Updating Frenzy

I'm an idiot!  Rather that work on my site daily or even weekly I sit down once a month or so and do it all at once.  It takes me all day (or two)...my desk becomes a disaster zone as I go thru all my notes....my resolve not to drink coffee is shattered and if I am really lucky some generous soul will bring me a sandwich for nourishment.

I am always proud of the end result but I KNOW there must be a better way.  After each update frenzy I promise myself I will do better.  I will update the concert page weekly! I will write no less than 10 tweets ever day! I will work on the newsletter every weekend!  That resolve lasts a week, perhaps two, and then life intervenes.

Funny enough; each month I find something I missed.  It's been a year since the site went live and just last night I realize I don't have a link to my own YouTube channel.  How wrong is that?

This month's featured artist is the AMAZING Brendan James.  His pages may just be some of the best I've ever done and I can't wait for you all to "meet" him.  Take a look, wander the site and please, leave some feedback.

Oh! and here's a youtube video I shot in Cleveland in Sept.  This song means so much to me as I try to live each moment to the fullest and I want to experience all life has to offer.  Enjoy!

Regrets....

Do I have any?  Of course, don't we all?  A wise friend keeps telling me REPEATEDLY that the only thing to truly regret are the things we DON'T do.  I have to say I completely agree with her.

Over the last two weeks I have gone a little mad for my music.  It seems to go in spurts.  This month it has been all about the traveling.  I have flown to New York City and driven to Cleveland. I've book a flight for Los Angeles and budgeted for stays in Canada and Michigan.  I won't even go into how many Cd's I've purchased or tunes I have downloaded...legally of course!  Last month on the other hand consisted of barely finding the enthusiasm to tell people about my favorite Internet radio station let alone promoting a few of my favorite fellas.


I think I've figured it out....I get bored.  I'm tired of the same 'ol crap on the radio and the talentless (mostly) top 40 I keep getting spoon fed and when the tedium of it all gets to me I start looking for experience to wake my soul up.  Melodramatic I know....but can anyone out there tell me that they don't do the same thing?  Perhaps music isn't your thing. Perhaps it's a good book or a fabulous meal. Perhaps it's going out dancing or staying in and making mad monkey love.  Whatever your escape is, isn't it all about feeling alive?



Bob Malone ~
Photograph by J. Mackinder



Music wakes me up.  From the tip of my toes to the very end of my nose, good music makes me feel alive....and a show, a good show where the artist sounds as good if not better live, makes me forget the burdens that I've piled up on my own shoulders.  And if I'm really lucky I will go to a show where the artist allows me to help.  Usually it's helping to sell the merchandise.  A small thing but I think it takes a load off the performer and helps them be less distracted so they can put on a better show and interact more with the fans. For me, being a part, even such a small part of the nights success makes the entire event that much more memorable.  I ride that high for days.  I admit it...music is my drug of choice.

I'm an accountant.  By my very nature I tend to over think things. Count every penny, consider all the consequence, over analyze and play it safe way too often.  I act against that very nature when it comes to music.  If I had counted every penny I wouldn't have gone to NYC to see the amazing Bob Malone perform at the Iridium Club.  When I realized my HOTEL room was going to cost more that my airfare I was a bit disgusted and almost canceled. And I certainly wouldn't have driven to Cleveland (4 hours away) on what I suspect was a broken foot. My very practical side thinks that is just insane. 

On the other hand if I hadn't gone I would have miss a fan'tabulous performance by Bob, the opportunity to help him out and more importantly, I would have missed out of the completely unexpected delight of hearing Jessy Carolina and the Hot Mess while out to dinner in NYC. 

Brendan James
Photograph by Josh Newton

If I hadn't gone to Cleveland I would have missed out on seeing Brendan James perform for the first time and being blown away by the purity of his voice and the realness of his lyrics. Not to mention missing out on watching those beautiful hands at the keys....and that truly would be something to regret.

