Whew!  Another intense week – and added to it, I’m now kind of “on the road.”  I did 3 small sets at the Emancipation Day Celebration in Windsor, Ontario this past weekend. The festival commemorates the Emancipation Act of 1833 – which made Canada the final stop on the Underground Railroad to freedom. I’m parlaying the gig into a visit with family and friends in Canada.

I’ve read Chapter 5 a few times and have come up with 2 valuable touchstones;    Bloggers read other bloggers’ blogs.   It is key to post regularly and consistently.

I set up my Google RSS Reader and I’m getting updates landing in my email.  So far,  I’m diggin’ the Music Think Tank, The Dean’s List, Moses Supposes, and Blue Railroad.  I’ve got a ways to go as far as establishing rapport and relationships – but, as Ariel says, it will take some time to leave enough “breadcrumbs” and comments behind to become a legit part of these communities.

I’m thinking more and more that MSi9W is an invaluable process – for a professional life in music.  It has been really cool to wrap my head around all of these concepts and commit to following through with them.  Before I began this blogging challenge – (I hate to admit) – the thought of actually being a blogger was pretty foreign to me.  Now,  it feels really doable and not so intimidating.

Since the beginning of this challenge – I’ve learned so much.  I started by really over-thinking things – and trying to be very succinct.  I didn’t want to bore anyone by going into any detail.  At this point, about half way through, I feel a lot more at ease with just sharing my experience in cracking this world open for myself.  I’m finding, from reading other blogs – in this challenge, that it’s all in the details and in the sharing of experiences (and frustrations) that we learn the most.

As far as finding myself on blogs/posts that already exist – that was pretty cool.  Truth is though,  I already knew that Paul Zollo had done a really nice review on Blue Railroad.  I also knew about Songwriters Vantage, Pozervision, Crossroads, and McCabe’s.  I guess that ties into the value of real-world networking and getting out there.

I have worked to belong to a number of music communities in Los Angeles.  I’m a regular participant in the Songwriters’ Co-Op.  I’ve been to music conferences such as Durango and TAXI.  I’m a part of the music-making-teaching community of McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica.  I’m a part of the performing community down on the 3rd Street Promenade.  I regularly go out to hear music and meet people too.  It all adds up.

I’m sure it will take things up a notch to reach out, with diligence, into the cyber world.