In a couple hours, I’m going to go back into Book of Blues. I’m finally in uncharted territories. I know where’s it’s going. I know how it’s gonna end.
But I don’t know how to answer the Legacy / Longevity question.
I started thinking of how music heroes. I often think of Sam Cooke. Like Otis and Marvin, Sam’s flame extinguished while burning bright. My lifeline is closing in on his length. So long as I can stay away from women of the night near LA hotels, I might live a little longer.
Will it be worth it?
By this time, Sam Cooke helped bridge racial gaps in music. Several crossover hits, support for the civil rights music, and a smile that shown through the darkest of nights, Sam Cooke was a magical artisty whose Soulful craft as continued to transcend the generations.
I’ve written a book of blues that could be two books of blues – pending, and have started a prequel. And i’ll work on it once the season premiere of Chuck is over.
I’ll probably live to see tomorrow if the Southwest Florida deep freeze of 2010 doesn’t get the best of Fort Myers, Margaritaville.
On my last year’s pilgrimage to Ft. Myers, Margaritaville, I blogged every day about the adventure. This year I decided to keep the memories to myself.
On my last year’s pilgrimage to Ft. Myers, Margaritaville, I walked everyday listening to concerts I downloaded from Archive.org.This year, I listen to two songs over and over again.
The first song is “Taking the Long Way Around,” by the Dixie Chicks.
My sister was inspired by the album of the same name and of the journey the Dixie Chicks endured after they spoke out in London about their lack of faith of then-President Bush.
It wasn’t so much that my sister agreed with the Dixie Chicks politics so much as she agreed in their right to say it.
Since my 99 week pilgrimage started, I’ve had many people ask what my next steps are going to be. I’ve even gotten a couple projects from these conversations. I am grateful for the questions and appreciative of the concern, but I can’t say for certain, yet, as to where I’m going.
1) Bless the cursed marketing promotion for John Mayer’s, “Who Says.” I’m not the biggest John Mayer fan. It’s not because of his talent. He’s a craftsmen. It’s because I haven’t been in his target market of 14-year-old girls. But in his song, “Who Says,” not only is it a well crafted, finger-picked song, but I’ll confess I relate to it.
“It’s been a long time since ‘22′
I don’t remember you lookin’ any better
then again I don’t remember you…”
The images in his video also captivate me: the sharp lines and right angles of his European-styled apartment, latest fashion trends of his city friends, walking the streets at night, great food, good drink… But none of the scenes caught my attention more than the scene with the old wooden chair along a white wall with a Martin acoustic guitar in its lap 13 seconds in.
Most of us who fall in love with our guitars dream of this spot. Many of us work through our days to get back to this spot at night. I used to even turn off the lights so I wouldn’t watch my fingers.
2) After I saw the “Who Says,” video I stopped over at oldold man Finn’s house to check on his place. He’s snowbirding in Ft. Myers. I’ll be down there soon to visit.
I went into his house, checked the rooms, and saw my Martin guitar sitting in his living room. It’s been sitting there almost two years in its black hardtop case. I don’t have the space to store it and I didn’t have time to play it. I sat in the old dining room chair, pulled the guitar out of its case, and placed it in my lap. The first thing that hit me was the fresh smell of Mahogany. The second thing that hit me was how it felt like I was hugging an old friend.
Some people get into careers to feed themselves. Some get into their careers only as far as it takes to feed their family. I dove deep into my career so I could always have a space to play guitar and work on my book of blues. Once I got in there, I found my career, my guitar playing, and my blues books can all help each other. That’s why my topic of my site is:
“Live Music. Blues Books. Inbound Marketing, Social Media, SEO, Blogging…”
All my passions have become family. Now I have to bring my family together.
I still don’t know where the next step will be, but it’ll involve live music, blues books, and inbound marketing.
It has been a long time since 22. And don’t remember her looking any better, but then again I don’t know if I remember her anymore.
(Here’s a live version of John Mayer’s “Who Says”)
(Try planning this kind of fun. Go ahead, good luck)
Tweetups, like Meetups and Networking Events, are always nice to plan. It’s also helpful to be able to pick your venue, plan a menu, craft a guest list, and develop a framework for how the evening should flow in advance. It’s especially helpful to the venue owner in case the numbers attending your event are going to need their own space.
But Tweetups, in their essence, are spontaneous and can’t always be planned. Much like any given day, you never know what’s going to happen…
When political protesters in Iraq were getting the word out about places to meet, they couldn’t plan the event. They simply couldn’t risk it.
Take last night. The home town was having a “Christmas window” viewing down the main street. Families flocked up and down the street to admire the store owners’ creations. While that was going on, a local company was having a networking event. Those events weren’t going to go on all night yet some of the attendees still wanted to enjoy the night out with friends.
TWEETUP!
A few tweets later and a crew of folks were meeting at a local establishment. Dubbed an “afterweetup” after respect for the local company’s event, the new movement later became an “afteraftertweetup,” when the scene moved to a local Mexican diner for a “nightcap.”
How to Spread the Word About an Unplanned Tweetup
You spread the word on an unplanned tweetup much like you do with a planned tweetup. You just do it much more hastily.
Use familar hastags on twitter to spread the word
Tweet often
Don’t be afraid to use Facebook, texts, emails, and that talk feature on the cell phone too.
Whatever crowd-gathering measures comes to mind
Repeat with frequency
Document with photos, videos, tweets, and posts
Then, most importantly, go have some fun. Before too long, word gets out about the events and people start to get used to the “planned spontaneity.”
TweetUp HashTags in Northwest Indiana
There are a few hashtags those in The Region use to announce Tweetups
#nwindiana
#nwitweetup
#nwi
#aftertweetup
#afteraftertweetup
#nwitwoker
Keep monitoring tweets with these words. You never know when they’re announcing a tweetup.
(I’m working towards this scene, but forgetting to rest as I go)
I woke up, got prepared for a meeting in New Buffalo, MI, and called to confirm. They answered, said it would be better if I backed it up a day, and I was none more thankful. Now I’m backing up my trip to Indy.
Heaven bless the nature of the business.
See the night before I went out with my old boss and a few co-workers. My old boss claimed it was my birthday and people flocked out. Imagine my surprise. Not only that, it was my third birthday this year. And a, “thank you,” goes out to all who came.
Sometimes you have to blow off steam. I forget that.
I don’t do it enough. I try to pretend I’m a machine. I think about how I’ve got 16 days before I go to Ft. Myers, Margaritaville for three weeks and then think I can work straight on till I board the plane.
I’m not a machine.
So when I went back to bed and didn’t wake up until 3pm, refreshed, invigorated, and mostly free from Gumballhead hangover, my body was trying to remind me to balance myself.
In sports, they would call my last few weeks, “playing to the level of the competition.” Some teams can give the best in their sport a run for their money on any given night and then turn around and falter to the league doormats.
If I can’t perform at my best every day, then I’ll never get to where I want to go. Right now, I have no real pressure or deadlines except ones I imply on myself. The best realize the only real pressure to worry about is the pressure to be the best “you” you can be. Everything is temporal and fades away with time.
