Just A Girl And Her Guitar

Music has been a part of my life since I can remember; from my mother singing around the house, to my father working DJ gigs, to my involvement in school band and choir, it's resonated through most of what I do. Now, I'm working on my own music while grabbing gigs here and there when the opportunity arises, for example, exactly a week ago on October 7th, I played my first paid gig; I've played live before but this was the biggest gig by far.

In my hometown of Albany, Oregon, we have a bar called Calapooia Brewing Company which is mainstream in the context of eateries and bars; it's also a highlight for live music. Back in late June when I was making my way through a list of places that allowed live music, I was able to call Calapooia and get the owner's email. After shooting him an email, asking if they would allow me (a minor) to play music there, he emailed back asking for links to my music. Once I had sent the link to my YouTube channel I waited for a response. When he replied, he said he enjoyed my music and advised that I contact him again the next month due to their schedule already being planned for the rest of the year.

The next month when I contacted him by email again, he responded, asking if I wouldn't mind playing October 7th due to a cancellation; obviously, I didn't turn this down! This required that I have a guardian/parent with me due to the fact that I'm a minor, which wasn't a problem. Having been booked for a gig, especially at a mainstream restaurant, was a massive step for me! At the time of planning the gig with the owner, there was no talk of pay, which didn't bother me since it would be my first time playing for them. All that was left from then on was to wait out the next few months until the gig.

A few weeks before the gig, school having just started up again, I was busy inviting people to the event that I'd created on my Facebook page just after getting booked. My nerves were slowly rising, terrified of the new atmosphere I'd be playing in, event with so many friendly faces that planned on going. It was incredibly intimidating to think that I'd be playing at such a local place. While getting final details figured out with the owner, he ended up asking for what's called a "poster file." This translated to, "I GET TO DESIGN MY OWN POSTER!" But the problem was that I didn't even have one, and I didn't know how to make one. With the help of my Creative Writing teacher, who doubles as a design teacher, she pointed me in the right direction to create the most inviting poster possible. Down below, you'll be able to see the poster I created. With the poster sent, all I did was wait anxiously for that Saturday to arrive, and to see the poster put onto their social media and/or put up at the restaurant itself. I ending up finding out through teachers at my high school who I work with through clubs that they had seen the poster up at the restaurant. With every little update and with every day that Saturday got closer, it became even more real in my mind.

When the night came, my mother and I arrived at around 7:00 pm so I would have an hour to prepare before my two-hour set. With help from a friend of ours, and support from about ten-twenty friends and family that came to watch, I was prepared despite the nerves and self-doubt in my mind. With the entire place packed full of customers and my loved ones, I played from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. I played songs such as Burning House by country-artist Cam, The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals, Back To Black by the late Amy Winehouse, Ex's and Oh's by Ella King, and even one of my own originals which my sister and I co-wrote together called Shotgun. It was truly an amazing night, with the support I was given from my loved ones, the compliments I received from the customers and employees, as well as the tips and pay I earned; I mean, come on, who doesn't enjoy getting a little extra cash, eh?

The night was an incredible success, which was documented in live streams on my Facebook page (it will be linked down below), a few photos and a video which make up a vlog that I created for my YouTube channel (this will be down below, as well). If you, my readers, take the chance to listen to the live streams through my link, and listen to my vlog, I would love to hear your comments below.

Thank you for reading! Till my next blog!