Late Nights

Whew! My husband has been working late which has been upsetting the kids and putting extra pressure on me. I don't mind the working late- I worked a lot of overtime pre-kids and do a lot of weekend gigs during the summer - but, it's definitely bothering him and the kids, which is a problem for all of us. So, I've been doing my best to make it easy for him (and guilt free), but the kids are upset that he gets home at around their bedtime. And, has been working on weekends.

As for me, it makes me re-think the musician/should I get a real job question. Part of me wants a steady income/job, and part of me doesn't want to quit what I've started and give up this freedom. So, I've begun to halfheartedly look around. Found a music teacher opening at a private school. I should apply, but I have this thing about private schools. I live in Boulder - the schools here are good and you have lots of choice in going to focus schools. So, who goes to this particular private school? Not anyone who lives in my neighborhood! Which is a dilemma for me. I'd like to teach, but don't have a teaching certificate. Which means I can only get a job at a private school. But, that goes against my grain. To get a teaching certificate I'd have to go to school and student teach which would take 1-2 years, lots of money, and I'm 50! What school district is going to hire a 52 year old first time teacher? I could sub. And that's what I should have done this year. But, I was too lazy to submit the application and then I got a part-time afternoon job, so that ruled out subbing most days.

So, I guess the compromise is to apply to sub for next year, hope I don't have the afternoon commitment, and earn some money that way, so I can keep gigging and keep doing the music thing. I'm already getting leads for 2007 summer concerts - a western Colorado tour, which if I worked at it, I could probably extend into Arizona or up through Wyoming. All it takes is a lot of emails and followthrough. I'm good at the emails. It's the follow through that I suck at. And I've never booked a tour before. So, that scares me a bit. Paralyzes might be a better word.

Got to go - Steve's home and almost done reading to Becky.

Sick Child

Becky has been home sick all week. Finally got her fever down to 100.3 -100.6, but her cough is driving her (and me) crazy. Actually, being home with her for the past three days is driving me (and her) even crazier. I love my child, but such closeness is clautrophobic. So, I've been spending my time cooped up working on a postcard mailing for libraries and lots of time on MySpace. In fact, I need friends. http://www.myspace.com/sueschnitzer

Haven't worked on songwriting or my CD very much. It's amazing how tired I feel when I don't get out, don't walk the dog more than a few blocks, and can't sleep well because I'm worried about my kid. Today, I got out long enough to go teach my songwriting elective - my students are 5 sixth and seventh grade boys. Interesting group actually. A couple of them are in a band so they want to write a song for that, entitled "Camping sucks". I don't think we'll be able to share that one at share day (all grades, K-8). But, I'm letting them write it and we'll record it so I can burn them a CD. It's always interesting coming up with song ideas and titles with middle schoolers. Two of the kids are working on a song about poachers (not eggs!). It's about the elephants and tigers they're hunting in Africa turning the tables and hunting them. Hm.

Longmont Library

Had a great show at Longmont Library today. Becky and her friend Lizzie danced and sang along with "Best Friends". Then boredom and moodiness returned and they took my car keys and left. Luckily, they don't drive. They just wanted out so they played in my van. Listened to Fall Out Boy on my ipod and rearranged the back seats. Ah, the life of a performer.

Should get the rough mixes tonight of the rest of my new CD. Still trying to figure out how to get my first one manufactured - the films are old and I'd like to update contact info. Lession learned, only put my website on the CD and booklet. Email addresses can change.

Finished recording, I hope!

All right! Have a CD of rough mixes for six songs - can be heard on my website, http://www.weebeemusic.com/music.html. They sound great! I can hear a few things I might want to fix/tweak, but I'm really happy with what we have so far. Can't wait to hear the other 9 songs and the joke track. Not sure where that will go on the CD, but I've got a few weeks to figure that out.

Just realized the other day when I did inventory that I'm almost out of two of my CDs, "Wiggle and Whirl" and "Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat". So, now I'm trying to figure out how to order more W&W's because the artwork is all on film, not digital (from 2000). It may be cheaper to just redo the graphics than to go with what I have. Argh. More work, more time, and more money. And, somehow I need the money to reorder Boo and then get graphics done for the new one, "Best Friends", and decide whether to go with 1,000, or be optomistic and order 2,000 of the new one. Not sure yet on that, but I have a few weeks yet to figure it out. Need to reorder W&W ASAP. Can probably wait until June to reorder Boo. This is getting way too complicated and way too expensive.

But, I'm hoping to get lucky with some of the tracks on the new CD - licensing? Who knows. Whatever I can do, I'm already starting to look around.