My Latest Thoughts on the Music/Record Industry
May 31, 2007
Sara Hickman
Championing the Indie Spirit
interviewed by Diane Gershuny
Sara Hickman celebrated a milestone in 2007: 18 years of making a living at making music. Whether it’s as a solo artist creating music for adults or children (including the 2-disc, 3-woman side project collaboration from the mid-90s entitled Domestic Science Club), Sara has succeeded in this dog-eat-artist world perhaps from her tenacity, talent and DIY spirit.
Armed with a BA of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas in Denton, she opted to pursue her dream of becoming a recording artist in addition to that of a fine artist. Her first foray into the world of labels happened through Windham Hill Records, when Will Ackerman courted her for a compilation CD over her song “Salvador”, an ode to the artist Dali. Her first self-created solo outing, Equal Scary People, landed her accolades and a deal with Elektra Records, which licensed and reissued the record. Next came Shortstop in 1990, followed by Necessary Angels. Although Sara had toured extensively and worked hard at promoting her music, Elektra decided to shelve the project and drop Angels. Fans came to her aid and raised almost $50,000 to buy the album back, which was eventually released on another Warner/Elektra/Atlantic label, Discovery, ironically started by the very founder of Elektra, Jac Holzman.
By 1997, Hickman had released three discs on Shanachie Records: Misfits, a licensed collection of odds and ends, the Adrian Belew-produced Two Kinds of Laughter in 1998, and Spiritual Appliances in 2000. She also has released numerous limited-edition discs on her own Sleeveless label, including This Christmas Wish, Faithful Heart (in collaboration with Strings Attached), a live CD Ready to Pop, and a slew of award winning children’s albums Newborn (1999), Toddler (2001), and Big Kid (2003). Last year, saw the release of Motherlode, a two-disc compilation of songs concerned with the issues of womenkind.
Sara’s multi-faceted interests range from community issues to music, and she is not one to shy away from using her time and talent to get involved and to help others. Her outreach work and concerts are dedicated to numerous charities, addressing issues such as child abuse, breast cancer research, AIDS, illiteracy, and the homeless. She has been awarded the prestigious Humana Women Helping Women award for her contributions to such organizations as Safe Place, Habitat for Humanity, House the Homeless, the SPCA, the Race for the Cure, and many other animal and human rights organizations, including the Tanner Romanian Mission (which adopts Romanian orphans and gives them a lifelong, loving home in their native land).
We caught up with Sara in between shows in California to tap her (very opinionated) views on the state of the recording industry today.
So, what IS the state of the industry as you see it?
The recording industry is in great flux. Major labels still have the bulk of monies to expend on production/publicity, but the Internet and home recording processes have changed the capacity for anyone to be a part of the music industry. Blogging, e-newsletters, Myspace.com, CD Baby, theconnextion.com, and file-sharing make it easy for people to reveal their creations and to build an audience and/or fan base. You also have Taxi and Music Supervisor pitching to television and film, so where it used to be an elitist industry (serving only those who had major label deals and connections), now anyone can have a chance just by working hard… Oh, but still having good music!
How has the role of the producer/engineer changed in the past few years?
I think you are asking two separate questions. Producers have changed in that there are still the big names that are hard to get in bed with unless you have the bucks or the major label backing. But there are more and more talented people taking risks on unknowns and helping them build great productions around their music—a lot of younger producers who are musicians, themselves.
As far as engineers, yes, there are still big name engineers. But so many people can make home recordings or go to a smaller studio on a budget and create great stuff. Accessibility has replaced inability to get in the door.
With DIY recording capability, will producers become obsolete?
No. People will always want the help of others with more experience and wacky ideas!
How has your role changed in the eyes of labels? Artists?
My role in the eyes of labels and artists… hmm! That is a funny question. I’d like to think I’ve been in people’s line of sight, but who can say!?
I have not been with a label in almost ten years, and am truly enjoying working really hard on behalf of my creations. I have all the freedom I could want, and I can hire independent promoters, publicists, etc., to help upon release. I have an in-house group of dedicated assistants that help with daily agendas (mailings, phone calls, emails, setting up appointments, bookings, etc). So, my role in the eyes of labels has probably been forgotten, as I’m not someone they ever have to deal with as an artist or businessperson (unless I am licensing something to another label, which does happen on occasion).
As far as my role in the eyes of other artists, I feel I have accrued the respect and support of my fellow musicians. I think a lot of them understand how hard I have been working the last 17 years, on and off labels, and many of them are in the same position I am in… they are all working on their own projects through their own labels, too! So, it is good to know we can call each other and be able to utilize feedback, consideration for a project or have support of one another in co-writing or performing. And we don’t have to go through labels for permission (except our own).
How would you define the Record Industry vs. The Music Industry?
The ‘record industry’ is quickly becoming the ‘download industry’. I believe in the next few years, CDs will be a thing of the past. Certain aspects of my packaging, and for some artists ALL their packaging/songs, is available on the website. Anyone can download a song and keep it on their iPod or in their computer. I think the recording industry made some major faux pas’ in their fight against Napster, and they are scrambling to make up for it. On the other hand, I do think that protections need to stay in place on behalf of songwriters, composers, arrangers and artists, so having the recording industry (including the Recording Academy/NARAS) work hard with and lobby Congress to protect rights is very crucial. It is hard to create change with one voice, but a large group of concerned artists can make sure we are receiving our fair share of a multi-billion dollar business.
The music industry… Well, it used to be that A&R;(artist & repertoire) folks really knew, and loved, music. They lived and breathed and cared about the acts they signed. They fought for them within the labels. With the decline of career artist labels (like Elektra and Capitol) and the lack of educated A&R;, you will see more and more artists becoming savvier and savvier on what they need to accomplish because the onus is on them (and/or their management, if they have management).
I have already seen the changes on the panels I have been on the last 17 years. From general questions of “how do I get signed?” in 1990 to the very specific marketing and production questions I get now. Acts want to protect themselves, make a living, and make the kind of music they want to make. But the music industry is more than labels and A&R;. It is also publishers, publicists, radio, marketing, TV, film, writers, arrangers, Web designers, management, personal assistants, booking agents, artists, and fashion…. There are a lot of careers within the music industry that would take a long time to chat about here.
Are their interests in conflict or compatible?
Well, the recording industry has always seemed to me to be about the labels, not the artists. And with that said, I should say it has always been about the CEOs and their unbalanced, grandiose share of the monies the artist’s create. That is why good management (and/or a great lawyer) is so important. Checks and balances, if you are an artist that can create major sales, are crucial to surviving and making money off your music. The music industry is about money, too. Everyone wants the hot thing, the new sound. With this said, I think in this way they are compatible.
However, with the rise of a variety of artists becoming more sophisticated and accessible (meaning any artist), here is where the conflict is coming into play. A great example would be Bonnie Raitt, standing up for blues musicians who had been taken advantage of [The Blues Foundation]. As an artist who is very successful, standing up for the rights of others who were cheated out of incomes…. this is an artist who took the time to educate herself on behalf of musicians she loved and cared about. I think more musicians want to be able to take care of themselves, now and long-term, by protecting their interests and understanding what they are signing.
I also think the music industry is changing, along with the record industry, finding new ways to accommodate artists and their fresh approaches to business. There’s lots of licensing (instead of ownership of the masters in perpetuity) and a lot more creative joint ventures. Artists are starting to have more power, in some ways, by being educated.
That said, you have to also look at empires like MTV who will want to use an artist’s song and not pay them anything because they are “trading” airtime that the artist wouldn’t normally get. I think artists have to be brave and unite. They have to say, “No, my art is worth something, especially in the face of your garnering millions in advertising. Please pay me fairly.”
What changes (technological, societal, etc.) have had the most positive impact/most negative impact on your business? On the industry at large?
