"The Elephant Diet" Day # 96 Four Days Away

I'm only four days away from reaching day ONE HUNDRED. Another milestone. I'm pondering what should happen on that day. It seems like a good day to make the final decision to commit to doing the show I've been blogging about and gathering information for.

A very important piece fell in place last night. It was the last big piece.

I met with someone who is very gifted at extracting the heart out of all my ideas floating around in my head and heart. He can distill into small phrases what takes me paragraphs to say. The meeting went very well and ended with the affirmative: "you need to do this show".

He began to have ideas for a creative video to advertise the show. That's the last piece I've needed. A way to present my idea to the world.

Today I spent the whole day listening through all the songs my producer has been sending me. They've been busy in Nashville! It takes a while to get used to the songs dressed up in their new sounds. Some are almost exactly what I put in my demo - the riffs and ideas are still there. By the end of the day, after recording new vocals with the new versions in my own studio, they fit like an old pair of jeans. We'll record the real vocals later.

My heart is stirred.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 95 The Rockies

As you probably noticed, I took a break from blogging (fasting, I guess you would say).  With a full schedule out in the Rockies of CO, and very poor internet connection in my room out there, it seemed like a good time to rest from everything else going on.

Five hundred women gathered at the YMCA of the Rockies for a weekend of food, snow, mountains, speakers and music.  I got to work with a mostly 'girl band' except for my favorite bass player (Craig) who I was able to take along from PA.  It was a weekend full of many rehearsals and sessions, but I did have time to hike the mountains and.....wow - did it ever fill up my soul.  More highlights will come later.

I arrived home to relatives visiting for a few days.  Whew....what a busy week.

I also had another surprise when I sifted through my mail.  A check for $500.00 toward my christmas show idea was waiting for me.  That's enough to cover the deposit on the venue.  The journey continues.  THANK YOU!

I've been receiving christmas tunes all along this week from my producer.  Tomorrow I hope to have time to listen through them and give my feedback.  It's certainly beginning to sound a lot like Christmas.

Tonight I have a meeting with a very creative colleague who will be helping me sift through all my thoughts and begin to pull out the most important elements I want to happen in my show and in the advertisement of it.  It's just a small step, once again, but that's the way this whole thing is going to happen.

If it weren't for 'one bite at a time' I wouldn't even be this far.

The worship team for the women's' conference in the Rockies

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 94 Delay

After sitting in the Harrisburg airport for 4 hours, we were finally able to be redirected to another city. (My bass player is along too). Bad weather in Detroit, MI shut down the airport and cancelled flights. No one was allowed to fly in or out. We were beginning to wonder if we would ever leave Harrisburg.

Now, sitting in Charlotte, we will soon board the plane for Denver, CO. It's the down side of traveling to gigs. You never know what might happen. I've learned when I have to fly to an event that it always pays to go a day early.

I tried to use some of the time to reflect on the show and how I want to arrange the songs. It's hard to concentrate though. Flying wears me out pretty easily and as soon as there are cancellations and delays, I feel pretty brain-dead....trying to rethink what we will do and how we will get there.

I studied a chart I follow that my live show producer has helped me use over the years and it works really well. It's a kind of map that I follow when I put together a concert. It probably won't make sense to you, but at least you see what helps me in the process.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 93 The Ever Evolving Music

Tonight I received an updated 'rough' version of the song "Night of Miracles".  They've added orchestral parts to what the band did a few weeks ago.  It's really starting to sound full!  It takes some getting used to because it sounds different than it did when the band recorded it.  Strings and timpani make it sound big and lush.  It will be wonderful when it's live on stage!

I promised myself I wouldn't get attached to the initial recording, but it didn't work out too well on my end.  (it never does!). Although I haven't listened to the song since the week they recorded it, I still remember very clearly what it sounded like then.

When we add my vocals, it will sound even more different.  When it's time to mix everything together, they will pull up certain instruments and pull others down (in volume).  It's all part of the process.  You just have to hold steady through it all.

Today I also received a final listing of all the fees to use Live At Rose Lehrman.  I wish I had time to sit down and figure out the total cost of the venue, but I need to finish preparing for my trip to CO tomorrow morning.  It will have to wait.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 92 You're the Inspiration!

I left part of my heart in New York.

It was truly an amazing weekend.

I came home with even greater inspiration to keep writing music and sharing it.

Thank you to all the women in Endwell, New York. You're the inspiration to me today.  Christmas show......here I come.

