October 28, 2003
up an hour earlier than usual because it's daylight savings, so i made myself breakfast and coffee and some really exciting wheat pasta with tomato sauce for lunch. the coffee is good.
i woke up with my friend dave o'neal's song "i understand" playing over and over in my head. not sure if it is a sign that i need to call dave or if the words in the song are somehow connected to whatever is going on in my life right now.
i had an interesting revelation after talking to casey holford at the hoot last night. people really liked my song. i played aaron's song. i wasn't even going to play aaron's song but i went downstairs to tune and i was in DADGAD, and i didn't have a tuner so, i had to play it because it is my only song in that tuning. not that i don't like the song. it is one of my favorites, anyway, i digress...the conversation was about nashville, getting a publishing/management/record deal etc, and at one point casey mentioned that i had really gotten a lot better as a musician since i arrived in new york sixteen months ago.
the interesting thing, is that i agree completely, but i have a new view of what that means. hosting the open mic, i can see people really grow from week to week. and i am sure that i do too. i don't think any of us are becoming something that we are not, or molding ourselfs into something different or whatever. i think the art of growth as a songwriter comes from the peeling away of all of the shit that we have had to listen to and compare ourselves to our whole lives to figure out what we really write and sing like. i think i am getting better at that. i think the elements that i am really missing are a good new tuner and a better control of my guitar.
things to note about the last few days: i went to the open mic at pete's candy store and had a really good time. i don't go to other open mics enough because my thought is that open mics are not where you build a fan base (which is true), but, what i fail to remember is that they are a good place to build a friend base and they are fun, and you meet people and get inspired or encouraged or discouraged or something. jayme was there from mineapolis, and there were some really good performances. such a funny little room.
and then last night, i went to the sidewalk: MY FAVORITE OPEN MIC IN NEW YORK CITY, JUST FOR THE RECORD. i am always blown away. always. someone either totally freaks me out or rips my heart out or makes me feel like i am shit or all of the above. danny and karen did a duet and it killed me. mostly, it was just good to see my friends. i have really cool friends.
finally, i have a show at artland on sunday at 10pm so i am going to venture over to the open mic tonight to do some promoting to people that will be there anyway. good practice i guess. the open mic starts up around 8:30 and last time i got to play three songs, so we'll see. i am excited about the idea of playing in my neighborhood, it will be interesting to see if anyone actually comes to the show.
alas, time to dress for hell, i mean torture, i mean slow death, i mean work. the necessary evil. the health insurance. the dental plan. rent.
at least it's tuesday. i like tuesdays.
have a good day.
love you
amy
i woke up with my friend dave o'neal's song "i understand" playing over and over in my head. not sure if it is a sign that i need to call dave or if the words in the song are somehow connected to whatever is going on in my life right now.
i had an interesting revelation after talking to casey holford at the hoot last night. people really liked my song. i played aaron's song. i wasn't even going to play aaron's song but i went downstairs to tune and i was in DADGAD, and i didn't have a tuner so, i had to play it because it is my only song in that tuning. not that i don't like the song. it is one of my favorites, anyway, i digress...the conversation was about nashville, getting a publishing/management/record deal etc, and at one point casey mentioned that i had really gotten a lot better as a musician since i arrived in new york sixteen months ago.
the interesting thing, is that i agree completely, but i have a new view of what that means. hosting the open mic, i can see people really grow from week to week. and i am sure that i do too. i don't think any of us are becoming something that we are not, or molding ourselfs into something different or whatever. i think the art of growth as a songwriter comes from the peeling away of all of the shit that we have had to listen to and compare ourselves to our whole lives to figure out what we really write and sing like. i think i am getting better at that. i think the elements that i am really missing are a good new tuner and a better control of my guitar.
