It is 4.35 am and after a fruitless attempt at sleep, what better than to vent my pent up energy on a blog that by all rights should be long gone.
10 days after new year and I just wanted to state my intentions and give a brief synopsis of the year 2010 so far.
Since new years eve, where it snowed heavily, the freeze has remained and there have been several flurries of snow since and no big thaw. Very unusual in Ireland, although it is showing signs of rain as opposed to snow these past few hours.
On new years eve I undertook singing Swing numbers to backing tracks at a restaurant called Bijou in Rathgar and despite a lot of trepidation and furious rehearsing on my part, it went very well.
New years day and Kybosh played the Dew Drop, and although we were well paid, it was a loose gig and Cian reckons mainly my fault. I attribute the amount of relief following the new years eve gig and the copious amounts of booze taken aboard before the gig..
Since then..no work. Brasserie and La Banca have not been in contact and the pubs don't do music in Jan.
Ellen, Stella and Mark and another girl called Laura have made a pact to all do gigs in a co-op format so lets see how that pans out. It should mean higher rates and more venues for me.
So I have a lot of time last week and came up with the following:
A recording of Salty Water, a song I wrote and Gill did the lyrics. Not happy with it yet, have to do it again in a slower tempo.
Practice of Moonlight Sonata. Causing me problems!
The urge to form a Rage against the Machine tribute act by the end of the year
Practice with Dave Brennan for Temple bar gigs. he also wants me to stand in for his singer in Smokin Mojo when they have gigs
Got a call about doing a wedding reception on piano in April
Wanting to do a music Qual so I can get daytime teaching work. A H Dip could be funded..
RESOLUTIONS
1) I sleep too much. I need to be up in the mornings. Then I can do more practice. I wouldnt mind doing a music post grad, and that means getting some LSM Grades (7 or 8) in piano and 6 in theory to do the one year teaching Hdip.
Gill came up with this schedule:
| BASIC SKILL BUILDING DAY – 3 days per week | |
| 8 | Breakfast & Exercise |
| 9 | |
| 10 | PIANO grade work |
| 11 | VOCAL Training |
| 12 | GUITAR grade work |
| 1 | LUNCH & listening |
| 2 | DJ Prep Work |
| 3 | Admin – Sales calls, Website, Database etc. |
| 4 | PIANO gig work |
| 5 | VOCAL & GUITAR gig work |
| 6 | Free time |
| RECORDING DAY – 1 day per week | |
| 8 | Breakfast & Exercise |
| 9 | |
| 10 | PIANO grade work |
| 11 | VOCAL Training |
| 12 | GUITAR grade work |
| 1 | LUNCH & listening |
| 2 | Planning & Arranging 1 song |
| 3 | Finishing |
| 4 | Recording |
| 5 | Post Production |
| 6 | Free time |
| REHEARSAL DAY – as required | |
| 8 | Breakfast & Exercise |
| 9 | |
| 10 | PIANO grade work |
| 11 | VOCAL Training |
| 12 | GUITAR grade work |
| 1 | LUNCH & listening |
| 2 | Planning & Arranging 1 song |
| 3 | Finishing |
| 4 | Recording |
| 5 | Post Production |
| 6 | Free time |
2) Work on the Vocals- I have ordered a full singing programme. Will stick at it and be super in 6 months.
3) Ordered a DJ didgital decks where I can do weddings and parties etc. More revenue..
4) Gill got me a website for Christmas - thats critical. www.musicinmind.net
5) Exercise in the mornings will get me ready for the day ahead.
EDIT - Feb, did my first Smokin Mojo gig as lead singer.. fantastic.
Reguarly do Swing set in Anglers rest gigs, did charity function with Michelle Heaton
One wedding booking in April and one enquiry to close
March- Booked two weeks out in Andorra!!!!
