It's funny. I just got through reading a note from one of my best friends, and it actually inspired me to write a note. Putting things in writing has its way of making things official. When you write it down, you kinda have to do it. So here I go.
Well, to say the least, this year has been quite a year! It's like my life has been a steady ramp of positives with a few brick walls (lined with thorns, poison ivy, an electric fence, the National Guard, and a few Secret Service Agents) to burst through on the way up. But, I can definitely say that I've staked a flag on the high side and am still climbing. It's like each wall has given me more fuel to conquer the next.
More than anything, I believe the common denominator among each of them has been learning to trust God. I've learned to trust Him with my education, bills, career, relationships, and most recently my health. I've learned how to say, "Let Your will be done," and what that REALLY means. We usually say it with an underlying request that He'll do what we want Him to do. As selfish and controlling as I can be, I've learned (and am still learning) how to step out of the way and let God do His job. After all, He is the creator of this universe I call Life, and because He is the creator, no one understands the way it works it better than He does. All I get to do is accessorize what has already been put into place.
You know how you might get up out of bed in the morning, heading for the shower, and you're still in sort of a zombie state? That is until you step under the running water and realize that it's FREEZING cold! You might kick, sream, and utter a few choice words (unless you particularly enjoy cold showers), but the next thing you know is that you're fully alert. Well, let's just say that I've been walking through life in somewhat of a zombie state. Now, I've received my cold shower, kicked, screamed, uttered a few choice words, and am now ready to take on 2008 fully alert.
I won't go through a list of New Year's resolutions, because there are too many to name, and I'm bound to forget or neglect quite a few of them. So let me narrow it down to one. Most have titled 2008 as the Year of New Beginnings, since that's what the number 8 represents. However, in order to get anything new started, one must first make the conscious decision to move. So, for me it's the Year of Movement. So I resolve to approach this year (and life itself) with a more keen focus so that I can make the moves necessary for the fulfillment of my purpose in this life.
Know & Protect Yourself!
Peace.
Kev.O
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
BeProfessional.
I just thought I'd blog a little bit on this subject. During the course of my life as a musician, I have been blessed to come to become acquainted with quite a few GREAT musicians! I mean these folks really play/write/sing/arrange their asses off! The common thread among quite a few of them, though, is that they don't really know how to handle themselves as professionals. Though "professionalism" can mean quite a few things, I want to blog a little bit about professionalism as it concerns time commitments. Professionals are expected to do three basic things.
Be accountable. Deliver what you've committed to deliver, and be upfront about everything. If you've accepted a gig and later realize that it require the ability to read sheet music, and you know you can't read sheet music, let somebody (who is in charge of making decisions) know ASAP! If you've accepted a gig backing an artist that you've never heard before (not the smartest move in the first place), and you later realize that this is neither your ideal situation nor a situation you're willing to endure, be upfront and say, "I apologize. I'm not going to be able to continue with this gig." You'd be surprised how many people would rather hear that than show up at the second of two rehearsals before a big gig without a board player and no real alternative. Don't leave folks "out in the cold". Being upfront gives others the respect of choice and an opportunity to regroup and reorganize things. It's also great karma for when you decided to do something big on your own.
Be prepared. Don't accept a gig if you don't think you'll have time to learn the material. Remember that all music (and art is general) is somebody's blood, sweat, and tears. Nine times out of ten, there was a vision for the performance, and a timeline by which certain rehearsal goals are set to be achieved. To be prepared is to show respect for others' time and energy. Also, who knows better how you learn that you? So be prepared with your learning utensils (i.e. pen, paper, recorder, dictionary, pitch pipe, instruments, microphones, etc.)
Be on time. Remember that to be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable. We all have issues with time from time to time. (That was hot! You like that, don't you? Don't steal it!) However, if you're gonna be late or not arrive at all, let somebody know as soon as you know or even think so. It's cool to arrive earlier than expected…not so cool to arrive later. It's all a matter of respect for others' time and energy. Some folks don't perform so well after they've been stressed about whether or not their background singers are going to make it or not.
For the selfish folks (LOL…no seriously.), try thinking about it like this. Think about how your behavior will affect the outcome of the show. The better the show, the more bookings will come (if it's good enough). The more bookings, the more gigs for you. More gigs usually mean more money in the bank to use as you will.Just thought I'd drop that little bit here on my blog for the folks who don't know, and apparently there are a LOT of them!Peace.Kev.O
Be accountable. Deliver what you've committed to deliver, and be upfront about everything. If you've accepted a gig and later realize that it require the ability to read sheet music, and you know you can't read sheet music, let somebody (who is in charge of making decisions) know ASAP! If you've accepted a gig backing an artist that you've never heard before (not the smartest move in the first place), and you later realize that this is neither your ideal situation nor a situation you're willing to endure, be upfront and say, "I apologize. I'm not going to be able to continue with this gig." You'd be surprised how many people would rather hear that than show up at the second of two rehearsals before a big gig without a board player and no real alternative. Don't leave folks "out in the cold". Being upfront gives others the respect of choice and an opportunity to regroup and reorganize things. It's also great karma for when you decided to do something big on your own.
Be prepared. Don't accept a gig if you don't think you'll have time to learn the material. Remember that all music (and art is general) is somebody's blood, sweat, and tears. Nine times out of ten, there was a vision for the performance, and a timeline by which certain rehearsal goals are set to be achieved. To be prepared is to show respect for others' time and energy. Also, who knows better how you learn that you? So be prepared with your learning utensils (i.e. pen, paper, recorder, dictionary, pitch pipe, instruments, microphones, etc.)
Be on time. Remember that to be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable. We all have issues with time from time to time. (That was hot! You like that, don't you? Don't steal it!) However, if you're gonna be late or not arrive at all, let somebody know as soon as you know or even think so. It's cool to arrive earlier than expected…not so cool to arrive later. It's all a matter of respect for others' time and energy. Some folks don't perform so well after they've been stressed about whether or not their background singers are going to make it or not.
For the selfish folks (LOL…no seriously.), try thinking about it like this. Think about how your behavior will affect the outcome of the show. The better the show, the more bookings will come (if it's good enough). The more bookings, the more gigs for you. More gigs usually mean more money in the bank to use as you will.Just thought I'd drop that little bit here on my blog for the folks who don't know, and apparently there are a LOT of them!Peace.Kev.O
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
