The Pianist

Alex and I spent the morning creating promotional advertising for me as a special event pianist. This reason I don't do this very often is because I have had precious few good experiences playing for special events.

The last wedding I played for knew how much I charged for my services, and gave me half of that total. They said they left my payment in the church office in an envelope with my name on it. Imagine my surprise when I opened it expecting $100 and found a single $50.

The wedding before that put my keyboard off in a corner behind some fancy draped tulle and I couldn't see what was going on. No wonder the bride's entry march started early.

The wedding prior to that one required my chasing down the groom in the reception hall in order to demand my payment. The wedding planner chewed me out for daring to start the prelude music 3 minutes late. I had to stand in the middle of the stage, right next to the bridal party, like an idiot for 90 minutes because 'that's where we always plug the keyboard in'.

I do enjoy playing for cocktail parties and receptions though. My favorite to date was a large reception at the big Marriott Hotel downtown. I also played cocktail parties for Remax Realty at the Tippecanoe Restaurant in the ballroom, 4 years in a row.

I am not an entertainer - I am strictly a pianist who provides background music, or event music.

The gloves are off! I'm loading my weekends up with weddings and I'm starting today!

New Look, New Attitude.

Well, if you have just found me this morning, you will have been greeted by my all new background and 'look'. I must say I am quite pleased.

My motto for this beautiful new year is "Necessity is the mother of invention."

I am determined to constantly be seeking new and creative ways to be self-sufficient. I'll admit, yesterday, I was so depressed I couldn't get off the couch. (We also had a blizzard, which is the most opressive of the weather patterns I find.) But today, the sun is OUT, the snow has finally stopped, my back muscles are positively screaming from all the shoveling I did yesterday, I have friends, love, and life, and most importantly a FUTURE.

What brought about this sudden change? The sunshine outside helped. My husband suddenly deciding that we are going to pray together every night after some time of reflection and study in God's word was a huge part in my attitude adjustment. And it occurred to me that I do so much that ensures the survival of our tiny family that I have no reason on earth to feel useless and unwanted. My cats would DIE without me. It's true. My husband would live with his grandma without me. (Not so bad - she doesn't nag him like I do.)

I am returning to my original plan - to be a pianist! I didn't go through 22 years of piano lessons and 7 years of music school to be worthless. I sure as all get out didn't go through all that to be an insurance agent.

Alex is my manager. Beginning in March, I will begin marketing myself as an event pianist for weddings, receptions, etc, and an accompanist. That means I have to buckle down and practice every day again. I hope I have that in me.

I will continue to work the Etsy shop like my life depends on it.

I will try to take on a few new piano students.

I will grow my best garden to date this year. Hence the new background - veggies are one of my great loves.

I will preserve more food than ever this year.

I will create new recipes and try new things every week.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll convince that husband of mine that we should be thinking about starting our family?

Nah - I'll save that one for next year. :)