Friday, March 14, 2014

DAY 9 March 14th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 8 March 14th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3
                        22.00 from Day 4
                        54.00 from Day 5
                        00.00 from Day 6
                        69.00 from Day 7 (allocated 50 for food/fun)
                        71.00 from Day 8

Need: 1046.00
Below Goal: 71.00
Above Goal:

Day 9 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 
TIME: 
WHERE:
CD's Sold: 
Temp: High 51, Low 29, feels like 51
Well - the lake is darn near melted.

I'm having a hard time this morning. This afternoon. You know those days where you wake up, and not only is there not enough time to get half of the things done you'd like to, but you're also still exhausted even though you got plenty of sleep, and then you lost half the time you did have procrastinating?
- That's today. :)

This is the kind of day I would totally just take off if I hadn't promised 3 people I'd be at Monroe with CD's from 3-6 today. So, thank god for them.

I'm headed to a triple header birthday party for Molly Bunder, Lindsey Dorcus, and Julie Ritchey tonight at Filament so I'll only get to play for about 3 hours. So - we'll see what happens!

Thursday, March 13, 2014

DAY 8 March 13th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 8 March 12th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3
                        22.00 from Day 4
                        54.00 from Day 5
                        00.00 from Day 6
                        69.00 from Day 7
                        71.00 from Day 8

Need: 1262.00
Below Goal: 71.00
Above Goal:

Day 8 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 71
TIME: 4.5
WHERE: Monroe, Chicago
CD's Sold: 1
Temp: High 39, Low 36, feels like 30
I love that this - is now beautiful weather.

All in one post today. I woke up too late and had to run to the bank before I left, so - Catchin up with yall now. :)

Pretty sensational day - If I don't say so myself -

Woke up late, quick shower, ran to the bank, set up a new checking account at Chase - Then I spent 2 or 3 hours at the Contemporary Art Museum of Chicago with Molly Bunder - Then hit the subway.

The real magic today happened with a Woman named Tampico - I'll get to her in a little bit.

First I want to talk about CD's. I MUST get more of them tomorrow - I ran out two days ago and have lost at least 40 dollars since then. I give people the bandcamp site to go to - but so far - no one I've given that site to, who wanted a CD, has bought one - So - note to self - Do NOT leave the house tomorrow without 10 more CD's.

Some of the sensational things that happened today -

- Steve - Who I've seen at Monroe for several months now - said he want's not ONE CD - BUT TWO.
Today he came up and said, "You just keep getting better every time I see you"
        - That's the idea. The whole Idea. Get paid to practice - get paid to work. Thanks for making it work Steve

- A woman dropped me her last bit of change in the world today. I had just finished playing Love, Love - which you can find.... HERE! ryanwestwood.bandcamp.com - And she dropped a handful of change saying, "This is my last bit of money until I get paid tomorrow - Thank you for playing"
Things like that remind me just how lucky I am to have the job I have - and make me entirely proud of my choices.

- The CD I sold today was not a CD - it was a CD on Credit - the guy just dropped 5 bucks and I said I'd be back tomorrow from 3-6pm

- Maureen, who I met at the Chicago stop said "The mark of a true musician is when the audience can feel what the performer is feeling. Your passion does that. Everyone on this platform was engrossed in that song."
                                               - after the anthem. :) So good. Just the best song ever.

Enter Tampico 
Check out this incredible woman. She plays a 12 string guitar, violin, hand chimes, whistles, and tap dances at the same time - - - - - 

It gets better - 
Tampico greeted me with a genuine greeting. An old fashioned hello so full of heart it damn near knocked me over. Just a hello. A touch of the hands, a smile, a hard look in the eyes, another smile, and a God bless you. People don't do that anymore. It just doesn't happen. 

I gave her my spot about 40 minutes later. Intrigued by her tap shoes, I decided to stick around and hear her play for a few minutes... a FEW minutes turned into 50. 

I gave her two dollars, told her she was incredible - And she told me her life story. And as she talked - that nagging feeling of time slipping away kept creeping up. I had to remind myself over and over, to just stay open, love her, and listen - and that time would take care of itself. And I'm so glad I did. 


Tampico grew up playing in the streets - she learned from her mom - from her brothers. At age 3 she said she was whistling as her brothers sang - on Maxwell street. She told me her mother was the person to started the Act, that eventually would make street performing Legal in Chicago - She died before it was finished, and Tampico finished it after her mother passed. 

Its thanks to her - and her mother - That I can play on the streets in this wonderful town. 

After her mother died - she had to take care of her older brother, who had some sort of intense metal handicap. She said he spoke his first words at 62 - and they were "Thank you". Her brother passed away soon after that. 

