Three Points

1. This project is worth dedicating so much time to

• I want to make this my whole career
• I need to know the songs I want to perform in and out
• I need to be prepared for the work pursuing this as a career is going to take

2. Preparing to play live gigs is incredibly hard

• It's hard to know if you're ready
• Not easy to find places to play
• Making sure you have enough to play that you can change your set list up

3. It's hard to balance playing and my other responsibilities

• It's started to feel like a chore
• I am struggling with school
• I'm often tired and struggle to go home and play.

They Say I say #2

Singer/Songwriter Ed Sheehan is a global phenomenon, however he started out just like us. He was a normal guy with a big dream. So how did he make it happen? Ed says in interviews some tips of the trade that got him to being the first solo artist to sell at Wembley Stadium. Ed says first that when he was younger his parents took away his electronics, forcing him to play guitar hours upon hours. He also suggest that to perfect the craft that you must write a song every day. He also says that a musician should consistently preform live gigs to get ones name out there and to develop a skill in live performance.

           People in my life have given me what they think is the best advice to give to me to help build a brighter future. They say in contradiction to some of Ed's claims that I need to have focus on other elements of my life and not just playing the guitar. They think that spending my days and nights on a guitar might lead me to miss out on other opportunities. Also my guitar teacher says that I should focus more on covers than original songs because where I live he doesn't think original artists make it long. Where Ed thinks live performances or crucial and a priority my parents also think that I need to be mostly focused on work in the summertime when I would be performing.

           I agree and disagree with some of these things. I agree that me continuously playing guitar is the only way I'll ever live up to my icon Ed Sheeran. I also believe that it is important to me to stay true to myself and perform original material over covers if that's what I want to do. And I understand balancing work with these gigs will be a challenge, but I also know if I want to make it in this business having a job on top of being a musician is pretty much an obvious rule and I think if anything it will give me experience to learn how to make a living in part time jobs before I can turn my music into a lifelong career.

They say I say

James T. Young

The author of my article talks about four essential steps for a musician to follow when it comes to booking gigs and starting a journey to live performance. 

The authors says first and foremost a performer needs to find local venues and areas that have performers come regularly. I agree with this step clearly because it is much easier to find places to perform if they are already open to people playing there before you.

The second step is once you've narrowed down the search call the venue and politely ask about performance availability. I think the way the article talks about how to do this is very wise. If the people in charge of booking aren't they you give them your information in hopes that they get in contact with you.

Step three says that once you've given them your information in most cases they don't call you back so you should go to emailing them politely. The author made sure to stress politeness and formal in conversation. Of course this made sense to me, because at this point I would still be trying to get to perform there and nothing would be guaranteed.

Step four is to follow up by phone. Once you've been in contact you want to talk over the phone about the details and if you're in that point discuss dates for your gig. I think this is great to make sure that you the performer and them the venue owner aren't getting confused and both have a clear idea of what's going to happen.

What has been your progress?

I see no notes on progress. What gives? What has your research been telling you? Have you looked into The Hook?

Chapter 2: Inquiries

February 17th 2017

James Edward Tolly

How do I start looking for gigs?

How do I pick a set to preform?

When will I be ready to preform?

Can I make it?

Chapter 1: The Choice

February 2nd 2017

James Edward Tolly

We've just started kicking off our 20 time projects this semester and I'm not going to lie, I'm already scared. I'm scared, because I know what I'm going to do is going to put me out in the open for friends, family and strangers. I battled with what to do for awhile. I'ts not secret I'm creatively driven and so I knew I wanted to do something with my writing or my music. The more and more Ms. Becker talked about how we are supposed to challenge ourselves no matter how scary I knew my choice was becoming more clearly apparent.

I have a dream. Now as historically moving as those four words are I never felt them more personally then when I discovered my love of performing. And when I got my first guitar I never felt so in tune with life. So I decided that I want to advance my skills with my guitar, because I'm good, but I have so much more I can do. I am going to become a better guitarist by teaching myself theory and to play different genres. I'm also going to improve my voice, because I'm a decent singer, but there's an even longer road ahead to be at a place where I want to be.

And to tie my aspirations together I want to polish and someday preform my own new songs.

Ultimately I would love to get to the point where I can preform at shows and gig's around the Cedar Rapids area and start making my dream into reality. It was once said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and I'm happy to say that you readers, are watching me take mine.