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
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