I have wanted this gig for years! She has been a treasured songwriter in my life for decades, and every time I sit in the audience at one of her shows, I wish I could be the opening act. One day, I saw that she was coming to a nearby town, and I knew if I didn’t ask, then the answer would surely be no, so I asked.
When the promoter of the show quickly said yes, I felt so much joy that I thought my heart would explode. This was my dream gig, and it was within reach! I think I may have actually screamed. My cats would remember…
When he said yes, he told me that there were things beyond his control that might also be in play, but that he would do his best to get me the booking. Through the weeks of negotiation, I felt him strongly in my corner. We both waited, and waited, and waited some more for the final verdict.
Ultimately, I didn’t get the gig, but instead of feeling sad, I decided to focus on what I had gained in the process. It was validating to know that this promoter of shows featuring wonderful, well-known artists, saw me as worthy of the booking. That is a deeply treasured victory. Also, over the many weeks of negotiation and uncertainty, I slowly built a relationship with a very kind man, who is more likely to think of me again.
He really did want to book me. He said next time. I hope so…
(It feels right to keep the names of the players in this story to myself. It is the spirit of the experience that I want to share. Have you ever almost touched a dream?)
When the promoter of the show quickly said yes, I felt so much joy that I thought my heart would explode. This was my dream gig, and it was within reach! I think I may have actually screamed. My cats would remember…
When he said yes, he told me that there were things beyond his control that might also be in play, but that he would do his best to get me the booking. Through the weeks of negotiation, I felt him strongly in my corner. We both waited, and waited, and waited some more for the final verdict.
Ultimately, I didn’t get the gig, but instead of feeling sad, I decided to focus on what I had gained in the process. It was validating to know that this promoter of shows featuring wonderful, well-known artists, saw me as worthy of the booking. That is a deeply treasured victory. Also, over the many weeks of negotiation and uncertainty, I slowly built a relationship with a very kind man, who is more likely to think of me again.
He really did want to book me. He said next time. I hope so…
(It feels right to keep the names of the players in this story to myself. It is the spirit of the experience that I want to share. Have you ever almost touched a dream?)