Most Positive: full production via local/national businesses that I work with and pay independently, i.e. I can arrange, record, master, package, and duplicate on my own, and in the process, I am helping other musicians/engineers/businesses thrive by utilizing their services. And I own my masters! So, I can license to film/TV and actually make money, or create more copies of CDs when I need more at shows/for Internet sales without a lot of headache and begging from a label. The wonderful acceptance by society that an artist can be talented and worthy and NOT be on a major label.
Negative Impact on my business: People who rip and burn and I don’t receive a cent of my hard work. That hurts me financially. But, what I find is a majority of people WANT to support me in my endeavors and will pay full price to me because they want me to keep making music. The consumers, by and large, are more educated nowadays, as well.
What have you done specifically to adapt?
Returned to being an independent in 1998 and relying on the Internet, word of mouth, independent publicists, live shows.
Will record labels become obsolete?
Hmm. Probably. They already are! They are all being eaten up by Germany and Japan. WEA is the only American conglomerate left, I believe.
As royalty rates are being examined do you think producers should also receive royalty payments?
No, not any more. I think they should be paid for their time and compensated for their ideas. That can be arranged ahead of time, contractually, between artist and producer. Look at it this way: many musicians play on an artist’s album, and none of them get “points” like producers do. And they bring a lot to the table, sometimes coming up with an instrumental hook or cool sound that would not have existed without their input. Also, engineers who work tirelessly, and generally thanklessly, generally don’t get points.
I think it is ESPECIALLY disparaging that an artist who produces themselves when they are on ANY label like I was (major and larger indie) NEVER got paid for my time to self-produce. Nor did I get points. Maybe my bad, but it is my understanding that this is the standard in the industry.
On a scale from 1-5 (1 being the most important) please rate the following impact on the success of a release:
I will replace “Producer” with “Production”. I think that the finished production of a CD is the #1 selling point. When you first hear a song on the Internet/radio/CD, the thing that affects a listener the most is how it makes you FEEL. That is what great production is all about, so I credit the producer/engineer first and foremost. You can have the most ridiculous song, a simple song, a song that is formulaic or base, but if the production rocks, emotes, moves the listener… you have a winner. (On the other hand, there are great songs out there that were destroyed by a bad singer, bad arrangements, overkill with reverb, etc. All production woes.)
#1 Producer/Engineer/Band
(Think U2, REM, Joni Mitchell, Motown, Weird Al Yankovic, Randy Newman, Norah Jones, Dixie Chicks—all great production values that ENHANCE the songs)
#2 Songwriter
#3 Promotion
#4 Singer
#5 Distribution
#6 Label
For more information on Sara Hickman, go to: http://www.sarahickman.com
Diane Gershuny is a freelance writer and publicist who has written about music and musicians, instruments and pro audio for over 20 years. Diane worked for some of the top MI/Pro Audio companies in the world, including Fender, Mackie Designs and TASCAM. Diane also has experience with event logistics and artist relations. She can be reached at
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:16 pm
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Family Vacations in an RV: Some helpful hints
May 30, 2007
We are the kind of family that does NOT take a DVD player on any of our trips. “Oh, sure!” you’re saying to yourself, “That Hickman. She is a LIAR!” But, no, I am not. Let me tell you what we do on our family trips that helps us all have fun and create memories. After all, isn’t that what taking a family trip is all about? Building memories? (Oh, and learning how to balance your sanity at the same time?)
5) Take a recording device with you…tape recorder, digital recorder, video recorder, whatever you want. Not only can you make homemade movies at every historic marker, but you can create theme songs, record three part harmony versions of “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”, and most importantly, capture those moments where the kids swear they’ll help with laundry, so when they deny it, you just hit playback.
4) Have the kids bring journals, and have them document their thoughts and feelings. Have them draw what they see. Have them
write about the hot dog that fell behind the cushions on the slide-out that no one discovered until two weeks in the trip and every one thought Mom had a bad case of B.O.
3) Bring lots of art supplies—cardstock, tape, markers, crayons, scissors. And a list of addresses. Then, have the kids make homemade postcards. They can tape leaves and tadpoles on the front of the cardstock! They can use their muddy fingers and draw! They can create beautiful art to send to friends and family telling them all about the Washington Monument and how daddy couldn’t find a place to park the R.V. and got a ticket. Then they can draw a picture of a red daddy hopping up and down with an officer in the background rolling his blue, blue eyes.
2) Have a day where you and the kids create snacks in the tiny R.V. kitchen. Trail mix, granola, homemade peanut butter or ice cream.
Share with the neighbors in the R.V. park in baggies decorated with ribbon (see art supplies #3). Include a handmade invite that announces that evening’s ice cream social in front of your R.V.! Have the kids run back to the kitchen and make 2,000 tons of chocolate chip ice cream.
1) Take guitars and ukeleles and maracas. These are good to have around the campfire. Bring sing-a-long sheets, songbooks. There are a lot of song ideas available on the internet. But keep these things locked up on the drive so you do not have to hear “Wild Thing” 12 bah-zillion times. Remember, that is family time. When you are driving, it’s a good time to be having conversations about important things kids like to talk about. Dead bugs, when you’re going to get to the next place (good opportunity for math problems! 17 hours x 5247 miles= what kids?), how barfy that boy in Ms. Whozit’s math class was, who’s going to do the laundry. You know, the stuff of memories.
If, after following my advice, you still need more ideas for a family trip in the R.V., feel free to ask me about the other 5. But be forewarned: they include tips for making gas money to fill the very expensive tank and fun things to do with your R.V. at Halloween. Spooky stuff!
WHOO-HOO! BLOG BONUS IDEAS FROM MOI, SARA HICKMAN:
* Make up a song…someone starts with the first verse, and then someone else has to make up the second verse, and then someone else makes up the chorus, etc. This can get wacky and silly. And, most of the time, ends up in four part harmony. One time, Lily (my 10 year old) and I ended up singing about trees for 40 minutes. I am not kidding. Our “Ode to the Arbol” became an operatically embellished free for all!
* MAD LIBS! We loooooooooooooove to play Mad Libs. Plus, the kids are learning what the differences are between adjectives, nouns, verbs and adverbs, and then have great fun reading back the stories to us in hilarious voices.
* I SPY with my little eye… this usually works best at Rest Stops!
* I talked about journaling, but I didn’t talk about our family journal. Everyone gets to add to the family journal. We have been keeping one since my youngest was born (we wrote on her behalf). So we are all putting our thoughts, family meetings, travels, etc in one wonderful book that grows more and more sacred with journeys!
* We let the kids sit in the driver’s seats (no key) and pretend to drive US, mom and dad, to wherever they want to take us in their imagination. This can have a very relaxing effect on the entire family, cuz the kids get to feel like they are in charge, and my husband and I get to sit in the big seats in back and relax for a bit! (Of course, we get to ask, “Are we there yet?” and act up, if we want to! Role reversals all around!)
* Take card games…we LOVE to play “Slapjack” (cards that look like pancakes), and we play “Go Fish” or”Crazy Eights”
* We have also played “Worse Case Scenario”, a card game where you read a problem, like:
“You’ve fallen into quicksand… do you a) flail your arms and try to “swim” across the quicksand, b) lie perfectly still and try to make a cross shape with your body on top of the quicksand, c) imagine yourself as heavy as a stone, or d) hope Donald Rumsfeld doesn’t find you.”
These cards can lead to very interesting conversations while learning what to do in real life problems.
* Take a roll up net, volleyball and badminton racquets/birdie to play volleyball and/or badminton…gets out a lot of energy.
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:40 pm
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Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty
I recognize that the death penalty is one of the most intense problems we have as a nation, and most particularly, in the state of Texas.
When the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty approached me about helping them increase their visibility, I made a suggestion of a statewide dialogue. Thus, “Music For Life” was born.
