The One-Liner Contest

Ok you guys, I need your help. Things are moving along quite nicely and I am really excited about that one. The venue locked. Logo done. Business cards, soon to be. All the moving parts are moving.

Here's the thing, I need a slogan. A one liner. A phrase that captivates what MaineDrama Productions is all about. I envision this company to be something that is cutting edge, out-of-the-box, transcendent. Not your cliche plays but something that touches all people, all issues, at any level. Now, how do I say that in one line, lol?

I need your help. Post, facebook me, email me, twitter it, anything. I hope to have something by Friday.

And to the person that gets their one-liner picked...you will have my deepest gratitude, admiration and respect. I'll even shout you out at the premiere of the play (come on, I'm just starting out, were you expecting cash? lol).

Let the one-liners begin!

Unexpected Surprises

Too excited! I got a venue! Things were looking a bit grim there for a second and I didn't know where I was going to go or how I was going to get the money to do it. I didn't stop trusting that something was going to work out but I sure didn't know how it was going to happen.

Today I had a meeting and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Here is a copy of the script and I need to set up a meeting with Mr. Plan B so that I can make this happen.

Rescuer: Mr. Plan B is going to charge you way too much money. Just have it here.

Me: I tried to go down that route and it was a fail.

Rescuer: Well, Mr. Big Wig told me about it and you have my full support, so let's do it. We can have it at this location. No money will come out of your pocket. We just got new lighting. When do you want to do it?

Me: I'm looking at July.

Rescuer: Oh, we can definitely do that. Ok, just start doing what you need to on your end. Venue is yours.

Can we say HALLELUJAH!!!!!! I'm so completely grateful for the unexpected surprises. Now that I have been blessed with this, I need to make sure that I use it well. On to the next steps in this process. Auditions, here we come.

It's Not About You

Yesterday I went to one of Zion's small groups. At the end of the lesson we began to speak about how sometimes you are placed in certain situations that you cannot understand. For the life of you, you cannot figure it out. In the meantime, you are frustrated, annoyed, angry, shut off, etc. with God and whoever else is up in the place. You cannot see why you are there and why things won't change for the better.

I fell victim to this and had to come up out of it, QUICK!

I couldn't understand my current circumstances and got real bitter for it. But then someone said, it's because you aren't there for you. Ahhhh! Not rocket science. Everything that I was angry for before was all selfish. I'm upset. I'm unhappy. I'm frustrated. I'm annoyed. I'm ready to move on. But I was so stuck on me that I almost missed the opportunities that were surrounding me. Whether or not it was to help someone else, be an example, create a connection, whatever.

At my current job I met this woman and I know it was God-appointed. She is willing to help me with this whole production thing; give me free marketing, help me advertise, the whole nine. All because she wants to help and believes in what I am trying to do. And to think, if I remained selfish, was unwilling to let my circumstance be, put my hand all up in it, I most likely would have missed this awesome opportunity.

So my encouragement for all of you that don't understand why you are where you are: you probably aren't there for you. Allow yourself to be used and be open to whatever may come along. You don't know how it is going to help you out in the end. It's not about you.

Ode to my Friends

I talked about it briefly in my last post, but I thought that I just needed to say it again. I LOVE MY FRIENDS! And I'm talking about my real friends. I'm talking about the ones that have always been there. The ones that tell me about myself, even when I don't want to hear about it. The ones that are there through thick and thin. The ones that keep my accountable. My true friends. I could probably count them on one hand, and I'm okay with that.

It seems like it is the season for thanking friends, but in this week alone I have seen the qualities in my friends that I truly and completely cherish. I couldn't imagine them not being a part of my life. The thing is, I couldn't really have true friends until I was at peace with myself. Until I was able to recognize my flaws and work towards changing them. Note: I did not say get rid of or completely fix them, but know that they are there and be willing to change them. When I was able to do that, I was able to truly let the ones closest to me be an actual friend. The ones that stuck around, pushed through, and helped to build me into a better woman.

They fit different categories, each accomplishing and filling some necessity in my life. Each part fitting together to complete me entirely. I feel so blessed for each one of them and the greatness and challenges that come with.

I love you all. Thank you!

If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources.--La Rochefoucauld

Attention Deficit Disorder

I have so many goals for my life and this company is just one of them. I also joke with my friends and family and tell them that I have ADD with my life goals. But, I'm okay with that. I figure, if I have the time and resources to do it, then why not?

I recently had a meeting with an individual about another goal that I would like to accomplish. I'm keeping the details on the hush for now (until I know for sure), but I am excruciatingly excited about it. Others may not see how this goal connects with everything that I want to do, but I see the pattern. There's a method to my madness. In all of this I am completely grateful for certain individuals in my life that encourage my goals and keep me focused. That came with time and wisdom. Learning how to nurture some friendships, let others go, and let certain ones go through the motions. But to those individuals, you know exactly who you are, thank you.

Back to the subject at hand: it's amazing when things finally start to fall into place and you see how all the scattered pieces are finally beginning to fit. I was talking to a friend last night and he reminded me of a motto that I deemed for myself in undergrad.

"Delayed...Right on Time."

For the longest time I couldn't see how all of the pieces fit or find the missing pieces at that. Hence why I thought I had ADD with my life! But, just because it doesn't makes sense immediately, happen immediately, it happens right when it is supposed to. And that makes it even better.

So bring on all the random pieces, eventually, I'll find the right spot.

Back to the Drawing Board

This weekend was full and jam-packed. But, in the midst of all that craziness I spoke with an individual about the whole venue situation. The conversation went something like this (names were changed, of course, lol):

Me: Hey, did you get my text?

Messenger: Yeah, and I know that she is focused on another project that is coming up in December. And she hasn't read your entire play. And when she finally gets to it, she still has to go and speak with Mr. Big-Wig and wait from a response. And Mr. Big-Wig is dragging his foot on anything right now because of the financial status of everything.

Me: Oh, ok.

Messenger: So, you should probably just look somewhere else, to be on the safe-side. Who knows when she will get back to you. Probably won't be until after December.

Me: (insert side eye)

I think what made me so upset was the fact that this individual (the person I was waiting on, not the messenger) sought me out and asked about the possibility of doing my play in this venue. So now I have lost a month of looking elsewhere and raising necessary funds.

I was upset about the fact that I lost having a free venue, light, sound, and crew. But, Ms. Renee Williamson and Mr. Ryan Harrison helped me get back on track! Thanks guys. I may be down, but not out. It's a set back, but I will face those. So onward I go. Yes, this sucks, but if this is a strong desire of mine, I can't let anything stop me. I leave you with two quotes that I think really apply now.

What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first steps to something better.
Proverb

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
William Shakespeare

MaineDrama in the making...

For the past couple of days I have been on an emotional ride. It's been hard to focus on things that I need to because of present circumstances. For the past year and a half I have been battling some issues. Within the last couple of days, they have really been rearing their ugly heads. While I have found encouragement and distractions here and there, they are never long-lasting. Even to the point where I creatively don't feel like I can do what I need to do.

As I pursue one big goal of mine, there are many things that are trying to throw me ten steps back. I understand and recognize this but can't help but fall victim to it from time to time.

I called this blog "MaineDrama in the making..." to talk about my journey to start my own production company and produce my first play. But I realized that MaineDrama is not only a company but a new me. Different from undergrad. Different from two years ago. Different even from a couple of months ago. MaineDrama is ever-evolving.

I am trying to fight the roadblocks and keep moving closer to what I can see myself achieving. But there are definitely those moments when the creativity stops, the motivation stops, the thought that I can do this stops.

MaineDrama in the making...a little bigger than I thought.