This Musician Is Not Meant To Be An Accountant

Being self employed holds many exciting opportunities.  It also, however, creates challenges.  For instance, as a musician my desire is to sit with a cup of Starbucks and pluck away at my guitar hours on end creating music.

I cannot do this while I am also the business end of my name.

My daily work includes making phone calls, booking jobs, writing bills, preparing to teach students, sitting in a small room with students, calling the bank to take care of bounced checks clients have written me, learning computer skills to keep up on emails, iTune downloads and Facebook social networking and then re-learning everything a day later as it rapidly changes.

I would much prefer sitting and creating music with my cup of coffee.  But, houses, food, cars and kids are not free.  I have to also take care of the business end of being self employed.

One day I hope to spend an afternoon, a day, a week or even a month sitting next to an ocean or Great Lake doing nothing but creating, and engaging in worshipful music to my creator.

For now, paying the bills takes priority and steals my joy and time.  Oh how I long for those days of youth where I could sit in the presence of God and pluck away at what I call music.

My New Year in Music

Welcome to 2012. My New Year's Eve, like any professional musician I suppose, consisted of 3 gigs (starting at 2:00 in the afternoon and running into midnight, then 1 gig on New Year's Day). It was an amazing way to ring in the new year, though I did miss time with my family (always a downside).

Some of my goals for 2012 include:

• Playing more gigs
• Expanding my show with new music
• Posting more videos of my performances
• Enjoying life, while paying down debt
• Digging deeper into my spiritual journey as I walk a Christian life

What are your goals?

For information on booking John Scott Musician, visit http://www.johnscottmusician.yolasite.com or email him @ Johnscottmusician@yahoo.com .

John Scott 2012 Tour Info.

We are sitting down to plan next year's tour. We are considering doing an "Open Up The Door" tour, playing at venues throughout Door County, WI. We are also considering Apostle Island area, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton... Maybe even head back up into the Upper Penninsula. Lake Superior was awesome.

Any suggestions?

Sit Down Behind The Scenes With Steven Curtis Chapman

So excited to hear that Steven Curtis Chapman is coming to St. Louis (my city). Even better news, is he's coming to the St. Peters area, which is very close to my house. I had the privilege of seeing a Steven Curtis Chapman concert years ago. It was amazing. Though his music is inspiring, and brilliant; what struck my wife and I was how open he was with the audience. He told stories of how songs got their start. He told stories of his then young son, Will Franklin. It was as if we were sitting in his living room with a cup of coffee, enjoying a talk with a close friend.

Fast forward to today - The man has endured more hardship than anyone would ever think he would. Since I saw him in concert, he has adopted little girls from China. One tragic May afternoon, Maria was killed on the driveway that led to their home. Will Franklin (the one we heard stories about at the concert, and felt as though we knew him) was behind the wheel of the vehicle, and did not see the little girl running. In a tragic accident, her life ended that day. The loss of a little girl is tragic enough. However, now the family would learn how to live with the needless guilt Will Franklin would now endure. And, that would just be the beginning of their struggles to recapture their personal faith.

If you are anywhere near the St. Louis area on October 13 - Check out Steven Curtis Chapman's Songs & Stories Tour. Read more about it here:

Steven Curtis Chapman Songs & Stories Tour comes to St. Louis - St. Louis Christian Music | Examiner.com

A Night of Music at Rendezvous Cafe'

Finally - Much awaited pictures from my solo performance at Rendezvous Cafe' in O'Fallon. I am schedule to perform here again on October 28, then on November 11.

Ear Peace: More Than An Ear Plug - Get Your 25% Coupon Code

The people at Ear Peace were kind enough to send me a pair of Ear Peace ear plugs to try out and review. But, that's not all! They also are offering savings to you - my readers! Keep reading to get your coupon code. I was excited when I received the package and, being the wife of a musician, realized immediately that my husband was perfect for conducting the review.

Today, he tried them out. But, it wasn't at a concert. He went outside to mow the lawn. He usually uses a sponge-type earplug when he mows to protect his ears from the noise. He read the instructions and inserted them into his ears. A nice thing about about them is that you can adjust them to control the volume at different levels. Another nice thing we realized immediately is that they are made of silicone and they come with a container to store them in that attaches to a keychain for easy access. The silicone makes it possible to wash the ear plugs and reuse them. This is very important to my hubby because he has, in the past, reused ear plugs and then suffered from an ear infection. Not so, with the Ear Peace.

The ear peace plugs have a little silicone notch on them that make them easy to remove from the ear. So, no worries of losing something inside your eardrum. The silicone also makes them flexible, providing comfort and fit to different sized ears easily.

Ear peace earplugs can be found at Earpeace.com The 25% off discount code for 2 sets of the EarPeace product to use when you order is music25.

Drop some love - It only takes a dollar!

Hey guys! The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $9,200 worth of cash, goods and services to their recipient, the Stalnaker family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the effects of the BP oil spill on the Louisiana economy. The family was in need of a car and the Love Drop team was able to surprise them with one, making it one of the most exciting Love Drops ever. You can watch how it all went down here.

This month they rally behind the Aubins - a Michigan mother and her three children who are mourning the death of Keith, husband and father, after his lengthy battle with multiple health problems. Our goal is to raise at least $3,600 to pay the family's rent for three months, which will allow them to focus on what they need to during this time, without fear of losing their home. Additionally, since Keith was an organ donor, he leaves a powerful legacy and the Love Drop team hopes to raise awareness of organ donation this month to honor Keith's memory. Help us make this month special for the Aubins!

Want to help? Here are three ways you can participate:

Give $25 towards rent <-- Click this link to contribute $25 towards their rent for the next three months - it will relieve so much stress for them. Give a gift or service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.

Organ donation - We're giving the Aubin's the gift of knowing that the people on our team are organ donors. If you are one now, or pledge to be soon, please tell us so, and we'll relay the total number as a gift at the Drop.