwriter or artist in a position. And my career is dependent on people liking my music. So do I try to write what I think people will like? That won't work mainly because one person tells you to write more slow songs and another thinks you should write happier, upbeat songs. So you are bound to please few and probably end up with something you don't like. At the very least, write something you love to sing and would sing by yourself at home because it moves you.
Not sure if I will go seeking another producer or just produce it myself. I'll keep you posted.
10/24/07 - WHAT DO WE REALLY LOOK LIKE
I wasn't sure if anyone actually read this journal, but recently someone emailed me saying they had read it and I thought, "oh shoot." I haven't updated it in two months. Although it is far from glamorous or exciting-here's what's happening.
After a summer full of touring and mostly being cooped in my two-door Saturn, I am now in the Midwest writing for my next album and booking what will hopefully be a very busy and productive summer tour. Although I love touring, there is little consistency and little exercise involved. Performers like Madonna get stronger and more physically fit while they tour. Since there is little choreography in my show and even less space for an elliptical machine in my car, I am back to the gym working on a very weakened body. Yesterday was my first day back and I was in spinning class. I couldn't believe it. This gym has skinny mirrors. I was like, "I don't look like that." I know stores sometimes have these to persuade you to buy an outfit that makes you look "better than usual", but the mirror fools you into thinking, "oh my gosh, this outfit makes me look so tall and slim." It's a cruel trick no matter where they are. But it seems to me a gym would opt for fat mirrors that would make you think, "oh my gosh, I need to work out more." Anyway, it got me thinking. Do any of us really know how we are physically seen by others? I'm not talking about whether someone is attractive in someone else's eyes. In every mirror you look slightly different to yourself-height, proportions. We're actually flipped in mirrors so we aren't even seeing what other people see when they look at us. A camera adds 10 pounds. A curved mirror adds three inches in height. How do we know every person sees us like we see ourselves in the mirror...if the mirror is even showing us what we really look like? And does our mind (prejudices, beliefs) have anything to do with how we see someone. If we are feeling 'fat.' Does our mind actually perceive us as being larger than we would be if our mind wasn't saying, "I'm fat." It might be a little far fetched, but the mind is an incredibly powerful thing. Does it even matter..not really. I'm sure some researcher has the answer to this one, but I don't. The only thing I do know is that my gym has skinny mirrors.
8/20/07 - OUTSOURCING OUR ECONOMY
Recently I was talking with a friend who is very business savvy. I was lamenting that I didn't seem to have enough time to do everything-book shows, market myself, write, manage my career, and so on-yet as an artist, I don't really have the budget to hire an employee. She suggested that I outsource some of the work to India or Malaysia for some of the Internet marketing, calling venues, and finding information to another country. She gave me a price range of a few dollars and hour. I was horrified!! I thought, "I would never do that to my country." You can probably tell from reading my journals, money while necessary is not the focus of my life and I never make decisions solely based on money. While I am fairly vocal about my disapproval of some aspects of our society, I would never, ever jeopardize our economy or my integrity for a few dollars.
I've heard the arguments for free trade, but our trade deficit is -760 billion dollars! 760 billion more dollars of goods come into the US as go out. The argument 10 years ago when our trade deficit started dramatically increasing was that those people losing their jobs because of outsourcing can find new jobs in the new global marketplace. Well that hasn't actually happened. As our economy is much worse than is was 10 years, we are just starting to feel the impact of our lack of an equal opportunity trade market. Almost all other countries have taxes on imported goods as to not jeopardize industries in their country. If I make a lamp in the United States and sell it for 15 dollars, but a company in China makes a similar lamp and sells it for 5 dollars, a person going into a store is going to mostly likely buy the $5 lamp, right? We've all been there if we even look at where it's made. It's hard for us to make that decision to spend the extra money for the greater good of our future. That is where our government has let us down. We are human and think primarily about our day to day lives. I think it is wrong for our government to take a back seat on this issue. It's like tax on items. The government would NEVER leave it up to the consumer to pay sales tax if they want. Even if we knew that paying sales tax would add money to education. So the government decides for the welfare of our economy to require sales tax to pay for schools and roads and assistance programs and so on. But on the to issue of trade deficits I am pessimistic about politicians' intentions. Deep down I don't think our government actually believes it's better for the US. I think certain politicians know who butters their bread (i.e.. gives them campaign money). The big companies give money to senators and reps for this reason-to buy a vote that enables the company to spend less and make more profit. I am a big fan of Lou Dobbs. Here is an article he had about the Trade Deficit. Here is a table what shows our economic growth verses trade deficit.
