This morning a question popped into my mind.
‘What to do to realise the ongoing recording and finalising the first ‘album’ of Frail Autumn’s songs next year? To re-record every single song and pay attention to finishing them properly. And what can be considered as inclusions of other art forms to bring to the project in order to create synergy?’.
OPENING SUNG LINE TO THIS SONG BELOW?
‘HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE TO FIND YOUR DREAM…..‘
AND NO……I DON’T FEEL LIKE AN EMPTY ROOM.
Overall. It is about enjoying the whole concept. Therapy found within applying oneself to a variety of the arts is something worth truly considering for expansion from the start of next year. One of those ‘Spider’ plans that have the central theme and then surrounding ideas to support it.
A lot of focus and time can be put into the singular uptake of isolating the music alone. But then a sharing of different artistic mediums can provide a wonderful exploration of whether they can all marry together to create a synergy that feels comfortable to present to others. Vibrancy and avoiding the suffocation of a single songwriting project can exist in use of various formats. The collective mediums can go across each others’ borders and interact. Dynamics can be interesting and not musical single minded.
Is it important to find guidance from some logical source? Yes.
And then I remembered a charity shop find. A book called ‘MY DREAM MAP. An Interactive Companion to Put Your Dream to the Test’. By John C Maxwell.
I am usually useless at following planned guidance like this. But it may be essential in reality in order to understand the correct way of continuing and to make the right choices this time. I’m getting older and can lose my focus often nowadays. Of course there is the ‘Central Essential Dream’ which is to record the songs I’ve been writing. Is the dream to be only that one chosen endeavour? No, not really. On the periphery are the other art forms that can enhance the presentation of the music to an outside world. I can’t afford to pay skilled others to do various contributions themselves concerning artistry and other formats. Artists, penmanship, promotional writers, video makers, technical issues of uploading to Bandcamp or other platforms, printing, etc.. So there are so many considerations, as they materialise, over the months ahead.
Producing the tactile nature of hard copy CD, cassette, or the ultimate dream of vinyl, formats.
Visual YouTube presentations. Setting up song/music platforms like Bandcamp, SoundCloud, etc., and so allowing people to listen to the songs.
Going out to live ‘open mic’ nights or performing solo/band pub gigs.
Getting in touch with the promotional aspects out there.
Using the VeeDub Bus as a promotional central focal point at certain times. Go to weekend VeeDub meetings over the year. Or simply turn up at the local beach, guitar in hand, over the summer months.
Okay. It may all be a bit ambitious. And my ethos in reality is to simply record songs and get them onto a music platform or two. And also get a tactile reality result so that friends and family get to own a CD or DVD. But I was considering the time I first arrived here in Wales 30 years ago. I met many new people and many new exciting personalities. After a few conversations came the statements that started surrounding possibilities in offering me inclusions.
‘Oh! You played in a band. Do you fancy joining, playing, singing with…. Play guitar for the day hospital patients, do some Christmas carols, do a drum workshop…….
‘Oh! Photography. Do you fancy doing an exhibition, can you show me how to do a darkroom print, run a small demonstration class at the Youth Club,….……..
‘Oh! Your writing is nice. Can you do some wedding invitations, have you considered writing and framing poems and selling them…….
‘Oh! Nice use of making Driftwood and flotsam and Jetsam beach finds into art. Can you make me a picture, a mirror, a garden bench……
‘Oh! You make pottery. Can you supply my shop, do a local craft event, make a pottery cat, dragon, sheep, for a birthday/Christmas present,……..
‘Oh! You can use Sign Language. Can you do a local class, can you teach it at the local college,
and so it went. And then ‘went’…… away.
But I did actually do a fair few of those things. And very, very willingly to be honest. But kept it all at arm’s length in avoiding long term commitment. Jack of all trades, master of none is my contribution to a life lived. But it has hit me into thinking that it would be great for the Frail Autumn project to include small additions of these past excursions.
A CD requires an arty cover. A filmed video DVD does too. Also, visually, videos of some songs could use Sign Language inclusions with signed lyrics. Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman signed in Paul McCartney’s video for his song ‘My Valentine’. Looked cool too. I taught a hard of hearing girl, the daughter of one of my nurse colleagues, who wanted her poetry to be presented using Sign Language for her project with the National Deaf Children’s’ Society’. She was amazingly adept and unique at describing her deafness with use of amazing pieces of poetry. Also, she became pretty awesome in her sign language skills in presentations too.
My skills in all these endeavours were, and are, variable. Some of the arts I really lacked confidence in and others I felt were okay. Although it would still be nice to do some naive, but be brave in giving it a go, arty stuff again. Tread softly, be humble and create an ambience of presentations to contribute to the Frail Autumn project. And the DREAM MAP journal may help focus.
Keep me on my toes.
Gray Summers 
I loved your ‘simple doodle’ (dragon) from the first time you presented it, Gray. I think many of us face the same hurdle. We are good at so many things, we can’t focus on one to completion! So, that is one reason I paid that guy in California a bunch of money ($12k USD) in 2019 to teach me a business plan. It did give me a lot of project planning templates for launching a CD music launch, public speaking schedule, book launch, etc. Not that I really needed that mind you, since I already knew a lot about project planning in my day job activities. But I did learn I still had some ‘limiting beliefs’ like, “I can’t afford…” and when I let go of that, I was able to come up with a plan for Richard and I to market his songs and my books together (part of that became my daily blog post self challenge I have been doing all this year that you’ve seen). It also seemed to open something for us, for him to contact a couple of friends, like Bubba Hudson and Tim Chandler, who could play and sing his new songs for 1/3 or 1/4 of the cost he had been paying the big Nashville music studio.
