Released 6/10/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
Being in Nashville once last year for CMT's and the producers of American Idol's "Can You Duet" singing competition just was not enough for me. I had not had enough of Nashville, Tennessee, yet. To me, Nashville is like a different world. I have never met people so friendly yet casual in my life. Walking the streets people passing by will greet you with a smile or a "How Ya'll doing?" I was ready to go back, but this time I would be alone without my duet partner. I was taking another step forward and I would be going solo and have to be independent but I was ready. In life, I strive on the motto "everything happens for a reason". It seems that too many times others shoot down our dreams saying they are unrealistic, but how can we know unless we try for them. Therefore having dreams is something we all have to have more faith in. The best way to describe how I was feeling is through my own lyrics: "The shell is breaking I'm stepping out, I'm through with waiting I'm done with doubt." "It's been too long, the time has come, my life's beginning I'm breaking out." I would like to tell you "my story" and how hard work, faith and dedication can make your dreams seem more attainable.
It was this past Christmas when my dad called me up and told me to look up this website of a producer in Nashville. I recall one time last year my dad mentioning the same thing, but it was only mentioned and never looked into, but not this time. He went on to tell me a co-worker of his at work grew up and was friends with this producer since his childhood years. The website was labeled "OMG Nashville" and the producer’s name, who was originally from Crystal Falls, was Mark Oliverius. Without wasting time, I e-mailed him immediately telling him my dad knew his friend and that I was truly interested in what he did. He replied right away seeming very sincere, nice and interested. It was January 5th and I was on my way back to St. Norbert College for musical practice when I first talked to Mark on the phone. His energetic voice and positivity made me want to fly to Nashville right then and there to start recording. But he informed me of all the work that went into a project like this. Being a busy college student would not stop me from going for something I have always felt in my heart was my calling.
Mark asked me to send pictures of myself and any recorded videos or music I had done. This was the most nerve-wracking part for me because I was worried, "What if he thinks I sound bad?" or "What if I do not look the part or good enough for the business?" I was worried and nervous to read the next e-mail I would receive from him. If there is anything I know about Nashville is that they are the nicest people, but very honest - which could be good or bad, depending.
More to Come!
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part II
Released 6/17/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
I was awaiting the dreaded e-mail. I would like to make a side note and thank my two wonderful parents, Tamie and Greg. I may be prejudice but my parents are two of the best people I know. They have supported me a hundred percent in everything I have done throughout my life whether it be the sports I was involved in or my musical events. My parents were all for this Nashville thing because it was a stepping stone to my dreams of pursuing music. Their unconditional love and support have helped me become the person I am and who I want to be. None of this would have ever happened if it wasn't for them. The reply email from Mark came.
"Everything looks great," he said. Once again, I worried over something I didn't need to. I told Mark I would be heading home in a few weeks so he could speak with my parents then. I look back and am impressed in how I handled learning and memorizing all my lines and songs in the musical while working on this big Nashville project. I headed home and Mark spoke to my mom on the phone. I decided then and there I was not going to tell anyone of my plans until I saw how everything turned out. Let me tell you, this was not as easy as it seemed. I wanted to tell everybody of my exciting plans, my roommates, other family members, the whole world. Mark started sending me CDs full of songs that were written by various songwriters from all over that had yet to be released. I was to listen to all the songs a few times and to narrow it down to my four favorite songs. That seemed almost impossible being that there were a couple hundred to choose from that all sounded great to sing to. But I had to narrow it to four because I was going to produce an EP which has 4 songs on a CD. I even had to go out and buy a portable CD player because nowadays we all have iPods, not CD players. Along with my busy school schedule and other various activities I was involved in, I kept listening to these songs.
The part I was most excited for was writing lyrics with Mark. I have a little rainbow notebook filled with pages of my feelings and thoughts and things that happened in my life. These were known as my lyrics I have been writing for awhile. Writing to me is like a door to a whole other world. I feel that I have complete freedom and can say what I want without being judged. I often find myself waking up in the middle of the night, turning on my bed lamp and quickly writing them down before forgetting them! Mark would help me put my lyrics to life by adding music. I cannot explain to you how great of a feeling that is.
