Update

Well, I've been meaning to update the blog, but haven't had time recently. I'm still working quite a bit. Tonight, we had a band practice in preparation for upcoming concerts. This coming Sunday, we'll be playing at Vineyard Cafe in Westerville, OH. Check out http://www.marcandremusic.com/news.html for the latest news. In addition to the concerts listed, there are a number of other shows pending. More info soon arriving...

Update

Things have been very busy workwise the last week or so. I will hopefully add some more "significant" blog entries this week, including "Behind the Songs: A Thousands (track#8)." Spent some of this afternoon setting up some keyboard patches on my Roland XP-30, as I am playing synths and singing BGVs at Grace Brethren Polaris's Emerge service this evening.

One stone at a time. (Not sure what the random phone represents.)

One Stone at a Time

Today, I met with several members of the band Darby Refuge and also the student ministries pastors of Life Community Church, all in preparation for our concert on April 22nd. Check out www.marcandremusic.com/news.html for more info on upcoming concerts. Visit www.darbyrefuge.com for learn more about Darby Refuge.

I've been working a lot recently. God has really been providing work for me, which has been a blessing. I've had time to lay a lot of ground work in regards to promotion, shows, etc. over the last couple months...the extra time has helped, but now it's good to be working "regularly" again. I've heard that even some of the "big" artists out there are only able to do their music "seasonally." I've always wondered what artists do when they're not touring or recording new music. Maybe some of them are waiting tables or driving UPS trucks.

The Early Bird Gets The Coffee

Well, this morning I was up at 5:45 am. I'm actually discovering that I'm more of a morning person than a night person, although waking up at a quarter to six is bit crazy. I stopped by Kinko's around 6:00 am to pick up 1000 business cards which I'll use to promote "Backstage Pass." I find these cards are a good way to point people to the website, and they're relatively cheap to make...especially when you have a bunch of them duplicated.

Anyway, why was I up at 5:45? This morning I did a mini-concert at Liberty High School in Powell, OH. What a neat group of kids. It was an FCA meeting (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and my friend Kary Oberbrunner spoke. I set up a keyboard, mic, and amp and sang "Hurricane" and "By Now." Pretty cool morning. It's great to see kids standing up for truth in their public schools. After the meeting, Kary and I went and grabbed breakfast and exchanged war stories.

Just booked another gig...we're now set to play at Heritage Christian School in Canton, OH on May 25th. Check out the news section at www.marcandremusic.com to learn more. Several other shows (not listed on the calendar) are pending. Stay tuned for more concert dates.

I've started to jot down new song ideas. I've actually been trying to compile a list of subjects which would fit together for a new project. If I do record another album, it probably won't be for a year or two. I'm basically in promotion and recovery mode right now, although it never hurts to start getting your thoughts down on paper.

An awesome evening of worship. 

An Awesome Evening

Thanks to New Life OSU for having us out tonight!! What a cool group of people. Things went great. We played about an hour of worship songs, and hope to do a "regular" concert with New Life OSU in the near future. Here was our set list for tonight:

Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing) / Sending / Not To Us / Enough / Blessed Be Your Name / A Thousand Gods / Take My Life / You Are My King (Amazing Love) / Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble

Thanks to the band: Brian Houts (drums), Joey Bradley (bass), Rob Bradley (electric guitar), and Andy Shirtzinger (acoustic guitar). The guys sounded great. What a privilege it is to work with them.

Tomorrow, I'm chilling out, refueling, and working on income taxes. =) To God be the glory for an awesome evening. Thanks to everyone who has been lifting us up in prayer.

Concert Cramming?

Wow, what a busy week. So it's Friday night at 11:30 and I just got home from work about an hour ago. It feels good to work and get paid for it. =) Not that I haven't been working a lot over the last several months...it's just been work for the album (promotion, etc.) and I've been spending money and not earning it. Anyway, enough about money. The cool thing is I get to be a part of the production for a pretty cool new television show. I'm definitely learning a lot, and I think I'm working even harder now that I've been without a "full time" job for so long...it really helps you to appreciate the benefits of employment.

Anyway, this is gonna be a short one. It's about time to turn in for the night. Tomorrow, I'll be spending the majority of the day preparing for this Sunday night at New Life OSU. I've got some new worship songs to learn, some transitions to work through, and a band practice at 6:30pm. I'll probably be able to chill out a bit the first couple days of next week. Definitely looking forward to that.

