Gig and Gap at the Cap!

We just got our first Gap store next to my regular Friday night jazz gig at Capital Kitchen here in Melbourne thus...Gap at the Cap! I never shop there when I'm in LA so I can't see it holding any interest for me here. Not enough sequins!
Here's some footage from Aug 20 2010. The first song you'll know the second is one of my own jazz tunes called Twinkle Twinkle.
I loved this outfit. A Basque sequined skirt that was 50% off the 50% off price and also on sale, the top, which has big black sequins down the front from, believe it or not, Laura Ashley.

People are just the Cutest!

I actually really enjoy the human race. Without exception I believe that one on one, you can find good in everyone. Or...at least a reason for their dis-function. I live to gig because in this world that is my best method of connection. Internet is all well and good but it is not a conduit for the information carried by the personal vibration of an individual.  Anyway..... I have pictures and video's everywhere and my persona is out there for all to see. But I feel it should be a two way st. SOOO... I asked all the fans from jango radio to send me a picture of them so I could post it on my blog and website. I haven't worked out yet how to edit the website but I can start right here!

This is the lovely Amanda from North Carolina. If I ever get to NC I can take her out for a drink!

This is the fabulous Mississippi Heat from Evanston Ill. You can check them out here     http://www.mississippiheat.net  and I hope they'll let me sit in with them one day!

This is the very dashing Paul. Definitely "all that" in his day. He didn't tell me anything so a man of mystery!

Now this Eddie and his mates. Eddie is on the left. He's coming to Melbourne to see a show which is lovely! Only, I'm not sure he realizes I will be doing a fair amount of jazz tunes!

And just look at this gorgeous smile! This is Rico. And if he lets me know where we can here him play I'll let you know.

This is the very joyful Carlos who is a movie buff, www.guion.com.br
check it out!



 Here is the latest pic. This is Justice Trillin (isn't that a great name!) from California. I asked him to find a venue near him for me to sing in when I get to California.

Thanks guys!

Capital Kitchen

I just love having a regular gig and Capital Kitchen is a great place to try out new tunes, originals and some of the more difficult standards. I also get to get dressed up!  Here's a compilation of outfits over the weeks to my cover song Crush.

I've been doing black and white a lot which is unusual for me but it has been very cold and black tights are a must! First clip a lovely Alanah Hill (on sale) with a fantastic little short sleeve jacket from shopbop.com I think. Clip 2, dark blue harem pants with a shortened French Connection dress that I made into a top. The next 4 clips are just a small sampling of some of the amazing  vintage beaded and sequined stuff I have collected. Clip 7, what can I say. I saw it on the outnet.com and it was fairly inexpensive. Last pic is an Ebay purchase a lovely rich red Laundry dress I wore for the original show at the Cornish Arms.

Both Sides Now

This is from a lovely quiet (I let the drummer off to play for the Hell's Angels that night) gig where it was just guitar and bass. This is one of my favorite songs. I had a dream that I should record it.  It was recorded on a Zoom Q3 which I feel doesn't really pick up the bass very well.  I'm also wearing one of my vintage sparkly tops. Very art deco. I hope you enjoy it!

Do the Dresses mean Hope?

I think, that deep down I must believe I'm going to get somewhere with this music caper because I keep buying dresses off Ebay. I sold 2 singles this week, both original so also a good sign.

"Got me some high expectations,
not a lot of natural talent
so I stumble along
trying hard not to loose my balance
and I've run into so many walls
I got me a mansion
And I'm living here all by myself
Well, that's my intention.
What am I doing this for?
What am I doing this for...."
(from High Expectations)

Social Media Sucks

I have to admit, keeping a blog is like having to cook every single night. I want good food but I wish someone else would do it.
I have a new piano player and it's interesting because this piano player seemed way out of my league two years ago. I heard him play at a festival and my ears couldn't take in what he was doing. I loved it and his vocalist is in my opinion Australia's very best jazz artist. I thought at the time wow, I don't think I could work with him. He's so complicated. But at the same time I wanted to work with him. And then, suddenly my regular guy, who I love, started to overplay horribly. Just no space at all, not even in the slowest of ballads. Why???? I was either boring him to death or his loyalty became split when his wife decided she wanted to sing with him. I couldn't find the words to tell him to stop so I just put up with it. When audience members started to comment on his overplaying I knew I had to be brave and call the other guy. I did call, he had just split with his fantastic vocalist and now he's my regular guy. What does this mean??? Is the Universe telling me something? I hope so because really, I think social media is a croc. Who are all those people I follow on Twitter and who are all the people following me? Aren't we all just trying to sell each other something? I don't understand a word anybody is saying on twitter or what it has to do with me. I just want to play live gigs, which I do regularly and get better and better at what I do. If social media gets people out of their homes and into the venue where my band is playing then well and good. But so far, I have not seen that. I think I have just as much chance by doing everything I can to be prepared for the opportunity the Universe may bring my way. This great pianist comes over to my house once a week and records new songs for me to learn. I don't play an instrument so this is the thing I've needed and I learned two new songs in a week! It usually takes me two weeks to learn one.
If you know what twitter is good for and can tell me oh please enlighten me.
cheers,
Connie

2010 Makes 3!

If you know anything about numerology, you will know that 3 is the number of fame and being in the limelight. But of course that means the same thing for all of us. Can there be a world where all artists get some modicum of success? I have come to realize that I would not be happy in the cut throat world of real stardom.

I know what I would be like. I would be very competitive and probably do anything to stay on top. I'd be overly concerned about my looks and perhaps I'd even stop eating. (Heaven forbid) I'd have many migraines from the stress of it all. I can't see me being truly happy.

When I'm working steadily, like a few gigs a week, I'm really happy and never think about what anyone else is doing. But, then I tend to neglect the slog work of promotion and making new contacts. But when I'm not working regularly I'm miserable. I feel my life is over and I have to be diligent about staying in the now. I feel so guilty about all the dresses and shoes that aren't being worn.

This is why the theory about the 100 True fans seems a very suitable solution. Just 100 people who love my songs and will purchase anything I deliver. I'd be very happy with that.

So, maybe there is, with lots of work, a      possibility that we can all have a suitable   career.