Tampico dropped out of college after her 2nd year to take care of the family, and she did. She's the last one left. Now she's in her 50's and no one will hire her, because of her age. She lives in the projects, with just a cat. She asks for food as she performs, because, that's the food she eats. 

It sounds like a sad story until you hear the woman talk. She's one of those people who can just talk and talk for hours. We talked for 50 minutes and I think I said six words. And everything is Gods work, and Gods plan. No ifs, and's, or buts about it. That's just how it is. 

She said, "Back when I was younger, Before this was legal, I used to perform on roller skates, because if the cops came, I could get away that way. The one time i was caught, it was because the followed me all the way to Roosevelt, and there was no where else I could go. But I still had 10 minutes on them." And she laughs. 

She said - "coming down here and playing - It just feels so good. I get to practice. Because in my family, if we didn't practice, we didn't eat. Those were the rules. And now, when I practice, I'm not alone. I feel my mother right here, and my brothers here. And it feels so good. And that feeling lasts after I get done playing. I'm not alone."

All I could think to say was, "No, no you're not." 

I took this video of her with her permission - and as I left, I took her hands, I looked her hard in the eye and said, "Tampico, thank you. It's been such a pleasure speaking with you." I said I was sure I'd see her around  - and - like a sage she said - "If it's meant to be - then we will" I just said, "It is", nodding as I walked away. 

People ask me what's the real treasure behind playing in the subway. Actually no one asks that - they ask why I play down there. And at the base - its because that's how I make my living - 
But Tampico - and so many other folks like her - Those are the real gems. That's the real treasure. 3 or 4 times a year something like this happens. I meet someone like this and I never forget it.  

I can't imagine doing anything but this, for all my life. - Lyrics from The Anthem. 

I can imagine playing for 10's of thousands of people - But when I am - I'll still come back to these subways and streets. I'll still come back to ground level - with the hope that I'll meet someone else like Tampico. Because I don't meet them anywhere else, and if I do, I don't recognize them. 

There's magic in the subway. You just have to stay down there long enough to find it. 

All my love - every last stitch

Ryan 

PS. Ever really had to go to the bathroom and had a drain that looked like this, right next to you dripping incessantly for hours?
Makes for a hellovan evening. 

NIGHT!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

DAY 7 March 12th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 7 March 12th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3
                        22.00 from Day 4
                        54.00 from Day 5
                        00.00 from Day 6
                        69.00 from Day 7

Need: 1262.00
Below Goal: 77.00
Above Goal:

Day 7 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 69
TIME: 3 hours
WHERE: Monroe
CD's Sold: 0
Temp: High 25, Low 12, feels like 9
AAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDD We're back.

FYI - This was our lake - on March 6th. Before the 3 day 40 degree thaw. 
Isn't she just - Breathtaking? 
So in love. 

I think this was easier when I was couch hopping. I haven't really figured out why yet. I know part of it is I turn into half a different person when I couch hop and - I've talked about it a little before - but I just love more I think. Its easy to shut off, to put walls up, to throw the old Chicago defense up when I have my own place.
Things as simple as waking up early enough in the morning to get done what I need to before I head to work for the day. So difficult some days. I thought, as I got older, I'd just fall away from that - That it would just get inherently easier. But - I think it actually gets harder. You have to work at it - and - lord knows I'm bad at actually doing work. :)

What will be your story now? What a great question to wake up to.

Today my story will be about a Lake - A lake ravaged by a winter storm. Today my story will be about music. About people. About learning new tricks. About getting to be at a decent hour :)
 - Today my story will be what I make it - I write it today - It's dictated by no one but the author.

I don't know know if I'll ever be able to let go of that Idea.

Out to Monroe - Out to the subway. Out to the cold. Out to my love.

Thanks for reading everyone. I just love you all.

Ryan

EDIT:


This was me heading to the lake before I left for the subway today. 
This is a hellova town. I can't wait to watch this in July when its 104 degrees out. 

So - Some really neat things happened today. 
This is Matt - 

Matt is the first random person in history to request a song - BY NAME. He came up, dropped me a dollar and said, "Hey, can I hear Chickadee?" I was more than a little taken back. He told me there was a day earlier that he heard a girl request that song, and remembered the name of it. The girl was my friend Teresa Borowski who's come to listen in the subway on several occasions and knows a bunch of my music. 
He thought the song was a cover, and apparently looked all over the internet and you tube trying to find it - but alas - for now it lives only in the subway. So I gave him a demo CD, said if he wanted to pop me an email, I'd be happy to send it out to him. 