7/25/07 - AWWW...YOU DO LIKE ME
Tonight I was updating my mailing list. I try to keep up with each new show and each new fan. I have been dreading going through my past newsletters and managing the bounced emails. I always hate looking at the list. It feels like a list of lost acquaintances that I will probably never see or hear from again. And this is not even including the emails that I try to decipher for 10 minutes and get countless "non-deliverables" back. Anyway. As I was going through the pages of the email book, I started reading all the little notes on the side and comments. I'll be honest most of the time I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. But it was truly a gift to see in print that these audience members/fans took the time to give me a little encouragement or say how much they liked the show or my voice. Amazing how much difference a couple of words can make.
6/22/07 - I'D LIKE A DO-OVER
For the Musician's Off Night-we all have them...I was doing a show tonight and felt like I couldn't throw two coherent sentences together. Really, I would start to say something and then forget, or just realize I am not making sense. I was hitting the right notes and sounded fine, but it just wasn't clicking. There was no groove. It's an awful feeling that I'm sure most musicians have felt. For me I usually make random comments that are not cohesive and play wrong notes on the piano because I'm too busy trying to figure out what the heck was going on in my head.
I was at a friend's concert a few months ago and she was having an 'off' night, but instead of sounding random like I do, she just doesn't say a word the whole show. Another singer/songwriter friend just ends up looking pissed off and being negative when he's having a bad night.
I'm not sure what option is better. They are all crappy. Regardless of whether a musician wants to take their guitar and leave on the spot, that is not an option. Really, the only option is to push through the night and make the most of it. If you are a musician reading this, then I'll share a few things I do when it's happening to me. If you are generally in the audience, then, when you see a musician doing this, you'll know why.
This is what I do:
1) Recognize that things are not going how you want them to
2) Play some songs you are really comfortable with and know your audience likes-even if you are saving them till the end
3) Play a popular cover song (preferably upbeat)
4) Make a funny joke about how you are feeling, but don't make them feel uncomfortable
5) Take a 5-10 break to recoup and shake off any bad energy
6) Put a smile on your face - you're audience shouldn't feel your pain - they paid good money to hear you play and you will only hurt yourself if you start complaining or apologizing.
7) Get through it and don't beat yourself up - it happens to everyone
5/20/07 - STRANDED IN UTAH
My last show before the tour was in Laguna, CA on the 17th. The first show of the summer run started May 20 in OH. So I figure I can get across the country in 48 hours. It only takes 35 plus stops to get all the way to OH. No problem. I got home from the Laguna show at 2:00Am on Friday and left San Diego at noon. I had to get to Denver that night which is 1100 miles-about 15 hours.
Well two problems there. Traffic getting out of LA was hell. I was already tired so I immediately started drinking caffeine. Well drinking so much liquid meant frequent stops. However, I made it through CA, NV, and was in the middle of Utah at 1:00AM. I had 1/4 tank left of gas and passed a gas station thinking, I should probably get gas at the next stop. Well I drove about 45 miles and no gas stations. Hmmm. I wasn't worried yet. Although my meter said empty, I know that when my gas light comes on I have about 30-35 miles left. I saw the next town was 45 miles. Well I go about 10 more miles and my engine shuts off. Oh my gosh. I was like, "NOOO! I can't be out of gas my gas light didn't come on." I started my car, went very slowly, and..chug, chug, chug....it shuts off again. I think, "no big deal." I have a phone and AAA, I'll just call for gas. I called, it tried to connect, then disconnected. Shit. I called, it tried to connect and then disconnected. Oh shit. I called repeatedly for the next 20 minutes. No luck.