Everything was working out perfectly. School was very stressful with my 5 classes I was taking and I was bummed I did not get a part in the upcoming play, but now when I look back at it, "Everything happens for a reason" and it would have been too much to add on to my load, especially with the Nashville stuff. I was going to Nashville the week of my spring break. Soon I would be touching down in Nashville for the second time and hopefully not the last.
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part III
Released 6/24/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
It was the week before my trip to Nashville and of course I had to get sick. I caught the flu and then developed a cold. "Great!" If there is one thing everyone should know about me, I am always getting sick, no matter how hard I try not to. This would not hold me back. I said my goodbyes to my friends at school and had to take a quick detour. I had an informational interview with the Blackhawks hockey team in Chicago for a possible summer internship. It was Saturday morning and I was back home at my house in Vulcan, Michigan. We left early Sunday morning, boarded our flights, and the next thing I knew, I was in Tennessee. I have to say that I really enjoy the southern accents; they kind of have a warm feeling about them. We picked up our rent-a-car and went to the hotel.
Being here, it again almost felt like a second home or place I belonged, I loved everything about it. We got to the hotel, settled in and I called up Mark. I would soon be meeting him in person and after hearing his enthusiasm on the phone and through his e-mails, this time did not come soon enough. With my dad's good old GPS, we found Mark's house in Hendersonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful neighborhood. A side note I'd like to mention is how humongous and beautiful the houses are in Tennessee are. Their outsides are totally differently constructed than the ones I have seen. Maybe in my later future I'll be able to live in one!
Mark came down the steps from his deck and greeted my parents and me with a warm Nashville handshake. I finally met face to face with a Nashville producer. His accomplishments that I know of in life are just astonishing. He moved to Nashville and made a good and popular name for himself. He is a producer and plays in the band for Lorrie Morgan and has worked with other various artists such as Trick Pony, Heidi Newfield, "Nashville Stars" Ashley Hewitt, and many more. I really look up to him not only because of this but because of his honesty and sincerity which can be hard to find in the music industry.
That night, I took out my lyric notebook and Mark and I worked out a whole song with music and all. It was amazing. I told him I wanted to do a song more along the lines of Miranda Lambert, because I like her sassy, outgoing attitude in many of her songs. He played around until we found a melody we both liked and then we applied the lyrics to it. With the guitar, we recorded a rough version of the song. My parents came that night and were very impressed. I was so excited to show them what we had accomplished so far. Mark sent me on my way with another recording of a piano melody he made up for me to work on overnight and then I would meet with him the next day to try to put another co-written song together. The next day, I was back at his house and the second song was not coming as easily, so we stopped because he said a song should never have to be forced. I totally agreed. So we had the song I co-wrote with him called "Breaking Out" and then we had 3 others that I had chosen which he had co-wrote with Ashlee Hewitt form CMT's Nashville Star. The next day we'd be hitting the studio. I've been in smaller studios before that do not have the advanced equipment that these professional ones have but I could only imagine what it would look like. I was afraid I'd be tired the next day due to the excitement not letting me sleep.
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part IV
Released 7/1/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
By 9:00 a.m., we arrived at the studio. The studio was called Mainframe Recording and the engineer is Nathan Smith, a very quiet, yet kindhearted man who took his work very seriously. He was honest in the way that he would not take your money and record for you if he thought you needed work. He wanted to produce the best sounding CD possible and he was very anal about everything being perfect, which I liked. The sound board was humongous. It was long with so many buttons that the average person would have gotten confused to which one was which. His other equipment was stacked up to the ceiling. It was crazy and amazing at the same time. The sound that came out of the equipment was loud and perfect. This was serious business. Today was the day I did scratch vocals. The band members were coming in and I would just have to sing, not full out so they had something to follow along to. I did not know who was playing or anything, but I can tell you this, I was not at the very least disappointed. Mark surprised me again.