If I regret anything it's that it took me so many years to be open to all the possibilities.  Watch out world! I plan on making up for lost time!





A fine line to walk....

I have a friend that calls me a professional stalker. Is it true? Probably.... When I find a musician I love, whose music moves me and who as a person I can respect I get a little gung-ho about wanting to help. Help spread the word, help them with their site, help sell Cd's....just help. Whatever I can do.

90% of the time the artist says "Thank you very much but I'm good" but I am persistent and I keep asking. I've come to the conclusion that some of them have finally accepted my help just to shut me up. LOL

The line that I find hard to walk is the fine line between being a fan girl and being a fanaddix.

Definition break;

Fan-Girl: The silly girl who can't remember her name and giggles when the person of her obsession acknowledges her presence. The strong desire to get a strategically placed tattoo is a sure sign you've been afflicted.

vs

Fanaddix: Treats the artist(s) in question like a friend or business associate. Respects their space and privacy...and above all no giggling!

Most of the time I think I stay firmly on the fanadixx side of the line but every once in a while I get a bit star struck. I've never forgotten my name but it's been close.

This Valentines I went to Indianapolis to see Tony DeSare in concert for the first time. I was able to get a seat at the last moment and managed to get a spot right up front. Tony is a fan'tastic pianist and singer. The show started off with the Indianapolis Pops Orchestra playing a selection of Johnny Mercer tunes. Tony takes the stage and wows us all with his talent.

About half-way thru the show he says something about the best way to sing a love song is to actually sing it TO someone and he asks for a volunteer.... Enter the Fan-Girl... My hand went up before he finished asking the question and I'm sure I was the first person out of my seat when he asked the volunteers to stand. I think I was on the stage before my brain engaged again and shouted at me to stop acting like a nitwit.

He seated me next to the grand piano and proceeded to sing his beautiful love song "How I Will Say I Love You" directly to me...staring into my eyes the entire time. The fan-girl in me was orgasmic but the smart, savvy business woman who wants the artists to respect her and her work kept the upper hand...BARELY!

Look Ma! No tattoos!

Here it is a month later and I still get week in the knees thinking about that experience. I think it will be a never ending battle between the fan-girl and the fanaddix. But I also know that it is the fan-girl inside me that inspired me to do what I do and gives me the courage to offer my help.

Who makes you feel like a Fan-girl?

You asked for it....

So after days and weeks of friends, family and fans tell me that I need to blog, here it is. Now what the heck am I suppose to do or say? What do people want to read? Why I do what I do or think what I think? Sounds a bit boring to me....

The truth is I don't know why I became such music junkie, it was like a switch flipped one night. Now there is no going back...and really why would I want to? Music is a great reason to get my ass out of bed every morning.

Everyone tells me I'm crazy. Crazy for flying all over the country just to catch an hour performance (maybe two) by some singer. Crazy for spending the money. Crazy for thinking I can do anything to help. Crazy Crazy Crazy...Well I say embrace the Crazy!

I do have my doubts about it all some days...but give me a great performance and all my doubts are blasted away. Take this February for example; Fly to NYC for less than 24 hours to see the amazing Bob Malone perform. Fly home.... PLAN to fly back two days later but a snow storm decides to hit the Midwest. Get a wild hair to leave before the snow hits.... Call the hubby from the airport....

"Ah...I won't be home for dinner...."

Find out the following day that because I didn't take my original flight out EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CANCELLED that my return ticket was no good..... One night with Jonny Blu shouldn't take 3 plane tickets.... I was pissed and told myself NEVER AGAIN!

Two songs into Jonny's first set....I didn't care, life was good and I was having fun.

Am I crazy? YES!

Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!!!

Let me finish my work on the sites new pages for March and I will come back with more stories....

And for the bit of required advertising... If you want to know more about these two amazing guys pictured with me on the left check out my website at www.FanaddixxGroup.com