I have agreed to perform a 12 month tour across the state of Texas to help increase awareness about the death penalty as well as raise funds for TCADP. The year long tour is called “Music For Life” and will begin October 3 in Austin at the First United Methodist Church, across from the state capitol. Once a month, during the tour, I will visit a different city in Texas, and plan to be joined by other performers as well as individuals who will provide their personal thoughts about the death penalty.
In addition to Austin , the “Music for Life” tour will also appear in: Dallas , Ft Worth, San Antonio , Corpus Christi , Houston , San Angelo , El Paso , Huntsville , Lubbock , and Bryan/College Station. The schedule is being developed right now and I will let you know when it is completed.
We have several ideas to highlight the tour and provide maximum exposure for it. These include such things as commemorative posters, commemorative wrist bands, creation of a tour DVD that will be available for purchase at the end of the tour, and commemorative T-shirts. We see this as a great opportunity to make more people aware of the death penalty in the state of Texas as well as an opportunity to support TCADP.
In an endeavor such as this, we also need help. In particular, if you have talents in creating DVDs, we can use your expertise. We need someone to volunteer to film in each city because we want to have a one hour DVD by the end of the tour that shows people talking about their various feelings concerning the death penalty—-against, for, confused, whatever…we just want to get people talking, to start the dialogue! We also will need help in promoting the tour across the state, so if you have experience and knowledge about advertising or are working in the media industry, we need you! Or, if you just want to volunteer or get involved, please call (512-258-6480), or send an email. We can use your talents!
We are open to any ideas or thoughts as to how we can take maximum advantage of this great opportunity. Please contact Bob Van Steenburg, Vice President of TCADP, at 512-258-6480, or you can email him at
Thank you, and come join the discussion.
Sara
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:33 pm
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A Treehouse, Don Quixote, Mud (Kerrville!), Children Galore and Magical Tears
The Treehouse Concert at the lovely home of Greg and Juliet was, indeed, like being in a treehouse…a groovy wooden house, built in the seventies, with odd twists and turns, hidden among shady trees. After a delightful dinner of fresh salmon, cous cous and salad, I popped back up the stairs, decorated with M.C.Escher prints, and wrote out my set list, la-la-laing to warm up on little Sonoma’s baby Taylor guitar. The window was opened, and I could hear the birds pitching in as the wind kissed my cheek. Gotta love California!
The turnout was smaller than expected, but I sang my heart out, and, on occassion, everyone sang along. The room is cozily carpeted, with an old fashioned iron fireplace embedded in the wall to my right, and bay windows to my left which include a cozy built in window seat, about seven feet long, shaped like the letter “L”. Everyone sat in folding chairs, which were all signed on back by the artists who have performed there….Cliff Eberhardt to Michael “Etch a Sketch”
to countless others….later, when the show was over, and everyone had gone home, I got to decorate the back of a chair while being recorded for a pod cast. I was excited to have a variety of sharpie markers to choose from, drawing and simultaneously answering questions about music, life, parenting, art, hopes and dreams…I think you can hear the podcast at http://www.treehouseconcerts.org, if you want to hear what we chatted about.
The day had been very relaxing…Gene had driven me to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium (Juliet works there and got us in for free….!) What an AWESOME aquarium! You can stand under this dome of glass and a giant tidal wave comes crashing down on top of you. And there is a “cafe” where you can order different types of sea food, and it is an interactive art piece that educates you about what is healthy to eat, and what is not…how it is farmed, what is going extinct, etc…all told from pre-recorded/filmed people dressed as a chef, a waitress and a waiter. You have to see it to get it. Very clever…! Gene and I also walked down by the water and looked into the wading pools….lots of teeming life: snails and fish and slithering things! And we spent a good hour, or longer, in a massive antique barn, too. I bought old postcards from the early 1900s. I could sit and look at those all day…the postage was only one penny! And everyone had such curly-q had writing…written in pencil or quill!
Then, after the gig, Gene drove us back to his home in San Jose. Thank God Gene helped me, I was nodding off every time we drove anywhere. I guess my insomnia can not handle sitting in a car….even on windy roads, my head starts nodding and before I know it, I am OUT like a light. ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Got up the next day and made breakfast for me and Gene, talked on the phone with Kathy Turner and thanked her profusely for helping me with the previous shows on Saturday, noticed Gene had some weeds, so pulled those out of his fresh sod…He has such a zen space…even his backyard looks like tiny sprites keep it organized! Gene and I went on to Santa Cruz…wow! Didn’t get to go to it, but drove near the MYSTERY SPOT…where gravity does “not” exist! I want to go there, no matter what Gene says! and then got to Don Quixote’s….Nice wait staff, ate some Mexican food, walked around a little bit, until Lake, the soundman, showed up and got me rockin’ and rollin’. Don Quixote’s has very nice sound and a great stage and a junky green room that looks like it is HAUNTED! So, Gene and I stayed out in the main room. My show went well, I was feeling discouraged, but sang my heart out to the folks who came out. One guy, afterwards, asked why I did not sing “I Couldn’t Help Myself” and I apologized. I just never think to sing it! Gosh. I signed some cds for him and then Guy (pronounced “Gee” with a hard “G”) came up and we chatted for awhile…see his entry he posted on my blog before this posting.
All in all, everyone treated me so kindly, and I am eternally grateful for Gene and Kathy and all of you who help to bring me out into the world to share my thoughts in song.
Kerrville:
Played children’s shows on Saturday and Sunday….WHAT SUPER FUN! Man o man….That was a blast, both days. Both times, both audiences ended up covering and flooding over the stage. I like having everyone up close!
Sunday, Lance drove in from Austin to bring me home after the evening show….the rain started pouring…I believe, all in all, Kerrville had about 8 inches of rain! Whoo! Floods and muds, my friends! So the whole she-bang got moved from the Main Stage over to the Threadgill Stage, where instead of performing at 7:40 pm, I went on about 9:30ish and got to play with Brian Ashley Jones (guitar) , Tish Simerall (did I spell that right, Tish? pls. let me know!), Kristin DeWitt (vocals) and Lorrie Singer (vocals). Lorrie, Kristin and I walked out and did our soundcheck to “The Star Spangled Banner” in honor of Memorial Day, and it sounded KICK-ASS. Can one be patriotic AND kick-ass? Well, we were. There’s my 2 cents worth! Everyone stood…and sang along…it was gorgeous and moving and singing that song always takes me back to being a kid in elementary school, back when things seemed right and simple and good and you trusted your government and believed everything your parents told you!
I’m so glad Brian had asked me, back when I played Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, if he could play with me sometime. That night, I had said, “Heck, yea!” after hearing him play with Corinne, and so he then asked if his girlfriend, Tish, could play, as well, and there you have it! They were two of the neatest people I’ve met in a long time, and they had the songs charted out and were real pros. After the children’s show on Saturday, we all went to a restaurant and sat for SIX HOURS chatting…gosh, that was SO RELAXING…just chattin’ and laughin’ and chompin’ on chips! Really good folks.
So, Sunday night, after our set, and talking with friends back stage and packing up and paying everybody, Lance and I got in the rain to the car, and Lance drove us home. We got in around 1 a.m…..I slept until 6 a.m., got up and got ready to fly to Dallas.
Memorial Day:
Flew to Dallas. My dear friends, Doug, Jill and Riley Anna, picked me up at the airport and drove me to the Dallas Arboretum where I played for about 750 kids/parents. That was a blast, too! Then I hung out with Chris and Sarah, and we ate chicken wings galore. There was going to be a big Super Pal picnic, but I think the rain kept people home, although the sun had arrived by then. Nice to sit with Chris and Sarah, and lo and behold! Brian and Cheryl and their new baby, Sam! (Brian Hartig, who is one of my all time favorite drummers…he played with me back in Dallas and on the Austin City Limits t.v. show)….We all talked about babies and life and chicken wings.
