Hey Readers, I am taking a little break from my blog while I figure out what my next project is.
I shall return...
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Results Are In...
I won't keep people in suspense any longer (I like to imagine that my music festival is all anyone thought about this weekend), the festival was a resounding success!! I was A-MAZED at how many people came out for a festival that had very little money to publicize itself.
A rainy morning and early afternoon kept my heart firmly in my throat but by about 2:15 (festival ran from 2pm - 6pm) the rain had ended and I began to see some folks out and about.
Some emails comments that warmed this ADHD addled soul:
Wow!! Am giving you a standing ovation for conceiving of, organizing and pulling off such a fantastic event! Loved, loved, loved it.... Jeffrey
Hola Mary Ann. I am more than impressed with what you have accomplished with organizing Takoma Porch! I know it has been an enormous project, with a lot of moving parts -- and you have done an amazing job for someone who has never done anything like this before.... Donna
So I am really happy with how this effort turned out. It was NOT easy but I have to work hard to remember that it was not easy. When people ask me about how I pulled this off, I feel like I'm talking about childbirth (which I've not experienced but Moms tell me so) I don't really remember the pain, I'm just so happy with the result.
A rainy morning and early afternoon kept my heart firmly in my throat but by about 2:15 (festival ran from 2pm - 6pm) the rain had ended and I began to see some folks out and about.
Some emails comments that warmed this ADHD addled soul:
Wow!! Am giving you a standing ovation for conceiving of, organizing and pulling off such a fantastic event! Loved, loved, loved it.... Jeffrey
Hola Mary Ann. I am more than impressed with what you have accomplished with organizing Takoma Porch! I know it has been an enormous project, with a lot of moving parts -- and you have done an amazing job for someone who has never done anything like this before.... Donna
So I am really happy with how this effort turned out. It was NOT easy but I have to work hard to remember that it was not easy. When people ask me about how I pulled this off, I feel like I'm talking about childbirth (which I've not experienced but Moms tell me so) I don't really remember the pain, I'm just so happy with the result.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
50 Hours Away....
The music festival is SO close, the day after tomorrow!!
This week has been about focusing on the details, never an easy task for a brain that kinda, sorta abhors and rebels against sitting down and working through the tiny bits and pieces. I managed to work in fits and starts, breathed deeply at times and thought about the end result of a fantastic music festival to push me forward. Addtionally, I have hundreds of people relying on me to organize and communicate as best as I can. I didn't think about the latter too much but I did allow this reality to pass through my consciousness once in a while to appreciate the moment.
Some friends of mine have reminded me what an accomplishment this is for me (or anyone): that I set a HUGE goal for myself and for better or worse stuck with it. It's difficult for me to let myself think this. Perhaps because I'm just not used to being on this end of an accomplishment is why I'm reacting in this muted fashion (or because the festival is two days ahead of me rather than two days behind). I heard a successful author say recently, to paraphrase, "I realized I had poor self esteem regarding the things I did naturally well." Man, did my ears perk up and know in a moment that this is my case. I think that's part of the reason why it difficult for me to take a moment and be genuinely proud of what I've accomplished. So in that spirit I say...
Creating a music festival from scratch has certainly not been easy and I can now say that, no this is not for everyone. It took a lot of organization (not natural to me) and a ton of good communication and diplomacy (very natural to me). So, yes, I am proud of what I have accomplished and will use the experience and good juju that I've engendered to go forward in my life to move ever closer to the work, people and ideas about whom and which I feel most passionate.
This week has been about focusing on the details, never an easy task for a brain that kinda, sorta abhors and rebels against sitting down and working through the tiny bits and pieces. I managed to work in fits and starts, breathed deeply at times and thought about the end result of a fantastic music festival to push me forward. Addtionally, I have hundreds of people relying on me to organize and communicate as best as I can. I didn't think about the latter too much but I did allow this reality to pass through my consciousness once in a while to appreciate the moment.
