I don't know if you follow me on social media, but I did this thing a little while ago.... I put myself forward for a contest for new and up-and-coming artists. The winner would get to perform at the Hollywood Bowl as well as a $50,000 prize. If you know me at all, I NEVER do those kinds of things. They are so RARELY about actual talent and deserved praise. They're usually just a popularity contest, and the artist do all of the work in promoting it all. Or, they're about music execs looking for the next artist they can shape and mold into a superstar they can make a crap-ton of money off of. I'm not raggin' on these types of things, I'm sure they have their usefulness and purpose, other than money and entertainment, but it is lost on me.
Years ago, I use to enter these things fairly often, always hopeful and excited, and very sorely disappointed. But to be fair, I hadn't done it in over twenty years so I thought, why not, I'll just put my name in and see what happens. And it was an interesting exercise...
I agreed to put my name in for this specific contest because they didn't charge me to do so. Can you believe most contests charge the artists? I'm aware there can be admin fees and what not, but nowadays? I mean, these are all done online! The artist simply fills out a form (online) and submits a link to their music (online) and any social media accounts they have (online) and people vote (online)! But I digress! Back to my story...
It was free, so I put my name in the hat. I was surprised to discover, only because I'd forgotten about it, that I was selected as a participant. I did all the required form filling and link supplying. From there, I was directed to use whatever abilities, resources, tools, and strengths I had to promote the contest so people could vote for me. I was informed the artists would be grouped (though there was no indication at any time about what sort of grouping and how many in a group) and voting would begin in a week. I spent that week fine tuning my bio, ensuring the songs I linked up were my best to showcase. I also did research on how to self-promote and gain fans/followers.
I was told the first round would allow voting for ten days, to discern the top 15 of each group. So, I came up with this campaign idea to post each and everyday, a reason to vote for me. And then the next voting tier was to get the groups down to the top 10. I was like, ok, now what? But I kept pushing, trying to find creative and authentic ways to ask people to vote for me. And then, the contest announced they were partnering with AFSP National (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) and asked us to post something linking them and promoting the contest. It was a no brainer for me! I've been a HUGE advocate for mental health awareness, especailly through my music. I even have a song called "Time To Say Goodbye" about a crisis line worker speaking to someone in crisis who wants to end their life, so I posted that.
I made it to the top 10, and then realized I had to continue asking people to get me to the top 5. Somehow, well, I know it was thanks to people voting, I made it through! And then I had to get voted as the absolute final winner of my group. I pushed and promoted, but ended in second.
Why am I telling you this? There are so many reasons tbh. If I choose to focus on the negative, I could write about how it clearly is a popularity contest because how is an artist such as me, with only approximately 600 followers on social media, ever going to compete in a voting situation with an artist that has 2k or more followers? I could also write about how I absolutely hated the pressure of having to post every. single. day. Typically, a person shouldn't do that because it annoys others, but with the entire contest riding on how many votes you get, I simply had to. I could also mention that it was really challenging to work on my music and other art, while being disctracted by this whole contest thing and having to promote myself, but I know some people could argue that I could've just entered and ignored it. However, one of the many positives I am taking away from it, the main positive actually, is that I didn't do that and actually found a lot more support out there than I even knew I could have.
Yes, my family and friends were voting for me, but so were people I haven't even talked to or seen in years. And they were sharing it on their pages/posts, promoting it to their tribe of people (who don't know me), and so on. I actually heard from two people in Europe, one in England, another in Holland, who saw my post via who knows where. They listened to my music and they reached out to tell me they like what they hear and can't wait to hear more!!! How cool is that? So, the biggest takeaway I'm never forgetting is that it indeed takes a village and I am so fortunate to have had one form with me during this exercise. I've so often felt alone and under valued (not by my family, but others). Making art on your own can feel and be isolating. Putting your art (which is yourself) out there for the world to see and getting no response can be devastating. You're often left to feel "why do I bother"? But this experience changed that. And I'm so very grateful. In fact, so grateful, I wrote a song about it. And hopefully some day soon, I will be able to record it and release it for my village people to download and listen to at their leisure. Here are the lyrics:
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
For most of my life I thought I was alone
Swore I could feel it in each and every bone
Taught myself to try and stand on my own
Needing another can lead to too many unknowns
But then I jumped into the strangest thing
Allowing others to judge if I should be king
Though I am comfortable with vulnerability
I've never been Miss Popularity, but
CHORUS
Now I know if takes a village for me
I need the roots if I'm to become the tallest tree
Keep moving forward though it feels so slow
But now I know, it takes a village to grow
This time I didn't get served with the crown
I'm only measuring the ups, no point in measuring the downs
I know the only way I made it that far
And now it'll be a part of my memoir, because
CHORUS
Now I know it takes a village for me
I need the roots if I'm to become the tallest tree
Keep moving forward though it feels so slow
But now I know, it takes a village to grow
BRIDGE
On your own, you can only get so far
We may need the shade of a tree, or the light of an evening star
Now I know that I am stronger
I hope I can last longer, in this game of life
Because now I see, it takes a village for you and me
CHORUS
Now I know it takes a village for me
I need the roots if I'm to become the tallest tree
Keep moving forward though it feels so slow
But now I know, it takes a village to grow
I takes a village to grow
Thank you "village" people! It was great feeling listened and paid attention to. And this song is the best way I can describe it. Cheers, and much love!
Ⓒ September 2021. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.
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