I think it’s been a couple of years since I first met Philip Warbasse on the streets of Santa Monica.  He approached me with a discernable genuineness in his eyes.   I was lugging my gig-wagon home, after an evening of busking on the 3rd Street Promenade, and he complimented me on the music he’d heard me making earlier in the evening.   He said that he was interested in creating a new way for artists to reach out to their audience and that he’d like to talk with me about it.   We exchanged information – and here we are a couple of years later.

Philip has a PR / Design firm, here in Santa Monica, called Warbasse Design.  He’s done a lot with film and TV (Iron Man 2, True Blood) and various other campaigns locally, internationally, and – in the end – globally.   The world has become so small.  [There are links to Warbasse Design and Print 2D on the Blogroll.]

The way it works is there is a specially designed 2D Barcode that people can scan, on their cell phones, to take them directly to an experience of music, a ring-tone, biographical content, and social media.  The possibilities are wide open – depending on the campaign…

I feel so lucky that Philip has taken me on as one of his first ventures into the music realm.  I am witnessing his entrepreneurial drive and work ethic first-hand and I appreciate his faith in me so much.

I have a sense that there will be much more to blog about in reference to this “little break” – which feels like one of those ones that will have a ripple effect…   I’m so excited about the prospects.

How cool is it that there are people who love to support independent, unsigned artists?  I think it’s amazing.  I feel so fortunate to have met TEE-M (Tariq Mirza) and Mike Stark, two LA DJ’s who, for the past 6 years, have been supporting local (and not local artists) whom they have featured on TEE-M’s UNsigned Music Show on WPMD.org.

I was honored to be included in the 6th Anniversary Show which was pre-recorded on Sunday, October 24th.  The podcast will be available as of November 14th at:   http://wpmd.org/  (there’s a link to WPMD.org on the Blogroll)

Mike Stark has built his beautiful, independent LA Radio Studio with a picturesque view of the LA Harbor.  The studio has a great vibe – and it was hoppin’ this past Sunday.  Previously, and in conjunction with Mike’s studio, Tariq and Mike also broadcast out of the studio at Cerritos College

As I continue on this path, I think about how fortunate I am to meet people who are so invested in being a part of bringing great, independent music to a world’s stage.

 

I teach at this wonderful guitar shop, in Santa Monica, called McCabe’s.  It’s a national treasure and has been in operation for over 50 years.  It’s got down-home charm and warmth and the concert stage, in the back, has hosted some of the finest musicians to grace the planet over the course of the past 50 odd years.  Don’t take my word for it.  Check out the artists who’ve played there.  http://www.mccabes.com/perflist.html  (there’s a link on the Blogroll)

Near the community bulletin board, on the right when you come in the door, there is a row of clips where we teachers hang a little sign that says which room we’re teaching in upstairs.  A while back, Morgan (one of the wonderful McCabe’s “princesses” – as I like to call a group of young women who work there… ) did a photoshop image of me walking across Abbey Road – in the opposite direction of the Beatles.  I was more than a little flattered by the association and I also found the “spoof” – well, pretty damn astute.  Morgan is obviously a smart young woman with a penchant for visual language.

I didn’t think to include the image here until last week when I showed up for my teaching day.  I always appreciate clipping it up on the wall at McCabe’s.  It’s one of those sweet, small details of life that make it so great.

Thanks, Morgan

This morning, at the foot of a high office tower on Wilshire Blvd, I saw a man shining shoes while sitting on the back bumper of his car – next to his open trunk.  His tools were at the ready.  I could see how earnestly he polished the leather, the muscle he was putting into it.  He wore a hat and his beard was peppered with grey.  The shoes on his feet were worn.

It’s halting to come upon something like that – just a moment – but one that says so much.  We all experience moments of feeling like we need to do small, menial things in order to survive.  I don’t think there is anyone who escapes such things entirely – but there is certainly a vast continuum – and we, in North America, have it easier than most people in the world.

Still,  I was talking with friends the other night and we all agreed that the “overhead” that one needs to generate, in order to survive in this civilized world, is hard sometimes.