things to note about the last few days: i went to the open mic at pete's candy store and had a really good time. i don't go to other open mics enough because my thought is that open mics are not where you build a fan base (which is true), but, what i fail to remember is that they are a good place to build a friend base and they are fun, and you meet people and get inspired or encouraged or discouraged or something. jayme was there from mineapolis, and there were some really good performances. such a funny little room.
and then last night, i went to the sidewalk: MY FAVORITE OPEN MIC IN NEW YORK CITY, JUST FOR THE RECORD. i am always blown away. always. someone either totally freaks me out or rips my heart out or makes me feel like i am shit or all of the above. danny and karen did a duet and it killed me. mostly, it was just good to see my friends. i have really cool friends.
finally, i have a show at artland on sunday at 10pm so i am going to venture over to the open mic tonight to do some promoting to people that will be there anyway. good practice i guess. the open mic starts up around 8:30 and last time i got to play three songs, so we'll see. i am excited about the idea of playing in my neighborhood, it will be interesting to see if anyone actually comes to the show.
alas, time to dress for hell, i mean torture, i mean slow death, i mean work. the necessary evil. the health insurance. the dental plan. rent.
at least it's tuesday. i like tuesdays.
have a good day.
love you
amy
October 23, 2003
briefly,
my first time in three months or so tuesday solo show was a lot of fun so thank you to those of you who were there, ricky lake was filming at DTUT so the open mic started late (sorry to those of you who were there and concerned and had to see amy's "irritated" mood, but then it turned into one of my favorite nights at the open mic ever. really good musicians, great songs, not too many talking oblivious crowd people, cool new performers, I want to note:
i may just stick with the new atmosphere thing until i have the time to hang lights. i have been saying for months now that i am going to get up there and install some lights, but the truth is, every time i have time to do it, i would rather be doing something else, and i just can't seem to make it a priority.
martin from Sweden and his red keyboard - he sat on the floor and sang in his native language and was pretty adorable;
donna has great songs, she reminds me of my idol patty griffin;
jamie from Minneapolis has a show at pete's candy store on sunday, i think;
debbie dalton's new pick up on her banjo SOUNDS GREAT and makes my life so much easier, thank you debbie (of DALTONLEE);
finally,
i want to make an addendum to my previous diary post with regard to the "what you should know before moving to new york" thing. i just wanted to say that the last sixteen months of my life has been the hardest and easily the absolute best time of my life. ever. no doubt about it. and if i had not come here, i would have missed out on countless friendships and influences and memories and daydreams and really, really good times. if you have the opportunity, and the drive, and the stable mental condition to take the HUGE risk and move somewhere new with no guarantees of anything, i highly suggest it. otherwise you will have regrets, and you will never grow as a person, or a writer, and you will stay in your safe little world and wonder why no doors are opening for you, and life is passing you by and who wants to live that way? nobody i want to hang out with. that’s for sure.
ok, as the new trinity singers put it, "sleepy bed moon in the sky" is calling me and i must away.
sweet dreams (if you're watching the baseball game, salty hot dog beer dreams)
love you
-amy
my first time in three months or so tuesday solo show was a lot of fun so thank you to those of you who were there, ricky lake was filming at DTUT so the open mic started late (sorry to those of you who were there and concerned and had to see amy's "irritated" mood, but then it turned into one of my favorite nights at the open mic ever. really good musicians, great songs, not too many talking oblivious crowd people, cool new performers, I want to note:
i may just stick with the new atmosphere thing until i have the time to hang lights. i have been saying for months now that i am going to get up there and install some lights, but the truth is, every time i have time to do it, i would rather be doing something else, and i just can't seem to make it a priority.