Soon these average Joe looking men walk in. After speaking with them, I found them to be so down to earth and happy with what they do. To make things even better, many of the members had traveled and played with big stars. I remember talking to one of the guitar players who told me he was just in Australia with Brooks and Dunn and now he was playing for me??? AMAZING! The drummer, Wes, and I were talking about his travels in Australia as well and how he loved it. These members were not arrogant in any way and felt fortunate they could do what they loved and also have a family. If that was not impressive enough, wait until I tell you how well they played. Mark showed them a rough demo of the songs and before getting all the way through it, they were playing it. The sound, the talent, the technique is just unexplainable. Each member held their own and they blended so well together. I had never seen such talented people in my life and they were playing for me!! My parents and I sat there in amazement with our jaws dropped as Nathan and Mark worked with the band members to fix notes and chords. Mark's talent shined through once again with how he knew what to tell the guys to fix and play and then he himself would go in and start playing the keyboard along with them. He had nothing in front of him to read, rather he played what he felt and he put his whole soul into it. I loved my band members; they made my experience even better.
That night, I started my vocal recording of my co-written song "Breaking Out". It was so professional because I had to go in a little boxed-off room where there was a stand microphone and stool. It was me, my water and the room and this was the moment I was waiting for. I would show them who Tanya Sue Pollard was and that I was serious about this. I put on the headphones and started singing. For the longest time, I have thought well it must be so easy to go in there and just record. Boy was I wrong. I had to sing the same song over like 12 times. It was so tiring and being that I was still a little congested from my cold that did not help, but I had to push through. Mark and Nathan would talk to me through the headphones giving me ideas of what to do and how to fix some parts. Mark even recorded a vocal part in my song "Breaking Out". His warm, scratchy voice reminds me of Billy Ray Cyrus. Soon it was a wrap for that night and I'd be back early in the morning to record the other three songs.
Wednesday was about recording my other three songs. Once again, I went through the whole process of recording each song 10-12 times, taking breaks here and there, making sure to keep a water bottle by me at all times. My parents sat in the other room with Mark and Nathan and his fiancée Caroline. Caroline is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. She is the type of person who walks into a room and lights it up with her personality and smile. She is just a beautiful person inside and out. My family and I felt so blessed to be with so many talented and kind-hearted people. Recording went almost all day and when we left, Nathan was hard at work blending the band and my vocals together. I even heard him listening to just my voice to make sure It was on tune all throughout the song, and if it had to be fixed he could easily fix it. Wow, the power of technology! I had always wondered how that worked. It seemed to beep or make a weird noise when my voice was a little off and it would fix it.
That night, my parents and I went to a dinner show where we ate and watched entertainers, one of them being Steve Hall and his puppet "Shotgun Red". I am sure many of you country fans remember him from Ralph Emery's television program, "Nashville Now", to the enormously-popular, 25-year-run show "Hee Haw". I could not stop laughing. The other singers were great too, singing country oldies to some originals and present songs. Oh how I loved Nashville and everything it has to offer! The next day, I met the 2 backup singers. When singing karaoke, you never have live backup singers. This made me want to have a live band back home to perform with; it is so different from singing karaoke. Gosh, I wish everyone could have been there with me at that time to see and feel how great of an experience it was. I went off to bed with my songs repeating throughout my dreams!
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part V
Released 7/8/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
Being in the studio, having my songs recorded and then having real backup singers come in to sing behind them is such a spectacular feeling. Little did I know that I would be having two backup singers who have traveled many years with big-named stars all over the world. Their names were Brittany and Thom and they were both near their late 40s and on. The part I find funny is how these two just stood in the kitchen drinking coffee and reminiscing about times they were on award shows with Martina McBride and other stars. It was so fascinating. Brittany currently travels with George Jones and Thom with George Strait. They listened through my song and within minutes were belting out the backup notes and vocals. These two sounded like they could be famous, talented singers, even better than some. They were fun to work with and talented. Finally, last but not least, the steel guitar. Steve was the man to play the steel guitar and I would like you all to know that Steve is one of those people you meet who comes off as being the most down to earth, coolest guy that anyone would want to have a conversation with. Not only was he amazing and sweet, but he also tours with Randy Travis and had arrived home the night before from being on a late night show with Randy in L.A.