That said, the past week was filled with such preoccupations for me.  I worked on my taxes, hunkered down into my teaching practice, and powered my way through.  It felt like a grueling week – but then, this morning, I came across the man shining shoes from his trunk.

There was another thing touched me so much this past week.  At the end of my final two lessons on Friday, my students presented me with a beautiful loaf of homemade bread.  Such kindnesses mean so much.

I’m excited to be in Pandora with only one degree of separation between me and Patty Griffin – one of my great musical heros.  It’s a small thing really – but the world is shrinking.

I tried to get a letter to Patty once.  It was after a concert that she gave at the Wiltern Theatre in LA.  I walked up to the stage and asked if there was any way I could get a note to Patty.  I handed an envelope, to her stage manager, which contained “Trust the Sky” and a brief note.  I don’t know if she ever got it – but it felt like it was worth a try.

I’ll post it here on the ridiculously remote chance that she will ever read it.

April 10, 2010

Dear Patty,

I have no idea if you will ever read this – but it’s an interesting exercise…

If you could write a letter to one of your musical heros, what would you say?  You might speak in superlatives and say, “thank you” — you might “gush” — and feel like an idiot, wishing you could think of something better to say.

It blows my mind the lifetimes that you can contain in a song – the flash point that must flicker in your brain – the connections – the memories – the souls – the loss – the melody – your words…   The depth and breadth of what you have accomplished is far-reaching.

Maybe in some small way – you were once where I am now – and even though I am far behind you, I am on the same path.  I thought I would try to extend this gesture to you — to share, somehow, in what I am doing and tell you that you have been a huge source of inspiration.

Thank you so much for what you do.   paula mcmath

It takes courage to remember that there are people who are listening and interested.

Without naming names – it was reassuring to hear, this week, from some people who listened to the podcast of last Saturday’s radio spot.  It remains a challenge for me to be brave enough to consistently share.  Although they don’t know it,  the people who responded to the podcast have been really helpful in bolstering my courage.  Many thanks to them.

You never know where some small happening, in your life, will lead you. We meet people.  We read things.  We respond to seemingly insignificant, little whims and sometimes they take us to a place we could never have anticipated.

A few years ago, I ripped an article out of Music Connection Magazine, written by Bernard Baur, entitled “20 Radio Stations That Will Play Your Music.”   It sat in a file until I noticed it again a couple of months ago.  I emailed one of the DJs who goes by the name Tee-M (Tariq Mirza) at WPMD.  He asked me to send in a CD.   He took a listen, played a couple of tracks on his show, and then invited me to come in to the station to chat and to play a few tunes live.  How cool was that!  While I was at the radio station, I was chatting about how I had discovered “Tee-M’s UNsigned Music Show” – which is co-hosted by Mike Stark.  I mentioned the MC article and Bernard Baur introduced himself as the guy who’d written the article.  When they say the world is small – they ain’t kiddin’.

It was so fun to do the show.  I played a few songs with Ian Hattwick and chatted with Tee-M and Mike about musical influences.  It was a really great experience.

You just never know…

So, here I am at the end of this blogging challenge and at the beginning of a new chapter in my blogging life.   What do I write about now?  What do I do now?  How do I keep things going?

I thought about these questions, out loud, with my boyfriend Ian Hattwick, and at the end of our discussion, he summed things up nicely:

“If you can be gigging, gig.

If you can’t be gigging, write.

If you can’t write, do business.

If you can’t do business, take the night off… ”

It makes a lot of sense to me.

Gigging is the work.  It’s what it’s all about – making music.   It’s meeting real people in the real world who are going to care about what you’re doing – because they’re there to see it.   It’s the hardest part and the most rewarding part – and not something you can do any old time…  usually.

Writing is also central to what it’s all about.  It keeps things interesting both for the artist and the listener.   Sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to get to either – as many of us have discovered in the creative realm, but without trying to meet “the muse” half-way, you won’t bump into her very often at all.

