Making it big. What does that really mean? How big is big? Is big rich? Is big successful? Is big content? I have heard people say, "If I had lots of money I would be happy. If I had a bigger home, I would be happy? Ask yourself, what would make you happy? I could make a big list of things that some people believe would be the key to the making it big. Financial security, great marriage, great kids, happiness, respect, fame, or being your own boss. Did any of these things make you go that would be "nice".
I am not against shooting for the stars. I believe that God sometimes calls us to do the impossible. I believe God calls us to chase dreams bigger than us. Dreams so big that we shake our heads and say, "There is no way I can accomplish that!" I think God is up in heaven listening to me and my doubts. He smiles and shakes his head up and down. He knows that I know, it is impossible. He knows that he has me where I need to be. I am not bragging about what I am going to accomplish because I can't. God size dreams need God to make them come true but it is up to me to do my part.
I love to go to Nashville and go to the Bluebird Café. The Bluebird Café is (in my opinion) the #1 singer songwriter venue in the USA. I would say the world but I've never stepped foot outside of our borders. What do I know? My favorite part is to go to the Bluebird on a songwriter in the round night. They will have three songwriters on the stage and they will take turns sharing their songs. The crowd is listening to every word intently. Nobody is talking. Everyone in the crowd is focused on the music and the lyrics. This is songwriter heaven.
Anybody who has ever played music knows that there are good and bad places to share your music. I played an Open Mic at RC McGraw's in Manhattan, KS. The place was packed. It was taco night and college students were tearing up some tacos and drinking beer with their buddies. Everyone was talking and laughing and having a great time. I got up on stage and I played four or five songs. Some people looked at me, a few listened, and to the rest of the crowd, I was elevator music. I was background noise to fill in the gaps in the conversations.
It am not complaining. I love to get up and play. I would do it again, "but" I would rather play at the Bluebird Café. The Bluebird Café is not like Cheers where everyone knows your name. The Bluebird Café is where everyone hears your songs. Priceless.
At the Bluebird on songwriter nights they will have a big time songwriter close out the show. He or she will play their hit song that are played on the radio. They will tell stories about why they wrote their song. The might tell about the first time they heard it on the radio. They will share their stories of how long they wrote songs before getting a hit song. What they are really doing is saying, " I had the same struggles, problems, obstacles, etc. as you, but I am so blessed to be here."
After watching these shows I come out knowing what I want to do. I want to be on that stage sharing my songs and telling my story. I have played at the Bluebird on three Open Mic nights. I have also auditioned twice to play on a Sunday night Songwriter night. I have not been selected to play but I haven't given up.
Tomorrow is September 28th. It is the day that I can sign up again to audition. I am going to try again. Sometimes I am not able to make it through the wait in line on the computer to get to audition. Tomorrow I will get on my computer and I will try again. There are many songwriters who won't try. They will talk about signing up, they will talk about auditioning, and then they will wonder why their dreams never came true. Don't be like them. Chase your dreams. Dream big. I want to hear your story of making it big.