The rest of the day, Mark (producer) and Nathan (engineer) worked on my songs without rest. I can bet that Nathan put about 40 hours into my 4 songs. Now if that is not dedication than I do not know what it is. Sitting in the studio with the music blaring and hearing the finishing touches was just phenomenal. My goodness what a difference all this nice technology can make. It blends everything so beautifully together.
My parents and I knew how honest Mark and Nathan were and we wanted them to be honest with me. It was the one question I wasn't afraid to ask but was a little afraid to hear the answer if not in my favor. My dad came right out and asked the two if I was worth investing money into. I wanted to know also. I'm the type of person who in a way wants to know and I feel that to progress you need the truth. Nathan, being the quieter guy he is, chimed in right away saying "definitely" and just to keep practicing because I have what it takes. Mark also agreed saying I have the pipes (vocals) and personality but he wants me to work on my vocal control and phrasing. My heart felt relieved hearing these words. Mark showed me a tape to order online which is produced by Renee Grant Williams, a well-known coach in Nashville who has worked with stars from Faith Hill to Randy Travis and many more. As soon as I'd step foot off the plane back home, I'd be ordering her "Vocal masterclass" DVD. The excitement was never-ending.
To finish the day off, since Mark produces Lorrie Morgan, he got my family backstage tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. "OH my Gosh" was what my mouth looked like. I was going to be backstage of the Opry where country music has made its stand with some of the oldest stars. To make it even better, when I was backstage I ran into my favorite, oldest country star, Little Jimmy Dickens. He is so tiny. He is about 4'2, weighing in at 90 pounds (that's a guestimate) and he had just turned 80 years old!! I asked him if I could get a picture with him and he replied, "You can have anything you want honey!" Ahhh I love him. Then I was able to meet Vince Gill, such a calm, down to earth man. These stars just invited you into their dressing room and talked to you as though you were just as important. I wish every star was like this. I roamed around the halls looking at all the pictures of stars who had been inducted into the Opry over the years. I even drank as much punch as possible; I had to make the best of my time backstage. We even got to sit on the back of the stage and watch. Peering out into the crowd warmed my heart and made me want to work even harder for my dream because I want to be on that stage one day and I will make a difference. The funny thing is performing on the Grand Ole Opry is not as big of a deal as I thought because they are so used to it. I do not think I'd ever get over it! While there, we even saw Steve, the guy who played his steel guitar in my songs! All I can say is what a night and how blessed and thankful I am for everything in life. Now I was sent home with a list of instructions on how to go about getting out there and promoting my music.
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part VI
Released 7/15/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
I was so antsy the whole plane ride home because I just wanted to tell everyone of my exciting news. Goodness, couldn't the plane go any faster?? I was so anxious. It was Saturday night and I would be starting up school again on Monday so my parents dropped me off at St. Norbert College and headed home. I was worried of the reactions from many of my friends because I was afraid they would be mad at me for not telling them beforehand, but I should have remembered that I have amazing friends who go with the flow. I first broke the news to my roommate Kelly and she could hardly believe what I was saying she was so excited! Then gradually, the news spread from friend to friend. I did not mind telling my story over and over again because it brought back all the excitement and I was able to relive my wonderful time in Nashville, Tennessee. I like to make a lot of side notes, so here goes another one. I am so thankful for my friends that I have had throughout life and the ones I have made along my years at St. Norbert. They support me 100% and make me feel like I can and will achieve my dream. They have never once looked down upon me and my dreams but only lifted me up with positive words. You all know who you are and I personally want to thank you and let you know that I love you tons.
Mark, the producer, gave me a whole list of things that would help promote me and my music. Oh boy, the fun was just beginning. Who would ever expect all this work after completing a CD? Well, if you had a management company and record label backing you, you would never see the work that took place after a CD, but I saw the work and every little bit of it. Now I am not complaining one bit because it is all worth it to me no matter how long and time consuming it would be. The problem was that I had my six classes to focus on with finals coming near, helping out with the play, working every day, searching and applying for internships for the summer so I was already quite busy. But when you love something so much and want something so bad you are able to find time to accomplish it. I will say it was tough but I can look back and say I did it all while still making the Dean's list.
