The Shadow Knows...

But I sure as hell don't. That's why the Shadow is a radio legend, and I am not. Lamont Cranston, good egg (the Shadow's alter ego FYI.) He knew what he had to do, and how to go about doing it. Me on the other hand, have no idea. I know I graduated with a music degree, but I'm not even sure how much I want to do something with it. I love music, and that will never change. However, finding a job in said field is troublesome for us non-education folk. The market is so small. I know I should just put my head down and take it for a few years before I get an actual job I want, but it is very, very hard for me to settle right now. I'm trying to pursue my other skills/interests actively in hopes that something will open up there. But if it comes down to it, I 'll just buckle and get a shitty job, so I can make some damn money so I can stop living paycheck to paycheck. At least then I'd be making money, and have time to focus on what I love outside of work. I guess that wouldn't be all bad. 

Regardless, I've been submitting stories to various competitions in hope of being published, even in the smallest publication. Publishing would give my writing some sort of validation and credibility, rather than just a straight up hobby. Also applied for an internship with Madison Magazine, but I really doubt anything will come of that.

Creatively, I've also been pretty active. Finished a podcast the other day, and am ready to record the voice over material for the next one, but am waiting for the one from last week to get up on the website first. Sent in my radio edit to the Baraboo radio station, along with other promos and the like. Hopefully they throw me a bone.

The plan right now is to move during the week of August 9th, so the job hunt will be easier once I'm actually in the city (I hope.) Things are happening quickly, but nothing in the way I really need it to. Let's hope things shape up soon. For who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men... The Shadow knows.

In a Brave New World...

...probably one of the best songs on the Iron Maiden CD that I thought would rock a lot harder than it actually did. 

However, being graduated and no longer, as I've been constantly saying, a lowly college student, is quite odd. Also, I don't have a full-time job, which makes this even more awkward. I have something that I haven't had for a long time, full days off. I'm having difficulty getting motivated to do anything. I've been sitting around, watching The Office, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Band of Brothers. No good. 

I have been working on my flawed guitar technique. Unfortunately my old teacher was right, practice makes permanent. I've been playing the way I play for as long as I've learned. It took me forever to learn to play the D chord correctly, after I learned it the wrong way. I have to re-teach myself some of the basics. It is ridiculously hard. To keep learning new things and to learn them right, I've been learning vocal melodies and the like to try my new technique out on. So far it's slow goings, but I know it takes patience, and if I'm going to be teaching students I need to do things right. 

Oh well, so it goes.

Boom goes the dynamite.

Switching on the Lights when they're already on

Have you ever switched on the lights in a room after they're already turned on? I did that twice today, it was weird.

Anyways, it's coming down to the final wire here. For real. Less than two weeks from now, I will be graduated and moved into to my first non-college apartment with my girlfriend. Ch ch ch changes. All good no doubt though. I'm getting nervous about a Physics final...cummulative. Basically if I bomb it, I will not graduate. Ugh. 

But in the realm of projects, I just need to sit down with some organic instruments and be done with the LEGO music. I love what I have so far, but there is only so much one can do with MIDI on a computer without an actual keyboard. Also, almost done with the write-up for the live sound set-up. Once again, just need to sit down at home and draw up some crap on "paint," which Macs apparently do not have.

Speaking of live sound, next sunday I will be recording a very large jazz ensemble, all on my own. I haven't even been thinking of it that much, but I'm pretty calm about it. I do know what I'm doing, it's just keeping a straight head on when problems come up, and I use my troubleshooting skills. Should be no problem with the right preparation, and I feel like I'm prepared. Ipso Facto, no problem.

About done with my creative writing portfolio. Like all other projects, I just need to sit down, print everything, compile it into a folder, and write my letter of evaluation. 

Almost there, then things get funky, but I'm sure I'll still turn on lights that are already on.

Huzzah!

Massive success last nite at the King's Gentlemen gig. Apparently we were very well received. It was so much fun, and like crack. I haven't performed live in over a year, and now that I have, I want more.

Erin won the Green Your World contest, and that was awesome. It was freaking sweet to be a part of.

