Im sorry for not writing in a bit, I've been a little busy.
Last Friday, actually this very minute one week ago was kicking off a huge undertaking for me - what was planned as 50 bands and 2 stages for 2 days of music and ended up being 47 various musical acts, one stage, and 3 days, did stream live around the world to expose domestic violence and abuse.
I did it. Darn right I'm proud.
Approximately each half hour, each act came on their own nickel, performed for a half-hour and on to the next band.
It was better than I had planned. It was brought up several times; how all these bands normally would be out their own way gigging, but for these 3 days, growlers, rockers, metal-heads, R&B, hip hop and rock and rollers conjugated and were able to see each other play. Most popular bands in Western New York all together. How cool is that. Several new friends and contacts were made, club owners, lighting folks, sound folks, musicians, all complimented each other and were shaking hands. They got more gigs. Because of me. That rocks my world.
It started as an idea back in January when I announced my new non-profit called OP Music House, Inc. Since then, Ive been on most radio stations, in most of the newspapers, welcomed over the night life scene, have done some speaking engagements and invited to do more, asked to be in a music video and to help organize other events. WOW!
The more I speak out, the more stories I hear. It helps me to fill m knowledge base to help others. I write and speak to educate to eradicate domestic violence and abuse. I have been shown by the public that there is room for me, and people are listening. For that I am grateful. The cause is horrible but real, so I am addressing it right in the face.
Thank you for your support, for reading my articles, for your emails and calls, and letters. I personally read everything and hear every message. Every one means so much to me. It reaffirms the need for my voice to wake up people to say its NOT okay to look the other way and its NOT limited to gender, race, age, creed or career.
I currenly support people nationally to acknowledge people involved or who's acquaintence is involved in abuse - which is control. Remember, those who control are weaklings. Hard to imagine but its true. I am making a video of pictures I have dug out along with some other momentums to demonstrate common characteristics of abusers.
Feel free to find me online, on my facebook or blog, or website. Chin up, faith up! The feedback from the concert was so great that its already booked for next year!