martin from Sweden and his red keyboard - he sat on the floor and sang in his native language and was pretty adorable;
donna has great songs, she reminds me of my idol patty griffin;
jamie from Minneapolis has a show at pete's candy store on sunday, i think;
debbie dalton's new pick up on her banjo SOUNDS GREAT and makes my life so much easier, thank you debbie (of DALTONLEE);
finally,
i want to make an addendum to my previous diary post with regard to the "what you should know before moving to new york" thing. i just wanted to say that the last sixteen months of my life has been the hardest and easily the absolute best time of my life. ever. no doubt about it. and if i had not come here, i would have missed out on countless friendships and influences and memories and daydreams and really, really good times. if you have the opportunity, and the drive, and the stable mental condition to take the HUGE risk and move somewhere new with no guarantees of anything, i highly suggest it. otherwise you will have regrets, and you will never grow as a person, or a writer, and you will stay in your safe little world and wonder why no doors are opening for you, and life is passing you by and who wants to live that way? nobody i want to hang out with. that’s for sure.
ok, as the new trinity singers put it, "sleepy bed moon in the sky" is calling me and i must away.
sweet dreams (if you're watching the baseball game, salty hot dog beer dreams)
love you
-amy
October 19, 2003
Chapter 1, Vol. 1.
The great chilli cook off, public transportation, press kit response, and what I think any musician should know before moving to New York.
Hogan's parents had a party last night at their awesome loft in Tribecca. They have lived there for longer than I have been alive and undoubtedly, when they bought the place, the neighborhood must have been a wasteland. Clearly not the case anymore, however. I took along my trusty friend Alex that I have known all of my life (another story for another time) and although Hogan was not there when we arrived and the first few minutes were a little akward, I had a grand time altogehter. Highlights from the evening include: Alex telling a wealthy woman with a maltese that they were origionally a "blood breed"; two of the chilli's were superb (I went back for seconds after tasting everything); the fresh guacamole; Hogan's cute little mother who scotted aroung the house, barefoot, entertaining and smiling all the while; playing "guess who has their origional facial features"; and the two elderly gentelmen that wentered with either mail order brides or call girls (still not sure which was which, I should confirm with hogan). Dinner parties are always great fun. My friends parents should have them and invite me more often. (Side note: I made artichoke/cheese dip and it was devoured. I didn't even have to scrape the dish).
I was just thinking this morning about how smart it is to have so much public transportation in this city and that I should not take it for granted. New York really does a great job of moving huge quantities of people to the genral vicinity of where they actually need to be. I would like to go to the transit museum. Perhaps next weekend.
Press Kit response: This week will mark the third week that half of the press kits have been out in the world, which means, any minute now I could be hearing something from someone. If it is at all interesting I will let you know.
Musicians thinking of moving to New York, please know the following: Have a place to live and a decent job secured before moving to the city. Do your homework; get a Village Voice and Time Out and read about where people play and what types of music are out there (this will also serve as an eye opening experience to those of you who actually have no idea just how much is going on in this city); be single for a while, it is hard enough to deal with a new city and a new lifestyle, but this will have to be the most selfish time in your life and unless you are dating a musician, your mate may have a difficult time understanding that idea; get in touch with musicians that live here, visit their websites, see where they play, ask them about open mics, etc.; reconsile with any and all friends you may have in or around the city, you will need them to be your fan base for a while; you will not make money performing in Manhattan, ever, so don't even think about counting that as income; every bar is in this business to make money and it really does not matter if you are talented or not, if you can bring 30 people, you can play; it helps if you are a girl; think about what you are trying to achieve, if you just want to be able to play in the city you probabably have a better chance saying that you are on a tour and want to play than saying you just moved here; know that the larger venues are not even going to think about booking you if you do not have a band; get affifiated; join bmi or ascap and check out the supportive writers groups out there (woman rock, women who rock, indie groups, conferences, etc.) ANY BIT OF SUPPORT WILL HELP YOU!!! finally, make sure that you are doing this because you just can't do anything else. you have to do it because you have a love/hate relationship with music. if all you want is fame and fortune, do not move to new york. you have a better chance in a city with more supporters where you can work less, or not at all. new york is hard. there are people here that have been here for a long time doing what you are doing with no results and there are people who come here and have huge fan bases immediately. try to be perpared for both. Get a backpack guitar case and a good portable tuner, always carry extra strings and pics.
