The trip is inching closer...

Hi friends -- thanks for joining me.  Well, I've been on the road like a madman this month, but definitely making progress towards my international adventure.  For one thing, "Waiting For Betsy", my new pop-rock record, has finally arrived!  I got a batch of CDs fedexed to me in Maryland, where I sang this past weekend in Baltimore and Philadelphia... honestly, it went over great.  I did something in concerts that I didn't plan on doing:  I sang parts of some of the pop songs, just me and a guitar or piano... then I had somebody press play on the corresponding song on the new CD, to invite people into the creative / production process.  I wasn't 100% sure audiences would be interested, but all the CDs I had were sold out by the end of my second concert, so that was a good sign :-)

So many other things about the trip:

1, I've received a reply to my submission to sing at the MIDEM Conference:  the answer is No. Oh well.  I was pleased with my submission, and though I thought it was a long shot for me to sing One Power for that audience (given how pop-oriented the world's commercial music is), I'm proud of myself for trying.  "Here Goes Everything" indeed.  It'll be interesting to visit the showcase stage, to see whether a performance there would have actually been right to do.  Evidently not :-)

2, I've spoken now with three people in the music business who have attended MIDEM in the past.  VERY informative.  What's exciting, actually, is that - while there's no doubt that the music industry is shrinking, and that the world's economy is struggling - neither 'expert' has really thrown cold water on my plan at all.  They've told me simply to go, be prepared with the right materials (CD, bio, photo, etc.), stay open to meeting as many people as possible, dress warm (!), and keep realistic expectations.  Actually, one of the people I talked to, a wonderful man named Eli, told me that there is a whole subset of MIDEM attendees looking for exactly what I'm representing:  a relatively unknown artist (and American apparently doesn't hurt, either) with a finished CD who's interested in spreading the music around Europe or Asia through radio, press, shows, etc.  So I'm encouraged, despite the 'negative' overall economic and industry picture.  It's gonna be exciting.  And Lord knows I believe in miracles -- I've experienced a million of them (no burning bushes, though).

3, I've gotten more and more eager to introduce my inspirational 'music for humanity' to the world music industry.  I just have this feeling about it -- I have for years, truthfully.  The fact that I'm going to introduce the concept to people who could make the music available in Australia, Japan, Europe, South America... it's a big deal.  Maximum impact, a more peaceful world, a more connected humanity.  Think good thoughts.  It doesn't matter that I'm not performing (though I'm still open to some opportunity opening up); I really believe that the time is right for the music and the message, that the world is hungry for it, that the 'market' exists.  Maybe it's my job to prove it.

4, I've put out feelers, just this week, to talk with a couple of PR people, and a couple of radio promoters, about getting "Waiting For Betsy" out into the American music scene - not only print media, but also probably the college arena, or smaller-market pop stations.  It's exciting to think about.  I don't know where it leads, but I do know that getting "Jessica Alba" onto the radio around the U.S. and Canada (#24 national Indie Pop!) felt like a major achievement and an important next step.  As I go to MIDEM, I'm told that the more "buzz," momentum and industriousness I can demonstrate, the better my pitch will be... so I'm hoping and planning for some good reviews in newspapers, magazines and music websites, and (maybe, just maybe) some radio airplay for a second single from Waiting For Betsy!  (If you've ordered the CD, it'll go out this week; and if you feel like it, I'd love to know which song(s) you think might make the best radio single.) (And if you want to order it, click here.)

Anyway, as you can tell, I'm excited.  November has been, well, OVERbooked:  Kansas City, Portland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Orlando, Jacksonville, Laguna Beach, and Albuquerque.  The great news is, lots of people are interested in my Water Retreat (registrations have been coming in quickly, and I LOVE that because I know what an amazing time they'll have in February); lots of wonderful comments and appreciations for my music, which I always appreciate, AND of course, CD sales and gifts to support this trip in January.  I'm very, very glad, I will admit, that in December I've planned NOT ONE TRIP.  That'll give me time to gather my thoughts, prepare the materials, rest my body and voice, spend time with girlfriend & friends & family, have some more informational conversations with people... and just clear the space for something amazing to happen.

Thanks for taking this ride with me.  I love that you've joined me.  

Until next time,

Daniel

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel's trip to Cannes in January, and support him as he introduces the consciousness of "One Power" to the world music industry, click here.  Be sure to note on your online gift 'order' that it's for Daniel's trip to France, so he can personally thank you!

Will I actually PERFORM at the conference?

Have you subscribed yet?  Just click on "Join" or "Follow" on the top-left of your screen... that way you'll know when I've added anything to this little journal!  :-)

Well, yesterday we submitted my application to actually perform in France.  It was a complex process, actually -- we uploaded multiple songs, lyrics, photos, and a 'bio' in order to create what's called an "electronic press kit," or EPK.

If you want to see what the folks at MIDEM will see, by the way, click here.

As with every other aspect of this trip, I have no idea how this will play out.  At a conference like this, the emphasis is frequently on "pop" music -- and my EPK is definitely outside the mainstream.  I mean, words like "vision" and "message" and "moved to tears" aren't your typical pitches for a musical act.  It's actually been an ongoing puzzle in my career:  audiences understand, listeners to the CDs understand, but when I try to describe it, it's hard.  There's no "niche" in the music business for it, there's no radio station that plays it, there's no category in the Grammy's for it.  So what I'm hoping for is:  someone reads my EPK and thinks -- "Hmmm.  Interesting.  Music for humanity?  We've got 25 rock bands booked; I wonder if this might be a great change of pace for our showcase stage."

