Expectations, What Are They Good For...?

We all have expectations and we all have disappointments.  When things don't go the way you want  or expect them to, what do you do?

Nick and I embarked on the "Dream It True Tour" about 3 months ago.  What we couldn't possibly realize is how different it is to live on the road.  There's obvious changes that effect you in ways you wouldn't ever think of.  Like, we no longer work every day.  I used to walk dogs a least 2 hours a day, on a slow day.  I'm not doing that anymore, nor am I walking up flights of stairs all day.  We have two little steps to get into our RV.  So, with the lack of regular physical activity and the love of food, I've put on a few pounds! I usually weigh about 118.  I got up to 124, which may not sound like a lot, but if I didn't recognize it and make a change it would have continued.  Six pounds is the difference between my clothes fitting comfortably and being just a little too tight.  It's the difference between a tight shirt fitting smoothly and suddenly seeing a muffin top.  Or my thighs rubbing where they never did before.  Bottom line is that I don't feel comfortable in my own skin.    So, I've taken up swimming and biking and walking and watching what I eat.  Friggin' Charleston, SC got me with all of their delicious BBQ meats and cured pig products.  I haven't had any meat other than fish in over a month.  I cook a lot of vegetable stirfrys with organic locally grown greens and root vegetables.  I use My Fitness Pal app on my phone to keep track of what I eat and how much I exercise.  I have NEVER done this in my entire life, ever.

One of my super duper nutritious and DELICIOUS meals.

I'm sure part of my motivation in somewhat obsessing over my food and exercise is to feel a bit of control.  I was in such a comfort zone in Philly.  I had my friends, I had my places I'd get drinks, places to get food, I knew where everything was all the time, I knew where to get my pants hemmed and my shoes fixed, and of course I had a steady income coming in.  It takes a long time to figure out these things, so when you are moving all the time, it's nearly impossible to feel grounded.  All of these new adjustments add up and can make me feel a little crazy; unbalanced. In Philly, sure,  I had an odd schedule compared to the average person, but it was normal and regular to me. Out on the road, I feel as though I am at the mercy of so many factors.  For example, the weather can disrupt our driving schedule very easily.  If it's too windy, we can't drive because we are considered a "high profile" vehicle so high winds mean high danger. We don't drink the water in the holding tank of the RV, so we have to refill BPA free jugs of water every few days which takes time and forethought. When there's a problem with the RV, not only do we have to worry about the expense and having to locate a reputable place to do the work, but we also have to worry about where to stay while the RV is getting worked on! All of these little problems add up and it's not what I had expected.  It's not bad, just a different reality than what I had envisioned.

  I guess I had imagined myself immersed in musicians sitting around campfires and singing to the wee hours of the morning.  This was a very romantic vision, but far from reality, at least, so far.  As far as musicians go, I kind of expected that people would be interested in our trip and want to be a part of what we are doing. It was challenging in Philly to organize musicians, well, on the road it's way more difficult.  Most good musicians are super busy and are into their own projects, the less affluent musicians may show interest in my endeavors, but don't really have the chops to get involved or just aren't dedicated or have kids or whatever other issues that don't lend themselves to playing out or rehearsing. Still other musicians feel threatened by a new talented musician infiltrating on their "territory".   So, there are so many factors, more than I had thought there would be, that make life on the road so much different than life back home.

I've been going to open mics, jam sessions, jazz nights and sitting in with lots of musicians, but I haven't really made any headway, at least not in my eyes.  One night I sang at 4 different venues between sitting in and open mics. No one can say I haven't been putting myself out there.

Elise sitting in with some Jazz cats at Roadhouse Cafe in Fort Myers.  

It's said that crazy can be described as someone doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  Well, at the moment, I've stopped trying to promote my music that has already been created and began to open myself to collaboration.  Collaboration creates connection and connections are what life is about.  I've decided to build relationships with people through the artistic process of creation.  Giving life to something new that never existed before.  That is how to build a solid relationship that lasts.  So, this is my new tactic.  This is the new plan.  It will have to be reassessed in the near future, but so far, so good.  I recorded a song last night in a small studio with a local producer and I'm working on another song with a local guitar player.  Maybe that's what this trip is about and not  just ME and MY music, but US and OUR music.