I just heard from him tonight! So - next Monday or Tuesday - I'll record Chickadee for the fella so he can have his fiance listen to it. Adorable. 

So check that off the list - A COMPLETE stranger knew the name of one of my songs. BOOM. SUBWAY FAMOUS. 

Ran into Sneed again today - Bringing his total to 11 total dollars donated including a CD purchase. 

Annie, snuck a 20 into my case when I wasn't looking. I looked down, and POOF - 20 dollar bill. So I started to shout out - "Whoever just gave" and that's as far as I got before I saw her give the tiniest wave of her hand. 

Most people - It seems - that give 20 dollar bills - They don't want the rest of the folks to know about it. They try and keep it as big a secret as possible. 

So i walked over, thanked her about 6 times, gave her a CD and said email me and I'll give you a download code for my album and was thanking her again when she said something like "Its fine - just keep playing - I want to hear your music" So - I did. :)

The Anthem - which will be up on Sound-Cloud next week continues to thrill people, get entire groups of people to applaud, and make a stupid amount of money - so Thanks again giant group of drunk St. Patty's day kids that inspired it. Couldn't have done it without ya!

Also - On a side note - I'm working on a bunch of new ideas. I think - I think i think - I think, there must be a way to make 100 dollars a day - working for 6 hours. Maybe it involves stilts. Maybe in involves really good, funny signage, maybe it involves singing Disney movie covers in front of the Disney store, maybe it involves playing the ukulele on a unicycle - WHATEVER IT MAY BE - I'm working on it for April - More on that then - just wanted to give you a heads up on whats to come. 

Love love love

Ryan 



Tuesday, March 11, 2014

DAY 6 March 11th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 6 March 10th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3
                        22.00 from Day 4
                        54.00 from Day 5
                        00.00 from Day 6

Need: 1262.00
Below Goal: 81.00
Above Goal:

Day 6 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 0
TIME: 0
WHERE: 0
CD's Sold: 0
Temp: High 48, Low 26, feels like 44

You think Spring is coming - and then the weatherman tells you it's going to snow 8-10 inches over 12 hours tonight.....
SLEDDING - Gona go last minute sledding

I'm playing Magic the Gathering with Nathan Scheetz and Anthony Parsons. Heading out at 1:30  or 2 - gona play till 5:30 then head to rehearsal at Filament. Pretty beautiful full day. Its gona snow 8 inches tonight. I can't wait. Because at this point - I'm just used to it.  8 inches of snow? Oh. Alright. Coffee?

Update tonight!


Bit of a turn today. We got done with the game of Magic at about 2:30 - which means I only could have played for 3 hours before I leave for rehearsal - SO rather than go downtown  - I decided to rock an roll some errands around the house.

So - Today -
 ----Applied for Food Stamps
-----Applied for Medicaid Benefits
-----Did Laundry
-----Started Application for Unemployment
-----Baked a double batch of bread

All in all a great 3 hours. Things I should have done in February. I'm now 81 bucks behind - which is a fair amount - but - not insurmountable. Its still good and early in the month, so there's room for leeway.

Alright. Off to rehearsal. Or - devising. We're not really rehearsing yet. Just creating.

Ryan

Monday, March 10, 2014

DAY 5 March 10th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 5 March 10th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3
                        22.00 from Day 4
                        54.00 from Day 5

Need: 1262.00
Below Goal: 16.00
Above Goal:

Day 5 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 54
TIME: 4
WHERE: Grand
CD's Sold: 2
Temp: High 52, Low 38, feels like 51
SPRING ! SPRING ! SPRING ! SPRING !

To Monroe for 4.5 hours today! I'm playing at the open mike at Royal Coffee on Pratt and Sheridan today at 7:30! Also - Yesterday was slam bang good and I've got an open invitation to play at The Bar Below anytime in March. Slam bang good!

I can't believe how gorgeous it is out. The sky is as blue as it gets and SO much Ice melted off the lake last night. Simply wonderful. Thanks March - for this beautiful blast of spring.


EDIT: 

I just got back from the open mike at Royal Coffee - And - I'm fairly stunned. overwhelmed, and overtaken. I've never been to an open mike so full of love before. 

There are a couple kinds of open mikes - You have the "I'm talented - are you talented? I'll decide and let you know" kind of open mike - you have the "completely anonymous - no one really listens to your name, you do your thing, walk out, an you don't really remember anyone there after a week" kind of open mike - and you have the "We're all really good - lets find some folks to collaborate with, and sell our CD's to each other to make some cash" kind of open mike. 

