The Elusive Butterfly of…HOPE!

Well, last night went very well indeed. I won’t bore you with the details on here, but I placed first, and I advanced to the next round. On my way to Tucson to go to the contest, I got to thinking that I really need to focus on winning the National Karaoke Championship. I have decided that if I win the first contest, I will use the prize money to finance my attempt at the next level.

I am a firm believer in the Universe knowing our needs, and acting accordingly to help us achieve them. The funny thing is that my finding out about this first contest sprang directly from posting here! You see, my friend Letty had read my first post last week, and at one phase of her birthday celebration on Wednesday, she invited me to come to her party last Thursday, with the thought in mind that I could talk to her karaoke DJ friend and try to get some ideas.

Honestly, when it came time to go I had just spent 4 hours learning a new system, and meeting the folks at my new venue, so I was pretty tired. But something kept telling me that I needed to go, so even though I was exhausted, I made the 75 mile drive to her party, and had a great time. She is just an utter doll, and I was so happy to have been able to share even more of her birthday with her!

But the amazing thing that happened was this; when someone heard me sing, they took me aside and told me about the contest in Tucson! They said that they believed I had a good chance of winning it, and that’s what started this latest round.

One thing leads to another, and I started looking up karaoke contests so I could find other small, local contests that I could participate in and possibly win, to add to the coffers. Imagine my delight to realize that the biggest contest of them all was looming on the horizon, and that I still had a great chance to get into it!

I am finding it interesting that the universe seems to be directing me to “sing for my supper” as it were. I am actually wondering if this is the push I’ve needed to pursue the REAL end goal, that of being a professional entertainer.

Y’all, I know I’m pretty good. I can’t deny that, even to myself…but there are moments late at night when you think to yourself, “Awww, my friends are just being nice to me, they are humoring me, I don’t really have what it takes…” And it is those moments that are the soul-killers. My greatest challenge, ever since my mother told me at the age of 13 that I couldn’t carry a tune in a basket, has been believing in myself.

It has been my friends, who also believed in me, and put their money where my mouth is, and likewise total strangers who have taken the time to come up to me and compliment me, telling me that I should be on Broadway that have turned the tide. Total strangers have no reason to lie to me, they have no agenda. Friends who believe in you enough to bankroll you likewise DO have something to lose, but their faith is something to cling to late at night when the black dogs of doubt and fear start hounding your steps.

In the last 6 months, I have lost a lot of the weight that I feared would keep me from being competitive, I’ve improved my health drastically, I’ve been working on my organizational skills, (organized? ME? Are you kidding?) and I’ve been really considering where I want my life to go, and what I want to be doing in a year, in 5 years, and in 10 years.

In my fear, I decided on the “safe”, slow route, and that is still a very viable option, one which would allow me to take care of myself and my obligations, while not stressing my health too badly. But there is a chance, a little butterfly of hope, hanging just visible in the distance. Please bear with me while I chase the elusive butterfly of hope, OK?

Thinking Outside the Box

Thank you again to everyone who is being so supportive! Your e-mails and encouragement mean everything to me! I’ve been putting the word out at my shows, and I will be making a sign to place by my tip jar asking for help to get my own equipment.

So far I’ve gotten $23 in tips that will go in my fund, some weeks I get more, sometimes I get nothing, but I’ve decided that every dollar I get in tips will go to the cause!

I did speak to my boss on Thursday about possibly buying the equipment I’m using over time. The problem is that he would need to purchase a whole new setup as soon as I go out on my own, and so he can’t finance me. The setup he is willing to sell is all less than 1 year old, still in really good shape, and it has been well cared for.

It includes the regular English karaoke, Spanish/Mexican karaoke songs, AND a DJ system. He is willing to sell it for $5500, which is a great deal. Have you ever had to move your entertainment system? Confusing, isn’t it? What lead goes where, does this RCA cable go to the “IN” or the “OUT” place? What connects to what? Well, a karaoke system can be even worse!

However, he has spent hours setting everything up so all I have to do is carry everything in, plug in a few things, and get going! No trying to figure out what hooks into what, everything is neatly put together and ready to rock. I benefit from his learning curve!

So I’d really like to be able to buy that system, and if things go well, I will be able to do so pretty soon!

Another thing I am trying is to compete in karaoke contests where there is a cash prize, or equipment that can be used or sold. Tonight is round one of one such contest; it has a first prize of $250.00! Then there is another National Karaoke contest that has its finals in September.