Don't forget to comment and visit my other pages for more info on my crazy journey!

Elise's FB Page

Elise's Reverbnation Page

Elise's Youtube Page

Break UP Music Video Release

Here's the music video for the title track off of my EP, Break Open.  Mp3s are available on iTunes, Amazon and reverbnation.  Don't forget to Like and comment so I know your thoughts and suggestions!!!






It's wonderful when hard work pays off.  There is a lot more work ahead of us on The Dream It True Tour.  Can't wait to jump the hurdles and hoops they're gonna put in front of me.

You can also follow us on FB.  www.facebook.com/elisemoureaumusic

Time Restaurant and Bar Open Mic 5-3-2011

So I was able to squeeze in an open mic last week here in Philly at the wonderful Time Restaurant and Bar.  Great food and lost of music happening there all the time.  They even have events upstairs like "sex stories".  Sounds fun.  So, here is my 3 song set with the lovely Sarah Siahaan and Peter Gaudioso.  I love to hear your feedback, so don't be shy with the comments!!!!

Feast or Famine, Currently a FEAST!

With the nice weather comes more opportunities.  People get active  and productive after their long hiatus from society during the winter.  I myself have crawled out of my bear den to find fun offerings in the arts. 
    I was asked to audition for a new movie called Japanese Azteroids.  After 2 monologues and several readings later I am being cast in one of two roles.  Either a nurturing motherly role or the role of a jaded chaos creator.  Monday I go in to read for the ladder.  That is scheduled to shoot in June or July.  Updates will be coming as time goes by.
   The next project is an exerpt from a film being done by an aspiring film maker at Temple University.  The 3 page scene chosen from the movie Shallow Grave is deep with subtext and dark comedy.  We shot this saturday from 8:30 pm to 4:30 am!!!! What a fun and exhausting night/morning it was! I can't wait to see the finished product.
    Lastly, I was asked to partake in an Historic Tour of the Skyukyll River this summer.  The concept of this project is so unique.  It takes place at different locations along the river where you meet historical characters and you travel to these locations via canoe at night.  Wow!  How exciting is that?! The moon and stars lit up in the sky and you get to experience this intimate little show.  I'm so honored to be a part of this project with Alie Vidich and her Company Movement Brigade. 
   I am trying to keep this momentum going and not get complacent any time soon! Keep your eyes, ears and hearts open!!!

Procrastinating

"Procrastination is like masturbation. It feels real good while you're doing it, but in the end you're just fucking yourself."

Why is it so difficult to do the things that we know we are supposed to do? Why is it more fun to stalk old flames on Facebook or watch an episode of Lost, even though we've seen it already, when we have hundreds of more important and more productive things to do? I find myself procrastinating and putting off things like phone calls that will further my career, following up on business emails,even silly things like going to the grocery store. I say, "It can wait 'till tomorrow", then tomorrow I put it off again.


Well, let's face it, work isn't always fun and it certainly isn't glamorous. Keeping our goal in the forefront of our minds can help, I think. When I'm procrastinating (my latest guilty pleasure is watching Prison Break on Netflix. Damn you technology!) what brings me back to my goal is the thought of how I will feel when I don't have anything to show 3 weeks from now, except the same dream I've had for 25 years that's still burning a hole in my soul. So, I guess you could say fear motivates me.


Fear can be a motivator, but sometimes it can be crippling too. I had a very wise college professor who said we sabotage ourselves out of fear. Not necessarily fear of failure, but fear of success. Succeeding at something means change (which is scary), more responsibility (scarier), and having something to loose (we all have something to gain!). But isn't there a saying that says, "It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?" The way I see it, if you don't try for more, you've already surrendered to defeat. No risk, no reward. Apparently, I'd rather risk everything, than wonder about what might have been for the rest of my secure and boring life.