But - tonight - was different than anything I've experienced. 
I was greeted by some guy opening the door for me because they saw me coming with a guitar - I walked up to the sheet and a man named Adam asked if it was my first time with a huge smile on his face. He was genuinely happy I was there. It was - refreshing. to see a smile like that. 

I sat in the back and waited for some pals to show up before I went - and as I listened - and watched - I was overtaken by this sense of community and love. 

Everyone was so thrilled about each person who got up to play, or read, or sing. 

It was hosted by several different people. Lots of young kids. Like 16-20 year olds. People read poems, performed poems, rapped, sang, improved songs on guitar, danced, and read. And everyone loved everyone. That's the thing that blew me away. There was such a sense of this - this overwhelming safety net. You could get up there and do anything - and when you finished, the whole room would whoop and cheer and clap and celebrate not just you - not just your performance - but your courage, your willingness to share. 

Now - This anthem I wrote - The one I've been talking about for days? - I played it tonight. When I wrote it - when I sang it that first time on the subway platform - I knew that it was meant for a crowd of people. Young people. It doesn't live on its own like my other songs. It needs people to make it soar - and tonight - It soared. 

It was the first time I've performed it outside of the subway and my living room - I started it - and the room stopped. 60 seconds into the song, someone whipped out some bongos, by the second chorus, people were clapping along, after the high note the whole room started shouting, and I played the final chorus a second time because people were singing along - The entire room was singing clapping in unison. 

I had only a small glimpse of what this song actually is on the subway. Tonight - it was made clear. I'm naming it tonight - and its just called Anthem. Because - that's what it is. An Anthem of Youth. 

It was videotaped tonight by some folks there and I'm working on getting a copy from them. I'll post it here if I do. 

Alright - I have friends in the living room and its time to go join the party. 

Go to a random open mike - stay for the whole thing - Advice for the day. 

Ryan 


Sunday, March 9, 2014

DAY 4 March 9th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 4 March 9th, 2014 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3
                        22.00 from Day 4

Need: 1262.00
Below Goal:
Above Goal: 38.00

Day 4 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 22
TIME: 1.5 hours
WHERE: Chicago
CD's Sold: 0
Temp: High 39, Low 38, feels like 28
This blast of spring is just gorgeous. It'll snow again, but until then - I'm lovin life.

Well, I'm leaving late - I don't know why I'm suprised by that anymore? I always leave late. :)
Pete Seger has been playing for about an hour. It's the most I've listened to him. I didn't know who he was, what he did, or what he sounded like until Feb 22nd. Christian Libonatti put him on as the intro music for my concert - and today - I'm diving into The Complete Bodowin College Concert 1960 -

I think I want to be the next Pete Seger - Is that too high of a goal?

Today I'ma play till about 7:30 - at which point I'm heading to The Bar Below - to get free drinks, play music with an old Friend - Joe McDaniel - and potentially book a gig there for march. Wish me luck.


EDIT:

Remember that time you called your boss and said, "I'm feeling really, really, really lazy today. I'm only gona come in to work for an hour and a half." and he said, "God, you're lazy, but there's nothing I can do about it."

That was my day today. I was tired, I was lazy. There's no other excuse. no other story. It was just one of those days where I kept saying I was leaving, and then would dilly dally around the house for 3 hours.

Chicago was nice - I made 22 bucks in 1.5 hours, which, is great money. And I made it all playing the anthem. I played fire and rain, and the anthem for the entire time and 90 % of the times came on the anthem. Really neat. It was all kids. and by kids I mean 20 year olds. They hear it, and latch onto it. Its really, really neat to watch happen.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

DAY 3 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 3 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)
                        88.00 from Day 3

Need: 1262.00
Below Goal:
Above Goal: 38.00

Day 3 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 88
TIME: 5 hours
WHERE: Grand, Chicago
CD's Sold: 2
Temp: High 39, Low 21, feels like 24
Yeah nice weather yeah

Alright. I'm blogging right now because I must. Because this is part of the goal. Because I said I'd do this every day. I'm exhausted. I made 88 dollars today - I wrote an anthem. And amazing song about youth. About passion. About fire. - But I'm going to have to update this all tomorrow, because I'm simply too tired to give it the time and thought it needs tonight. This is a shameful post. I woke up too late to post this morning, and am now too tired to post tonight. I apologize for that. Really.
An incredible update is coming. Some amazing things happened tonight surrounding this anthem I wrote.

Till the morning.
Ryan

EDIT.

So, yesterday. just a steady day. a regular old stead day. Until about 7pm. 2 things happen. Kent shows up.