Marc Andre at New Life-OSU

Here's the latest newsletter update sent 2.08.05

Marc Andre and his band will be leading worship at New Life OSU this coming Sunday, February 13th at 6:30 pm. New Life OSU meets in the Conference Center in the Student Union at the Ohio State University. For directions, visit: http://www.newlife-osu.com/timeandplace.htm Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

Please pray that God will use this evening for His glory.

For more upcoming shows and news, visit: http://www.marcandremusic.com/news.html

There is a lot of static when it comes to the truth about "success." Can you still distiguish God's voice amidst the noise?

Why Don't I Hear You On The Radio?

This continues to be a learning process. Months ago, I applied for my ASCAP writer's membership...I finally received my card at the beginning of the year, and then began the process of submitting "Backstage Pass." I may have mentioned this before, but after attempting to register my entire album as a writer, I discovered that it would have been better to register as a publisher and then submit all my music to ASCAP under my publishing company. This whole ordeal has ended up taking nearly 3 months. ASCAP received my publisher's application about two weeks ago. I originally was told this publishing comany sign-up process would take two weeks. Upon speaking to someone at ASCAP the other day, I was told it would take anywhere from 8-10 weeks! Most of the problem has been my own ignorance. I should have started taking care of this stuff before the album was completed. I guess I was too busy and consumed with getting the album done, I didn't stop to consider these important issues. I had no idea this would be so complicated and lengthy. The bottom line is, I can't submit my songs to many radio stations until my project is acknowledged by ASCAP. It may be another two months before I can actually go through the regular avenues of sending my songs to radio stations. Some stations may accept my music without the ASCAP license, but not many. I have sent my music to a couple local stations, but have not yet had any success.

There is also the financial complication of things. Money is so tight now that I barely have enough cash to mail promo packs and CDs out. Although I am continuing to do concerts, I am (as mentioned earlier in the blog) focusing a lot of my attention (at least for the next 3 months) on working my "regular jobs." As Ecclesiastes says, "There is a time for everything." I think the right thing for me to do at this stage is to take care of my debt, rebalance my social life, and be content with the place God has currently set me. There is a part of me which feels like I have failed...at moments, I am embarrassed. And then, I have to step back again and reconsider what "success" means...God is working in my heart...hopefully making me more like Himself, and that's what counts...regardless of whether or not I have "failed" in the world's eyes.

Today, how are you judging the "success" of yourself and others? Are you either looking up to or down upon others based upon their "place in life?" The shift in perspective is so subtle.

Regarding the radio/ASCAP situation...I would appreciate your prayers in these matters.

There's only so much juice in a lemon. Sometimes, it's time to stop squeezin' and start growin' again. 

When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them Wisely

Well, it's been a while since I've dropped an entry in the old blog. I just started a new freelance job...so now I'm putting in a good 60 hours a week between the three audio/video companies I work for. It is definitely a good thing as I've really needed the extra cash. The whole CD endeavor was a huge financial undertaking, and I'm just finding that the concerts aren't coming in quickly enough to keep the foodbillsgas boat afloat. I actually haven't yet done a show which has made any profit. Often, the CD sales I make only go towards paying the costs of the concert, and often I go away with less than I came in with. I want to do this music thing as a ministry, but for the time being, I need to focus on taking care of the financial needs which lie before me.

I basically have a least one "big" show each month from here until June, as well as some "smaller" shows which will only involve me and a keyboard, and not the whole band. Lord willing, I will spend the months of February, March, and April working fulltime in hopes of getting myself back into a more stable finacial place...and I will be doing as many concerts as God brings my way.

I've definitely learned some lessons through the creation of this album, on many levels. For one, money is not to be played with. I took a number of risks financially and otherwise, to make this project happen...and now I am reaping what I have sown. With chances come the reality of "failures" and the responsibility of "picking up after yourself"...that is, living with the consequences of the risks you have taken. I wonder sometimes if I will ever make another CD. I hope to. I am already writing new material...but I also realize that the next project (if God allows) will need to happen differently. I don't think I wasted any money in making this album...in fact, I think I squeezed every bit of juice from every lemon I had. However, I did move forward finacially with the expectation of CD sales being more "successful" than they have been...some would call me an entrepreneur and some would call me a fool. I was hoping that I was making an investment...and eternally, I hope I have...however, from a finacial standpoint, we will yet have to see. Only God knows. Regardless, I'm glad that He teaches us both through our victories and mistakes. To the young person (and even old person) out there, I would give you this piece of advice...live with balance and remember that there are consequences to all our actions.