Yet another motivation for procrastination is simply that we are lost. I know I feel lost at least 3 times a day. A road map that clearly shows us where we are supposed to go would be a big help. How amazing would it be if we could google map our way to our dreams. Just type in the destination and a step by step guide on how to achieve our goals would pop up. Depending on the time frame, we could take the highway, or the scenic route. We could even send it to our phones and forward it to our friends!!! Unfortunately, that's the one thing google doesn't do...yet. So, until they do add the dream app to google, we must prepare ourselves for the unexpected, and create a road map to success on our own. I know I need to do this before I can even think about a road map across the country, hell, even to South Jersey, for that matter. I'm not sure how to do this just yet, but I've started by prioritizing. My number one goal is to save money. None of this can happen without the dead presidents. I'm also trying my darnedest to keep this blog interesting and informative so you are all inspired and thereby, hopefully, sponsors will be inspired to invest in this project. I always say, if you're gonna dream, you better dream big. How else will I get there?

As a dreamer, which undoubtedly, I am, inspiration comes and goes, it ebbs and flows. When you try to control it, it slips away like a fistful of sand. Or if you try hugging it too tightly you wind up smothering the life out of it. I find that when ideas come to me I get so excited and inspired, that I concoct these plans for greatness, but without follow through, they wither and crumble into a vague memory or worse, they become a regret.

They say "time is of the essence". What does this mean? Well, it means: Sure, you can do these things tomorrow, but, by then, someone else will probably beat you to it, and they will be living the dream that you put off 'till tomorrow so you could catch up on The Real Desperate Housewives of Whereverthefuck. I know it's a constant battle, and sometimes I will take a step forward only to take 2 steps back, but eventually I will find the strength to succeed. Life is short, so let's not waste it on the mundane, but instead live fully by pushing through obstacles, even if we are our own worst roadblock.

Please, Share your stories and struggles with me in the comments. We are all connected and there is inspiration within us all.

Next Step

Today I went to AAA to get whatever info I could from them. I was kind of surprised that they didn't have more to offer me, but they gave me a large map of the USA, which I requested, so that I can plot out the major places that we will stop. They gave me info on upgrading our AAA membership to cover an RV once we get one and info on the AAA auto buying program. I have no idea what the hell that is, but I'll find out. I got info on the auto buying program because in addition to the RV the plan is to have a little car that we can zip around in in cities that aren't necessarily RV friendly, plus once we plant ourselves in a campground for a week or for however long, then we'll save a ton on gas with the little car. This is the plan, anyway.


So I mounted the US map on a corkboard. I was going to just tape it to the wall in the living room, but then realized the pushpins illustrating our path will ruin the paint job that took me weeks to finish. And, I decided to move the map elsewhere. To a glorious place where much thinking is accomplished. Some of (hu)man's greatest thoughts were concieved in this place. The map has been mounted next to the toilet where it will get the attention it deserves. Plus, with all the time that Nick spends in there, he will be forced to daydream about something other than the Maxim and Playboy pin ups.

Ok, I have push pinned the cities of interest for me they are in no particular order:

Virginia Beach VA, Jacksonvile NC, Columbia SC, Charleston SC, Savannah GA, Atlanta GA, Nashville TN, Memphis TN, Miami FL, Naples FL, Tampa FL, Talahassee FL, Mobile AL, New Orleans LA, Houston TX, San Antonio TX, Dallas TX, Austin TX, Albequerque NM, Santa Fe NM, Tucson AZ, San Diego CA, Santa Ana CA, Pasadena CA, Santa Barbera CA, Los Angeles CA, The Grand Canyon (this would definitely be an inspiration stop), Denver CO, San Francisco CA, Portland OR, Seattle WA, and Chicago IL.

That's 32 cities. If we plan to keep this trip in a year, that is 11.5 days for each city and don't forget we still have to travel to and from each city. Maybe this trip will take 2 years! Clearly, we have a lot to figure out still. We might want to spend just a day or two in some cities, while other places may draw us in for a couple of weeks. Having a rudimentary schedule is going to be a lifesaver, but we don't want our existential journey to be dictated by time. That would defeat the point. I could lose 3 days of sleep trying to meet a deadline right here in Philadelphia. When opportunities present themselves we don't want to say, "oh we already have plans".

We want to be open and free as birds to meet new people and be inspired by whatever comes our way.

