A Funny Story
Monday, December 3, 2007 -- 1:20pm
Posted by Bar


It's sloppy, cold and blustery around here, so I've dedicated my day to 
staying home and organizing my very unorganized desk.  Thought I'd let you 
know that I'm emerged from my blues and have a funny story to tell in the 
wake of it: 

If you read my last e-mail, you will know that last Wednesday (my first day 
back from retreat) was not a great day.  I was blue, blue, blue and didn't 
really know for sure if the blues would lift - although I did know on some 
level, I guess, because they always do.  

Anyway, that morning before I wrote to you all, I was sorting through the 
stacks of junk mail that I'd received through the month of November while I 
was gone.  In the additional pile of magazines I'd received, I came across 
Performing Songwriter magazine which is probably the biggest, glossiest 
magazine in the world pertaining to songwriters who also perform.  Alecia 
Keys was on the front of this particular issue, and inside featured 
everybody who's anybody right now in the songwriting/moneymaking world.  
This particular issue featured all of the radio hosts across the country who 
are making and breaking careers for people like me, as well as lists of many 
artists who have survived and thrived within the independent music making 
world.  It was a veritable bible of all the important players in the world 
that I try to survive in.  

As it happened, the magazine enhanced my blues!  So many of the people they 
mentioned are people that I DO know but who simply say "pass" when my music 
comes across their desk.  They're not fans, and to their defense, they must 
receive two gazillion CDs a week so many of them have never even heard my 
music, but nevertheless, I have tried to reach them.  As I read the 
magazine, my spirits sunk deeper and deeper as I realized that after 30 
years of pursuing this business, that I have, in fact, failed.  I've given 
it my best shot, I've worked hard, I love what I do - all of the things that 
I thought would get me closer to being a real financial success in this 
crazy business that I love so much.  I felt like a 50-year-old wanna-be that 
needed to accept that she was not a teenage icon (all true!) 

So, as the realization began to break my heart yet wider open, I literally 
put my head down on the magazine and cried in earnest.  No kidding.  It was 
a sad moment.  

The very next day, I got an e-mail from a friend and fellow songwriter which 
said "Hey Bar, Congratulations!  Did you see that Performing Songwriter 
Magazine picked Parachute as one of their top 10 CDs for 2007?" !  What????  
That very magazine that I was dripping my very own tears on had picked my CD 
as one of their favorites - I'd just missed it!!  And sure enough, on page 
34, the editor of the Independent Music sections of the magazine had picked 
Parachute as her 2nd favorite CD for 2007.  

So, once again, I'm taught that regardless of what anyone else says about 
what I do, I'm still doing it.  Whether I'm in the top 10 or off the radar, 
it simply doesn't change a thing.  The only difference is that one situation 
feels a lot better than the other!  

I hope that you are having an up day, but if you're not, never fear.  Things 
will turn around.  

Have a great holiday everybody, 

Love, 
Bar