I had a long day. Probably because it started after noon. It seems I've gotten my days and nights mixed up. That tends to happen with me.
After I woke up, I went to the cafe and immediately started working on promo. I made a sick video to give people a taste of what my stage presence and music is like. Then I made my way through my contact list, yet again texting an invite to everyone I’ve ever known.
To be clear, I recognize this isn’t a sustainable practice. It’s just for this next performance, and then I will focus on making new music and content to go with it. But hell, if we’re playing the Viper Room, I want to get at least 100 people there!!! So let’s fucking go!!!!
It was unhinged how many people I texted: ex boyfriends, uber drivers, people I ghosted ages ago, people who don't even live in LA. Anyone and everyone. I had to laugh. My skin is certainly growing thicker in this process. The funny thing, is I'm not even halfway done with individual invites. That was just texts (which, by the way, unleashed an avalanche of open-ended conversations). I didn’t get around to emailing or DMing people, so I guess I’ll have to do that tomorrow.
After initiating the digital blast, I met up with a friend who is helping me with a different method of promotion. I gave him a stack of tickets and told him we’d pay him $5 for each person he brings to the show. He’s a social butterfly, so I'm pretty confident he'll pull through. I'm thinking of hiring a street promoter on the day of the show with the same deal.
I had just enough time to snag a pre-packaged salad before heading to the rehearsal for the play, which I now find myself co-producing. The rehearsal lasted two hours, and the production meeting afterward was another hour after that. We discussed fundraising, logistics, and advertising; all the fun stuff that makes up the business of entertainment.
Finally, I headed back to the west side to my neighborhood bar that hosts open mics on Mondays. It feels bittersweet to say that it's the birthplace of my music career. It was my first stage in LA, and I have so many friends from years of performing there. I didn’t sign up for a slot, but it was nice to connect with some people I hadn’t seen in a while. I actually ended up standing outside on the street for two hours after the joint closed immersed in deep conversations. I received so many hugs and words of encouragement. It felt incredible.
I’m so tired now, as it’s nearing three in the morning and I have to be up at 7:30 for a dentist appointment. I doubt I’ll have much time to rest tomorrow, another long day which won't end or slow down until well after 10pm. Hopefully I do my journaling earlier on so I don’t find myself in this position yet again.
In the midst of all my other ambitions, I have been slipping on my commitment to exercise. It really just feels like I don’t have any spare time for it. Hopefully that will change after this next show, but who knows what a long-term, sustainable practice is going to look like. Ugh. There’s got to be a balance somewhere.
My parents are leaving for California tomorrow. They’re driving all the way from Missouri to see my show. I’m excited, but I’m also a bit nervous to share my life with them. They’ve never seen my house or met Chad’s kids… it’s going to be an odd collision of totally different worlds.
I still haven’t figured out what I’m going to wear to the show yet. I need to make that decision asap. So much to do….
Ttyt,
Hannah