I don’t know if any of this helps you or not, but I invite you to sit with your thoughts about farming some of your tasks out to friends you may not have asked before to see what might magically happen!
Cheers, Gray!
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Thank you Sheila. The Map book is more journal in essence. It gives a 10 question exercise and you score each one for a No, Somewhat, Yes scenario. 0, 1 and 2. The higher the score, the more you are into this ‘dream’. The chapters address each question with a simple structure of questions or guiding statements to allow you to reflect or plan and then write down in journal format. Write (right) up my street. 😊
Question 6 involves the People considerations you speak of. I do intend to include other people Sheila. I can’t realise this passion on my lonesome. Steve and John as musicians are vital. With more musicians to create vibes too. Also, it will be necessary to have conversations with others regarding aspects of this project I am useless at. Success? Only in the project’s outcome. It seems perfect to realise a dozen and a bit more in the way of songs. And each song surrounded with a vibe of small inclusions. Simple artwork for CD purposes. Simple moving visuals as per video. That’s it. Playing live is for the therapy of social inclusions or fun. In the blog I spoke of ambition. There is, in reality, no yearned for need of success Sheila. I am in no way interested in what I really dreamed about way back when. It never has been present since retirement. It is just about getting the best result for Frail Autumn’s dream by avoiding the ‘bumbling along’ scenario. If it were just for having fun socially, it would involve getting togethers and having a blast if a time. I really want to leave ‘something behind me when I shift the mortal coil’. And in doing so, have others say they enjoyed this little project ride too. Something to say ‘This was worthwhile’.
Having been in the music arena way back when, it left a lot to be desired in the business side of it all. I never want to chase or dance with that dragon ever again. But, upon considering this whole project, I would love to apply artistry of mine and others’ contributions too. The people I trust are obviously Steve and John. The people I ‘need’ don’t necessarily have to be a necessity to realise the project’s aim. John did artwork for the Team 23 single. A limited edition scenario for the single’s cover. Steve is not an expert technician, but does carry himself well in this sphere.
My one phrase in this plan is ‘Keep it Simple’.
I have been reading your journey for this year and the words/requests/explanations/descriptive elements are admirable. You have included much positivity and elegance promotionally. They are succinct and have a very nicely driven energy. So, not just this comment has helped me Sheila. Your whole blog content this year has been very interesting and given me much pause for thought upon reading. Not the write ups on politics of medical issues though! 😆 I don’t want to go down that road ever again. Saps the energy!
6:THE PEOPLE QUESTION:
Have I included the people I need to realise my dream?
Cheers Sheila.
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Oh, yes, Gray! This has all been soooo worthwhile! Spot on. I am thrilled to read this, as I figured you would include others in Frail Autumn (at least attempt to), and that success will be completion. I hear you on my blog too. It makes me smile to know you have gained anything from reading my words (my blog posts are a journal for me and legacy to my grands). I love this aim we are both on, to be creative with no thought of gain (well, at least not much monetary gain). Ha!
I will back off the political stuff soon, though holistic health and wellness is still my jam, and spiritual wraps around that because Everything is spiritual. Hehe!
Thank you, as always, so very much for your gracious time and support, Gray!
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Thank you Sheila. The song I put on this one (been uploaded before) was strange in how we use life’s experiences subconsciously when writing lyrics. If you let your true feelings pour out on paper, then the whole struggle for lyrical words can sometimes just disappear. I am no loner Sheila. I can’t pretend to be able to get the results needed without others being involved. But, as you have found, buying skills can be too far removed for the depth of my pocket’s monetary allowance nowadays. Pensioner status has impacted massively on considerations. Steven Lawrence, the photographer I follow here on WP, was speaking of the bulk film opportunity. I used to use bulk film often. I dug out the loading machines, seen in the photos here, this morning. But I dread to think of the cost. Took a Quick Look on Google and an American firm had rolls at $350. I’m sure there are cheaper options out there. But this is why it is logical to keep things under my own wings. And I feel excited to be pointing the lens at a new subject now. The Frail Autumn name and the individual song titles gives many concepts for black and white captures.
You yourself Sheila are into so many interests that must require huge monetary considerations. Music, the book publishing, etc. I can’t go down that road at all. But yes. The aim we are both on is fantastic to stay sane.
I have fascinations with holistic and Complementary Therapies. From my nurse days. And could easily chase ideas again. But again, my older self has to focus on a single outcome now. The price of aromatherapy essential oils for example. But not enough time anyways. The big shiny centralised theme, that is a bunch of songs and how to deliver them both in themselves and then send them on their way for others to receive, is the main aim now. As said….Keep it Simple. Cheers Sheila.
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You’re so spot on about everything, Gray. But at least we don’t play golf! That’s one very expensive hobby, and nothing to show for it once the game has been played! Ha!
And yes, that’s why I self published through Amazon. I can’t afford to pay a publisher or printing house! Most of those publishers “imprint” companies like Balboa Press, charge thousands to publish one’s book! I think that’s ridiculous. And now I hear writing a book is about as useful as a business card! Ugh
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