Sarah had brought me an incredible gift: the kids in her ice skating class had learned a routine to “Birdhouse”, the song I wrote with David Batteau, and she had a framed photo of the kids on ice dressed as different elements of the song…some kids were the wind, the sun, a bee, a bird (in a “silver” cage), and even a ice skater who represented ME! I was in tears! I only wish I could have witnessed the skate routine as it was unfolding the day the performance occurred. Sarah says she thinks one of the parents filmed it, so if a copy comes my way, I will try to post it so you can watch it, too.
Afterwards, I was picked up by Scott and his lovely fiance, Kate, and taken to their dreamy abode near White Rock Lake, where Scott talked with me about creativity, how I could further shape my career, if I should write a book, and many other things. He gave me some insight on some dilemnas I am facing, and for that, I am very grateful for his generous time and advice! Kate made us some yummy snacks, and we sat out in their garden and munched in the raindrops.
Then, it was time to head back to the airport, and get home to my family….
When I got to Love Field, I decided not to check my guitar, but to just get to my gate so I could sit and think about everything that has been going on lately. I made it through the checkpoint, and as I was putting my boots back on, the man behind me said, “Nice boots, lady!” Funny, but something in my head kept saying, “Ask him if he knows Larry….” I was having an inner dialogue, “Nah…just move along!” which was countered with, “Yes, ask him! Really! Do it!”
So, I followed the advice of my inner voice and turned to the gentleman and asked (as he was putting on HIS boots), “Excuse me, do you know Larry Hance, the lawyer?” and he said he did, and then I asked him to tell Larry hello from me next time he saw him, and then he said, “I know you! I like your music very much!” And then, somehow, of course, we were parted by the waves and I headed for my gate.
Which….I might add….was on the complete other side of the airport, so there I was with guitar, backpack, and a sack of gifts someone had brought to the arboretum for the girls, almost to the gate, when I heard over the loudspeakers,
“Sara Hickman, please return to the main checkpoint…Sara Hickman…” And I was like, “UGH!” cuz I was going to have to lug all this stuff all the way back across the airport, AND make it back in time to board, when out of the blue walked the nice gentleman who I had just mentioned, and he says, “Did you hear your name? Do you want me to watch all your things while you go back?” and I was SO GRATEFUL and then I realized WHY THE VOICE IN MY HEAD had insisted I talk to Spike (that was his name!) because he was on the SAME FLIGHT AS ME!!!! Can you believe it? Of course you can!
So, I thanked him profusely, left my stuff in his care, and started the hike back to the checkpoint….almost there, I was walking down the ramp, when up walked a security guard with a huge smile. He walked right up to me, my drivers license in his hand, and he says,
“You don’t know how many happy memories you brought up when I found your drivers license…”
And I looked at him and threw my arms around him and gave him a HUGE hug and said, “Bless you!”
And he pulled away, and he had TEARS in his eyes, and he said, “You probably don’t remember me, but I used to be the store manager at Sound Warehouse on Greenville Avenue…”
And I said, “Oh, I DO!” and I did, and I started to weep, too….and there we were, two old acquaintances, changed by the years and our circumstances, and we hugged again, and there was this happy, but sad, feeling in the air, as if we both understood how much has changed in the world since those days: the way people treat one another, the way music has changed, the way the world has changed….it didn’t even need to be said.
I walked back to that gate…and I felt so calm, so loved, by all these constant reminders that we are all connected on so many levels. And then….I had an in-depth conversation with Spike about legal matters, about lawyers (he’s a lawyer) about politics…it was all so good.
And then I slept on the plane, and dreamed of someone I love very much, and I woke up, ready to grab my guitar, get to my van, and head home to my children, my husband, my dog, and the resounding sound of,
“Mom’s hooooooooome!”
posted by Sara Hickman at 02:26 pm
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Another blog, another world!
I’ve posted my blog on your show from Monday night. If you would like to check it out you can go to http://www.myspace.com/zahller and click on your name in the blog box! I’ll drop the CD of pictures in the mail next week. Have fun at Kerrville and I’ll see you at the Woody Guthrie Festival in July:)
—
Peace, Love and Pelosi ‘07!
Guy Zahller
posted by Sara Hickman at 02:26 pm
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Memorial Day: Keeping it in perspective
May 27, 2007
This arrived in my email this week, reminding us to keep it all in perspective.
<ul><li>Download PDF file (960K)</ul>
posted by Sara Hickman at 11:44 am
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PICNIC ON MONDAY after Dallas Arb. show
May 25, 2007
Yes, we are still going to have a Super Pal Picnic after the children’s show at the Dallas Arboretum on Monday, 5/28.
Please bring blankets and food and let’s sit and chat and chew and enjoy the beauty of the flowers, the day, each other.
Looking forward to it, and thanks for coming out!
Even thought I think war is never the answer, God bless the troops serving, and all those valiant men and women who have served over the years. And God bless all the civilians who have been caught up in the midst of any war…make they find relief, shelter, food and an END to all hostilities and brutalities.
I have a giant bumper sticker that I got 17 years ago from an anti-death penalty rally that reads: “Millions to kill, pennies to heal.”
I have never put it on my car, but I think the time to finally do so is now, with all the worldwide suffering going on. The message applies on so many levels.
Sara
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:38 am
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Charles Bukowski and Joseph Arthur
May 24, 2007
by Charles Bukowski
I can’t have it
and you can’t have it
and we won’t
get it
so don’t bet on it
or even think about
it
just get out of bed
each morning
wash
shave
clothe
yourself
and go out into
it
because
outside of that
all that’s left is
suicide and
madness
so you just
can’t
expect too much
you can’t even
expect
so what you do
is
work from a modest
minimal
base
like when you
walk outside
be glad your car
might possibly
be there
and if it is-
that the tires
aren’t
flat
then you get
in
and if it
starts—you
start.
and
it’s the damndest
movie
you’ve ever
seen
because
you’re
in it—
low budget
and
4 billion
critics
and the longest
run
you ever hope
for
is
one
Day.
And now, a poem by Joseph Arthur… he is a singer/songwriter on tour with his band (Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts), and was feeling discouraged because he’s going to towns to perform, and, in some cases, seats are empty. Since I just played two shows (out of five) where there were very few people, I was grateful to my sister-in-law, Cindy, who sent these poems my way to say, “Hey, you’re not alone…keep doing what you do…”
Depression in the Back Lounge
by Joseph
In alabama
Depression in the back lounge
Dig deep
For here comes the show
Dig deep
Don’t let the head spin you into being the victim
Renunciation
Disillusionment comes to all lucky enough to face it
The music industry is in a drought
The independent artist
Has more freedom
But also more burden
When out here making it on your own
The many twists and turns of the road
Can and will knock you sideways
In alabama
Depression in the back lounge
Every job has its bag of ####
But with music or any art
You put your soul and your passion into it
Its hard to stay detached enough to endure the waves of the road without crashing into every shore
Its a privilege
And its a punishment
Its a contradiction
I’m not sure I will come thru some of these towns again
Not because I don’t love travel, or playing for the folks
But because the folks, in certain towns ain’t been coming out
Or at least not in numbers justifying our return
I’m trying to stay above this circumstance
To battle thru
To have fun
To live in the moment
But
In the back lounge
In alabama
Depression has its way of folding over me like a blanket
And whispering
Nasty things in my ear
I gotta dig deep
Its show time
And you can never punish the people who came
For the people who didn’t
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:01 am
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Sitting in A Towel
May 21, 2007
Friday….flew out to San Jose, and was given a bonus treat: got to fly part way with one of my best friends’ dads! Doak is an avid softball player, and was on his way to a tournament, so we shared a chuckle and his iPod playlist. We talked about the kids (his grandchildren, my daughters) and grimaced over some of the newspaper headlines. He was delighted when I was able to share my free Southwest drink coupons, too! Finally! Someone uses the coupons I’ve been carrying in my backpack all these years!
