Being Deliberate

[tedsingingfox]

Hey, Rayzer.It was ... uhm ... interesting. Again, it was held in a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant, and basically the entire audience was just the other writers who were there to perform. But I still enjoyed myself, and apparently I did a good job, because I got three more bookings through this organization (the Nashville Music Group) for upcoming open mics, TWO of which are out at the world-famous Nashville Palace (starting with this coming Monday night, the 27th. wooHOO!!)So, let's see... for May 15th...(1) I really DO need to figure out how to get on the list to audition for the Bluebird Cafe. Their website is making impossible demands on my laptop (quite literally), but I'm going to learn my way around them and secure a spot for myself.(2) I want to sit down with someone here in town for my first official Nashville co-write. Even though I'm hoping to find a woman to work with for one particular song title idea I have, I'll be happy to take the first offer I get. (And I MAY have gotten a legit offer last night at Pat & Pete Luboff's "Sounding Board" ... we'll find out soon.)(3) I need to start learning about the "pitching" process. I got some amazing feedback for one of my songs last night, with 5 out of 9 of the other writers at this event last night telling me to "Pitch this one. Start pitching this one NOW. All you need to do is find the right artist to record this one, and you're there..." I'd LOVE to, but I don't have a clue how to start doing that. So I've got some homework to do.I'll keep checking in.Hang in there, bud.Ted

[philschon]

rayzer, thank you! Check your PM.

[arkjack]

Wow. I lost my password and couldn't get up. And I didn't have time till' now to find it again. I thought I got thrown outta here for some reason.My report - I survived tax season, but still gangbusters with the financial and tax audit orders that came in in March and were put off for tax season.... now they're urgent. I have been getting out of the office earlier and spending an hour or so of practice time getting my chops back. It'll still be a while. Also looked around the studio at my gear and setup and decided I need to change some things around and rewire. No new songs. No plans for now. Just keep the nose on the grindstone to keep out of trouble money wise.ArkJack

[rayzer]

Everything's still crazy at work. These auditors won't go away. The IT auditor will be here for a few days next week and the rest of them will be here through the first week in June Then their report will follow later in the month.On top of that, the last few weeks have held a two day board meeting, a day long council meeting, VPN troubles, router upgrades, malware from China, etc., etc. At home, the end of another school year is coming, and my daughter is graduating high school. That means lots of concerts, award ceremonies, banquets, the Spring musical, field trips, etc.On the bright side, my wife is doing fantastic! Her incisions are healing right on schedule and she's a little tired, but feeling great. The tiredness is probably from our schedules and the doctors weren't concerned.Anyway...I did put up another song on iTunes. I used part of the proceeds from my first song on iTunes to pay for putting the second one up. It was fun to have one song supporting another one.I have lots more song ideas in my notebook and am anxious to get back into it. I just wish the door back to it didn't keep moving a month away every month, but school's almost over and the auditors can't be here forever, so...I'm hanging on. How's everyone here?Rayzer

[arkjack]

Hi Rayzer and all Delibiterians.Not much change in my circumstances either. I'm on the other side from where rayzer is, being the auditor going into places and trying to implement damage control, put out fires. I hope you're being cordial with the auditors Raz, some of the folks I'm working with are just uncooperative, and will not provide me the stuff I ask for on any semblance of a timely basis or any sense of urgency, which makes things drag out and important deadlines get missed.So I am also at the office on a Saturday, and besides checking on my Myspace, facebook and taxi pages, have a stack of projects to work on. I chatted with Casey the other day and said that until business is running at peak there is no logic to pursue big music projects. The business will just interfere rather than support. So I'm keeping my nose on the tax, valuation, audit, TRIZ, and attestation grindstone to keep things on the ramp up. Musically, I practice and keep up gymnastics, and still study with Master Chuck to keep learning, develop new things, and just kind of save it all up for a later time. And like you Raz, my son is graduating next month, and that's another whole set of commitments. Hope you all stay well and healthy.Best regards,ArkJack

[tedsingingfox]

Oh, BROTHER!!Sorry y'all. It's so bizarre... For four years in Taos, I had VERY little you could call "a life" going on.Two months in Nashville and I have two MAJOR lives (mine and Trasbin's) and about 11 minor ones I'm trying to juggle all at once. Not complaining...it's a nice change; but I'm not one of those willing to forego sleep in order to squeeze everything into one day.Anyway, give me a day or so, and I'll return to post up about my very shortened (compact) deliberations for June.Ted

[rayzer]

The auditors are gone What a relief. I need to do some work to incorporate their recommendations, but that will be a cakewalk compared to the past few months. I looked around the Taxi forum today and between the Nash Bash and all the new members, I felt more like an outsider looking in. It didn't feel good. So what's up for July 15? I'm giving myself this month to recover, clean out my storage room (I mean, my studio), and get reacquainted with my instruments, my equipment and my creative side. Let's see how that goes and get back together next month.Thanks, all. You're awesome.Rayzer

[hiredgun]

I'm wit U all. I just got laid off from a job of 20 years(permanently) at first I was crushed, but now i'm looking at this as a good thing!B4 I was a corporate stiff doing sumthin I hated Bcuz it paid well.I raised my family or so I thought, but the economy especially up here in Michigan blows. The kids seem to know the path back to home fairly well.I'm ready to pick up the crumbs so Hansel does not find his way home again Overall though I have more time 4 music and am getting on a writing jag....I 've had moments like these where U can't stop writing and moments where I couldn't write with a gun 2 my head. Anyway U all will B seeing more of me like it or not Bcuz this is my life 4 a while.

[rayzer]

Hiredgun, Sorry to hear about the permanent layoff, but I'm glad you found a bright side. I'm still trying to get a handle on the seasons of life, especially the ones forced upon us, and how sometimes our passions get the spotlight and other times they're sent to the back row in the third balcony. Many times we're the ones who feature or minimize our passions, either consciously or unconsciously by our thoughts and actions, but other times we're in the passenger seat and don't have a choice. That's when we need to hang on, enjoy the ride, take some notes, and remember the big plan. 'Cause when that season ends; when we get back behind the wheel, we have to be ready to drive it like we stole it, since we never know when something out of our control will carjack us and throw us in the back seat again.I'm glad you're behind the wheel and look forward to seeing where you go with it.Welcome.Rayzer

[arkjack]

Still rough going. Lots of work, but very slow money, and very hard to get the full rate. I have been on 60 hour weeks since end of tax season, and the time records show that I have only had 9 days off since January 1. All other days, including weekends I been working. Not that I wasn't a hard worker before, but this is all work on accounting, no work on music or other endeavors. I pass my instruments and gear on the way to the basement freezer or pantry for stuff, and say hi, and I miss them,..... They seem ok to be just hanging out and waiting for me. I still say its just one of those periods in life where you focus on getting the whole picture together and on track, and have to put aside other things until its done. It sometimes seems with the frequent setbacks, it will be a few years before I've conquered it all. But someone reminded me today of my motto - Don't Ever Give Up - Here's to...ArkJack