Beautiful disruption

Blowing up your life in the most magical way

“Call me immediately”

My gut reaction to these kinds of texts is that I’ve done something wrong and am about to be told off like a 6-year-old. Despite the ominous feeling, they do usually lead to something fun, so I was nervously excited and cautiously optimistic when I called her back.

“Where are you?” she said.

“Wisconsin”

“I really need you to be in Nashville by tonight” she replied.

I looked at my watch - it was 1:05 pm.

Tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder I opened my laptop and pulled up the airline website, searching for the next flight to BNA.

We had been asked to take a last-minute spot on a TV show, an opportunity too good to pass up, so our band, management, and crew started a 3-hour scramble to confirm availability, choose the songs, arrange the guest artists, and negotiate the timing for the following day’s shoot.

My flight confirmed, I sped home, threw open my suitcase, and proceeded to have a mild panic attack. Do I need shampoo? Should I take my show makeup or will there be someone to do that? Do I need stage clothes for a mid-summer outdoor gig or will it be an air-conditioned room?

Forcing myself to take some deep breaths I made sure I had my ID and phone, threw some clothes in the suitcase, grabbed an apple, and jumped in the car to drive to the airport.

There was only one seat left on the only flight remaining that day, and it was in first class. So, just 4 hours after that first text, I found myself sitting in seat 1A, sipping a complimentary drink and listening to two new songs that had been added to our usual list.

It was my first time in first-class, and I was far too distracted to even really enjoy it. I absently thought to myself how it didn’t really seem that significantly better than the seats that cost a 5th of the price and were only a few feet further back, but then went back to thinking through the songs and replying to the mountain of iMessage threads dedicated to negotiating various aspects of the shoot.

When we landed in Nashville I stood up, put my backpack on, and waited in the aisle to disembark as usual. It became abundantly clear I was a first class newbie when the flight attendant opened the front door and I remained standing in the aisle politely waiting for the usual cue of someone else moving forward to tell me it was time to move. It took a few moments, and several polite nods from the attendant, for me to realize that I was the person who was going to start this process - for the first time in my several decades of flying.

By the time I led us all off the plane in Nashville it had been about 9 hours since I’d received that first text message, and the organizational stress of the day had morphed into excitement for the following day’s shoot.

Splitting my time between two places plus touring means a lot of travel, and I knew this is what I was in for when I set up my life this way. I usually get at least a few weeks to plan though, so 22 hours’ notice to be somewhere was definitely a new record.

These kinds of disruptions are a constant part of being a musician. You never know the text or call that will either present an incredible opportunity or take one away. You have to be ready to jump into the fire at a moment’s notice and also learn to cope emotionally with the peculiar cocktail of anxiety and exhilaration that is inherent in a life filled with situations and job opportunities you can’t control.

Got a great tour planned? Definitely get excited, but also remember there’s a chance it will get canceled.

Looking at an empty month in your calendar? Try not to stress out - you never know what amazing offer is about to come in and fill it up.

Over the last few weeks my friend and business partner, Cassie Roma, and I have been leading a group of people through Park Howell’s Story Cycle, helping them write their personal brand stories. Last week was “disruption” or “call to adventure” and it was addressing precisely these kinds of moments. The unexpected events in our lives and careers that mark a turning point or present an opportunity for significant growth or change.

Staying mentally healthy within the chaos of a career built upon the whims of other people means finding a way to stay somewhat detached from outcomes.

If you can get over the need to control and plan everything there’s incredible beauty and delight in never knowing what adventure is just around the corner, ready to pop up and blow up your life in the most magical way.

Have you experienced an incredible call to adventure? I’d love to hear about it!