The Me Nobody Knows....yet.

This blog is about chasing your dream. It's about seeing an idea through, no matter how long it may take you; dreaming it true. If you never dream it, you'll never achieve it.

Our Goal in this blog is to catalog the journey, the ups and downs, and the eventual success (we hope) of an RV trip chasing my dream of becoming a professional singer. We are at the very beginning. We have nothing but an idea. We'll see how an idea can become a reality and how a dream can come true. It doesn't always go the way you plan, but that's kinda the point.

A Little History:
I'm Elise. I have been living in Philadelphia for almost 9 years. I came here with $2000 and a BFA in musical theater from Syracuse University. In other words, I was a waitress. After a few years here, I started a pet sitting business because bouncing from restaurant to restaurant and serving unappreciative diners their overpriced grub got old, fast. Since the inception of For Paws Philly pet sitting and dog walking, I have bought a house in South Philly in an "up and coming area" where people like to throw their trash on the street and grafitti neighborhood buildings for fun. After 3 years of both living with a mortgage and running a business I am feeling, what should we call it, TRAPPED? Down trodden? Unmotivated and fed-up? Yes, all of the above. Don't get me wrong, I have good and bad days, but the unfulfilled feeling is always nagging at me. I'm sure there are many of you out there who can relate to how I feel.






My dream since I was a small child was to be a singer, like Whitney Houston. I remember when I was 6 years old singing "We are the World" at summer camp and I knew that was what I was supposed to do with my life. So, how the hell did I get here?





Money is how I got here, or rather a lack there of. When I got out of school, keeping myself afloat financially was the main goal in my life. My dream of singing, dancing and acting was overshadowed by my need to work and support myself. After years of working jobs I hated for money that i could barely live on, I changed my goals. I wanted to make money and be in charge of my own income. Hence, the pet sitting biz. While this has been a great success in my life, it has once again taken away from my true dream of singing and performing.

So, now I am an adult, or at least, that's what they call it. Now it's time for me to take my destiny into my own hands once again and reconfigure my goals, but this time, around my dreams. If I don't do it now, I'll regret if for the rest of my life.

A few years ago I was lucky to run into a hip hop producer named Rooks Star. A young motivated man from the 'hood with a passion for music and dreams of big business in the entertainment industry. He played a track for me that I wrote my first song to. I called it Better off Alone. From there, I got writing fever. I was always thinking of song ideas and lyrics. I had rediscovered the passion that I had lost in my race for financial wealth.

Another twist of fate brought me to producer Tony Moore, who saw me at an audition and chose to produce my solo project. I wrote songs, worked with musicians, booked recording time, took photo shoots (which were painful at first, but thanks to Tyra Banks and ANTM, I figured out how to be in front of a camera), took voice lessons, talked with artists, looked for inspiration and 2 years later my EP Break Open has been released.





Ok, so that brings us up to date for the most part. Now I have my EP, I have my voice, I have photos, I have an EPK (electronic press kit)and I have a camp of artists, from TMmuzix, who are there to support me. However, I don't have a band, which is kind of an important element but we'll touch on these details at a later time.

So, this combination of feeling trapped and unmotivated along with my re-inspired dream and passion for music is pushing me to make a change. There has been a voice in my ear telling me to jump off the cliff and take the risk for over a year now. There is an opportunity in front of me, an open door, a possibility and somehow I have been able to recognize it. It is up to me what I do with it and I think I should take the wager. So, my boyfriend, Nick and I are planning our escape. We want to buy an RV and plot out a course for musical success or rather, exploration. So, here's what we need to do:

We need to save money for this trip. Buy an RV and probably a small car to pull behind it. Rent out the house, find someone to run the pet sitting biz, and figure out how we can continue to have income on the road. Then we need to plot out our journey. Coordinating the time of year and musical events around the country, with where we will be and when. I'll have to start networking with musicians around the country and get my performance tracks, so that I can sing my songs without any musicians, oh and I should probably start picking up my guitar and learn to play it. So, there's not too much to do, is there?



We'll see how it all pans out. We are going to watch where we triumph and where we fall flat on our faces, but for now, we have to start somewhere, so here we go......