Kent is a 70 something overweight white male who is thrilled by my music, and wants to talk of nothing but politics. He talked about how Carter was the best thing that ever happened to the country, and how the Bush Administration destroyed everything he worked for. He dropped me a handful of change, and a few dollars - but what was really remarkable was that - after he heard my first song - he came up and asked - "What got you into folk music?" - He called MY music, Folk music - He's the 1st person that's ever said that to my face - and it rocked my world.

It woke me up. woke me up from my money making stupor and I started to feel the platform. Feel the energy - the people on the platform. Feel Saturday night. That's the start -

Then -

10 or 12 college kids show up on the platform. They're decked out in neon's and St. Patricks day gear, were half drunk, and having the time of thier lives. Each of them came over - dropping dollars, smiling, some were dragging thier friends back to me to make them give me a buck - and as this was happening - I had come up with this new harmonica riff. One that struck a chord - one that was different - and that - combined with these kids - This lick of lyrics shot out -

"We are young, and we're free, and we're burning with fire. We're young, and we're free, and we're filled with desire"

I sang it for 10 minutes straight. Through several trains - people dropping dollars left and right. Something about it was connecting with me, connecting with them - and exploding on the platform. I came up with a few sets of lyrics - but nothing solid.

I switched platforms at this point - had to switch out with another guy. So I roll to Chicago - Where I play the song, working lyrics every time the train passes - by the 2nd or third train, I had the lyrics - and I played the whole song.

Now - There were about 13 people on the platform - and as I played it - throwing the whole of my soul at it, no one existed - nothing was there except for me, Ol' Red, and my harmonica. Everything was flowing - full of motion - circling around me - I finished - and the entire platform burst into applause.

That - in all my years of playing on the streets - has never happened. They were all right there - with me - in that circle of rotating melody - lost in the tornado of it. Of playing that song - for the first time in its entirety. 2 people bought CD's immediately - one of them said they'd never given a musician money in their life. And she bought a CD - That song, inspired her so much - that she snapped out of her world - and came into mine. This song - that screams of the beauty of youth - that shouts above the clouds about having all the time in the world - She heard it. They all did - and they burst into applause.

I don't have a great recording of it yet - but - this is the beginning, I walked into my apartment - told my roommates to get in the living room pronto - and played it for them with all the passion I could after 5 hours of playing. Its a start - Its the first song I've ever thought really needed to be filled out. It needs drums, it needs piano, it needs a banjo, it needs a violin.  - But this is the start and I'd like to share it with you all.

https://soundcloud.com/ryan-westwood1/we-are-young-the-first

So much energy - so many different people went into this song - all of them on that platform.

An incredible night.

Ryan


Friday, March 7, 2014

DAY 2 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 2 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1
                        68.00 from Day 2 (Allocated 30 for food)


Need: 1350.0
Below Goal:
Above Goal: 15.00

Day 2 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 68
TIME: 5 hours
WHERE: Monroe, Chicago
CD's Sold: 0
Temp: High 45, Low 28, feels like 38
WHAT IS THIS????? ITS 40 DEGREES OUT!!!! YEEEE HAWWWWW

Bread is was out of the oven 40 minutes ago. I should have left then. Whoever thought it was a good idea to start the movie "Captain Phillips" and think I was going to leave in the middle - was an idiot.
So, I'll be out in the subway later than usual tonight, but it's Friday, and warm out - so it's alright.

Really though - if you haven't seen Captain Phillips - Don't start to watch it if you have anything else to do for the next 3 hours.

COUNTRY ROADS by John Denver - Cover for today!

5 hours in the subway should get her good n' memorized.

Update coming tonight!

EDIT:

First off - Country Roads complete - This- is not a great recording - HOWEVER - It's proof that I know it. So it works.  _ NEVER MIND_ my recorder is refusing to connect to the internet, and I'm too tired to fix it. BUT ITS DONE> I learned it. :) 

Today was a long hard day. It was just - a long haul all the way around. Lots of periods where I wouldn't get tips for what seemed like and hour, and then get 15 - and that inconsistency is hard to handle when I'm out there. Because It feel like I don't make money for the entire day. Luckily, however, I did. It was one of those nights, where I just had to keep playing. Just put in the hours, and trust the money would be there at the end. And - sometimes it's not, at the end of the day. Today it was - so, I'm great full for that. 

Not much happened today until I was walking home. I got 40 feet from my apartment and a man asked, "Comin home from a gig?" I said, "Well, yeah, every night's a gig when you play in the subway." 
Turns out his name is Eddie, he's a musician, and he lives two buildings down from me. We started talking and had this wonderful conversation about how great the neighborhood is, and the wonderful journey of being an artist. He said, "Just enjoy the journey Ryan. Your hardest times will be the most interesting. Later on its all about passports and airplane tickets and merchandise, and now - for you - its all about playing in the subway every day - so enjoy that." 