My first task was to create a website: one that would be just for me and my music. Oh goodness gracious, I have never been great on computers and I had no idea where to even start. Mark also wanted me to get a MySpace that focused on my music. I was not even sure how to get all of that set up either. Then I needed someone to take photos of me to put up on these pages. I turned to my amazing friend, Haley. She is such a talented, young lady who was willing to help. I came home one weekend from school and we had a photo shoot at an old barn, in her yard and other various places. It was so much fun. It made me wonder what it is really like for the stars and famous people who have photo shoots. Hopefully someday I'll be able to experience that with the fan blowing my hair!! But I had the natural outside breeze blowing my hair so I felt pretty cool with that! Haley took lots of pictures then started creating my MySpace account. Thank goodness she's so easy going and was able to accept me being a failure at setting up any accounts anywhere on a computer. She worked very hard on my page knowing that I loved the color purple and cheetah print. Everyone who knows me always seems to remember the sole fact that I love anything cheetah print (fake, of course). My dream would be to have a guitar decorated with cheetah spots everywhere; that would be so stylish.
While working on the MySpace page, Haley also started designing my CD cover and back. This took a very long time because we had to decide on pictures and where they went and where the font was to be placed. Plus sometimes, working with Photoshop is not the easiest thing. I spent many days with Haley trying to figure out how my first official CD would look. I had the front cover somewhat envisioned in my head with me walking down the road in my cheetah jacket. I liked the idea because it matched with my album title, "Breaking Out." Then, Haley, with her brilliance, decided to have me write the lyrics to my song "Breaking Out" on a piece of paper and she lightly overlaid them on my original idea and it fit perfectly. It was a keeper, a match and things started rolling along.
While she was working on those two projects, my next task was to find someone who could create a website for me. I would not be able to do it on my own. I was getting nervous because I knew of no one around who created websites as a job. Oh boy, I thought this was way harder than it seemed. But my heart soon reminded me of my dream and calling so I kept my head held high with positive thoughts. There had to be someone out there, something would come up. I had to be patient because nothing happens overnight. I was determined to have an amazing website that would represent the true Tanya Sue.
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part VII
Released 7/22/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
The CDs were in progress along with my MySpace page. Next in line came the biggest challenge to face: creating a website. As currently mentioned, I am not very savvy with computers and certain (many) electronics. I try, but they never work for me, so I tell myself! My dad has a friend he works with, Clarence, who is a very kind and intelligent man who loves and can deal with computers. We first went to him and asked for assistance when he told me about a very talented website designer by the name of Danita who has her own business called "Oak Hill Internet Design". I contacted Danita and my dad and I went and met with her to explain what I was looking for and costs and all that fun stuff. Danita is another person I feel honored to have been able to get to know. She has such a big smile and big heart and is willing to work hard until she feels everything looks the best.
I would like to add that I was home this weekend from school specifically to meet with Danita so I could get the ball rolling. But being back at school it was not as easy to get started because I had no idea what I even wanted my own website to look like. I mean I knew I wanted to stay true to myself and I just kept seeing images of my favorite pattern, cheetah print. I sent the pictures my friend Haley had taken of me to Danita but she wanted some more and for me to say what pictures were a "yes" and "no". I was ready for my second semester at St. Norbert College to be done with so I could get a move on with all this music business. I was excited and a little anxious at the same time. It seemed things were happening slower than I expected but I had to remind myself that patience is a virtue, as my grandma often says.
I headed home from college Friday night and met immediately with Danita that Saturday. It was time to get serious. We set up my website domain and she did other little things here and there. Then came the big question, "What was the website to look like?" I told Danita that I love the cheetah fashion because it's cute yet still professional looking. She agreed - I mean who could pass up cheetah print? Next she wanted to have some more pictures to work with and she was willing to take them. Another photo shoot - woohoo!!! Danita's camera was the type that would take tons of pictures with one press of the button. Goodness gracious, some of the pictures of me were just crazy funny. Those are the pictures I hope will never be seen by anyone because they're quite embarrassing. We spent all day at my house and some at hers and she captured me all over my yard and with my animals. Another thing many should know about me is that I am one of the biggest animal lovers you will ever meet. My mom is the one who has passed it on to me, for both of us rescue any stray or hurt animal we see. I wanted pictures on my website of me and my two handsome cats and dog. As funny as it may sound to many, they make up a big part of who I am. I love them all so very much and they always love me no matter what as well.
