Playing out and meeting people

Played an open Mic at a great little spot tonight called The Faculty. Met some great people and saw familiar faces.  That makes me pretty darn happy

Live music = inspiration

Open Mic

I played my first open mic in L.A. tonight at a place called Room 5.  VERY cool people and it was nice to finally feel like I'm meeting people in the music scene here.   I'm realizing that everyone is really friendly and open to helping new comers.  I'll definitely be back to this place!

DIY...again

Got a great trunk for the coffee table. Can't wait to paint it!

Teaching and Learning

I taught a piano lesson to a friend today. I love teaching and helping people who just want to learn how to express all the ideas they have in their head. It forces me to get better at my theory and to look at things in different ways. And I like that!

Observing

Exploring L.A.

Counting Crows

I've been working on a cover of a Counting Crows tune for a contest they're having right now.  They're putting together a compilation CD of people covering their songs and I'm pretty excited about what I'm working on.  I've been a fan of theirs for YEARS and it'd be pretty darn cool to be a part of their compilation CD.  It's also allowed me to learn a lot more about Logic which is always nice.  Hoping to mix the tune in the next few days and then we wait and see.....

Scores and Vegan food

Saw a movie short that Dan composed the music for. Always great seeing someone else's passion and form of expression. Then we went to a diner where I will surely be back to because they had lots of Vegan options...including chocolate chip pancakes. Oh yeah, I said it.

Juicing

Courtesy of Dan.  Doesn't look like much but it was so good!

Plugged In

I forgot to blog yesterday! ah.  I can't let myself fall behind so I'm posting this for yesterday.  Dan and I went looking for furniture on our way back from San Diego.  I made him pull over to stop at this Thrift Store I saw a sign for and was shocked when I actually found something I liked...and could afford!  I got this awesome desk that is in great condition and doesn't need refinishing.  I was finally able to set up my keyboard, speakers, computer....I feel a tad less anxious now :)

Bridges and Beaches

Coronado

Staying Classy

San Diego. Beautiful scenery motivates me to become more and more successful at what I'm doing so that I can continue to travel to beautiful places...on a weekday afternoon.

Organization...fun

I am motivated to get a dresser. I am getting anxiety as I type, just looking at the clutter...

Laughs in Cali

Georgia On My Mind

Fun night playing with some fantastic people. I'm lucky to have made such great friends in GA.

Shakin' Hands and Makin' People Dance

Unfortunately, I can't say I took this picture but with all the commotion tonight I forgot to take one!  I hate it when I do that....
I had a gig tonight at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art.  It's a beautiful building and I met a lot of really great people who were very supportive of my music.  Any night you get to play music where people listen and (dare I say it!) tip the musicians and buy CDs is a good night.  We even had some people slow dancing to the music.  Yeah....I make people dance.

The Challenge of Inspiration

I've discovered that this goal of taking a picture each day that shows inspiration or motivation is proving to be more difficult than expected.  The positive note to that is that I'm learning that I don't put enough conscious effort in each day to do something that provides that inspiration and motivation.  Having now realized this through this blog exercise, I would really like to do more to help provide that "spark" every day. I really want to be inspired, ideally, every day but I'd settle for weekly.  :)
I think that it will make me a better person/musician/writer/performer. 
I found this quote that seemed to fit the mood so this is my "picture" for the day:

"Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks"

Cali

Leaving for L.A. on Sunday....

Using Logic

I started recording a new song today (the one I started writing a few days ago) and I'm really excited about it.  I've been recording it in Logic and trying to get myself more familiar with the program.  I know it enough to record piano/vocal demo tracks but I want to get better at mixing and using other parts of the program.  I was fooling around with some drum stuff today and feel pretty dang good about it!  There's about 80% more I need to learn about Logic but I'll get there.  Now if only I could learn this friggin guitar I've had sitting in my room for a year...

Doing Taxes and It Feels So Good

I sent off my taxes today.  I've used the same H&R lady in NYC for the past 4 years and I heart her.  Even though I'm down South I am still using her because, well, she's the shiz.  I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that even though I only worked a "real" job 6 out of the 12 months in 2011 that I'll still get some moolah back.  It would seriously help fund some really exciting projects I have coming up this year.  Here's to hoping!  Thanks Uncle Sam, for giving me 60% of my New York paycheck and giving me 10% back....

Jerry

I've been reading Jerry Weintraub's book "When I Stop Talking You'll Know I'm Dead" and it's been pretty motivating and educational.  Jerry managed such greats as Elvis, Sinatra, and John Denver.  He also produced movies like The Karate Kid, and Oceans 11, 12 and 13.  He grew up a poor kid in the Bronx and grew to create this massive empire for himself.  He was incredible at selling a product (the artist, the script, the director, etc) sometimes when the product didn't even exist yet.  He truly believed in himself and what he was doing even when no one else did.  He was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word and never stumbled when someone said "no".  Sometimes you just gotta get people to drink the Kool-Aid :)

Hungry Ear? They're Not Kidding

I played to an amazing crowd tonight.  It's always so refreshing and satisfying to play for a group of people than came to listen.  It sadly doesn't happen enough but when it does happen, it's incredibly fun and gratifying.  This is the second time I've played at The Hungry Ear Coffee House in Atlanta and it never disappoints.  The other artists were really talented and it was just a great night of great live music.  Can't ask for much more..

Moving, Accumulation and the Love of Shopping

I boxed up some things today to ship to L.A.  Basic kitchen things and other odds and ends. I have moved every year (except for 2009) since 2001. I guess some would see that as crazy but I actually find some enjoyment in it. Well, maybe I am a bit crazy but it helps me purge the things I accumulate and it makes me really assess what I need. This year I am motivated to limit my spending to what I need, to things that are quality (not to buy simply because something is cheap) and things that are meaningful.  Hope I can stick by it!

New Songs, New Thoughts

I started writing a new song yesterday that I feel really good about.  I woke up with it in my head this morning so that's usually a good sign that it'll turn out to be a song I like! ha.  I'm writing about a song a week and that's been a good goal for me to have and it motivates me to keep writing better and more entertaining/interesting songs.  A  fellow songwriter was talking to me the other day about the "entertainment value" of a song and it really got me thinking and analyzing past songs I've written.  I'm now asking myself "does this have entertainment value?"  And it doesn't have to mean is it some shticky, comedic song...more of a "does it take the listener on a journey, does it tell a story, will a listener leave remembering this song?"   Thinking, thinking...always thinking.  I wonder if Miley Cyrus' songwriters ever think about these things....  :)

Bringing Back the Hand-Made Gift

My sister came over tonight and she had found a cool thing on Pinterest on how to make these bracelets.  We wound up making three and I love them!  They were really easy to make and they definitely look like you could get them in a store. 
I really want to make a bigger effort this year to make things for my friends and family for holidays, birthdays and all that fun stuff.  I feel like buying gifts sometimes can be so meaningless....I just do it out of habit and I try to get something that the person will like but in the end I just wind up spending money I shouldn't be spending and feel the pressure of making sure the recipient really love it! ha. 
My family will attest to the fact that I no longer give cards at holidays unless I've made them.  The act of buying a Hallmark card is beyond me!  They're like $5.00 now and people read them, laugh and then throw them away!  $5 down the toilet...
I've been making a few gifts out of the wooden pallets I have and I'm loving the feeling of giving a gift that actually means something and that I made with my own two lil' hands! 
Ask me come Christmas time if I'm still feeling this way about hand-made gifts :)