Introduction: What is a music tourist?

Hello. Goodmorning.

This is my first post to my new blog "The Music Biz and Me: A Songwriter's Blog" published under my blog-moniker "The Music Tourist." It is an open letter and introduction to myself as an artist. This blog is not only for my expression of music, business, and music business; but it is also a way to connect with other songwriters, musicians, artists, and music lovers out there. I know this site is among millions upon millions of other blogs, forums, networks, whatsoevers from writers that have more experience and "fans." That is the challenge, not just as a blogger but anyone in the entertainment business. Only this is not for competition, it is for expression, insight, and a little bit of randomness. I realize both takes time and diligence and as a 22 year-old college student it is hard to remain on my studies with these music aspirations literally ringing in my ears daily. But this is a part of me I have tried to push off and ignore for once too long.  

So what is a music tourist? To be honest, I'm still in development of what that is in regards to this blog and my musical personality. A tourist is someone who visits a place they are not originally from for exploration or leisure. Music is my means of exploring who I am as an artist and as a person. It is also used for my relaxation and retreat from anything and everything. A music tourist is freelance, she may not travel physically to different destinations in the world but she explores her surroundings, broadens her horizons, redefines her predisposed judgments, and challenges her boundaries and criticisms. This essence of being a music tourist is a project and a challenge to overcome obstacles and travel the musical world and all its opportunities. But believe me, I would love to literally travel the world and experience all kinds of music instead of experiencing music globalization within the confines of YouTube searching. Until I am able to acquire that kind of mileage, I remain comfortably in that definition.

So yes I am a songwriter. No my words and tunes are not gracing the top 40 and no I am not bleeding cash. In fact, a vast majority of my work is hidden within the deep pages of my notebooks in which none of my closest family, friends, and colleagues have ever had the (mis?)fortune to hear. This is kind of what this blog is for, increase my boldness and confidence. It's not that I don't think I'm good. I just want to be the best...that I can be. Whatever level that reaches I am working to be ready. Any work I post on here most likely will be resulting from hours of editing and even more hours of self-degradation. I realize that I am my toughest critic and I probably will always be. It is a defense mechanism that most artists have. What makes us able to get past that is able to trust our God-given talent and trust that others recognize it enough for us to elevate to our highest potential. My potential focuses not in celebrity, for my goal is to not be famous. My peers would often joke around with me like: "Girl, you a songwriter? You gonna be famous." Now I don't degrade fame or the famous at all. That level of success creates immense opportunities that I hope my journey prepares me for. Active hobby or thriving career? We will see.

For now this is my introduction. I am Lauren.
World this is me. Me, meet world.