Finding a Voice

Drove all the way to Moose Jaw yesterday evening and stayed the night with my 84 year old aunt.

Drove to Spiritwood today. Was terribly antsy after only 2.5 hours, so spent a couple of hours in Saskatoon. I think the antsy-ness was divine discontent, because my second stop was McNalley Robinson. Ended up buying *Making a Living in Your Local Music Market*. Conversation at check-out:

Cashier: Are you a musician?
Me: Yes. I just quit my job to do this (pointing at the book).
Cashier: Have you ever sung here?
Me: No.
Cashier: It's only $50, but it's exposure.
Me: It would pay for my book and my gas money! Who would I talk to about that?
Cashier: Ian ____ (writing his name on a bookmark).
Me: Great! Thanks.
Cashier: Do you have a CD?
Me: Yes.
Cashier: Well, we sell CDs by local artists on consignment. That's the guy to talk to about it (motioning to his right to a guy sitting at a small desk in the middle of the CD section)

(I walk over to the guy at the small desk, about 10 steps.)
Me: I hear you're the guy to talk to about selling CDs on consignment.
Him: Yes.
Me: How does it work?
(He explains ... 40% to them, 60% to artist, paid on every 2 units sold, etc., etc.)
Me: Can you write that down?
Him: I can photocopy it for you. (He goes away. I look through the local CDs. Theresa Sokyrka's first album is highly visible. He returns.) Do you have any CDs with you?
Me: Yes, I do.
Him: Do you want to leave some today?
Me: Oh! Sure!
Him: I'll just go get the form.
Me: And I'll go get some CDs.
(We both depart and return.)
Me: (extending my hand) My name is Colleen. What's you're name?
Him: Jamie.
Me: Hi Jamie. How about I give you 5 CDs for now? And I brought one for Ian. Is he in?
Jamie: I think so. (picks up the phone receiver: Ian call ###. The phone beeps immediately.) There's a woman here who would like to leave a CD with you.

(Ian comes down right away. Ian is a fairly large and very witty man. Jamie is a fairly small man and somewhat witty. Ian clearly enjoys ribbing him. I tell them I'm going to live in a former convent. Ian decides he's going to start telling people that his home was built by nuns! Ian takes my CD, says the Friday/Saturday gigs are booked to the end of the year, but maybe they could book me for January. He suggests a CD release party sometime in November.
Me: (pointing to the back of the CD) But I made it in 2000!
Ian: Never too late to have a release party!
(Ian leaves. Jamie shakes his head after Ian, takes 5 CDs and my signature. I walk out of the store on sunshine.)

A few minutes later I'm at Scott's Parable Christan bookstore. The cashier recognizes me as her prof from about 6 years ago. Her name is Chelsea.
Chelsea: Are you still teaching?
Me: No, I resigned to pursue music and writing.
Chelsea: That's great!
(I relate the McNalley Robinson encounter.)
Chelsea: People do concerts here, too.
Me: When?
Chelsea: On Saturday afternoons usually. And you could sell your CD on the side.
Me: Who would I talk to about that?
Chelsea: My boyfriend, actually. (She writes his name on a store business card. We continue to have a really great chat.)

No kidding. Twice in one day. TWICE in one day!

I also have a potential deal for promotion and distribution with a new company in Calgary: MicroSTAR. (www.microstarmusic.tv. See also www.microstar.tv.) They want 20 CDs to start.

Now the hard work begins. What used to be sideline and hobby is now front and centre. Making melody in my heart is not enough anymore. It's time to sing to the world! (Or at least to my cats for now.)

Got to Spiritwood in time to catch a phone call with my aunt and uncle from Australia. That was a treat.

Feels good and right to be here ...