Gene picked me up at the airport and we came home to his house for a quick lunch, then headed on to San Mateo, where I hooked up with dear Kathy T. and her adorable daughter, Amelia. We met at B Street, a music store, to rent the P.A. for the first two gigs of the weekend. Packed up, after some delicious ice cream down the street, Kathy, Amelia and I headed on to Moraga, California, where I was to perform the next a.m. and p.m.
We arrived at the home of David and Shari (Shar-ee), who own a vineyard that scales up the side of a gianormous hill behind their lovely, Martha Vineyard’sesque home. Gracious hosts, I was treated to an afternoon of fun with Ali, their youngest daughter, and Amelia (both 4.) I told stories and we sang songs over homemade cheese enchiladas I made…which looked very appetizing until Ali shared the culinary twist of adding vanilla yogurt on top. But, she ate it all, lickety split! I went to bed around 9 (11 pm Texas time, mind you), cuz I knew it would be another early morning next day.
Got up around 6:30 am, lay in bed, watching the fog roll in over the carefully manicured yard and gardens, breathing in, quietly enjoying the stillness.
Finally took a shower, and had a cereal bar, popped in the car with Kathy and Amelia and headed to the first gig, a 5K run for the children of Zimbabwe. There is a foundation that helps raise pediatric monies and builds schools. I will post more on it later.
The morning was GORGEOUS. California sunshine and hills of yellow flowers and green trees. Everyone was running around a track and then up in the hills while I sang all the upbeat songs I know…It was a fun way to celebrate people doing good in this world…Me singing to keep them engaged in their footrun. Then, Dan, the head of the foundation, got up to speak, and we heard about the amazing things that are happening….that was very moving….Then, families came over and sat in the happy sun, having picnics, while I sang kids songs. I even got a green popsicle and many hugs!
After we had packed up all the equipment, Kathy, her very nice husband, David, Amelia and Ali and I went to have lunch in an Italian restaurant.
I was feeling a little weary, but not much.
We got back to the vineyard, and everything was started to be in full swing…catering was working hard to get cheese, olive and bread trays ready with a variety of oils from around the world…Cleaning and vaccumming and re-setting up of the P.A. I took a short nap. By then, Gene had arrived and was helping, too. This event centered around Parkmon Wines, their 5th anniversary of being in business. I actually sampled the wines (not a drink I hardly ever have…just don’t like wine, beer, etc)…I liked the rose, although dry and not sweet, and the Vegnion (I do not think I am spelling that right…oops…a white wine) It was exciting to see how folks can build a business out of their garage and backyard!
Folks started arriving around 4ish, and Gene, David (Kathy’s husband, not the owner of the vineyard) and I went downstairs so I could warm up…As the two were listening to me, I laughed and referred to it as an R & B, instead of a B & B…ha ha! Wouldn’t that be cool? To go relax at a B & B, and have live musicians sing you to sleep, or sing to you over breakfast! Get it? The R & B! Ha ha ha. I can’t hear you laughing, but I’ll just pretend you think it’s clever!
So, the gig was fun. Again, another picnic oriented vibe….only all adults, so I could be a little rowdier. People drinking and buying wine, tasting foods and laughing, me singing and frolicking behind the mic. Lovely night! I felt like I was in some mythical Greek landscape, what with the rolling hills, the grape vines, the multi-colored gardens and reds, oranges, and dust colored rocks of garden walls winding up into the tops of the hill.
David (the vineyard owner) popped out with his harmonica, and we did “Stupid Love” and “Honky Tonk Woman”.
Gene kindly drove us back to San Jose after all was said and done, and we got home, gosh, I don’t know when. It was very late. We had to get up early Sunday morning to drive another 1 hour and 20 minutes so I could perform live on KPIG around 10:30 am. Love those guys! John is the DJ, and we were cracking each other up. I sang “Everything’s Red” (for rock-n-roll), then talked about the new song, “The One”, and sang from the perspective/voice of the mother of the young man who murdered the students/teachers at Virginia Tech, and then closed with “Too Fast”. It was AWESOME because people were emailing in and John read a couple of the email responses on the air! I was so happy to know people were responding…
Gene and I drove on to Monterey, where we were blessed to be guests of the Cannery Row Monterey Bay Aquarium….historical and wonderful place….I can’t wait to bring the family to see this aquarium. By far, the best I’ve ever been to….We stopped for some Thai food for lunch…
ah! Tom Yom Kha soup…who can beat that?! And Pad Thai, of course.
Ok, I will write about the Treehouse Concert later…we are off to the next gig for tonight…Don Quixote’s….hope all is well in your world.
Keep believing and spreading good love, and I’ll do the same.
XO
You know who
posted by Sara Hickman at 03:07 pm
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The Inspiration of A Girl at the Piano and Her Mother’s Love
May 18, 2007
posted by Sara Hickman at 04:12 am
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These Last Few Weeks: Shows, People, Love
May 14, 2007
1:00 went on John Aielli’s show for internet broadcast with Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band…played kids songs and also sang my new song, “The One”. This is a song written from the mother’s point of view, the mother of the young man who murdered the students/teachers at Virginia Tech. I was a little nervous, but sang with my heart. I don’t think anyone knew what to say when I was done. It is very sad.
6:00
Drove out to Bastrop with Theresa Jenkins, executive director of the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy. We went out to present a $1000 check from our Board of Governors for music educators in the Bastrop school system. This was a lot of fun, as the event was held outside at a small stadium with maybe 700 people present, all there to watch school bands perform. There was an RV set up just for us, with food and drinks, so me, Theresa and several other governors sat inside and waited for our cue to come out and present the check on a big stage. It was decided I would be the honorary “celebrity”, so I rallied those in the stands to cheer for music educators, and then we gave the check. Supposedly, Julia Roberts and Willem de Foe were hanging around cuz they are working on a film, but I did not see hide nor hair of them.
MAY 4
Performed at Ingrid and James Taylor’s house concert. About 80-85 people, and I sang away. I was in a great mood, and had so much fun, even when a certain someone had a little toooooooo much drinky-poo and sat on the front row and heckled in a drunken, not funny, way.
But, I kept my cool, and all was good. The Taylor’s home is lovely, it used to belong to Pat Green. I hear there are many stories to be told…!
Pat, if you’re out there, pipe in!
MAY 5
Lily and iolana were in their first art show, “100%”. They both worked on one canvas entitled “Every child deserves respect”. You can visit the show here, or go to the Carver Museum in East Austin and see it in person!
http://teach1.org/100percent/artshow.htm
I had two shows at the Pecan Street Festival…first, a children’s show with the amazing Richard Bowden hopping up on stage with his fiddle.
Then, my second show, two hours later, for adults. I was a solo artist stuck between a U2 cover band (very good, by the way!) and a New Orleans Jazz group. But I rocked away, and all was good. Thanks to the audience that came up to the stage and made it all special and warm.
(Uh…that’s right..it was MUGGY, now that I think about it!) I was sorry to miss the art opening…I go to all my kids’ events, so that was hard to miss. But Lance took pics…
MAY 6
1:30
Performed several songs at Christy Pipkin’s mom’s memorial service at Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center. She had asked me to sing, “If I Had a Hammer”, and boy howdy, I looooooooooooved singing that song! I sang it in a gospel, slow style, and enjoyed imagining Christy’s mom singing along in my head. There are nine children in that family….I was getting weepy, there was so much love present. But, mostly, I was honored to be asked to be a part of the day….
3:00
Mamapalooza/Symphony Square
Went to sing at the first annual Mamapalooza, and although there weren’t tons of people there, the place was jammin’ with good spirits, art, jewelry, music and fun. Got to see Mr. Smartypants and hang with him for a short time…also, Spike and met Idgy, that was nice to hang with them.