Making progress on the projects, but not much success on the lego movie front. These last few weeks have been very hectic, so this weekend is kind of my relaxation period. I'm hoping I get some inspiration and a second wind so in the last 2 weeks of my college career I end on a high note, maybe an A (not the grade.)

To the END!!!

Busy Bee

There is an abundance of activity going on round these parts. King's Gentlemen plays fund drive this coming thursday and we are frantically rehearsing to get things ready. If we keep our heads down and push through tonite and tuesday's rehearsal, should be pretty good. Thats the hope anyways. WE SHALL SEE.

Also, I need to get cracking even more on that LEGO music too. I keep waiting to do it whilst I have a guitar in front of me, as that is an easier medium to write in, but I did come up with a bit more the other day. Slow goings after that first bout of awesome.

Got a job with the Exclusive Co. in Janesville. I know it seems like peon job that I could've got in high school, but in the interview, they expressed that they were looking for young, mature people, college grads to move up the ladder to become managerial material and to help expand the company. They also expressed interest in putting in a recording studio in the near future. PLUS, I'll probably be getting a sweet employee discount. TITs.

Onwards!!!!

Keep on keeping on

More things going on. My brother asked me to throw together pieces of a tune that him, his girlfriend and her brother wrote and make it sounds better. So I re-recorded all the parts, sans Erin's vocals, and put in some new parts, and it turned out great. She really liked it apparently and is putting it in her new video for this contest she's winning. Glad I could be a part.

It's been slow goings on the LEGO composition, very little has come out of my efforts since the official start. I'm hesitant to go too rock and roll on it, but it may fit. I need to keep writing, trying different things, even if they're shit. Tomorrow will be a work day for me, try and compose as much as possible. 

Started practicing tuba again this week for my easter gig. Holy cow, haven't played since last 4th of July, and it shows. But I've gained alot back quickly and will be fine for this jesus-loving performance. I have decided to never let it go this long ever again though. It has taken way too much work to get it back. At least bi-yearly, at LEAST.

I got a car this week, so things are headed up in that direction. I now have the ability to transport myself around without being dependent on others. However, the probability of me moving back home after graduation is becoming higher and higher. Trying desperately to find a job still.

Other than that, KG is still on to play fund drive for the radio station, and much attention has been dedicated to that as well. School starts back up monday, and the loss of time is incurred as well. But I'll have the great memories from this last weekend to thrill and drive me. It was fantastic and I couldn't be happier with how it went. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was STILL absolutely fantastic. I will never be sick of going to that place. It is truly a great experience. I thought of applying there, but I'm not sure if I can afford to drive down there and back for an interview for a small position like the ones they're offering. We'll see. But in the mean time, 

keep on keeping on for me.

Mad World

So the job interview was a total dud, but up the way we go, onwards and upwards. First rehearsal for King's Gentlemen since we recorded the EP is tonite, with the addition of a new member. I'm a little nervous seeing as we play the radio station's fund drive in a little over a month from now. Hopefully things aren't that rusty. 

I had an idea today during an extremely unnecessarily long orchestra concert. This movement of a piece was soooo long and it was suggested to me that I try and put together an electronic composition for the student composers concert next month. So, I decided it might be hilarious to have a multi-movement piece with the first movement being of normal length, and the second consisting of either one note, or a simple cadence and then be done. This would be so shocking for the audience, I can't wait. I would love it if I didn't have to write anything out and just make it. I'm envisioning one player and a pre-recorded tape part. What the instrument will be is yet to be determined, I'm leaning towards a clean electric guitar with delay, but we'll see. I love how my entire basis for creating this is to mess with the audience and create the shortest movement of a piece EVER. Hilarious.

It appears that I'll be making another pilgrimage to the sacred Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio this spring break. I'm excited to bask in the awesomeness that is the oh so hallowed hall. I'm assuming some quality inspiration will come out of this. 

Job search still on, found a few advertising agencies in Wisconsin I'll be sending my resume into this week, hoping good things come of it.

All for now.

When in doubt, think of Lincoln.