I was starting to worry by this point. I didn't know whether to get out of the car to wave someone down. Should I keep calling? Should I walk to the next stop? Even if I started walking, I'm not sure if I could walk 45 miles by morning. I could only afford to lose 4 hours of sleep. Should I sleep now and try to wave someone down at sunrise? My blinkers were on, but no one had stopped yet. Is is more dangerous to wave someone down being a young, single, female with no protection, weapon, or even pepper spray? What if someone stopped and he/she was a really shady character, I would literally be at their mercy with no escape.
I started to panic now. I started calling AAA again and again. No connection. I yelled, "Lord I need some help here!" I was just about to break down and cry when I heard, "you are now being connected to AAA." I just stared at the phone. It had gone into roaming. When the AAA person came on line, I lost it and just started crying in relief, then apologizing for being so ridiculous. It took another hour to get the person out because I was so far away from a town. It was three before I got on the road again. There went my 4 hour sleep, but at least I was safe.
5/3/07 - MUSIC INDUSTRYS VS. MUSICIANS
I have been to two conferences in the last week and they couldn't have been more different. The first one was the ASCAP "I Create Music" expo. I loved, loved it. There were informative panels, over 2,000 songwriters from around the country, and legendary songwriters performing their music at night. Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, Jon Rich, Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon) performed, not to mention amazing songwriters that you have never heard of because they aren't performers. Songwriters in general are more tribal. If you are likeable, enthusiastic, and have talent you are generally accepted in the circle of songwriters. I met these songwriters and many others and walked away inspired to write, write, write.
Okay......the other conference was way different. It is held strictly for those on the business side of music. Immediately there were obvious differences. Maybe you aren't their friends, but successful songwriters will be nice, talk to, and recognize non-successful songwriters. Music business people are way different. Many have a "too cool for school" attitude. They don't really want to talk to people they don't know-even though the business of music is all about relationships. If you are an artist, I've found they are more likely to avoid you and brush you off. This to me is truly contradictory. 99% of people on the business side are not artists, which means they are representing other artists or songwriters. Which means their business, income, success is contingent on have talented artists and songwriters on their roster. So why they would be especially rude to that population is beyond me. However, that all changes once you have success. I've seen it a number of times. Granted...people that work at labels, publishing companies, and talent agencies are bombarded with press kits by artists and songwriters. But they are in the business of finding and signing new and existing talent, so it makes sense that they would have to sift through good and bad music. It is the best gathering of label and radio executives I have seen, but what does that matter if they are completely uninterested in making new acquaintances?
4/28/07
I attended my first ever award show. The 2006 ASCAP Music Awards. They honored Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Clarkson, The Fray, All American Rejects, and Jermain Dupri. The Fray, Nick Lachey, Anna Nalick, and All American Rejects performed during the show. I am was very impressed with the Fray and Nick Lachey. I never seen Nick Lachey perform live and was very impressed with his voice and how much he connected to the audience.
4/02/07
Cleaning house. That's what I am doing . I am all about getting rid of unnecessary objects. In the last four years, I have purged my possession four times, each time downsizing I still feel like I have too much stuff. My ultimate goal is to have (for the next couple of years) no more than absolutely necessary 'things'. And because I travel/drive so much-no more than I can fit in my car. Any furniture/wall decorations/appliances-gone. I don't need it. There was a time when it seemed really important to have pretty paintings on my wall and a nice dining set. But as soon as I really started focusing on my career, those things became so unimportant and almost weighed me down because I had to store it and constantly move it. On another topic, I am writing a business plan. I've never written it before, so I have no idea what the hell I am doing, but that has never stopped me before. It is for the new album, which will hopefully come out one year from now. Currently, I am scouting producers and beat-makers trying to find a really good team of people to help me produce it, arrange it, develop a sound for the album, and tell me a song sucks and should not be on the album even if I really like it.
