You guys've stood in my way long enough

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 10:37 AM

Loads of town in southern Germany where the busking is excellent. Get iin touch if you want advice.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Marion
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 09:32 AM

Funny you should mention that, Alanabit - my mother has announced that she's sending me to Germany for my 30th birthday. First and last stop will be in Munich where my sister lives, but as long as I'm crossing the ocean I want to do some more travelling, I have people in France and Spain I'd like to see, and I've always wanted to take my Czech fiddle back to meet its parents. It probably won't be till late spring or summer, though, to make travelling easier and give me lots of time to plan. Maybe I can make it a busking tour.

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 09:05 AM

By the way Marion, you should hear what Rick says behind your back.
(It at least as complimentary as what he says in before your front.) He IS full of something, but it isn't unwarranted praise.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 06:48 AM

If I look green, I'm only jealous.

Well done for the decision; can't have been as easy as you made it sound. Now up to you to make it be the right decision.I don't know you, but if Rick says you can do it, then surely you can.

Power to you, lass; I'll look out for your name.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 06:19 AM

Go for it Marion!

Kris

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: alanww
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 06:05 AM

Good luck Marion!
I hope you get loads of gigs. But even if you do, don't give up the busking completely (well until you are really famous and loaded, I suppose!) It is a very good way to commune with the public - and its fun! Please give us regular reports about how you get on, eg busking in the winter ...
"Twas on one April morning just as the sun was rising ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 04:48 AM

Good luck Marion, welcome to the club. it's hard work, but when I look round at the Ferrari, the yacht, the race horse and the Capability Brown park I just think"folk music's been good to me".

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 02:51 AM

Good luck Marion. I have followed your posts with interest for a couple of years now.
I remember back in 1979 when my best friend told me that if I did not at least give it a go, I would one day be asking myself, "Could I have done it?" I said there and then that I would give in my notice the next morning. I woke up thinking,"Oh God what have I done!" But I went ahead and did it anyway.
If Rick says you are ready, I can say without any doubt that you are a far more accomplished player than I was at the time. I was twenty-three then and I went to Cologne for the first time. It took me about six weeks to learn how to pull crowds and then it was into the craft of learning how to work them and make them want to pay.
I wish I could see you working. If you ever plan a visit to this continent, please PM me so that I can make all the information and help I can offer available to you.
Good luck with it.
                  Alan.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Marion
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 12:59 AM

Sorry, Genie, I keep forgetting that there are people outside the Centre of the Universe (Toronto). See this thread to learn more about the sucky TTC.

Rick, you win ten bucks. Will you take a cheque?

Thanks for your kinds words, everybody.

Marion

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 12:04 AM

Hey, what do I win???

"Full of it eh"? Ahhhh I get that occasionally when I see something intangible in another person.

For what it's worth, of the thirty four folks I've taught and worked with this year, I've told two of them (naturally you were one) that if they wanted to earn their living with music exclusively they could. Of the remaining thirty two, there are some pretty fine musicians, and a few folks with great potential. But still.....there've been only two who I think don't NEED a day job.....yup, it's the intangibles.

By the way, there's someone on Mudcat who's gonna be a very recognized songwriter in a couple of years.....intangible again.

ALWAYS ASK FOR CASH, MARION!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: bflat
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 12:04 AM

Marion, I hope you are the biggest folk star ever! I would wish that for you just for venturing out and giving it your all. If you never try to grab the brass ring you will never know what might have been. But I also wish you well on the journey, that you satisfy your heart and soul for the experience alone. Good Luck!

Ellen

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 11:18 PM

Brillant thinking - girly....(Can't Understand Normal Thinking....

The good Lord knows You WILL be paying your dues over the next four months.....what timing!

Unemployment is rising
Temperatures are dropping
The snows will be lower
Traffic might be slower
You killed a bird in the hand
For illusions of a grand

With the Salvation Army Band.

I feel for you girly.....but my arms can't quite reach.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Amos
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 11:14 PM

YAAAAAAAYYYYYYY MARION!!!

A

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Bluesmike
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 11:00 PM

Go for it girl- may your dreams come true.
Michael

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: kendall
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 10:31 PM

As I have said before, You gotta get out on the limb; That's where the fruit is. Go for it.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 10:14 PM

Congratulations on your decision - I hope you love it all, both the hard times and the easy.

Happy Day-After-Your-Birthday too!

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: John Hardly
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 10:05 PM

good luck! Glad to hear it, and I suspect that you'll do well.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Justa Picker
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 10:03 PM

Do what you love.
Love what you do.

Congrats!

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Genie
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 10:00 PM

Thanks, Marion. Glad my two-cents worth was worth at least that! ;-D

And glad you're going for it! (If I can do it, I know you can. I don't play or sing nearly as well as Jed, judging from the CD you so graciously sent me, but there's still a market for what I do, and I have no doubt you'll find/develop your own.)

BTW, what is "TTC?" (Top-ten country? Ticky-Tacky ClichŽs?)

Genie

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:58 PM

Dude, if -I- can do it, there's absolutely NO reason why anyone else can't!

Good on ya!

;-)

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:56 PM

Good on ya, Marion!! Good Luck and Break a Leg!

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From:
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:53 PM

Congratulations! Have a good time. Enjoy your music.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:52 PM

Congratulations, and go for it. Remember us when you're rich and famous.

Subject: RE: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:52 PM

hope u can make a living!- good luck!- but b prepared 2 take on ANY kind of job in the low times 2 survive another day- again good luck 2 u if u can make it in the music world. its good 2 do something u enjoy & get paid 4 it 2!

Subject: You guys've stood in my way long enough
From: Marion
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:45 PM

Hello everyone. I am happy to announce that as of yesterday I've quit the day job and plan to make my living just from music: a little busking, a little teaching, and a little gigging. A little scary too, but exciting! Phase two of my plan to run off to Toronto and become a star is now complete.

(Also, I turned 30 yesterday... this is not a coincidence.)

Three of the people who have played a significant part in this decision are Mudcatters, so I'd like to say a word about them,
in chronological order:

Rick Fielding, who told me that I could and should play professionally. Although for a while I thought he was just full of it,
this was the first time I'd heard this from a knowledgeable source, and it got me thinking. Also, Rick has given me a lot of help lately with advice/loans for recording and amplification. I guess you win your bet, dude.

Jed Marum, who may be surprised to see his name here since we've just met briefly and his effect on me was unintentional. Nonetheless, he influenced me in two ways. First, hearing him play and listening to his first CD brought home to me, in a new way, what a fine thing it is to be able to sing and play nicely, and write good songs, and play along with other people readily... and that this ability is a worthwhile thing for me to devote myself to. On the other hand, listening to Jed made me feel that I'm a very long way from being able to do what I want musically, and that I'm too old to sit at home practicing and dreaming of someday. I had to find a way to do something now, or I won't be a musician till I'm sixty.

That's where Genie comes in. Recently she has gone out of her way to give me loads of practical and specific advice on playing in the seniors' niche market, both from the business and performance ends of things. But the biggest thing she's done for me is not in the specifics but in the general: she opened my eyes to how I could start making a steady income in music with what I know now - and without the sucky TTC!

(I should add that this list is of Mudcatters who have influenced my professional plans; if I were to list those who have helped me develop my musicianship I could go on and on about Willie-O, M.Ted, Justa Picker, Mark Clark, and others...)

Love, Marion