Something to say
You know how sometimes you have something to say, but you just can’t figure out what it is?
This is one of those times, for me.
It would be great to talk about how important my friends are to me; the last few days of gaming, hanging out, and spending time with them is proof of this.
With Gordy’s passing, there are also things I want to say about the importance of pets, and how much they can mean to you; especially their simple presence, which is felt most in their absence.
There’s something I want to say about closing in on 40; I’m not sure what it is, but it has to do with missing things left behind, and being afraid of things approaching.
It’s worth spending a few words on kids, and on the responsibility and meaning of having them.
Finally, I want to say something about loneliness, and how it is always in our midst—ready to be with us—and that it is like an old friend who reminds us of something true, even though it is hard to hear, and feel.
There. I guess I said it.
Requiescat in Pace: Gordy
Always ready and willing to lick my nose, Gordy was a phenomenal cat, and he will be missed.
Gordy Video 2
Photo shoot rejects
To illustrate, here are some rejects from a recent photo shoot:
I tried to look like I was pondering something exceedingly important—but instead I just look dumb. Very dumb.
My attempt at “dramatic” yields “bored”.
Here, I treat my chin like an elevator button.
Not sure what the hell I was going for in this one, but it looks kind of rude.
Want me to give you a call? Kiss you? Maybe both???
Networking takes shitloads
Another day at the office...
“If you run your own show, then you can expect to eat most of the shit.”
Okay, I made that up (having said it once), but it certainly seems to be true. No matter how much flash, effort, and skill you put into networking and selling yourself, there’s one thing I’ve learned: it takes time. En masse.
For years, myself—and many close to me—have worked as independent artists. I have slogged away at promoting, networking, marketing and selling (Anorak, Dancing Cock Brothers, Montreal Hearts, Godfrey, etc.) without getting paid a sou. Of course, there is some revenue when people take your classes, come to your shows or contract you for work. But, for the most part, you are plugging away at something, and constantly asking yourself “Is this ACTUALLY doing ANYTHING?”
The answer is, “Who knows for certain?” Notwithstanding, it seems pretty important these days to have a series of inter-connected sources of digital information if you want people to see your stuff.
I use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo, Youtube, Yahoo, Google+ and many, many other sites (including my own) to try and ensure a goodly amount of cross-traffic and viewership. But it is slow in the coming.
And man, oh man, does it take time.
Typical “time” photo, shamelessly used to improve viewership experience
It’s not as simple as contacting everyone in the known “digiverse” and getting them to Like your work. People in webworld have remarkably little patience, and are highly unlikely to sign on to you, unless you’re already famous, or if you have a quirky gimmick (like the Twitter user who created Angelina Jolie’s right leg as a Tweeter)
Otherwise, you are pounding the silicon pavement, eking out a Friend here, a Like there, an @ in-between.
Only with time does thine network grow: loads of it.
I guess that’s the price to pay for running your own show.
Action Flick
For me: it’s just another ordinary day at my local gym.