Doing business isn’t always easy – but it is always there.  It’s an email, a phone call, a blog post, or a tweet away.   We can do it day or night – anytime we can get to a computer or a phone.  I think it’s wise to systematize things.   Plan and aim to do specific things on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.   Keep the “business” wheels turning and lubricated.   I do my best to stay flexible and creative in this world too – because it so unquantifiable.  It’s hard to tell if all of the effort is even working…  In the end, it’s an exploration – an experiment.   It will take a shape and evolve – if you give it that initial throw.

Take a break.  Sometimes I struggle with stopping.   Sometimes, it is absolutely the right thing to do.

Week 9 of this blogging challenge has got me thinking…

Question:   Who interests me enough, as an artist, that I would want to buy everything that he or she has to offer?

Answer:   There aren’t a large number of people in this camp for me, personally.   As an artist myself, that’s probably not a bad thing – because I have to be careful about how I spend my money.   In this economy, don’t we all?

Beyond this question:  Can I think of an artist who consistently creates work that I like and would want to buy?

Yes, but…    truth be told, even my favorite artists don’t always hit the mark for me. Hmmm.  The plot thickens.

If I could imagine an artist, who might exist, who consistently creates work that I like and who succeeds in getting his or her wares, to me, so that I can purchase them – what would that look like?

I feel a need to posit these ideas in imaginary terms – because, if I can isolate the things that might make me want to partake in an artists’ career on a consistent basis (ie.  buy stuff from him or her… ), maybe I can formulate an approach that will feel right for me.

Enter: The Imaginary Artist of Week 9
[I’m going to make her a woman – so, that I don’t have to keep saying he or she… and I’m basing her on some of my favorite artists.]

1.   She would come from a standpoint of humility.   Her artistic voice would be subtle and yet profound.   Something about her would strike me as honest and authentic and her work would resonate for me personally.  Primarily, she would have insight to offer about life.

2.  She would have a musical talent and musical sensibility that hits my ears the right way.

3.  She would speak “artistically” and “commercially” when she has something to say.

4.  She would be friendly and consistently active, in her communications with her listeners, but always with an air of generosity.   It’s a subtle thing.  [ I’ve read many emails from artists.  Some strike me as fundamentally giving, others as, well, not so giving… ]

5.  She would be creative in offering products, besides music, that would resonate with her overall message.

6.  She would be a part of a community of artists.  This could take many forms.   I find it appealing when artists are a part of something beyond themselves.   This might include a fundraiser or charity event or a supportive collaboration.  It makes it that much more appealing, to me, to hear an artist is involved in a community of people who are putting their talents to some use beyond simply fostering a career.

7.   She would, likely, have a side-line career as well.   Most of us, out here, have to have something else to help pay the bills.   From time to time, it would be interesting to hear about the struggles, the checks and balances involved in an artistic life. I always like to hear the gritty details – because, as we know, this life ain’t always easy…

8.  She would communicate about “works in progress” and find creative ways to show them so that they might invite support from listeners.

9.  She would get out there and play gigs.

10.  She would create a unique body of work worthy of interest and word-of-mouth.

So, with all of that said, I’ve got a lot of things to add to my list.   Ariel’s book shows it as a funnel.  I think it’s a good metaphor and image to hold onto.  I continue to think of it all as a process – a way of living.

Ariel began Week 9’s chapter with an admission that she’s a “business book junkie.”  In my life, I’ve been an junkie for books about artists lives;  biographies, auto-biographies, biographical novels, books on artistic process, books on songwriting, books on the music business, books of poetry, literary criticism, interviews with artists, you name it…

The 3 books have been among the most useful to me – real life-changers – are these:
“Creating A Life Worth Living” by Carol Lloyd
“Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott
“The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron

I’m currently reading the incredible biographical novel, “Lust for Life” by Irving Stone, about the life of Vincent Van Gogh.  Wow.

I’ll close this post with a promise to continue this blog.   I began blogging as part of this challenge – but I have enjoyed it so much that I’ll continue to post here, once a week, indefinitely. What began as a task, that I set for myself, has turned into a mode of expression for which I am very thankful.

Thank you so much, Ariel, for the invitation to enter this world.