Dream Out Loud!

[jabw10]

MG & i were talking today, and we thought the forum could use a support thread for the creative types among us (writers, musicians, artists).  not just to share work, but to keep each other on-task, and to encourage those who are seeking literary publication, music distribution/gigs, art showings, and the like.  our thought was that this could be to artists (of all types) what the 'get in shape w u2' thread is to those trying to stay fit.  so mutual encouragement, advice, and accountability are the main crux of the thread. 

i'll let MG intro her situation, but for me: 
i have always wanted to sing and perform.  instead, i took my parents' advice to find a 'real job' just so i could have a 'back up plan.'  yeah.. i lived my parents' back up plan for 16 years.  it was okay, and i was pretty good at teaching, but it wasn't where my heart was.  i am the absolute happiest when i'm onstage singing.  classical singing is fun, because not as many people can do it, i guess, but at my core i'm a folk-pop-with-occasional-rock-tendencies singer/songwriter.  i did an audio production certification program a year ago, thinking i could make my own demos that way.   i was naive - i thought i could do the whole process alone in a non-floating, non-soundproof basement with just my vocals, an MBox, and a bunch of instrument sounds from a yamaha SY-85 synth/sequencer i've had since 1993  

anyway, i totally need to kick my own arse to find musicians in my area.  the goal at this point is some local/regional performing, and an indie release a la 'CD baby' or some such site.  i wouldn't mind the odd 'studio musician' or audio engineering gig.  my problem is that i procrastinate, waste time, and worry about what might or might not happen instead of actually trying to DO SOMETHING!!!  DREAM OUT LOUD!!!!

so, what's your story?                                                 

[The Grave]

I'm starting to learn the Bass. I played the Violin for 3 years.

I also got 100's in art for 3 years in school 

I also am trying to write some songs

[MarsGirl~Descends to Hell for a bottle of milk]

OMG, JAB!!! You're story is similar to mine!! I always wanted to be a novelist... I majored in English against my parents' advice. I did NOT get teaching certification, though, because I did not want to teach.... (I'm not good enough at wrangling people or kids). And then I kind of just found a job that I could do in the tech industry (first as a tech writer, then, later as a quality assurance analyst). My parents didnt want me to become a starving artist, and I understand, but at the same time they discouraged my writing as some sort of fantasy. To be fair, my mom started coming around, especially after she heard me perform my sermon on U2 music.

So... today, this is where I'm at: I want to be published. I'm working on a novel, but I also have a few memoir shorts about widowhood that I'd like to be published in something, ie, a magazine. I had a real chance a few months ago with someone 4D knows... it was in the guy's hands, he even asked me to call him about it, and I chickened out because I was afraid he was going to tell me something bad. I mean, I never talked to this guy who is a real life editor about an actual publication CUZ I WAS AFRAID HE'D TELL ME I SUCKED.

How horrible is that?

I need help getting brave enough to believe in myself. To be like Bono and not even consider failure an option. How do I do this?!?

[jabw10]

I need help getting brave enough to believe in myself. To be like Bono and not even consider failure an option. How do I do this?!?

first off, i totally hear you about the fear thing.  bono isn't afraid of rejection and he's not afraid of looking foolish (i struggle w both of those things!)  but ya know what?  bono wouldn't stand for those sorts of thoughts, would he?  people say when he has an idea he's passionate about, it's almost like it's already done (in his mind) and it's just a matter of "how." 

*insert inspirational bono-advice-pep-talk-photo here*
i'm telling you - just DO something!  dream out loud!  i believe in you!

[The Grave]

I can't write worth

[jabw10]

I can't write worth

now now, ken, bono won't stand for that sort of negative talk    how long have you been writing? 

[The Grave]

I can't write worth

now now, ken, bono won't stand for that sort of negative talk    how long have you been writing? 

I had to write a crap load for lit last year........that's why I had a F 

I'm more of a musician. I was first chair in orchestra. and for Bass I played in a band and played a 4 song set after only 2 months of lessons

[MarsGirl~Descends to Hell for a bottle of milk]

LOL!! You're so right, Jab!!

