The first time I saw a YouTube video of Bryson Andres1 street performances from Alaska to Spokane, WA a piece of my heart fell into place just like the missing piece of a long sought after puzzle. From hearing Bryson perform, listening to his cover song and watching his street performance techniques, I searched for his gig bag list. I saved it from Amazon.com and soon after bought my first electric violin, Line 6 street amp, looping station, and began to plan for real.
{Flamingo It!} didn't just come about over night.
It’s taken a lifetime to get HERE.
G.S.
Eternal Timepiece. I found myself diverted with all sorts of life interruptions while raising a teenage daughter. Music was still part of our life through singing in groups together, but my solo dream of performance was simply not yet. I joked that my retirement plan was to be a street musician. O.K. in my defense, if you have you been to Disneyland Downtown and listened to all the musicians performing throughout the converse at night, it's enchanting! And fills my heart with fullness beyond measure.
Clockwork. I am more important than anyone's crisis. If I didn't create the crisis, it's not mine to solve. My only regret is the time it has taken me to learn this: how important I am, how important my creativity is, the importance of my purpose, and following my heart's desires {aligning with God's will}. But most importantly, the lesson I have learned is how I am the only one who can choose to be brave for myself, and follow my heart. No one can do that for another person. It's our life's solo.
Secrets by One Republic Remix, performer - Bryson Andres downtown Spokane, WA
Showing Up. This may be a quiet Sunday, but for me it was a walk into the Arena. I have discovered that showing up is my superpower. My Dad taught us that in our band The Stockwells Four. We never missed a gig. He made our playing so fun, so exciting, and so positive that nerves were never a question. All that was taken care of during practice sessions. Six hours a day, one day off per week was the schedule. Other children had childhoods, I had music practice and performances. If I could go back in time and change my life, would I? Absolutely not. Mine was a fantastic experience of trials and stage frights, emotional highs and lows, competitions and trophies, jam sessions, cowboy hats and pointy boots, evening performance attire, amphitheaters and palladiums, and a grounding for life in no other way possible.
Fall in love with Trying. Once past the showing up, it's simply tuning up and falling in love with the trying. My violin instructor, Jason Kleinberg2 of Fiddlehed.com, talks about always working at 'your edge' - not too easy, but not too hard. My riding instructor called it the green zone, yellow zone, and red zone. Green is what you already can do, red is beyond your expertise, but the yellow zone is where the daring happens and the progress.
Fill those Boots. Walking into the Arena, alone. Maybe your environment is like mine with many distractions and relatively no peace. I live with my large 3 generational family full of noise, childish tantrums, televisions always on, technology gaming devices, barking dog, negative attitudes, untidiness, and so forth. All these distractions can be relabeled as excuses and cause diversion from a desired goal. But stand the ground and choose to fill your boots. Play in spite of the roaring TV. Practice in spite of five children running amuck at intervals. Just do it for you.
I call it [Zoning IN] - because I'm done with zoning out.
G.S.
Unless I take the steps to show up, fall in love with trying and fill my space, I will not find the gift of what I now call "unleashing my spirit" - it's when I do what I need to do for me by overcoming the obstacles of life trying to choke me. Above all, creative people must choose freedom over excuse making. If I participate in shutting down my creative self, my spirit dies as well.
Exit with Style. This is simply knowing when to Stop. We STOP at 'The Win' - for it makes it easier to show up the next time for practice. I showed up for practice amidst the noise and weirdness, tuned up my violin and warmed up on the bow and strings. I played through the scores of Lindsey Stirling's - The Arena3 and David Garrett's - He's a Pirate4. My heart pounded alive and my inner smile became a big grin. Simple and short, simple and sweet. A big win. Tomorrow I can push more into the yellow zone and look forward to the next recording session.
There has to be a reward for Daring Greatly and entering The Arena week after week. I began this return to the violin and art journey back in March 2024 - challenging myself to make new choices and follow my dreams regardless of aging or status or anything but simply becoming Ginger.
Along the Way. I am finding unexpected bonus rewards. I love French and once planned a trip with friends from my French class to meet at The Eiffel Tower twenty years after graduation. Life interrupted and that did not happen. But, I have since begun working on my French via Duolingo app and am walking through Paris virtually. This past week, I received my very first postcard from the Conqueror Paris Challenge5.
The Arc de Triomphe. I love it! Life has a great sense of humor.
Flamingo It!
say bye-bye to the pigeonsFlamingo It!
show Up!Flamingo It!
fall in Love with trying!Flamingo It!
give negativity its Burn NoticeFlamingo It!
fill those Boots!Flamingo It!
exit with Style!
Till we meet again!
Bryson Andres, Violinist Gone Viral - https://americanlifestylemag.com/life-culture/editorial/violinist-gone-viral/
Jason Kleinberg, musician instructor of https://Fiddlehed.com
Lindsey Stirling - The Arena (99m views)
David Garrett - He’s A Pirate (9.3m views)
Live at Tempodrom
Conqueror Challenges / events
https://www.theconqueror.events/