thoughts on momentum 2012.

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to spend Wednesday September 5th-Sunday September 9th in Orlando at the Yacht and Beach Club for a music conference called Momentum. It's a gathering of radio people and record labels from the Christian music industry. I was able to get a super cheap ticket for the whole event as a college student, along with a free ticket to Night of Joy both nights thanks to my friend Jen. The whole entire weekend was a complete steal, so how could I not go?

My whole reason for going in the first place was to meet people and hopefully make connections. I realize that getting into the music business does have something to do with the education that you have, but the connections that you make along the way are just as, if not more, important than your education. So, off I went to momentum with no real expectations...

Jen didn't really tell me much about what to expect from the weekend, so I really had no idea what I was stepping into. But I suddenly realized that I had stepped into the right place when Steven Curtis Chapman walked into the lobby of the convention center and I turned to Jen and said, "Jen, that's Steven Curtis Chapman right there. For real?" After a minor inward freak out, I realized that this was how the rest of the weekend was going to go, and I accepted it. That was when I came up with the saying "My life is so strange..." to describe the entire weekend.

There were a number of crazy opportunities to meet people from all over the place, and to take in an insanely large amount of music. Like on Wednesday night, for instance, when there were little stripped down acoustic sets put on by Dara Maclean, Jason Castro, and For King and Country in a suite on the top floor of the beach club, or chatting with Andrew Peterson who introduced me to Steve Ford, who offered me an internship at Centricity Music after only chatting for 15 minutes. Or riding in an elevator with Jason Castro, his guitar, and his baby's stroller one night, and riding in an elevator with Matthew West the next afternoon. Or passing Amy Grant as you're running late for Night of Joy and exchanging an extremely awkward "hey".

Seriously...My life is so strange. I'm happy for the strange, but I'm even more happy that the Lord is leading me down this path, and that he keeps reigniting the passion within my soul for the music industry. I'm so grateful for the reminders that I receive on a weekly basis that I am doing the right thing with my life. So grateful...

post no. 200!

On August 28th I had the wonderful opportunity to see Andrew Peterson in concert. The last time I saw him was last November, it was really great to see him again.
 

I was able to go with my friend Jen again, just like last time. Actually, the last few shows I've been to, Jen has been there as well. Maybe she's become my concert buddy? If so, I definitely can't complain! She's great, and so much fun to go to shows with.

Before the show started, we went to Tijuana Flats for dinner. It was generally just really nice to catch up, even though I felt like I barely spoke because I was still recovering from getting back home and the first week of classes back in session. It was great, though.

We rushed back to the church and it was filling up quickly, but we managed to get front row seats. The show was magnificent, but I couldn't have really expected anything less. And I think that it might be more fun for Andrew to play in Florida since he has a history here. Plus, when he tells his jokes, we all understand them because we live here and we know how it is.

Afterward, we talked to all three of the guys. They are so nice! There are reasons why these people are my favorites, and that's one of them. :-)

Afterward we parted ways and made our journey home. I didn't end up getting home until nearly midnight, and I was completely exhausted the next day, but it was so worth it.

If you ever get the opportunity to make it to an Andrew Peterson show, do it!

P.S. This is my 200th post on ye olde blog. Fitting that it's about a concert, no?

monday happiness # 3.

 

My Monday happiness is a bit more than Monday happiness. It's more like Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday happiness. Which, by the way, I'm really grateful that I can say. I've felt like such a Negative Nancy lately, even though I know that God is doing amazing things in my life right now, and I can clearly see the many ways that He is blessing me daily. I don't know, maybe I've just been so caught up in my head lately. I've certainly been thinking way too hard. 

Anyway, Saturday I had the opportunity to take my Grandma out to lunch. I don't know why, but I was just especially cheery for no reason. Then I heard Jason Gray's newest single "I Am New" for the first time on the radio. Then I was especially cheery for a reason. :-)

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to drive 2.5 hours north to see Andrew Peterson in concert for the first time. It was such a wonderful show. A great night of storytelling about the greatest story of them all. I also got to meet up with some good friends in Ormond Beach. We got to geek out about music the whole night. It's weekends like this past weekend that really make me realize how much of a music junkie I am, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Today, though I was very much lacking in the sleep department, I still managed to have a great day. It might have a little something to do with the fact that I found out I finished my English class with a B. Meaning I had to have done way better on my argumentative essay on pirating music then I had originally thought. I feel like a dork now, because that paper caused me so much anxiety. I think I had nightmares about it and came close to hyperventilating a few times.

Also, we finally got cold weather. Cold for a Floridians standards, anyway. It has been so beautiful the past few days. That always does my heart, mind, and soul some good. 

I just feel like I was fed spiritually, mentally, and emotionally this weekend.