"The Elephant Diet" DAY # 50!!!!!! Listen to our "listening party" conversation

Today is special.  It's day # 50 in my elephant diet and I'm making great progress.  Listen in on part of a conversation after Listening Party # 2!

(P.S.  "Night of Miracles" is coming together.  Heard the first rough mix last night.  Electric guitars will be recorded next week.)

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 49 Listening party # 2

Wow.

It's 10:30 p.m. and my second listening party is over.  I feel as if I have a whole new 'to do' list now.  They had so much constructive feedback that it helped me to see the need to really streamline what it is I want to accomplish through the music and the show.  They asked such great questions that I know I'll have to ponder some deeper things in the very near future....and believe me, the wheels are already turning.

That's what's so great about letting people in on this process.  The feedback is coming from two women that I love dearly and have poured into my life.  Yes - we first met because of my music, but the music is now the last thing that connects us.  To have them speak into my music now, before it's recorded is priceless.  To be able to have such honesty from fans represents true depth in our friendship.  They feel comfortable enough to give it, and I feel comfortable enough to take it.  And.....it will definitely affect the outcome of this project.

I cannot begin to overstate the value of this diet.

One of them made this statement and I couldn't say it any better.  "You have more than an elephant to eat.  You have a whole zoo going on here."

Yep.  And I'm loving it!  One bite at a time.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 48 People

I could blog about meeting with my business coach today and all that we talked about. I could mention that we discussed my business plan and how to fine tune it and how to present it to people who could help me with my vision. We also discussed why I struggle to ask people for help.

I am learning that there are a number of unhealthy thought patterns and philosophies regarding sharing my vision with other people. The fact that I am blogging openly about this Christmas project proves that I am overcoming some of these, but when I meet with her, I realize I have more growing today.

My coach inspires me. She has her own creative endeavors to pursue so we ended our session with her sharing her own vision with me and it encourages me to keep going. We compare experiences. I am not alone.

But I want to focus this blog tonight on the breakfast I had with a friend early this morning. As she poured out more of her life story (we are just starting to get to know each other better), my heart was moved with compassion. Her tears touched me deeply.

I walked away this morning with a renewed realization that I am really starting to care about the people who listen to my music and support what I do on a level way beyond the music. The music is a connector to deeper things, it's just the starting point.

This growing realization is a big part of what is driving this whole project. I want to touch people, with music, and be there as much as I can after the music is played.

A meeting like this morning always helps me to remember that in the end, this is about people.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 47 The first listening party

2 friends listening

I did it.

I had my first 'listening party' for the Christmas CD and show project.

I was terribly scared and terribly excited, all wrapped into one.

But early this morning I was reading a journal of mine from 1999.  (That was the year I started my very first CD project "Under The Big Blue Sky").  I smiled as I read because in there I wrote that I was terribly afraid that people wouldn't like it and that they wouldn't like me.  It's that same familiar feeling coming back, but I'm getting used to the fact that this is just part of what an artist feels when they produce a new work .  It's bearing your soul to the world and that can be a very risky thing.

Tea and Treats

It went well, however.  Two friends took time out of their busy lives to come and experience the music and join me as I dream.   I hope they are encouraged to dream.

P.S.  "Night of Miracles" officially began it's journey in Nashville as they started recording today.  I will hopefully get to hear it on Thursday.  It's the first song of the CD to begin the process.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 46 Practice!!!

It all comes down to practice.

I have been so caught up in the details of planning, charting and blogging.  But at some point, I have to make time to practice.  It can't be right before the recording or the show.  It must come months ahead of time.

There is no substitute for this major part in the story.

So tonight, after a full day at the church, fixing supper tonight and answering e-mails, I sat down to PRACTICE.