I received another warm welcome at the Celtic Cup Coffeehouse just 1.5 hrs south of Nashville. It was a small and intimate crowd, and I was well-received. I sold some more albums :-)
That night I got locked out of the place I was staying! It was an accident - since I was so tired I decided to stay with another friend of mine, and we ended up hanging out the next day at the farmer's market open mic in downtown Nashville. See pic below - that was my friend Kevin Crafton.
Later Saturday evening, I went out with my friend Marisa, with whom I was staying. Her friend was playing a show and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Below is a pic of me and my girl and also a video of a fabulous singer-songwriter. I've never seen anybody quite like him! Good times.
Sunday June 27th - Commodore Grill Nashville, TN
The reality of this show was that A. My performance went very VERY well, and B. Unfortunately I pissed off the woman who booked me. The beauty of the Commodore Grill is that it is a place for songwriters to meet each other. Every time I have played there in the past, I've made new friends and I've heard great songs; these are the situations I love and the reason that I go to Nashville. I LOVE listening to all of the talent. What did I do wrong? I had a six hour drive that night and so I left right after I played. The booker was quite obviously offended that I wasn't going to stay and listen to my fellow songwriters, and although I was sorry to leave, I did what I had to do to take care of myself. When you're playing a show every day for months at a time it's very important to stay healthy, stay well-rested, and prioritize YOU. There is a fine line between being responsible and pleasing others.
Monday and Tuesday June 28th/29th - WEDDING PLANNING
I played no music on these days. For the first time in the last month I was able to focus on the near future and my upcoming wedding! I also got to hang out with my new sister and her adorable kids. We picked cherries and goofed off.
On Tuesday we went to the Zoo..
Wednesday July 1st - Melody Inn in Indianapolis, IN
While I did not think that my style of music was particularly suited for this venue, I had a lot of fun with new friends, honorary family, and fellow musicians. And the owner of the club was a sweetheart.
Thursday July 2nd - Be Here Now in Muncie, IN
This was an amazing venue! Not only did the people vibe off of me (and therefore I off of them), the setup was cool and I have a new acting tour manager. I am excited to go back to this place.
Friday July 3rd - O'Sullivan's in Fort Wayne, IN
Here is the show we'd all been waiting for. I had the most family and friends at this show since I've played in Vermont. It felt very intimate and special because it was the first time most of these people had heard me play live. Big thanks to everybody who came out to play :-)
Other news: we are all sold out of my green t-shirts. Very close to selling out in the other styles, and so I have ordered new ones which I'll have by the time my August tour begins. It was a crazy month of shows. Between June 1st and July 3rd I've sold a total of 67 albums, 21 t-shirts, 3 vinyls, and 13 posters (not including online sales). This may not seem like much to those of you who follow pop stars and artists who are signed to major labels; however, it is a huge accomplishment for an indie artist like me. Basically, it means that people like my music. I have played in many new venues, in areas where I'd never been, for small crowds and big crowds.. Every show is a stepping stone.
July 4th - TIME OUT FROM MUSIC
What a lucky girl I am to have such a fabulous family. I got to meet more of my future husband's side this weekend and it went very well.
I am taking a week-long break from the music shows because I have a job in Grand Rapids MI which I do every year. I'll get to focus more on my aerial, acrobatic & directorial instincts this week. I'm thrilled for a short break from my tour. I'll check back in with you all once the music shows start up again!
xo,
Elle