Some things I know (and will be reminding myself many times in the next 2 1/2 months :-)

1. What's meant to be will happen.  

2. I didn't have this idea for nought; I didn't pick this year to go for no reason.  I am guided to go, so I go.

3. It will be an amazing trip, and whomever I meet will be perfect.  Whatever happens will be perfect.  And whatever doesn't happen will be perfect.  It's an adventure.

4. It's also a marathon, not a sprint; maybe it'll take three years at MIDEM before something happens.  Or maybe it'll take 5 minutes.

5.  If I do perform this coming January, it'll attract attention :-)

We'll see... I think I'll hear from them within just a couple of weeks if I'm selected to sing.

Thanks for reading -

Daniel

PS  Interestingly, they actually CHARGE -- a LOT -- to perform!  I mean, it would add thousands of additional dollars to the cost of the trip, just to sing a 40-minute set.  Weird, right?  Doesn't feel great, but oh well.  Yet another investment in a 10-years-and-counting career of investments and 'chances' taken.  (Is there really such a thing as "risk?" Perhaps no --the line in "I Don't Need To Know" comes to mind, "as if I could damage my soul" -- but it sure feels like it sometimes, doesn't it.)  It's all for fun, and it's all exciting, and it always turns out aright.  I am always taken care of.  Or, as "Here Goes Nothing" says, "I'm OK, I've always been, and I'll always be that way."  You too.

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel on his journey to MIDEM in January 2009, click here to send your gift of any amount.  Thank you!

First Time Blogging... the beginning of my French adventure :-)

Hi everybody -- thanks for joining me on my new blog.  

Before I begin, I want to encourage to you to actually SUBSCRIBE -- that way, you can follow my updates as they happen.  Just click on "Join" or "Follow" at the top-left of your screen.  

Anyway...

I've started this blog because I'm off on a great adventure, and I wanted to include anyone who wants to join me!  Well, not technically JOIN me on the plane (though I guess you could), but join me in spirit.  The reason I'm going to France is to attend the world's largest music industry conference, called MIDEM, which happens in Cannes starting January 18 2009.

Now why is this such a big deal?  It's not because it's costing me a small fortune (though it is).  And it's not because I've never been to France before (actually, I have -- a long time ago, but that's another story).  

It's because of what my mission is.  And because of what this trip means for me, on multiple levels.

I've wanted to attend MIDEM for maybe 7 years now... I've just never had the nerve / cash / available time / fill-in-the-blank-with-your-favorite-excuse :-)  But this year has been a year of major shifts for me.  I've been singing my inspirational music around the United States -- traveling a lot (seriously, a lot) (did I mention, a LOT?) -- and at the same time I've moved my life down to Orange County CA, from West Hollywood and Santa Monica where I've lived a combined 10 years.  AND, I've also been recording a pop-rock CD called Waiting For Betsy, which has caused me to stretch in every way - financially, professionally, vocally, stylistically, songwriterally, performanceally & producerally (not real words, but you know what I mean).  It's been INTENSE.  And I'm coming out the other end of the project now, the CD is being mastered and it'll be manufactured in just a few weeks.  

I love pop music, and I'm loving my new CD.  I've already sold some (preorder here), which is cool, and the initial response from the music industry has been extremely positive.  So that's exciting.  I'm thrilled about it, actually.  It's already been on the radio.  It's got a good shot of ending up on TV and film.  I'm hiring a publicist next month to drum up some press... these are fun plans.  

And yet, there's another part of me, as an artist and a human being, that's had my eye on something bigger.  It's the part of me that sings "One Power," that took 3 months off in Utah, that volunteers in hospitals and prisons, that wrote "Last Song."  That part of me.  It isn't quite fed by the smartass, in-your-face, loud pop music.  It's fed by singing for humanity.  Being of service.  Doing good work, straight from my heart, straight to someone else's heart.

So what does all this have to do with MIDEM?  Well, my initial thought was to finish my pop CD, grab a bunch of copies, hop a plane, and walk around all over the conference handing them out, telling people about this Santa Monica-based pop-rock thing, and see if anyone around the world (radio stations, distributors, record labels, etc.) is interested in it.

But then I got to thinking:  What do I really stand for?  Who am I?  What kind of music do I make, what kind of music do my supporters appreciate the most?  What do I do that has the greatest impact, the makes the greatest difference?

And I returned to myself.  I am going to France as a recording artist.  Someone who sings songs for humanity.  Someone who brings love, compassion, connection and inspiration with him.  Someone who does not check membership cards before accepting and supporting -- not race, not religion, not language, not country.  Someone who brings the walls down for a few minutes at a time.  Someone holding a vision, like "Imagine" and "You Raise Me Up," of music that can do more than just entertain, but also uplift and inspire.  Someone who has found, throughout the United States and Canada, that people are hungry for more music of love, the deepest kind of love, God love, unconditional love.  Peace.  Serenity.  Trust.  A turning away from fear and division, a turning towards each other.  Facing the past without burden.  Facing the present without judgment.  Facing the future without the need for (or illusion of) our control.

I'm going to France, my friends, on behalf of everyone I've ever sung for, everyone I've ever met, everyone I've ever supported with my music.  And I'm going to see how I can reach the rest of the world with my music and message.  Among other things, I'm putting in my name to actually PERFORM "One Power" at the Conference...

More about the exact process later.  There are songs to prepare, CDs to burn, experts to consult, travel to book, and on and on.  Truthfully, if I'm gonna level with you, I don't know what I'm doing... basically, I'm following the advice of my own Water songs -- and going where the Ocean says to go.  In this case, it says, "get thee to Cannes".  And so I go.  Thanks for supporting me.  I'll keep you posted.

With love,

Daniel

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel on his journey to MIDEM in January 2009, click here to send your gift of any amount.  Thank you!