6:00
Went for a benefit for the Girls’ School of Austin. THIS WAS AN EVENT I WILL REMEMBER for a long time. There was a panel that included me, Marcia Ball, Marty from the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Willis, Nancy Coplin (City of Austin…books for the airport and the Armadillo Christmas Bizaare),
Darcie Deaville, and Big Jill from KGSR moderated. We answered questions the girls had written on index cards, and the conversation on stage was complex, interesting and, at times, silly. We got asked business questions, questions about what our most embarrassing moment was, who our influences were, etc. I would guess there was about 400 people in attendance…? Then, Marcia, Darcie and I hung out with Darcie’s band and performed impromptu jams on stage. Great silent auction, great vibe, so many awesome people. Got home about 10:30.
MAY 7
Went to Bradley Kopp’s to record another song for the MD Anderson cd that is being put together, a lovely lullaby. Stayed about five hours, and Bradley did a wonderful job mixing. Always fun to work with him.
MAY 8
Taught “Math and Music” class for three classes at Barton Hills Career Day. I really, really enjoy being a teacher. Maybe in my next life…
So, taught the kids how I use math all day in my music related business….accounting, dealing with money (pay outs, payments received, balances due), considering percentages for managers, booking agents; how assistants/interns get paid, lawyers fees…you name it, we covered it. I even explained iTunes, downloads, what the differences are between Amazon.com and, say, Waterloo Records in what they pay out on a cd…
Then, went with Lance to meet a client we are working with on creating 42 icons….a good meeting. We even had time to slip in a quiet lunch together, just me and my man!
MAY 9
9 am
Went to a Heartfelt Conversation meeting….a gathering of folks of different religious/spiritual beliefs, and talked about philosophy, books, quotes, etc.
11:45
Went to a luncheon Margaret Keys invited me to on behalf of American Youthworks. They raised $80,000 in one hour! It was a very moving program…several of the kids who utilize the school got up to the podium and shared their poems, their songs, their life stories…I was very weepy…a lovely way to start this Wednesday, between spirit and humanity doing good things together….
6:00
Arrived at Mercury Hall for a soundcheck. This is an old, white clapboard church that has been turned into a public hall. The energy is fantastic. This was for Renee Trudeau’s book release, “”Reclaim, Rejuvenate, Re-Balance: An Evening of Self-Renewal for Mothers.”
There was food, and conversation, and I performed…got all the women involved on “Strong Woman”, even up and doing a line dance a la
Soul Train….and then 8 moms got up and shared their thoughts and stories on motherhood. I was blessed in that my mom was able to attend, and at the end, as I sang my last note with all the women, my mom walked right up the aisle and wrapped her arms around me. Incredibly touching. I could do shows for women only for the rest of my life…it is such a bonding experience! Although, I must say, the lone man sitting on the front row was an eager, and able, participant in my heckling, so I have to say THANK YOU to that dude!
The other sweet aspect was all the mom friends that came out together from Barton Hills…Kathy, Sarah, Kelly, Lori and Sharon (please forgive me if I am forgetting someone…uh….darn…who am I forgetting?!) We had our pic taken all together…I just love looking out at their faces, my sisters in spirit, song and mommyhood!
MAY 10
My best friend, Marty, was born today, so we went to have lunch. He looks great. Especially considering he just turned 114. Ha ha!
Played a lovely home benefit for Parkinson’s. This was presented by Hope Young, who is attempting to broaden therapeautic services with new models of ideas for Parkinson’s patients, several who appeared for the event in a power point and in person. Hope is very passionate, and has so much to offer…this was a program I wish everyone could have come to witness…Hope has the explanation of these therapies down to an easy to understand science…Having done music therapy, I hope someday I can get reinvolved in that field. It is fascinating, and I have witnessed what music therapy can do for everyone it is presented to, from AIDS patients to burn units. The limited work I did with Parkinson’s patients would really be stimulated by Hope’s doctrine.
MAY 11
2:00
Went to write with Billy Harvey. We worked on a song about the moon and a blueprint. I have to say, he is an exceptionally nice, and very talented, person! I hope we can finish the songs we started…
6:00
Performed at the Live Oak Coffeehouse. Ok, hands down, best sound in Austin! Bill, at soundcheck, kept sweating it, telling me he didn’t really know diddly about sound, but I am here to tell you he is waaaaaaaaaaay too humble. I just sang and sang and sang and loved every minute of it….he made me sound like butter….MELTED butter, at that! I can’t wait to return to this venue.
MAY 12
9 am
Super Pal Auditions at the Gibson Showroom started. Kids of all shapes, sizes, ages, color came to audition. Some were really good, some were so nervous I had to help them off the stage for fear they’d evaporate. I love the band “High on Hot Dogs”…I can’t say enough good things about those musicians. I think they are all 12? Good stuff!
11:20 am
Headed off to Zilker Park Theatre to sing at Bill Oliver’s Mother Earth Day celebration…gosh, what a GORGEOUS, perfect day in Austin…The Otter Space Band played (Beth, Doug, Bill, Paul, Richard) along with me on a variety of songs, and at the end, there was a maypole that the kids came up on stage and they danced in a circle, wrapping the maypole to “I Wish You Well”….very sweet. Our friend, Jack Jeansonne, and his lovely wife, Sarah, were on hand with turtles (he is the friend who gave me Jeff Goldblum, my rough green snake…he’s a herpatologist). Sarah bought iolana a snow cone, and the girls got their faces painted. I saw Robin Hood! I saw Bryan from the Renaissance Festival! Chicken Dog was there (did I get that right?)
Headed back to the auditions after my show. Wanted to stay and sing with Bill, and was so sorry I couldn’t. Oh, yes, Laura Freeman hopped in on the songs I sang, too….she is a glitter-doll-fun-happy-funkster….always so happy to see her!
5:00 pm
Left the auditions (which were going until 8) to head off for my next gig at Steve and Lisa’s house concert on Mt. Bonnell….wowza! Big home with an ampitheater type scenario built in their back yard…a large, wooden stage with stone seats that soar up in the hillside. This was an event for teachers (hooray!) to celebrate their hard work, and so I sang in honor of them. We were singing along, we were crying along (I sang “The One” again), we were laughing, too. This is what I love about Austin, all the house concerts and how different each one is physically…but, amazingly, the heart of them all is the same….people want to listen, be a part of the music, celebrate the fact that we songsters are still out there, trying to share not only our stories, but the stories of the world, this nation, those around us…THANK GOD FOR HOUSE CONCERTS!!!
MAY 13
MOTHER’S DAY
Ok, yes, one would think I could sleep in, but I was up at 7 am to start getting ready for more Super Pal Universe auditions. But…wait! iolana and Lance made me breakfast in bed….complete with posies in a vase…rosemary and roses….and blueberry yogurt, OJ, cereal with milk, napkin, fork and spoon….all on a lovely tray…and then…oh, my! The cards and presents started flowing….they both told me there would be more, but they were waiting for later that night because Lily was with her dad, and they wanted to present all together the rest of the goodies.
I felt like a saint, I tell you! Spoiled rotten, gosh….
Got dressed and headed back over to Gibson. The most amazing audition, for me, was a young man named Southern. He came in and sang not only in perfect pitch, but with the gift of true passion. He was confident and sweet and I had tears in my eyes as he sang Journey’s “Open Arms”, followed by “Blue Moon.” Auditions all day, til 4:30, then we had to pack up the lights, the instruments, the digital cameras, the monitors, the sandbags, the Gibson cords, amps, etc. I was trying to stay out of the crews way but to help at the same time, so I was wrapping cables, picking up trash, folding tables and chairs. Lance, my mother-in-law and io all came over on the lunch break and we had a nice, quiet lunch…me and iolana played pool at Opal Divine’s and I was showing her how to set up the line for the balls, and she was actually popping balls in the pockets. It was exciting! I need to get her a smaller poolstick!