And he's right - This is a hard time. And it's really, really interesting.  I'm always looking for the next thing. Always ready to move forward, and forget sometimes, that, Things are really awesome right where they are. That, by no means, means to stop progressing, stop fighting, stop growing, but - don't forget to enjoy where you are. 

Such great advice from a neighbor today. Thanks neighbor. 

Also, I wrote a song tonight with the help of Grace Allen and Nathan Scheetz, work-shopping an idea for Filament's production of Crossing Six Corners - I'd post it.... but the recorder... So, I'll have it up soon!

Love!

Ryan 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

DAY 1 - 26 days, $1690, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

DAY 1 - 26 days, $1495, And Pulling Out Of The Worse Winter - Ever

Goals: Make $1495 in the month of March
          Play 2 shows in March
          Book 1 show for April
          Memorize 2 covers a week
          Blog every day
          Cut a new Demo to sell in while on the street
Bills: Rent 350, Internet 15, Phone 30, Food 120, Fun 60, CTA 232, Grace 20, Nathan 60, Misc Debt 687

Current Funds: (Not Counted Toward Goal)  53.00 - Allocated 20 for Fun, and bought 33 CTA pass
                        77.00 from Day 1



Need: 1418.00
Below Goal:
Above Goal: 12.00

Day 1 of 26

Goal: Make 65 dollars by any means possible.
Actual: 77
TIME: 5.5 Hours
WHERE: Monroe, Chicago
CD's Sold: 2
Temp: High 27, Low 20, feels like 21
Just holding out here. The weather is gona be great for the next few days. Nice lil break. Snow'll be back :)

Well folks - I'm back. I never left really - Just took 5 or 6 days off.:)
I learned a lot in February - Mainly - the power of generosity - the power of setting goal - and the power of people. I also learned I need to be drinking double the amount of water I was to stay healthy. So this is it - Month two. Street Performing - Job number one. Quit my day job - well, really - got fired from my day job in December and thought well - Guess I'm gona hit the streets. But with a guitar. Instead of a pretty red dress. :)

SO! March is a bit different. I'm increasing my hours per shift to at least 5. Money per day increased to 65 - and you know what that means? - that means that this is a real day job now. Literally - If I make 65 un taxed dollars a day - I'm making just about as much as I'd make working 8 hours at 10 an hour. Neat huh? Real trick will be to see if it kills me. ALSO - New goals! See em up there! Covers! Shows! Demos! Gona do em all folks! So - stay tuned for those.

- Ace of spades up my sleeve - Segway tours start this month - which means I technically have a job in about 2 weeks - So, if i die - I can give zombie Segway tours instead. But the idea - the grand scheme - is to do both - because, between you and me, I'm saving up for a 45 day trip to the north west to do a production of Romeo and Juliet in a forest In August. - More on that in about 3 months. :)


So - This is all in one post today -
Here's Day 1 -

Its hard coming back after 5 or 6 days off. It's almost like I don't remember. Don't remember how it all works - and have to work twice as hard to get out of the house - but about 40 minutes into the commute my fingers start to itch - I start to get anxious - like I've had too much coffee, only I haven't. What's happening - is my body having the same reaction to not playing guitar - as it did to cigarettes before I quit 1 year and 5 months ago. (Please High Five The Next Person You See For Me, Joining TheCelebration Of This Massive Achievement). It's aching - It's searching - and it knows its getting close. Its funny - because I recognize it - And it never happens any other time. Even with smokes anymore, or before I go on stage, or even waiting to start a gig - Just waiting for the train to get to the subway. It's a specific addiction - and a specific need.
People - On The Ground - Music - Smiles
I think that sums it up? A day in the subway. And stretches of utter boredom, but, that happens at every job. :) 

Today was slow and uneventful until Brian, a film maker from Wisconsin showed up. He said he came to Chicago for a day to see his cousin, or sister, I don't remember. But he thought, "Well, I'm gona go into town and find a story to tell." He found me - interviewed me - filmed me for about 20 minutes - and said to check his website www.brianurbanek.com in two months. - So - I'll keep you updated. 

I met Shannon, and .... I don't remember the guys name - Leave it to me to only remember the cute girls name. They were film students at Columbia, loved my voice, and asked if I'd be interested in composing for a documentary - Sooooooo - Lets hope they get back to me on that! 

Sneed - who, has taken the lead in the "Most repeat tips" category with 1 CD and 5 dollar bills all on different days showed up again and said next time he'd bring his harmonica and jam along - if he does, I'll post it here. 

