"The Elephant Diet" Day # 45 Postponements and Podcasts

I was supposed to have lunch today with the Orchestra Conductor and his wife to discuss the upcoming project, but he e-mailed me yesterday to say he was feeling quite sick and didn't want me to get the germs.  I appreciate that!  So today, I spent the day creating another podcast episode, re-typing my business plan because I accidentally threw it out yesterday after posting it to my blog.  (How on earth does that happen?)  

I have had some great replies and offers to help from the post I did yesterday.

Thanks so much!  I'm making a list of everyone who offers to help in some way.  How exciting!

But just for a little change of pace - here's my latest podcast episode.



(Each of us is given a seed of some kind to nurture and watch come to fruition.  This episode continues part 2 of 3 parts from a message I gave at a church in Lancaster, PA in 2012.  I give 3 examples of people who had a 'seed' or 'word' from God in the Bible and what happened in their life in relation to the seed.  I also share the story of the first time I realized that I really had a seed inside of me.)

Check out this episode!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 44 Making a plan!

So here's the deal.  I finally sat down today and listed as much as I could think of that will go into this Christmas CD project and a Christmas Show Event.  Someone asked me when and where this show will be.  I love the enthusiasm!  But as you will see by my charts - there is a lot that needs to happen between now and a show.  Not to mention the funding that needs to happen.  Basically, I need a miracle.  Believe me, I am saving as much as I can of my own income toward this.

Just for perspective though - this will be my 7th CD project, along with 2 singles and a music video.  Miracles do happen.  

I googled 'making a business plan' today and based on some of the questions I found - here is what I have come up with so far.  I have a lot of work ahead - finding a venue, calculating the costs, and oh yes - continuing to work on the music part of it all.  If you see something on this list that you would love to help toward - let me know.  It's going to be a long diet program with just one bite a day. 

There will be more to add to the charts as I go - like travel expenses to TN where I do most of my work.  But this will begin to give you an idea of what an independent musician faces. 

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 43

It's another 'one bite' day. Church work today, meeting tonight and some booking details to wrap up in between. Bookings for the summer and fall are beginning to roll in.

I sent a vocal track to Dave today - the producer of the song "Night Of Miracles".

When you use a producer in Nashville, a lot of work is done over the Internet. It's an interesting world.

I met with him when I was in town so we got to discuss what I'm looking for. Now, this week, as he arranges for the band, he needs to have me singing it so they can play along with me. Since I'm in PA, I sent him a recording today of just my voice - no instruments. He will then paste that into his software and play it for the band. Eventually, I will go in person to record the final vocals, but all he needs right now is a general vocal track as a guide.

Just got word that Matthew West's drummer and Chris August's bassist are lined up to start working on the song this coming Monday.  It is very common for players like this to be available to play on other people's projects.

Gotta love technology!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 42 On Hold

Chills, nausea, weak....that's how I started feeling this afternoon. By the time I left work around 4:30 I was not feeling well at all.

No food for supper...no desire for any either which is NOT normal for me. Normally I could eat an elephant. (Just had to put that in there).

I did receive an email from the producer I'm interviewing for one song and he is lining up musicians this week to prepare for recording. I am very excited to hear what he does with the song. It will tell me so much about what I need to know for my final decision regarding who I want to use to produce the whole project.

My intent tonight was to get my business plan down on paper for the meeting with my business coach tomorrow but I am too sick to think straight.

It will have to wait.

All I could do was whisper some prayers to my Father, committing this whole journey to him, again.

"The Elephant Diet" Day 41 A Business Coach

Very long day.....church work, doctor visit with my Mother, closing out a storage unit for my Mother, spending family time with my brother and his wife from New Mexico before they return home early in the morning.

Time for bed!

In the midst of it all, I did manage to connect by email with my business coach. I am preparing for a meeting with her on Wednesday when I need to have a plan in place to present so she can steer me in regard to the advertising and implementing of my plans for the CD and christmas show event.

Someone asked me when and where this show is going to be. I don't know yet, but a plan will help me know how to answer that question better the next time.

Catch you tomorrow.