3/17/07
It's raining here in CA. It never rains. I love it, the smell, how clean the air feels after it. When I first moved to LA, it was so much dirtier than Chicago. It took about four months of not washing my car for me to ask, "I never wash my car. Why is it so dirty?" Well, it is because it never rains-nothing ever gets washed away. Well in my defense, I've never lived in a city with no precipitation. However it is nice to be back in CA. I love, love how the sun shines so very much. I have a few shows booked over the next couple of months, but mainly I will be writing and going to a few conferences. I am working on my next album, which will hopefully come out spring 2008. Right now, I am still writing songs for it. In June, I'll be back to the Midwest. I think I did a little better getting festivals gigs than the three percent average. Technically, I am still booking for the summer, so keep checking the calendar.
2/25/07
Well. I am sick, sick of booking. I've made hundreds of calls, licked a 100 envelopes (yuck), and am getting tendentious from being on this computer every waking hour. But enough complaining. I'm not really a complainer. In all honesty, I do feel extremely lucky to even HAVE the opportunity to follow my passion. I won't be cliche and say dreams, cause let me tell you there is no dreaming going on in my life. It is all cold, hard reality. I saw my grandmother recently and she said, "so...how long are you going to give this thing." I looked her straight in the eye and said, "This is it. There is nothing else I want to do with my life." She just smiled and patted my knee.
1/20/07
I decided to stay in the Midwest for a while. I am trying to book festivals for the summer and have sent over a hundred press kits out. I think of them like resumes-they are just floating into space somewhere. Fun, fun. Supposedly the return is three percent for soliciting. I hope my odds are better than that. It is very cold and I am actually glad for it. Christmas was in the 60's and all I could think about was global warming. The earth is taking revenge on us. For every action, there is a reaction.
12/20/06
I love the holidays! Thank Goodness It's Christmas. I am back in the Midwest for the holidays (I spent the last two or so months in Nashville). I actually really liked it in TN and am thinking I should spend more time there in the future. The workshop was great. Darrell (the moderator) is so great. I wrote with Bobby a bunch. He's such a great writer. On a positive note, I also got a call from my other co-writer Rick and one of our songs is being considered for a new Disney group. It is still kind of up in the air, but I'll keep you informed. My brother is pregnant, well not my brother, his wife. But either way, I'm going to be an aunt. AKA, "the cool aunt."
11/01/06 - Rebuilding in Biloxi
While I was in NY, the couple I stayed with was planning a trip to Biloxi. They asked me if I wanted to go, and I said "why not?" So I just spent a week in Biloxi rebuilding houses destroyed Hurricane Katrina. I drove down all night after the workshop. I got in about 11am and started putting in insulation. Oh my gosh. It was like 90 degrees and muggy. I had to wear a thick, long-sleeved shirt to keep the insulation from getting into my skin, a mask to I would breathe in any remaining asbestos, and big work gloves.
10/10/06 - Atlantis Music Conference
So I played at a music conference in Atlanta...my first. Well, a journal isn't any place to hold back, so I'll be honest. Not sure what I was expecting. The conference has some sessions with A&R and producers and what not. There was a party every night at a different music venue. I met some really nice people and some artists, but what I found most of all was 'smoke and mirrors.' What does that mean? A bunch of artists and industry people dressed up trying to get attention with fancy pictures, creating hype for themselves. I heard "they are going to be the next big thing" so many times I should wanted to gag. There we so many people dressed alike walking around trying to be cool. I hadn't seen anything like it. Not everybody was like that, but I would say a good majority. It was kind of disappointing.
The venue was great. I played on Saturday at this really cool place called Smithe's. Hopefully I can play there again. But as for a music conference, I'll have to think about it.
9/28/06 - Nashville yeah!!!