I wish i had known all of that stuff when i moved here. I mean, i don't think i would have done anything differently, except the job part, and the affitliations, but still, there are musicians that arrive here every day from nowhere. I see them in the subways looking confused and overwhelmed like I must have looked. I just want them to have a head start, that's all.
Anyway, I have a show on tuesday and am going to spend the day practicing. They turned on my heat yesterday and it totally freaked me out. I have never had radiator heat before and the banging was nuts.
have a great sunday.
love you
amy
The great chilli cook off, public transportation, press kit response, and what I think any musician should know before moving to New York.
Hogan's parents had a party last night at their awesome loft in Tribecca. They have lived there for longer than I have been alive and undoubtedly, when they bought the place, the neighborhood must have been a wasteland. Clearly not the case anymore, however. I took along my trusty friend Alex that I have known all of my life (another story for another time) and although Hogan was not there when we arrived and the first few minutes were a little akward, I had a grand time altogehter. Highlights from the evening include: Alex telling a wealthy woman with a maltese that they were origionally a "blood breed"; two of the chilli's were superb (I went back for seconds after tasting everything); the fresh guacamole; Hogan's cute little mother who scotted aroung the house, barefoot, entertaining and smiling all the while; playing "guess who has their origional facial features"; and the two elderly gentelmen that wentered with either mail order brides or call girls (still not sure which was which, I should confirm with hogan). Dinner parties are always great fun. My friends parents should have them and invite me more often. (Side note: I made artichoke/cheese dip and it was devoured. I didn't even have to scrape the dish).
I was just thinking this morning about how smart it is to have so much public transportation in this city and that I should not take it for granted. New York really does a great job of moving huge quantities of people to the genral vicinity of where they actually need to be. I would like to go to the transit museum. Perhaps next weekend.
Press Kit response: This week will mark the third week that half of the press kits have been out in the world, which means, any minute now I could be hearing something from someone. If it is at all interesting I will let you know.
Musicians thinking of moving to New York, please know the following: Have a place to live and a decent job secured before moving to the city. Do your homework; get a Village Voice and Time Out and read about where people play and what types of music are out there (this will also serve as an eye opening experience to those of you who actually have no idea just how much is going on in this city); be single for a while, it is hard enough to deal with a new city and a new lifestyle, but this will have to be the most selfish time in your life and unless you are dating a musician, your mate may have a difficult time understanding that idea; get in touch with musicians that live here, visit their websites, see where they play, ask them about open mics, etc.; reconsile with any and all friends you may have in or around the city, you will need them to be your fan base for a while; you will not make money performing in Manhattan, ever, so don't even think about counting that as income; every bar is in this business to make money and it really does not matter if you are talented or not, if you can bring 30 people, you can play; it helps if you are a girl; think about what you are trying to achieve, if you just want to be able to play in the city you probabably have a better chance saying that you are on a tour and want to play than saying you just moved here; know that the larger venues are not even going to think about booking you if you do not have a band; get affifiated; join bmi or ascap and check out the supportive writers groups out there (woman rock, women who rock, indie groups, conferences, etc.) ANY BIT OF SUPPORT WILL HELP YOU!!! finally, make sure that you are doing this because you just can't do anything else. you have to do it because you have a love/hate relationship with music. if all you want is fame and fortune, do not move to new york. you have a better chance in a city with more supporters where you can work less, or not at all. new york is hard. there are people here that have been here for a long time doing what you are doing with no results and there are people who come here and have huge fan bases immediately. try to be perpared for both. Get a backpack guitar case and a good portable tuner, always carry extra strings and pics.
I wish i had known all of that stuff when i moved here. I mean, i don't think i would have done anything differently, except the job part, and the affitliations, but still, there are musicians that arrive here every day from nowhere. I see them in the subways looking confused and overwhelmed like I must have looked. I just want them to have a head start, that's all.