Got home around 5:30, and by then, Lily was home and they had me close my eyes the minute I walked in the door…they led me to the dining table, and there I was astounded to discover the three of them had each made me a mug and a saucer….BEE-YOO-TEE-FUL! They had sneaked off last weekend and gone to a pottery place, Lily’s idea! And each of the mugs was filled with tissue flowers, made by iolana….and then they gave me a digital frame, so I can see pictures of friends and families, constantly changing…oh, I loved it all! Finally, io snuck me off to her room and gave me two more cards she had made me, and then we all laid on the bed and we heard the Mothers’ Day poems io wrote for me in a little book she made at school. I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I feel so loved, so blessed.
MAY 14
Taught Art Matters in Lily’s fourth grade class this morning. We studied Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein. Then I had them do a couple of pop art works, along with a portrait of their teacher, Ms. Nikolov, in a pop masters style.
Ok, there you have it…I think I am caught up now!
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:39 am
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An Article About One of My Best Friends, Steve Price!
May 13, 2007
Sara
Airing out the Music
He’s gotten a cosmic signal that he’s on a spiritual journey with his ‘nonsense,’ air guitar ace says.
By Ryan Vaillancourt
Once a month at the Royal Oaks Convalescent Hospital, dozens of patients roll their wheelchairs into a common room to watch entertainer and musician Steve Price rock out. It doesn’t matter to them that Price’s guitar is fashioned from cardboard and that his saxophone is actually driftwood.
For two years, Price has entertained the patients at Royal Oaks with an air guitar, karaoke-style show that he calls a “journey around the world.”
With familiar tunes playing through speakers, Price dances around a faux-microphone, inducing the crowd into a hand-clapping revelry.
“We’re going from Johnny Cash to Armenia, people,” Price said.
And from there, it’s on to Jamaica, Italy, Poland, Mexico and beyond.
“I think he’s crazy,” said Hegda Abrahamian. “He’s a good entertainer though. He picks us up.”
Price, who takes his show mostly to parks and farmers’ markets, provides a spark of youth each time he visits Royal Oaks, said Owen Cazier, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Friday.
“He’s a character,” Cazier said. “I like that, because I’m kind of a character myself, for 80. I refuse to act 80. I don’t feel much older than 45.”
Many people have told Price that he needs to stop doing his act, which he calls the “Imagination Circus” or “Cirque Du Solo,” and move on to something more normal, Price said.
But those who tell him to stop are outnumbered by those who keep asking for more, he said.
“I’ve had moments where people over the years have told me to stop all this,” Price said. “Whenever someone would say stop this nonsense, I would get a sign from the universe that I was on some kind of spiritual journey.”
One of the first signs came about two years ago when Cora Ovikian, the activities director at Royal Oaks, invited Price to come entertain the residents, he said.
“This is my favorite show for many reasons, but mainly because Cora was the first one to believe in me,” Price said.
Now, the man behind the Imagination Circus has quite the following.
“He makes everybody laugh,” said Bella Avsepian, social services director at the hospital. “He makes everybody dance. He makes everybody feel they are really somebody here.”
Cazier, who clapped almost nonstop throughout Price’s one-hour performance, is a fan because Price has a compelling message.
“What he says is very true,” Cazier said, referring to a Pablo Picasso quote, referenced by Price.
“It takes a long time to become young.”
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:32 pm
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Feel Free to Write a Letter On Behalf of Musicians, Too
May 12, 2007
The Honorable John Cornyn
United States Senate
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4302
Re: CRB Webcasting Rate Decision Affects Artists
Dear Senator Cornyn:
On behalf of musicians across the country I am appalled by the recently
introduced legislation (“Internet Radio Equality Act”) that would enrich
the coffers of mega-corporations like Clear Channel, Yahoo!, AOL and
Microsoft at the expense of creators of music. The recent ruling by the
Copyright Royalty Board setting royalty rates artists receive for the
streaming of their music on Internet radio is fair and reasonable. By
conducting their anti-artist campaign under the guise of helping small
webcasters, these corporations stand to receive a windfall of $100 million
or more during the royalty rate period 2006-2010.
I am all for remedies that help small webcasters build their businesses or
stay in business as they devise ways to earn enough income to pay artists
fairly for their hard work and for the sound recordings upon which their
businesses are built.
I believe that these royalty payments are an acknowledgment of the value
of the work of musicians, and the incredible effort and sacrifice artists
make to create the music we all enjoy. The idea that these corporations
are trying to drive down the value of the music they use to build their
businesses, and the payments they would make to musicians for the
unlimited use of their work, is insulting and offensive.
Sincerely,
Sara Hickman
posted by Sara Hickman at 05:36 am
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On Behalf of Philip Workman—Send A Pizza
May 11, 2007
Hello, All
As you might know last night TN executed Philip Workman despite his claims of innocence. For his last meal on earth, Philip Workman requested that a vegetable pizza be delivered to Nashville’s homeless shelter. The Department of Corrections refused saying they were too focused on the execution procedures. But hundreds of normal people have stepped in and hundreds of pizzas were served last night to Nashville’s homeless community in Philip Workman’s name.
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6495261&nav=menu374_2_1
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/09/execution.pizza/index.html
I am collecting money to send some veggie pizza’s to the Austin Homeless shelter (hopefully by sometime this weekend) in Workman’s name. Please let me know if you are interested to pitch in as little as few dollars.
I think we can generate some media coverage through this and also bring attention to the human side of the death-row inmates. However if you can please contact all your friends and collect their donations. then I will put them all together and order Pizza’s to be sent to the Austin Shelter. We can also add some death penalty literature to the Pizza orders. I don’t know how much money we can get however I am going for a few hundred dollars. If you don’t live in Austin and want to send a check please let me know and I will give you my address. you can also donate some money by credit card just by going to TSADP’s website. Please just email me and let me know so I know that the money is for the Pizzas.
https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/tmn/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1563&t=TSADP.dwt
Thanks
Hooman Hedayati
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:41 am
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Stand to Save the World
May 07, 2007
If you think it is appropriate, please send this message on to everyone throughout the world who you think might like to join us.
We will be standing for the world’s children and grandchildren, and for the seven generations beyond them. We dream of a world where all of our children have safe drinking water, clean air to breathe, and enough food to eat. A world where they have access to a basic education to develop their minds and healthcare to nurture their growing bodies. A world where they have a warm, safe, and loving place to call home. A world where they don’t live in fear of violence—in their home, in their neighborhood, in their school, or in their world. This is the world of which we dream. This is the cause for which we will stand.
If you share this dream, please stand with us for five minutes of silence at 1 p.m. your local time on May 13, 2007, in your local park, school yard, gathering place, or any place you deem appropriate, to signify your agreement with this statement. We ask that you bring bells to ring at 1 p.m. to signify the beginning of the five minutes of silence and to ring again to signify the end of the period of silence. During the silence, please think about what you individually and we collectively can do to attain this world. If you need to sit rather than stand, please feel free to do so. Afterwards, hopefully you and your loved ones can talk together about how we can bring about this world.
See http://WWW.standingwomen.org for more details and to register your commitment to stand with us. The website is in 15 languages and links to a YouTube video. We hope to see a 24 hour wave of women and men all over the globe standing to save the world.
posted by Sara Hickman at 03:24 pm
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Aielli Unleashed: Mother Earth Festival
Download and listen.
posted by Gene Cowan at 02:29 pm
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The Ride/Dan Workman/New Songs
May 01, 2007
Fifty miles of riding a bike was starting to sound like crazy business…
We got to the site, and it was chilly cuz I had on my hugely-padded biking shorts and riding shirt…I now know: bring a windbreaker! Lesson #1. Rode my bike over to where all the action was starting…the breakfast tent! Ate a breakfast taco, just one, cuz I didn’t know how strenuous the first part of the ride would be and didn’t want to throw up…Man, that taco was tasty. Anyhoo, walked around and saw a TON of friends…I had no idea! And saw people who had on funny costumes, folks who had decorated their helmets…What a wonderful community of folks! Everyone smiling and positive and telling me how proud they were I was doing this…Heaven on earth, I tell you!