Some of my other favorite pictures are the ones we took down on my road, County Road, by the signs that read, "Norway City Limits". I felt like a rebel in my black dress and cheetah shoes next to that sign. Plus, I felt it represented my song, "Breaking Out." Looking back, I love all the different pictures, some definitely better than others though.
Now that Danita had a lot of pictures to work with, we picked out my cheetah print background and she started sending me all these ideas she had through e-mail. They were amazing. I knew right then and there, I had found the perfect person to be designing my website. She worked endless hours on my site and I would go to her house and we would collaborate our ideas on what looked good and what I wanted my site to portray and look like. She was able to capture professionalism while keeping the site personal for me. That was my biggest goal was to make the site friendly and truly representing of who I am as a person. Many weeks were spent on my website.
Some of the things we did were new to Danita like putting my songs on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody and others which I would like to mention are on there now!!! I'm so excited!!! Please check them out!! I'd really appreciate it! It took a month for them to be on there! Looking at all the codes she had to use made my head spin and made me very thankful for finding her. Thank you, Clarence, for bringing her name to my attention!
During the mornings and afternoons, I'd work with Danita on the website and after that I would work with my friend Clarence trying to find places to print my CD cases I would be selling. I realize through this whole process that everything costs so much, and I am so thankful to have my parents' support and belief in my dreams. I cannot tell you as a child how important that is to us. I hope every supportive parent out there can understand that from my story. Clarence was comparing prices from all different printing companies trying to find the best. Then Haley sent the CD designs to Clarence who printed off copies to put into a CD case to see a sample. I will never forget when he emptied his fiancé's "No Doubt" CD to try my paper samples in there. I know you told me not to tell, Clarence, but I could not resist. No worries though. We switched out the paper because he got nervous!! It was not even the real paper copy but man was it amazing. I'd soon be holding my own, personal CD case with CD in my hands. I would be able to be spreading my love of music, life and entertainment with those all around.
The next task on the checklist would be to send a copy of one of my songs to radio stations all over to get feedback on what they thought. But before I did that, I wanted my website to be done so they could look at it as well and listen to my other three songs and everything else. Clarence was also working on rounding up lots of radio stations from Lower Michigan to passed Chicago. What amazing people I had helping me out. That is why I am so thankful for growing up in my small town of Norway, MI. Even though there are only an estimated 3,000 people, it's the most supportive and caring 3,000 people I have ever met. Okay, CDs had to be ordered, website was finishing up, and radio stations were next. It was never ending, but I loved every second of it!
“Realizing Your Dream” - Part VIII
Released 8/5/2009 by Tanya Sue Pollard
Everything was coming to an end. Actually, I guess it was coming to a beginning because I was going to be getting my music out there and showing everyone who I truly was. Putting your music out there for others to judge upon if they like it or not isn't always the easiest thing. My music is a part of who I am and what I believe and getting negative feedback can hurt. But that's life. That's how things in the music business work out. Like mentioned in a previous article, I was ready for the ups and downs and negatives and positives. My song "Breaking Out", that I co-wrote with Mark, was my way of saying "I am going to do this no matter what comes my way." I understand there will be many obstacles and forks in the road but I have finally come to figure out that I am meant to entertain and make people happy. I am meant to give people a sense of hope and give them a break from their daily lives. I've known all along that I was meant to have a profession dealing with people. It's about which path we choose and how we go about it. Yes we all make mistakes or wrong choices but I believe that if your heart is behind whatever it is you want to achieve then there is nothing that can hold you back. I have finally taken time to slow down and listen to what my heart is telling me. In some way or another, I am meant to entertain people because I find my most joy with them.
