Preparing for the Bitter End

With a big gig coming up in now just under two weeks, I am forced by necessity to stop sniffling (both physically and figuratively), drink a glass of water, take a deep breath, and sit down ready to roll. (and rock.)

I am setting aside "indie musician's discouragement" for now, and focussing instead on being in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, and even, perhaps, helping to facilitate that intersection of rightnesses.

"How are you going to do that?" Well. It began with the creation of an event. First I negotiated the booking at the Bitter End, dealing also for the band Burning Down Rome, that they would open for me. With a little promo kit and a couple of conversations, consecutive time totalling 90 minutes was secured for us. That was nearly two months ago: a Where and When, done.
Through rehearsals both individual and collective, we are honing the What. BDR are going to back me up instrumentally on three songs, and perhaps do some vocals on another. They've got a great set in the works - I know their material is strong, having seen them play recently. On my own I am culling the current strongest songs from the ol' repetoire, going with the most pleasing, most requested (of late) stuff.

Who? Hopefully you will be there (or at least in spirit). An Evite will go out to over 200 people. Included will be everyone on my email list, plus people from my workplace who have asked to be informed about the next big gig - plus perhaps, some exceutives at my workplace whom I will have either "snuck" onto the announcement or attemptedly charmingly asked, when I see them during the day, if they would be interested in seeing a mild-mannered executive assistant reveal her rocking-er side. hm. so we'll see about that, too.

How? Well, I believe that's been explained now. In addition to the practicing and the Evites and the not-so-covert attempts to bring in VIPs with mad music industry connections, BDR and I will get a few joint publicity pictures taken this week, by the lovely and talented BG. And I think that does it... for now.