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Positive Thinking and Passion Plus a New Project . . . On the Edge!
By Caroline Smith, Musical Performance Artist
Greetings! As I write I can hardly believe how far I’ve come in the last 5 months. In the summer I was trying a daring new approach to life, that is, taking each day into my own hands, and making the commitment to spend my time working towards living as the totally happy, freely expressive human I wanted to become.
The dream was as old as I: make music and write all the time, inspire others with my passion, and just make the world more beautiful every day with my creativity. The ideas, however, were new: stop working for others, and trust that I would be able to provide for myself as long as I was on my true path. That meant figuring out what I truly wanted, as opposed to what I had up to then satisfied myself with, which was not as easy as I thought it would be.
I had to remove all thoughts of limitations or constraints that popped up as I considered the life I wanted, because as I soon found, all of the reasons I had given myself why I couldn’t have what I wanted were all figments of my imagination stemming from old ideas and beliefs, which were either no longer true or never true at all. Once I realized this, I got a lot better at visualizing my career and where I wanted it to take me.
The other new practice I have had to learn is conscious, purposeful positive thinking. This has been more beneficial to me in all aspects of my life than all of the education and training I have ever received. With deliberate positive thinking, I play more accurately, express myself more clearly, and attract more of what I want into my sphere of influence.
For example, I wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to score film footage, but did not own the necessary equipment. Within a day or two, I was setting up a brand new iMac on my desk. Through a series of small miracles of communication and timing, the computer came into my hands on loan from a friend who was going to be out of town for a month. Not only do I now have several film scoring projects under way, but I also know for certain that I what I am doing is getting me where I want to be, which in turn makes me even stronger as I make plans for the future.
The burst of confidence and creativity I have experienced has launched me into a full-force gale of productivity and growth, which I will showcase in my first truly unique solo show, Caroline and friends at the Octavia Lounge, January 21 at 7:30pm. With the help of a few other artists, including my partner Julie Potter, I will take you on a journey through the endless possibilities of musical expression, starting with classical virtuoso solo violin and viola works, leading into a jazz set, blending into original hip-hop sounds and lyrics, and finishing with a musical improv comedy set which is sure to delight and astound.
The event is a fundraiser for an international artist exchange which will allow me to live and work creatively for three months in the European environment sought out by artists of all kinds for many centuries. I am fortunate to have the support of Back House Productions, a non-profit company dedicated to nurturing new writers and producing new works. If you are unable to attend the show on January 21st, but would like to make a donation to show your support, please visit www.backhouseproductions.org and click “donate” for information on how to do so. Please be sure to earmark your donation for “Caroline Smith.”
My best wishes go out to you for a bright and productive new year in 2008, filled with new ideas and inspiration, and, most of all, happiness. For more on my past experience and current work, please visit my website at www.suitecaroline.net. Thank you!
Bio & Past Articles
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Betty's List Notes from the Edge
Columnists Caroline Smith and Julie Potter.
Caroline Smith
Caroline Smith is a musician of unusual scope, playing viola, violin and piano, and composing her own instrumental and vocal music. She also writes poetry and plays, and is currently co-writing a comedy screenplay with Julie Potter.
Most recently, Smith worked for two years as Director of Music for Peninsula Metropolitan Community Church in San Mateo. She holds a BA in Music at the University of Maryland, Masters in Music at the San Francisco Conservatory and Masters in Viola from San Francisco State University.
She has held positions in the Santa Cruz Symphony, SF Girl's Chorus, Vocal Minority, New Spirit Community Church in Berkeley, St. Aidan's Episcopal Church and others. Currently, she is completing her debut album and preparing for solo shows.
In July of 2006, she and Julie Potter were married in Amsterdam. Her web site is: http://www.suitecaroline.net.
Julie Potter
Julie “Fucking” Potter is a self-described “fierce, spiritual, revolutionary MC revolutionizing rap one mic at a time!” With empowering political rants, candid pleas from the abandoned sub-class, and piercing comical wit, JFP inspires, commands, and captivates.
Originally from Bakersfield, CA, she was influenced as an adolescent by West Coast rap pioneers, including NWA, DJ Quik, Tupac, Suga Free, E-40, Snoop and others. She found her own voice in the form of poetry mixed with hard-hitting beats. Her lucid lyrics reach moms and mofo's alike.
Her debut album, Exodus, was released in 2007, and is available at cdbaby.com and itunes.com. She is part of the Homorevolution Tour, the first ever hip-tour of all LGBT artists which has received coverage from CNN, BBC, The Advocate and others.
Potter was honored to serve as a Main Stage performer at the 37th Annual San Francisco Pride Celebration. She will appear in the Midwest leg of the Homorevolution, beginning in October 2007. Her web site is: www.juliefuckingpotter.com.
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