Now, I don’t mean to come off as a braggart, but I really am a good entertainer. Most nights I have people asking me if I am a professional singer, and when I answer, “No”, their response is, “Well, then, why the hell NOT!???” So I feel that I have a real chance at this.

After watching Britain’s Got Talent, I realized that I’m a better singer than almost anyone who made it to the finals. Susan Boyle has a great voice, but her range is different from mine, and I feel as though I may be even more versatile than she is. We will see!

So wish me well, and if you live in the Southwest, and hear about a Karaoke contest, please let me know, OK? Of course, I have to make the decision as to whether the distance is too far for the possible benefits, as wear and tear on the car and gas money have to be considered. But if I spend $30 to make $250, then that’s a good investment, IMHO.

Right now I need to go practice my songs for tonight, thank you again to everyone for your support! Hugs to you all!

More Options…

Thank you everyone for reading and helping where and how you could. I know these are trying financial times for all of us,  but I do appreciate any and every response.

I did set up a page over at Fundraiser so that folks who prefer to use Paypal can easily do so. You can donate anything from $10 up. Also remember, I’m not asking for free money, I’m asking for a loan which will be repaid!

Here’s the rub though, if I don’t raise at least $2200, then I don’t get anything. I’m at $200 right now, (thank you bro) and I have until the 13th of July to reach my goal. I know I originally said that I need $6000 for a good system; that is still true. But there are other potential options out there, including possibly being able to put a down payment on the equipment I’m currently using, then paying it off over time, but I don’t want to even broach that until I have a down payment. It is good and fairly new equipment in excellent shape, not exactly what I would eventually want, but I could certainly use it well for a couple of years.

Another route is to buy used equipment piecemeal and then replace it over time, as I make money. I have been seriously advised AGAINST buying used equipment by those in the Biz, since you have no idea of how it’s been treated, and also it usually doesn’t last very long. But if I acquire cheaply it with the view that I will have to replace it soon, then I should be OK.

I am going to an event tonight where another karaoke host will be entertaining, she rents her equipment, sets her own gigs, and I will be picking her brain to see if that might be my answer. If nothing else, she often is looking for someone to take gigs for her, since she needs to spend more time with her daughter, so perhaps I could work something out there!

There are many, many options out there for me to be able to make this work, and one way or another, I will make it happen. Remember, if I have this equipment, I will be able to run karaoke shows, DJ weddings and parties, AND potentially have my own variety show here in Tombstone.

Believe me, I am open to any and all suggestions, my brother Kevin has been immensely helpful on this front. So if you know of an option that I have not thought of, please let me know. Even if you can’t help financially, just your good wishes are music to my ears, and they encourage me greatly.

Oh, and does anyone have any spare coyote piss that I can sprinkle in my yard? I just chased 4 mule deer out of here, they figured out after 7 years how to jump the fence, and they are eating all of my roses! I am wishing my dog Thor was still alive, he’d keep ‘em out! The cats are doing absolutely nothing to help the situation, but then again, I guess I can’t expect it of them.

Miss Rosie Needs Your Help…

As many of you well know, the last 6 years have been quite challenging, to say the least.  I have tried to meet the challenges with a smile and a willingness to learn some important lessons, though it hasn’t always been easy. Many of you have already helped me in tangible and intangible ways, for which I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Here is my present reality. I am still living in the huge home that we purchased when we moved to Tombstone. Against my financial advisor’s wishes, we paid off the home, and never incurred a mortgage. Thank heavens for that, since my physical health has often precluded me from being able to work, and if I had been burdened with a mortgage, it is likely I would have lost the home already.

However, because the home is in a trust, I cannot borrow against it without Greg’s approval, and we all know the likelihood of THAT!  (Nope, just looked, and there are no monkeys flying out of my anal orifice, *LOL*) So that leaves me in a strange position, I live in a huge home which I cannot maintain properly, and I cannot borrow against it either.

I have tried desperately to improve my physical health in the last 5 months; I have lost about 30 pounds, and my diabetes and high blood pressure are under control, and my anemia, while not completely controlled, is certainly better than it has been. But it is hard for me to work a 9-5 job day in and day out, because of my “female” issues. If I have to, I will, but around here, the pay runs about $7.00 an hour, which barely keeps the bills paid. However, there is another option for me, and I hope you will consider helping me.