Planning team for the women's conference in New York.

Next, I head to Estes Park, CO for 5 more days of ministry.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 91 New York

One year ago two ladies began sensing that God was nudging them to do something for the women of their community. They started meeting every week to pray and seek God as to what they should do.

They began to sense a leading to host a women's conference in their town. They began to gather other ladies to help catch the vision.

Tonight, their dream is coming true. The tables are set, the centerpieces have been beautifully crafted of bricks, sand, candles and flowers.

Tomorrow they will see their dream fulfilled. They took a big step of faith and women have been signing up. (See a pic of the program they designed below).

I arrived tonight as the guest speaker and musician for the weekend conference. It's located in a town called Endwell, New York at Our Savior Lutheran Church. They came up with the theme "Lord Help Me, I'm Stuck." I believe this will be a powerful theme and that God will meet many women in an hour of need. He often does at these kinds of things.

As it turns out, many of us have experienced set backs this week but we have all made it here and are looking forward to seeing a vision fulfilled.

I was touched by their passion and excitement. This is a new venture for them and I believe it will pay off.

It took me 4 hours to get here, with a bad accident starting off my trip (not me) and construction delays, but I had a beautiful drive up interstate 81 North. I snapped a picture along the way, but it doesn't do justice to the views I enjoyed. (Pic below)

As I drove, I pondered what kind of rewards I would offer if I do a crowd-funded campaign for my own vision. I'm curious to have your feedback. Rewards are offered for different levels of giving when you do a campaign.

Do you think people would enjoy the opportunity to take a trip to Nashville with me as a reward for a larger gift?
What would you be interested in observing about my trips if you had the chance to go?......Recording, photo shoot, live producer coaching sessions??

(I'm trying to think of creative things to offer back to those who will help sponsor this Christmas show idea.)

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What about....
A music lesson?
An hour to sit and talk about your own dream and how I could help you achieve your's?
Free tickets to the show?
Free CDs with a personalized message written on the inside?
What about a personalized song for someone you love (or maybe even for you?)

Just thinking......

"The Elephant Diet" Day 90 Possibilities!

"If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." - Dale Carnegie

I saw that posting this morning and thought to myself - well, that's exactly what I've been doing! I certainly think about many things, but I am putting feet to my thoughts. It is definitely one way to confront fears.

I got home very late last night from the event that I did and decided to blog today instead.
The venue I did last night was a packed event! It was amazing to hear stories from the mother of Tim Tebow. What an inspiration.

But even more touching than that, was the fact that one of my fans and now friend who also reads this blog was there and came up to my table asking me if I needed help, just about 3 minutes after I thought to myself, I sure could use some help! Thank you Gary and Annette! What a blessing at just the right time.

Now on to the time I spent at HACC, looking at their performing arts theatre. Lori has been very helpful and prompt in all of our communication so far and yesterday was no exception. It was easy to converse with her and ask lots of questions. That is a very key element for me in the venue I choose to use. I need these people to be on my team and I certainly got the feeling that she would be there to support me all the way.

They only advertise events that they have sponsored. That means all advertising is up to me (although they will hang posters on their campus if I supply them with posters). I asked if there is a possibility that they would sponsor me if I fill the venue and put on a quality show. I let her know that I'd like this to be an annual event and hope to build it over the years. They have never done that before and don't plan to in the future. I would like to see that change. We'll see.

Later on in our time together, she told me that if I could get the Christian student group on campus to sponsor the event, I wouldn't have to pay anything for using the Rose. Now isn't that an interesting possibility? I have not told her that I'm a Christian artist. Apparently she has been visiting my website. My goal in every encounter I have with people in this endeavor is to be professional and deliver quality in every way. If that sets a great example, so be it.

So as you can imagine, my mind is spinning some more and I already emailed her this morning to ask her what the name of the Christian student group is. I think I'll find out who the leader is, take them to lunch and see what comes of it.

The white cyst in my throat is gone, thank God!!! Still have a sore throat, but it doesn't seem to be getting worse. Today, I must turn toward my New York trip.

Thanks for your prayers and support. Things continue to move forward. I close with 2 photos from the event I did last night.

Faith Mayfield was one of the dancers at the banquet for Morning Star Pregnancy Services.
Her older sister used to dance to some of my songs for various events.

850 + people attended the Morning Star Pregnancy Services dinner.
Pam Tebow was the speaker and I did some of the music.