The best part of Bono in Conversation to me was when he talked about how failure never entered his mind in the early U2 days, even when they sucked (which, really, is debatable to me... did they ever really suck?? I think they thought they sucked but they didnt!)

It was a weird moment for me reading that. Always in my mind, I've thought about the WHAT IF's in terms of FAILURE. Not success. Success has NEVER entered my mind.

[jabw10]

Always in my mind, I've thought about the WHAT IF's in terms of FAILURE. Not success. Success has NEVER entered my mind.

yeah, that fear thing again... a change of heart comes slow...

[MarsGirl~Descends to Hell for a bottle of milk]

Always in my mind, I've thought about the WHAT IF's in terms of FAILURE. Not success. Success has NEVER entered my mind.

yeah, that fear thing again... a change of heart comes slow...

Sing it.

It was really weird... like realizing that about Bono... cuz I realized then--at the age of 36--how all my thinking had always been WRONG. I realized that that was the source of my failure.... my lack of belief in myself. If that's ego, then I want to be the most egotistical person alive.

[edgetastic [Vote Zaphod]]

Awesome thread!

I play guitar and I kinda write songs (or I'm trying to ). My problem is I really want to be in a band, but I'm not exactly sure how to do it. I'm not the kinda person who can just put myself out there. My school is pretty small and all pretty much all the musicians are already in bands or I have never heard of them .

[jabw10]

Awesome thread!

I play guitar and I kinda write songs (or I'm trying to ). My problem is I really want to be in a band, but I'm not exactly sure how to do it. I'm not the kinda person who can just put myself out there. My school is pretty small and all pretty much all the musicians are already in bands or I have never heard of them .

hi ET!  what you're describing is the exact same situation i have here.  i kind of have an idea of how to find musicians (networking;  craigslist;  bulletin board at the local 'guitar center')  but i'm a little shy about initiating contact, too.  i think i just need to stop worrying so much about stuff (ie:  what if i get a lot of rejection from people or they don't want to play my songs;  what if my ad attracts a bunch of weirdos who can't really play at all?  what if i don't find anybody?, etc).   

so, do you know any of the musicians who are already in bands enough to ask for advice?  maybe they wouldn't mind a side project til you get started?  or maybe they know of someone who's looking for a band?  what about local music stores?  or would your school music teacher(s) be able to help you find a resource? 
regardless, yay for you with the songwriting thing!  everyone starts somewhere, right?  my first song was about soup (i was 5) 

[birdlover]

OOh do I need this thread! THANKS JAB!

I was an aspiring Country music singer during high school. Played guitar and sang every chance I got. College had a coffee shop and I'd play for tips...joined a band in the Air Force but we never ever performed because our drummer was in the Army and NEVER had time off!

Fast forward to today, I'm 57 and still playing mostly for myself. I do perform at my church's coffeehouse, and sometimes at others in town. Many nice places are always looking for performers. GO FOR IT! It gives you practice, something to work for and an audience who isn't critical.

I'm also a frustrated writer. Might I suggest doing NaNoWriMo, Marsgirl? You sign up online and NOBODY reads your work unless you want them too. There are little groups all over the world where folks get together to encourage each other to write. All you have to do is get 50,000 words down during November. ANY words.  The program at the site counts them as you go, giving you feedback on how much you have to do per day. I succeeded last year thanks to our regional leader. I simply kept ahead of her word count and came in with time to spare.
You write whatever you want (I did Lord of the Rings fanfiction about my favorite characters) and there is NO editing along the way. Once you finish, you're entitled to a free paperback copy of your novel. I just went and had a few copies printed out, cost about $6 each.
 Believing in yourself is the whole challenge and this gives you proof that you're a writer.
I'm going to do it again this year. You can add me as a friend and we can encourage each other!

[MLP Midnight]

Hmmm... this thread kinda makes me want to write more again.

I used to do stories and write my own song lyrics.

[MarsGirl~Descends to Hell for a bottle of milk]

birdlover, I think Ive heard about that writing a novel in November thing.... I never had any ideas but I am working on a novel right now!