Here is what I am asking for help with:

I need to purchase my own Karaoke and DJ equipment. I am currently working as a karaoke host using someone else’s equipment, and while he has been very kind to give me this opportunity, the reality is that I am not being able to do as much as I could be doing if I had my own show.  He has other people who can run his shows, so I wouldn’t be leaving him in the lurch, in case you were worried about that.

The main problems are that he has another business entirely, which takes much of his time; also he has his own karaoke and DJ shows, which means that I am not his first priority.  In addition, I have no control over where I am scheduled to be each week, which means that it is difficult to book a wedding or party which are the big money makers. Often, I don’t know until the day of an event exactly WHERE I will be! Now, I’m pretty easy-going, but that drives me nuts!

Here are the realities of being a karaoke DJ or a wedding DJ. Karaoke shows make from $125-200 a night plus tips, and weddings and parties range from $500-1500 a show. As you can see, I can make quite a nice living AND pay people back working as few as 4 nights a week. I know one excellent host who is currently working 6 nights a week! The important things are the quality of the music and equipment, and the attitude of the host.

While I am only at the gig for about 4-6 hours, there is the travel and set up time, which usually is about 1-1 ½ hours. The equipment is VERY heavy, but I can handle it just fine. Once I get there and get set up, I always manage to put on my “show persona” even if I’m not feeling my best. Those of you who have been in the biz will understand that!

In fact, the main reason I want to do this is because I have found my niche. I am a GREAT karaoke host and DJ; not to beat my own drum, but I have a fun personality, and when I am having fun, others get caught up in the fun too! Also, if I have this equipment, I can do my own musical show someday… in fact, it is more likely that I will be able to get Ben, the fantastic honky-tonk piano player, to come onboard for a show if I have the right stuff.

A couple of my friends have already contributed to the original cause of my having my own variety show, and after purchasing wigs, and costuming supplies I still have some of that money left to use as a starting place, but I need about $6000 more to be able to have a good, complete system. The system would be capable of doing karaoke AND DJ in both Spanish and English (a necessity this close to the border), and is compact enough to be carried in my car. (Yes, I do speak some Spanish and French) As time goes on, I will add to the system and upgrade, but for now, $6000 will see me well on my way.

Why so much? Well, here’s where the money will go. First, most DJ’s now use computers and external hard drives to store their music files. We no longer have to cart around tons of CD’s, and everything is accessible almost instantaneously, so I need a really good laptop computer and a couple of external hard drives, which will be the lion’s share of the cost. I also have to store my files separately on an external hard drive in case my laptop crashes. Additionally, I have to purchase DJ and Karaoke programs and music files, which are also costly.

Then there is the actual CD+G disc player, because some folks still bring their own CD’s to be played, and it requires a special machine to read the graphics of a karaoke CD. Then the speakers, mixer, wireless microphones and other odds ‘n ends, and that’s why I can’t just go out and buy this tomorrow!

I am not asking for free money; I am asking for a short term loan, which will be repaid within the next 18 months (or less) to whoever is kind enough to contribute. If just 60 people are kind enough to contribute $100 each, I could make this work.  Even if you only have $10 or $20 to spare, please consider sending it, anything will help!

The other part of my reality is that I HAVE to get my house on the market…soon. However, I can’t do that without money to fix the tons of small things that are in need of repair. By having my own business, I can get things fixed that much faster, and if the house sells soon, I can pay everyone off much faster than anticipated, but I am betting on my ability to be a first-rate host to make the money to repay everyone. I certainly don’t want to count on an iffy housing market to make promises on.

So there you have it. Please, if you have it to spare, help me to make a new career for myself, in addition to helping me earn the money to fix and sell this house. If you are interested in helping, please send me a comment here with your e-mail address, or e-mail me directly at rosie.sings at gmail dot com so we can work out the terms of repayment before you ever send anything.

Even if you can’t spare anything, do me a favor and tell your friends about me; it would be greatly appreciated. I hate to ask for anything, but I’ve been scraping by for the last 5 years not getting anywhere, and it is time to pull myself out of this hole I’ve been in, and I know I can’t do it by myself.  I am happy to answer any questions about how the money will be used.

I don’t have a PayPal button, because I had a really, really bad experience with PayPal a few years back. Besides, I find it easier to keep track of everything if there is a physical letter sent. I did find Fundraiser through another friend who is trying to raise money to make a movie. So the link to there is:

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-06-16.4937175601

I did put a lesser amount over there, since you don’t get anything if you don’t reach your goal, and I figure that many of my friend will just contact me directly.

Thank you for reading this, and I do appreciate anything that anyone can do to help.