Finally, almost 8:30, so everyone starts taking their bikes over to the starting gate (yes, we actually did pass through a gate to get to the starting point! Tee-hee) I lined up on the “slow” side, and everyone on my team lined up on the FAST side. I was thinking…Hmm. But, Jean Marie stayed by my side, so that was a positive plus. David Smith got on the megaphone and told us wonderful things about why it was important we were riding our bikes, and to remember who we were riding them for. Of course, that made me weepy….I started thinking about Victor…and David…and Kim…and Lance’s father (he didn’t have AIDS, but the anniversary of his death had been the day before…)…But, I felt EMPOWERED and NOTHING was going to stop me from completing this race! Suddenly, boom! Everyone is pedaling and were are all whizzing along….
Almost 1/2 mile in, my chain came off. I thought I was in a bad gear, until I realized that was what had happened. Jean Marie had already gotten ahead of me, and she became a pinprick on the horizon. Fortunately, the volunteers on this race are INCREDIBLE and PERFECT and APPEAR OUT OF NO WHERE! and two women in a truck jumped out, one of them popping my chain on in seconds flat. I was back on my bike!
Then, my sunglasses went flying somewhere, but I didn’t stop. I just kept riding. It was a beautiful, overcast and quiet morning…so, I figured by the time I needed sunglasses, I’d just deal with it.
We came to a water crossing, and that was the last time I saw the hundreds of bicyclists…We had to walk our bikes across, while waiting on the other side were 6 spooked horses and their riders…Finally through all the splishing and splashing, I crossed under the dappled light of the trees, the cool water splashing up on my shins, the spinning of water from bike wheels making a lovely “shhhhhhh” sound. The horses, I hear, made it across after all the cyclists finished. Patient creatures!
I rode…and I rode…and I rode…The first “pit” I came to was a big relief for my bladder. (11.5 miles) Jean Marie was waiting and gave me a big hug…I ate some peanut butter and drank some very cold apple juice!
At one point, I was out in the middle of no where, completely alone, peddling and singing a new song out loud, when I decided I needed to go a little faster. As I stood up on my bike to shake out my tail feathers and get serious, a huge white heron appeared from the tops of a tree and sailed directly over me. I felt I had been blessed to go faster! “Thank you, Heron!” I hollered out.
I was smiling to myself, and rode on down the road.
It reminded me of the time I was a little girl, visiting my paternal grandparents in D.C….we were at the zoo, and a large bald eagle was resting on a limb high above my head. I was apologizing to our national symbol that he was confined to a cage, when he should be free!, when, as if by magic, one of his feathers started to FALL, spiraling all the way down and landing directly in front of me, there for the taking at my feet, just inside the wire. I reached in and took it. It was a gift, I thought, for caring for this creature. I had that feather for years and years and years, until I gave it to someone who I thought needed it at a moment of sorrow in their life…
So, I pedaled on. Occassionally, the Pirate couple would come by in their decorated black truck (complete with a fake parrot attached on top). They would drive up and ask if I needed anything..water or ice or a chocolate…I took them up on it twice on the journey. The man had on a true swashbuckler’s outfit…boots, pants that ballooned just so, a fluffy white shirt, an eye patch, the black pirate hat complete with skull and crossbones, crazy necklaces and a sword…The woman was a bit more like a hostess at Red Lobster, complete with fishnet stockings and an “RRRRRrrgh!” with every response.
The second pit (22 miles), I was thinking…MAN, I’m 1/2 way done!!!! I wasn’t hurting anywhere, but my rear was getting tired. I just kept shifting on the ride, and the little distractions I would find (oh, a barn! oh, i’ll eat some of this power bar! oh, i need to shift my weight! oh, what pretty flowers!) kept me happy. Amazing how such small thoughts can carry one so far! This pit was decorated 50’s style…Women in poodle skirts and men in rolled up jeans, slicked back hair and white tees. Elvis on the cd player, and 45 singles swinging from the trees! I ate some peanut butter crackers and drank some (yuck) Gatorade and refilled my water bottle. It was nice to relax my buns. I had ridden almost 22 miles! I couldn’t believe it.
The lunch pit (34 miles?) was decorated like the wizard of Oz, people cheering you in dressed like the Tin Man, Dorothy, etc. All friends from the Care Communities (formerly the Interfaith Care Alliance). It was good to see familiar faces and hug necks! I ate a roast beef sandwich, chatted for awhile, and then realized…I was going to reach the finish line about two hours earlier than I thought! Which was good for me, but I had told my family to meet me at 4…I found a phone and called Lance, letting him know I didn’t have much farther to go….He was shocked, as well as I, on how far I’d already ridden, as it was only 1 pm!!!
So, I sat and chatted with Rosanne and then, finally, hopped back on my bike and the hills….oh, man. The hardest part was the end of this race. Two severe hills in a row. The first one I had to walk up, the second….I was prepared, mentally, so I rode down down down the first giant hill (whoo…I can go fast on a bike!), shifted gears at the bottom and pedaled like my butt was on fire (which, of course, by now it was)…..and…I….made…it up the hill! In the blink of an eye, I was at the top! I did it! And then….oh, the glory of speeding down the other side, just hanging on, the wind rushing over my face, yellling “Wa-hoooooooooooooooo!” and feeling like I had accomplished something so significant…something just for my loved ones…for me…for life….
At the end of the race, I could not see my family waiting at the finish line…So, I turned around. The volunteers and folks waiting were cheering, and then when they saw me turn around, they were all yelling, “WRONG WAY! COME BACK!” and I was yelling, “NOT TIL MY FAMILY ARRIVES!” Sandy and her boyfriend ran out to see what was wrong and when I told them they brought me a phone..I tried to call Lance and my mom, to no avail. So I rode further back and waited under a tree for about 25 minutes…Finally, I could see Jean Marie waving excitedly, and through the trees, I could see Lance, running!, towards the line and my mom and my daughter, Lily, so I hopped on my bike and started riding for all my worth and EVERYONE was cheering…WOW! SO loud! So happy! So enthusiastic! And I rode into the arms of my loved ones and everyone was hugging me and I turned and my friend, Everett, was standing there, glistening with sweat, and he had a medal, and I burst into a big smile and said, “EVERETT! YOU GOT A MEDAL! THAT IS SO AWESOME! CONGRATULATIONS!” and he laughed and said, “WHAT? Didn’t you know? We ALL get medals!” And I was FREAKIN’ OUT! WHAT?! WHAT! I GET A MEDAL TOO! And cameras were flashing and people laughing and next thing I know, David Smith has placed a medal round my neck and you would have thought MY LIFE WAS COMPLETE I WAS SO PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! I looooooooooooove my medal! I worked so hard for it! A medal…just for me. Gosh. Thank you, medal makers of America! I can promise you I love mine!!!!
LAST WEEK
Went to Houston, and stayed at Sara’s B&B;in the Heights. Go there. It is perfect and lovely and perfectly appointed. Super nice owners, too.
Wrote with Dan Workman, a ray of light, a stupendous, loving awesome man. We had so much fun. We worked on songs and talked about life and death and all the things that happen in between. Dan owns Sugar Hill Studios, a legendary recording facility, so we worked in the belly of the studios in Dan’s office. I can not wait for you to hear the music! I have an entirely new idea for a new cd, and believe you me, we are already at work on it. Thank you, Dan, for making me feel welcome, for celebrating my talents, for being a true friend. I love our friendship!!!!
Ok, I have to stop and have some breakfast. I have a rehearsal here in 30 minutes with Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band!
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:47 am
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