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I have been putting this critical aspect of my ensemble off for a bit too long. I have locked in concert dates (4 main concerts and 3 secondary concerts) for my fledgling ensemble and I've made a start on the website and social media accounts... and the business structure (although, that might need to change in the future). My wife (who will also be playing), is really supportive of my slightly hopeful but slightly unnerving long-term project... it is funny, we are crazily supportive of each other, but we doubt ourselves so much!

Anyway... the part that I had been putting off... was the actual formal offer and request of work to my colleague musicians. Now, everyone that I have talked to about it have been supportive and interested in coming to play... but I am just nervous about asking them formally... as I can't offer them the monetary compensation that they really deserve (especially as I'm asking colleagues who are at a similar level of expertise and ability as me...). I feel faintly embarrassed that I can't offer the same conditions as groups that have been established for decades. Of course, everyone understands it and has no problem (I am offering a decent amount still...) and I wouldn't personally care if I was extended a similar offer... but it is one thing to accept an offer, and another to extend the offer.

Anyway, after taking onboard some lower paying jobs because I was happy to play with those particular colleagues, I decided that I should just send out he offers... and the worst that could happen is that they would say no. And I had chosen people who were highly regarded in their field, I had already sounded out... AND most critically, were not mercenary minded. So, similar ideals to what I hold...

... and after sending out the offers... I waited around like a nervous teenager... this was worse than asking a girl out to a prom, or proposing for marriage! Days passed (it was the weekend...)... and I started to get really down. And then, suddenly... all the replies to all the offers came back... all positive and willing! I'm so grateful and relived... I thought that I had asked the right people, and was so over the moon when they came back with positive replies. I've also had a similar reaction to the amount of support for letters of support and all of that as well!

So, I've sent off a few more emails to lock down a few more players... and now, the year's programming is taking shape. Plus, I have a grant proposal to write as well... I've budgeted WITHOUT the grant... so, if I get it, it will be a huge bonus for our first year. I've never had to write a grant proposal before... I had a talk with a few people about it this year, and all were really encouraging and were saying that this was the project that SHOULD be funded... but it is one step from SHOULD... to actually being funded.

That said, I expect nothing... I'm running a lean ship this year... but everything is looking up and I can't be happier! We are going to produce some kick-arse concerts this year... money or not! But I won't turn down money...

I can also be found cross-posting at:
Hive
Steem
Publish0x

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