Danita and I were getting quite comfortable talking with one another over the phone many days. She even came up with some places that might be able to print my CDs. Clarence and I would chat over the phone as well as looking up websites for places to print my CD for the lowest price yet great quality. Clarence and I finally found a place we thought would be the best for my CD and we ordered a few sample CDs to see what they'd look like. I was so ecstatic to see my first "real" printed CD. They would be here in about 4 days. You know what was even cooler was that the CDs were coming plastic wrapped so they looked like the real deal! Oh My!!
On my website, Danita had come up with the idea to have a free downloadable ringtone of my song "Breaking Out". Brilliant idea, the only problem being that Danita and I have never downloaded a free song so we had no idea how to go about it. Danita's nephew Ryan was able to make a ringtone of my song which I really appreciated. So Danita went to work trying to figure out how to make a downloadable ringtone for every different possible cell phone there is. Boy was that not fun. But in the end, like always, she did it! She's so amazing like that.
My sample CDs were in and they looked wonderful! Oh my goodness, the color the writing, it was all perfect, but I and a few others noticed something missing. My name was not on the front cover and at first I thought it was alright. But looking at the real deal, I realized I need my name on the front. I traced through my brain thinking of all the CDs I've seen throughout my life: did they have their names on the front? I finally decided it needs to be there so Danita copied the font from the back of the CD so it was identical and wrote my name in the front with the same font. You know that sound you hear when something is perfect, that's what I heard. My name in bold white made the front of the CD cover pop even more. It was perfect. I then noticed a spelling error inside the case so Clarence quickly fixed that and before you know it, we ordered the rest of the copies!! It would take awhile before they were in. I did not want to spread the word yet about my CDs but I decided to go to a few local places and ask them if and when my CDs were in would they be willing to sell them there? Everyone I asked agreed and showed me that true, small-town support once again. If you check into any of these places you might be able to hear a sample of my CD!
Danita was almost done with my website although there will always be things here and there that need fixing. I would like to make another side note like I tend to do. I have been in Chicago for the past month so I have been doing a lot of this work via e-mail and phone. Therefore, the day my CDs arrived I was not there but I came home that weekend for my brother's wedding and was shocked to see about 8 big, brown boxes full of my plastic-wrapped CDs. It felt like Christmas all over again. I opened one box and my face lit up with joy. There they were, my babies!! I had to leave that Sunday, the 12th and my mom organized groups to go to each place, Storheims, The Norway Deli, The Current, and The Garden Place. I hope, as time goes on, to sell my CDs at more places. I am hoping my CDs sell well and that others can experience the excitement and my heart that has gone into making this CD.
I have put everything I have into this whole experience and it is very important and meaningful to me. My CD cover of me walking away in my cheetah jacket is one of my favorite pictures. I am breaking out of the limitations people have set on dreams. I am breaking out of my small town. I am breaking out to make a difference in the world, my life and the lives of those around me. I am breaking free and doing what I have always longed to do since my days of singing and dancing along to the movie "Sister Act". My parents knew there had to be some sort of music talent within me if, as a 3-year-old, I was asking to watch "Sister Act" over Disney/cartoon movies.
I feel that my journey in life is just beginning. I have not become famous and I am not selling thousands of records at stores worldwide and I am not making it in magazines, but I have made somewhat of a dent in the business. I have shown them who Tanya Sue Pollard is and what I am capable of doing. I have shown them that I am not willing to give up or be taken down by negative words. I stay positive and strong and understand constructive criticism is necessary. Clarence continues to send my song "Heartbreak Highway" to radio stations and I will await their opinions and feedback on the song. I am keeping an open mind.
As for now, I hope everyone will check out my website. There has been so much hard work put into it. Plus, you can download a free ringtone. It's free!! I am also selling my CDs online if you have a PayPal account or want to make one. I cannot let you all know how much I appreciate your unconditional support. I'd love to hear from you and can do so if you go to my website and leave a comment. Remember, it is you who has helped shape the person I am. It is you who keeps me strong and striving for my dreams. Thanks so much times a trillion. Remember, "Tanya Sue loves you!"