Came up with these random lyrics, Don't know if they're anything yet - but - something could be brewing. 
"Its an 8 ball talk at 3am
Lord I don't know how to make it through
But if I ask real rough, and shake real hard
I'll put my trust in you."

Then we have our Champion of the Day - Raj - 

(I apologize on the zero photos here - I forgot the old camera.)

I ran into Raj at the Chicago Stop. He listened to a tune and dropped me a 10 spot. So I ran him down with a CD saying thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks - He told me, "It's no problem. I've had a bad day, and there's nothin like helpin...) then I cut him off with another volley of thank you's. I have a hard time letting people talk sometimes. Gotta work on that. Either way - Now I'm 12 dollars up instead of 2, and that's because of you Raj - So - Thanks - 

That's it folks - Time to dive into taxes - More tomorrow - 

Ryan 





Friday, February 28, 2014

23 days, $1150, And One Hell of a February - DAY 23 LAST POST IN FEBRUARY

Well - Here it is Friends - The last post of this Glorious month. 

- If you're reading this - follow this link - Play this song - Its - ah, its perfect. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jfEIsiXz3g


I'm sure I've missed people. I went back through every day in the blog - tried to come up with all the names - but there's so many - I'm sure I've forgotten some - But I did my best. 

These are the thank you's for the month. Without which - I wouldn't have made it. 

Tom Jackson - Thanks for buying a CD, and paying double for it
Dominic Maino - I never thanked you for the 20 dollars you put in my pocket.
Mitch - For giving me his entire lunch
Noel Huntzinger - for bring me Orange Juice in the subway.
Filament Theater - for giving me their space to perform my music in
Everyone who came to the concert - for you love - for buying my bread and my CD's
Alex Schulte and John Zulaga for filming my 8 hour day.
Rachel and Jessie Ramirez - letting me sleep on their couch
Julie Ritchey - letting me sleep on her couch and take care of Gizmo
Victoria Alvarez Chacon - letting me sleep on her "Poof" and hug her dogs every morning
Lindsey Dorcus - letting me sleep on her couch and hang with her super wierd lap cat - Henry.
Kelly Hill - For buying a CD
Allyssa Magill and her sister - For donating 75 dollars
Anonymous Donor - for donating 200.00 - and rocking my world
My Parents - For all of the "Brainstorm" Nights
My Brother Eric Westwood - for all of the Facebook comments
All the friends I didn't know that were following the blog
Alex Schulte - for filming and recording my concert
Nathan Scheetz - For believing, or at least pretending to believe that I'd ACTUALLY have the money in his account by the first for the post dated check he wrote me from HIS account that will be cashed on the 1st.
My Brother Doug Westwood - For randomly sending me the Thermal Underwear that I literally wore EVERY DAY that I busked this month, and saved my ass from the cold.
My Sister Tiffany Westwood - For the care package that I lived off of, SOLELY, for the last week
Ashley Spessard - for "All the Tears"
The 20 dollar bill club - For each person who made my day - and dropped 20's
Every person who bought my CD in the subway
Sam Raptis - for meeting me in the subway, coming to my gig, and trying to bring friends
Bernardo Alvarez - for buying my CD, Writing 2 blog posts about me, and supplying my folks with pictures of the concert
Sonny - for buying a CD and the Lollypop
Mike Ward - for hearing me in the subway and coming to my show
Teresa Borowski - for attempting to get me to record music for her on every encounter
Nikki - For the free shot of Whiskey at Macnamara's at the after party of the concert.
Every person that posted a comment on Facebook
Dominick Maino - for winning the - I reposed your posts the most times by about 15X compared to any other person, award.
Molly Bunder - for Bread and Tea
Andrew Marchetti - for lunch at Haba Nero
Mara Dale - For all the rides
Grace Desant - for the Hug.
Julie - for the 10 dollar starbucks card that lasted the whole month
The Cold - Because it spawned a new song - Cold Don't Bother Me
Filbert - For putting up with me being gone for a month
Peter Oyloe for inspiring me with his concert
The guy who gave me a "Box of God's Attention" 
Dave - for the 2 Ties
Me - for actually sticking to it - and doing it - all the way to the end.
Whoever stole my guitar - For making me fall in love with Ol' Red again
Darla - The Humidifier who helped nurse my voice back to health
Caleb Woodley - for all the help trying to find a job
Kevo - the transient guy who made my beautiful Poster for the concert
Luther Wirtz and Emily Henniger - For listening to my radio interview
Luther Wirtz - For all the past, present, and future Everquest adventures. AXECAT
Catie Osborn - for following your dreams, and taking risks
Adam Dorcy - for restoring my faith, even momentarily, to the homeless population of Chicago
Haywood - for renaming my song to Georgia
Doug Westwood - Again - the Thermal underwear dude. - It saved my life.
And to Every person that dropped a dollar in my case - THANK YOU. 

