Cherish Women

When did it become ok to revert back to treating
women badly? Not only do men treat women badly
but women treat other women badly. Whether it be
gossip or just plain vulgar words that flow on the
internet.

There is a 'worst dressed list' and every other kind of
'put down' category in the media and even in our daily
lives. I should also mention there is a fair share of
'male bashing' out there.

Long ago I learned that women should be cherished.
When we are cherished we excel -we nurture those
around us-we share a partnership with our soulmate-
we laugh more frequently-we feel fulfilled-we feel the
courage to defend our ideals and protect our domain.
When I felt cherished I knew no boundaries. Now if
being cherished is not part of my daily life -I recall
when I was cherished and I can do great things -small
things-but with purpose.

Women give the gift of life. That is why they are to be
cherished. This wondorous task does not belong to the
male species -because he is to cherish & protect women.
She will stand behind him in partnership and protect the
children. If only it always worked that way.

Always Dance

Last night when I was watching my grandson I was in dinner mode.
It's dinner time -he must be hungry. Surprise!

He sees me come in the door and says, 'Nana-I want to dance! Dance
with me!' I say, 'Do you want dinner?' He says, 'No, let's dance -dance
with me.' I say as he takes my hands, 'Do you want music?' He replies,
'Yes' as we head to the living room to find the right kind of music on
Music Choice. We need a little rock and roll but not metal-although he
is used to his Dad's hard rock to heavy metal drum work.

Several weeks ago I was riding with my son and grandbaby. My son
was implored by grandson, 'Daddy play some music' Turning on the
radio to a preset smooth jazz channel my son comments, 'Is this ok or
do you want rock?' Grandson says, 'I want ROCK!' So rock it was.

Why don't we want to dance and listen to music? Sometimes the toddlers
know more than us.

Music Industry and Social Networking

While the musicians and the corporate world of the music industry
continue to debate and try to reform each other there is another
dynamic taking place. That is the digital world of Social Networking.

If you are a musician then get to the best social networking sites and
get the word out. Myspace is no longer the rule of thumb. You need
the following:

LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook
Flickr
YouTube

Once you create your accounts then go online to gain the knowledge to
use these sites. A couple good sources online are: http://www.twittip.com/,
http://www.linkedintelligence.com/ and http://www.whyfacebook.com/.
Also check one of my favorite e-zine articles (sign up for his emails also)
http://www.bob-baker.com/twitter/music-promotion.html

If you are 'print book' person like myself try :'I'm on LinkedIn -Now What?'
I think there is a Facebook Now What also. Then there is 'Twitter Power'
and 'Twitter Means Business'.

Today's market is better navigated as an Independent Musician rather than
waiting for that 'Big' record label contract. Every musician should be an artist
and a businessperson. If you wait to get 'discovered' then you are letting some-
one in the music industry OWN you and your creativity.

In the business world every musician must realize their product is their music
and the performance of that music. If you write for other artists like Diane Warren
and Jeffrey Steele you can also forge a great career. If wish to own the rites to
publishing and performance you can have an even greater career.

Learn the inroads to Social Networking -meet club owners, studio owners, web
designers, and any other business people you may need to further your career.
Get your name out there! Brand your music and your style.

With YouTube you don't need thousands of dollars and the 'right' connections
to get your video on MTV, VH1 or CMT. Get a cool video or animated video
with your music on YouTube! Then link your YouTube videos on your social
networking sites.

This may take some time to get rolling but once your network is in place you
just need to find new 'friends' and update your chat regularly.

As a musician you can easily update your sites from reverbnation.com.(USA)
You may also want to set up a free account with altsounds.com (in the UK)

Now I've given you some tools -get out there and get your career to the next
level!

Feb 23rd -My son's birthday!

Wow-he's 38 today and it has gone by oh so fast.
I have survived both my birth and his birth when
doctor's thought I would die in each case. Both of
us were born premature -me 6 weeks early-him
close to 4 weeks early. I was sent home from the
hospital to die at home because I would not eat.
My son on the other hand was the loudest baby
in the premie nursery and stayed in the hospital
a week after I went home so he could gain more
weight. While he was in the hospital I was supposed
to be on complete bedrest. Oh..please! I had my Mom
take me to all the baby stores to get the things I
wanted before I went to the hospital to bring the
little guy back home.

Once he was here my life changed to that of a Mom.
It was no longer what I wanted but what he needed.
He needed my presence. Even though I worked full
time I was present with my child as much as possible.

I hope I spent as much time as possible nurturing his
music career. I think we enjoyed the arts, music and
travel as he was growing up. I know I loved every
minute of my time raising him.

Now, many years later I get to enjoy watching him work.
It is a thrill and truly entertaining to be the Mom of a
musician. I would only hope that he touches many lives
as a musician and a music instructor.

90 % of life is just showing up! I am so glad I showed up
for this birthday and am here to celebrate #38 also!

Facebook,Myspace and Wrong Place

Social networking on the internet is taking so many
directions. You are not running with the pack if you
don't have a myspace page, a facebook page, a second
life(soon to change to mylife -I could be wrong) plus
a twitter account. The list is getting to be as long as
my arm.

I conduct a lot of research for varied reasons. I have
an account with most of these sites -a page of my own
I do not have.

Some parents who do not have adult or teenage children
in the public eye would be very shocked to read their
children's myspace or facebook. I know I am shocked
for them at times. I would hope that parents know how
disturbing our world is to the younger generation.
I don't know what happened between 1965 and 2009.
It seems my generation didn't leave a better place for
our children or for our working class (I am one of them)
to retire into.

Meanwhile our children are revealing personal things
in their social networking before we get to hear it.
I am saddened by some of the blogs and blurbs and
profiles I read sometimes. I occassionaly stumble
onto a profile that the young person's parent has
never seen. Some personal information is too revealing
and should not be shared with the world at large.

I have learned that blogging is the same. I try to
share personal thoughts that may touch someone's
heart or trigger some intellectual thoughts. Then
again I just like to share strange humor that others
may also enjoy.

Nothing wrong with being honest but sometimes
think before you add info to your social network
pages. You may be blindsiding a loved one.

What Were We Thinking?

Am reading the new book 'What Was I Thinking?'
subtitled -58 Bad Boyfriend stories. It just confirms
that we are not alone.
The cautionary tale here is to recognize the signs of
a toxic relationship and to run away as fast as possible.

As I stated in earlier blogs -I never left! Many years later
I can be the voice of reason to others because of my lack
of courage in earlier relationships. Learning your own
selfworth can be a lifelong journey.

Not to leave the men out. Many of them are victims of
toxic relationships and that is never acknowledged.
Men stay in hopes of changing relationships also.
No matter what any of us do those people who do
us harm mentally and physically do not change because
we hope they will.

Remember to cherish the thought that you deserve to
be treated with respect & you deserve love.

The Music Business is Hard Work

It appears that many bands looking for fame and fortune
do not understand the music business is a real JOB.

There appears to be many times your work is unpaid.
That is true but necessary to the nature of the job.

Look at the regular shift workers and see how your
music job compares.

• Do you miss scheduled practice?
• Are you only occasionally working a gig?
• Do other activities take priority over your music?
• Do you watch your health ?
• Are you chronically late for practice and gigs?
• Are you available to book gigs or talk to club owners?
• Are you available for Internet or radio interviews?
• Do you communicate with your fans?
• Do you rethink your band's role locally? Nationally?

Compare to a regular job and see if you are working to advance.