I think I like Nashville. It's not as congested as LA. And people are really, really nice. So many songwriters...I love it. The workshop is with a guy named Darrell Brown. He's written for Leann Rimes and Keith Urban. He is such a cool guy. Very normal, fun, and nice. There are 11 other songwriters in the workshop-all writing pop songs. Everyone is so talented (I'll write the names at the bottom). Our first class was to go to a benefit concert that a big songwriter was putting on. So these great songwriters are playing and they are like, "we have a special guest." It was Leann Rimes. Then Keith Urban. Than Brooks from Brooks & Dunn. I was like, jeez (this is a G-rated journal). This is so Nashville. It's all about the music. I love that. I ended up getting touch with a family friend who is in Nashville and works in the music business. So I do know someone in Nashville. It was actually very cool. He took me to Opryland and saw Big n' Rich (county duo). I was able to see the Rascal Flatts. I have definitely had more country music in the last two weeks than well...ever.
I am staying with my sister-in-law's friend from college. He's nice and fairly normal-no he's normal....so far. Since I am thinking two months is a long time to stay with someone, I'm trying to take weekend trips to other places to give him a break. I'm sure I'm thrilling company, but I wouldn't want to wear out my welcome. I spent last weekend at my brother's in Alabama. He and his wife are expecting their first baby. I will be an aunt in May.
9/16/06 - Right on the Beach
Ahhhh. For a broke musician, I must have a little bit of luck. I'm on tour right now-just finished CT, MA, NY. When I was booking back in March, I harassed a guy in Ocean City, MD enough to help me book a couple of shows here. Not sure what to expect and I certainly didn't know where I was going to stay at the time. Luckily I had a friend whose parents had a place there. So-not to rub it in- I spent this week in a little apartment right on the beach on the Atlantic Ocean in this little town in Maryland. Don't get jealous, getting this lucky is definitely a rarity. It has been nice though. I did several shows in CT-rainy the whole time. In Massachusetts, I played at this cute little place in Cambridge-Plough and Stars. I guess it's been around forever and looked it-really dark old wood inside. New York. I love NY. I think I could live there, but I really, really don't like rats. I was reading some statistic that said there are like 6 rats per person and that was on the conservative side. I stayed with some wonderful people. All throughout the East Coast I stayed with strangers-well now they are friends. It's amazing how many people welcome me in their homes, never having met me.
So besides working on my tan...I just got into the ASCAP Pop Workshop in Nashville. You'd think I was like a workshop expert, but really these are the first two I've ever done. I was going to go back to CA in October, after I play the Atlantis Music Conference, but I am going to Nashville. The workshop is only one day a week and for 8 weeks. I have no idea at this point what I am going to do for two months in Nashville. I don't even know any one in Nashville. I have to figure out where I am going to stay. I'll let you know.
8/14/06 - "Power of the American Popular Song"
I just spent a week in Chicago, IL at Northwestern University at the Johnny Mercer "Power of the American Popular Song" workshop-a fancy title for songwriting. I hadn't done a workshop like this before. Basically 7 hours a day, six days, sitting in a small auditorium listening to other songwriters sing their songs or hear master teachers speaking. I heard some great songwriters (I'll list them at the bottom). The master teachers were mostly musical theaters songwriters - Amanda McBroom, John Buccino, and David Zippel. Amanda wrote “The Rose," John has written a bunch of cabaret songs and David is like a Disney lyric guru. We asked them questions and did a couple of concerts at the end of the week. Overall, a great time. Besides some new friends and a couple of how I did it stories, I've been trying to think of the main thing I got out of the week. There is no secret to success or one way of getting there. Just a bunch of hard work and a bit of luck & who you know-honestly, I don't even know if talent has as much to do with it as one would hope. Everyone at the workshop had talent-lots of it. Since I started this career in the music business I have been trying to figure out why some people (with talent) don't ever become successful. Lack of drive, lack of business sense, lack of courage. I don't know. As I am working on my career, I am trying not to make mistakes or miss opportunities hoping that I don't become one of those people who don't ever become successful. That's a depressing thought. But my thinking is that there is a reason for everything. Argue if you like, but I have found it the case without fault.
7/13/06
I am getting ready to leave CA again. It doesn't seem like I've been here that long. I've spent the last two months booking this tour and am so sick of booking I would like to throw my venues book through my computer hoping it will set on fire and burn both the book and the database on my computer. Ummm, but anyway. I have a few gigs in Denver on the way there, but for the most part have to book it to Chicago.