February -  896 From Tips and CD sales
345 from Donations
210 (Roughly) From concert - Bread sales, ticket sales, flat fee, CD's sold - Thanks again to whoever dropped the 80 dollars in my bread money tin. 

total 1451

Hours in subway 47  - This has to be wrong - I must have not recorded solid numbers on the blog. Should be more than this. 

Average hourly wage - 19 dollars an hour

High 42, Low -2

Days "Feels Like " was in the Negative - 4 days

Days "Feels Like " was below 20 - 17 days

Best facebook comment thread on a post - 

  • Ryan Westwood HOly Biscuits Claire! I haven't seen your name in years!
    14 hours ago · Like · 2
  • Ashley Spessard i adore this story, ryan. and i'm stealing your mom's phrase about crying. i've never heard it summed up better -- story of my life. 
    13 hours ago · Unlike · 2
  • Claire Marsh Well I've been cheering you on all month!! 
    13 hours ago · Unlike · 2
  • Kathy Westwood OK, right now my heart is leaking out of my eyes. Not sure how you keep on keeping on, my son, but sure proud of you for not just asking, but doing something in return for what you ask. You have an incredible outlook on life. Keep giving. It's what keeps you alive and feeds all that creative energy. Keep your horns on because sometimes they are needed in life. Love you, mom.
    7 hours ago · Unlike · 2
  • Tiffany Nielsen Sobbing. I'm sobbing. It's too much. Thank you kind, Anonymous Donor. Thank you. From the depths of our family's heart, thank you. Love to you my wonderful brother. Love to you.
    5 hours ago · Unlike · 1
  • Tom Jackson Ryan...you are an inspiring guy! Your attitude, your bravery and your talent will serve you well as you create your future. I look forward to many interesting things from you...but mostly I look forward to the next time I get to hear you sing or tell a story.
    3 hours ago · Unlike · 2
  • Dominick M Maino A Dreamer with a Positive Mental Attitude....Yeah...AKA Ryan Westwood. You continue to amaze me with your talent and your outlook on life!
  • Eric Westwood I am in tears.

    I am blown away by the caliber of people in your life, simply amazed! You mused on luck and people. You sir ARE amazingly lucky. The love you share, the integrity with which you live your life, the way you interact with every soul that comes your way, and the passion you have for life, it draws people to you. Not just any people, but the people that BRING random luck in life. Not karma, because karma comes full circle only in death, but luck in life born from love given to those around you.

    Sometimes the people in our lives know us better than we know our selves. Read these words posted from friends and family alike and put them in your heart. Let them grow.

    This month your words are flawless and your victory of self impregnable. Sometimes the opportunity to live your dream puts a light in your soul that guides you for the rest of your life. You have such a light, let it burn bright and guide your sight. Let the stories grow!

    Love and light, and luck in life!
  • Ryan Westwood Update Friends. Final Post tomorrow Morning. Thank you all so so so so so so so so so much for reading this month. It's been quite an adventure. http://16-dollars-a-day.blogspot.com/.../23-days-1150-and...



What. A month. Right?
It doesn't seem like it's over. Its surreal. Almost like it never happened. But it did - Its all up here - every day - It really happened and I really did it.
I think that is the thing that is so incredible to me about this. Is that - I did it. I set a goal - and I made it.

 I didn't do it alone - See giant, freaking list of thank you's above - but together - We did it. All of you who helped - you helped an artist follow his dreams this month. And me - I followed MY dreams this month.

So - What's next. -
Well - as you know - March is coming. March is next. ha. hahaha.
That's the best part - is that - this doesn't end here. I'll be back out in the subway tomorrow, because - it's my job. That's pretty cool. That's my favorite part. Is telling people that it's my day job. God willing I'll get another one on top of it, but for now - She'll do the job.

Back to whats next  -
March is a whole new month - with what will be a whole new set of goals - and I'll fight on through them here - Right here - on this blog, with whoever keeps reading. I'm doing some more thinking on what exactly the Specific goals for March will be - But - it could be a combo of any of the following
-Make 1300-1500 in Tips and CD Sales
- Perform in 2 venues
- Produce a Demo
- Produce a live album
-throw a house concert
- co-ordinate a concert in the subway with a few other street performers

I'll fill you in, in the next few days.

Again - and a thousand times over - I can't thank you all enough for reading this blog this month - I couldn't have done it without you.

All the love - All of it -
Ryan