Some friends of mine have reminded me what an accomplishment this is for me (or anyone): that I set a HUGE goal for myself and for better or worse stuck with it. It's difficult for me to let myself think this. Perhaps because I'm just not used to being on this end of an accomplishment is why I'm reacting in this muted fashion (or because the festival is two days ahead of me rather than two days behind). I heard a successful author say recently, to paraphrase, "I realized I had poor self esteem regarding the things I did naturally well." Man, did my ears perk up and know in a moment that this is my case. I think that's part of the reason why it difficult for me to take a moment and be genuinely proud of what I've accomplished. So in that spirit I say...
Creating a music festival from scratch has certainly not been easy and I can now say that, no this is not for everyone. It took a lot of organization (not natural to me) and a ton of good communication and diplomacy (very natural to me). So, yes, I am proud of what I have accomplished and will use the experience and good juju that I've engendered to go forward in my life to move ever closer to the work, people and ideas about whom and which I feel most passionate.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Festival Organization & Adult ADHD
No doubt when this festival is all over I will write a big ole' essay on the various triumphs and tragedies and things learned about organization. Thankfully, I am very far, mood-wise, from where I was just a week ago. Oh, the joys of possessing a brain prone to such wide arcs.
I am utterly and completely in the midst of detailed work of putting together musicians and venues. Even writing this essay is taking me away from doing work that I need to be doing NOW but I wanted to fit in an essay and update even if it took 10 minutes away from working. Below is a photo I took this past Sunday working away at my parents' dining room table.
Those are porches and music acts being laid and organized. It took me a long time mentally to get to that point and there was an unacceptable level of anxiety that I experienced for days beforehand but I did indeed arrive at a place of productive work and it was immensely satisfying. I now feel that in just about anything I do where I need to get The Big Picture laying things out on a table is the way to go. Computer screen be damned.
Now back to work.
I am utterly and completely in the midst of detailed work of putting together musicians and venues. Even writing this essay is taking me away from doing work that I need to be doing NOW but I wanted to fit in an essay and update even if it took 10 minutes away from working. Below is a photo I took this past Sunday working away at my parents' dining room table.
Those are porches and music acts being laid and organized. It took me a long time mentally to get to that point and there was an unacceptable level of anxiety that I experienced for days beforehand but I did indeed arrive at a place of productive work and it was immensely satisfying. I now feel that in just about anything I do where I need to get The Big Picture laying things out on a table is the way to go. Computer screen be damned.
Now back to work.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Data, Data and More Data
I'm in a much better space mood wise than I was when I wrote my last essay. A good lunch out with my BFF (and her 42lb puppy) and an evening music session with some new friends has been incredibly good for my spirits. Work is still slow but I can't do anything about that at this moment at this writing.
Regarding Adult ADHD and music festival planning, it's difficult. No two ways about it. I have a massive amount of decently organized material that needs much more decency added to it.
I met with my friend DR yesterday who's an organizing machine. Since I am putting on a festival with approximately 20 venues and 40 music acts, there is MUCH data through which to be sorted. He looked at my information, which I proudly state, IS decently organized and did what I haven't been able to do; looked over everything, saw where gaps remained and created a structure upon which I could fill in these gaps. He did that in the span of about five minutes.
Thank you for friends with brains different than mine.
The festival is only 16 days away.
Regarding Adult ADHD and music festival planning, it's difficult. No two ways about it. I have a massive amount of decently organized material that needs much more decency added to it.
I met with my friend DR yesterday who's an organizing machine. Since I am putting on a festival with approximately 20 venues and 40 music acts, there is MUCH data through which to be sorted. He looked at my information, which I proudly state, IS decently organized and did what I haven't been able to do; looked over everything, saw where gaps remained and created a structure upon which I could fill in these gaps. He did that in the span of about five minutes.
Thank you for friends with brains different than mine.
The festival is only 16 days away.
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