Anyway, I have a show on tuesday and am going to spend the day practicing. They turned on my heat yesterday and it totally freaked me out. I have never had radiator heat before and the banging was nuts.
have a great sunday.
love you
amy
October 4, 2003
when i was a child, my parents would take us on family ski trips. this was before we were brats so i think we usually had a really good time. i remember learning how to ski on the bunny slope and coming down the hill and then holding on to this slippery cable with my butt sticking up in the air and riding back up to the top of what seemed, at the time, to be the largest hill in the world. there were no poles...there were only lines of people that could act as a barracade and unusual amounts of padding disguised as stylish ski suits.
i am reminded of this not only because it is getting colder outside, but also because i feel like i am doing it all over again. the demo is done...printed, copied, ready to go. the press kit is almost finished. the address list is compiled. i have the money, suprisingly. now i just have to hold on to the slippery cable, stick my ass in the air and get to the top so that i can go flying down what will seem, at the time, to be the largest hill in the world and crash into a whole sleu of people without hurting anyone or breaking any bones.
i think the thing to remember, for me, is that the hill is relative. now that i am an adult, i can look at the bunny slope and say, "do-able". maybe once i am a published songwriter i will look at the demo process and say the same thing. hopefully anyway.
tonight i am playing at drew university with my friend earl. i don't really care about the playing part, i mean , i know it will be ok, but i really just want to have a chance to relax an hang out outside of the city with earl. he has been a really good friend and we are both so freakin busy that the only time we get to see eachother is when he comes to meet me for lunch, and who wants to deal with me when i am at work and miserable?
anyway, very cold. i actually prefer the cold because i do not enjoy the skin bearing clothes of summer half as much as the layered look of fall. i really enjoy a good sweater. tank tops...not so much. i think the allure is in the mystery and with some people there is just no mystery. i think it says a lot about a person.
finally, i have started booking shows again. i do have to say that i have missed perfroming a great deal, but i am terrified because of the working full time no time to practice thing. it always kills me. i am sending this press kit thing to a bunch of new places in the city because i want to start "broadening my horizons and increasing my fan base". we'll see. i guess it can't hurt.
so...i hope that everything is good wherever you are, whoever you are, and wish me luck on the bunny slope.
love you
amy
i am reminded of this not only because it is getting colder outside, but also because i feel like i am doing it all over again. the demo is done...printed, copied, ready to go. the press kit is almost finished. the address list is compiled. i have the money, suprisingly. now i just have to hold on to the slippery cable, stick my ass in the air and get to the top so that i can go flying down what will seem, at the time, to be the largest hill in the world and crash into a whole sleu of people without hurting anyone or breaking any bones.
i think the thing to remember, for me, is that the hill is relative. now that i am an adult, i can look at the bunny slope and say, "do-able". maybe once i am a published songwriter i will look at the demo process and say the same thing. hopefully anyway.
tonight i am playing at drew university with my friend earl. i don't really care about the playing part, i mean , i know it will be ok, but i really just want to have a chance to relax an hang out outside of the city with earl. he has been a really good friend and we are both so freakin busy that the only time we get to see eachother is when he comes to meet me for lunch, and who wants to deal with me when i am at work and miserable?
anyway, very cold. i actually prefer the cold because i do not enjoy the skin bearing clothes of summer half as much as the layered look of fall. i really enjoy a good sweater. tank tops...not so much. i think the allure is in the mystery and with some people there is just no mystery. i think it says a lot about a person.
finally, i have started booking shows again. i do have to say that i have missed perfroming a great deal, but i am terrified because of the working full time no time to practice thing. it always kills me. i am sending this press kit thing to a bunch of new places in the city because i want to start "broadening my horizons and increasing my fan base". we'll see. i guess it can't hurt.
so...i hope that everything is good wherever you are, whoever you are, and wish me luck on the bunny slope.
love you
amy
