Songs for the Struggling Artist

Having spent a couple of decades in arts education, in a multitude of schools through a dozen or so arts organizations, I’ve had occasion to wonder who it’s all for. Maybe it seems obvious. It’s for the kids, of course! It’s for the students! Except when it’s really not. You can read the post on the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog .  Also, includes a chapter from my Shakespeare book .&nb...

What does behavior at my bagel shop have to do with the fancy cars in the neighborhood? Maybe nothing. Maybe something. You can read it on the blog here .  This is the podcast search engine I mentioned: Listen Notes Song: Thank You by Alanis Morissette Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd   Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/   Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.fac...

What happened when I turned on the advertising on the podcast? Baskets and baskets of money, of course. Of course. You can read the post here on the blog . Song: Rich Girl by Hall and Oates Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd   Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/   Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.pa...

So there I was, listening to the final storyteller wrap up his story when I felt the urge to cry out, "We have reached Peak Story!" Find out what happened by listening or reading the post here on the blog .  Song: The Story by Shawn Colvin Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugg...

What are we going to do about this 45 year old play that keeps getting assigned in acting classes? * I was trying not to listen but you know how it is with actors, you kind of hear them no matter what. These two seemed to be meeting for the first time to work on their assigned scene for their class – a scene from David Rabe’s  In the Boom Boom Room . Do you know this play? If you’re a woman and we...

Watching a presentation that Acevedo gave at the SCBWI conference made me cry but why? You can read the blog here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/the-default-character-and-why-elizabeth-acevedo-made-me-cry/ Song: Don't Take Me Alive by Steely Dan Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis Or b...

Why is it so much easier to write in an old dusty cafe than a beautiful beach location?  You can read the post here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/atmosphere-art-magic-and-souffles/ Song: Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett (for real!)  Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis Or buy...

Cafe La Habana is an inspiring place that has been a hang out for lots of famous writers. There's just one problem.  Read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/the-cafe-wall-of-fame/ Song: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Miserables Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis or www...

What power does a tribe have? Who are the Kings and who are the Twos? What does Deborah Frances White's book, The Guilty Feminist have to do with it?  You can also read the blog here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/the-tribal-boost/ Song: "Tribe" by Kim Viera Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.co...

"Why Does She Still Do This?" - a question once asked about a theatre maker I know that still haunts me today. Except now it's "Why Do I Still Do This?" And I'm not sure I have an answer. You can read the blog here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/in-which-i-try-to-defend-my-seemingly-terrible-choice-to-dedicate-my-life-to-theatre/ Song - "I Am the One" by Emily Rainbow Davis Follo...

What is my personal brand? Mmm. I have some thoughts about the intersection of advertising and art and support and "creators" and Patreon and so on. Listen here or read here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/01/23/this-is-my-motherf-ing-brand/ Song: This Is What I Do by Rhett Miller Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www...

I used to think I didn't feel anger. My, how times have changed. Listen here or read it there: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/01/16/anger-is-my-superpower/ Song: "Angry Johnny" by Poe Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis or www.patreon.com/emilyrainbowdavis Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://k...

What happens when I try to write a fundraising email for my theatre company and end up praising violence. Listen here or read it on the blog: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2019/01/09/in-praise-of-violence-on-stage/ More about the show referenced here: https://www.messengertheatreco.org/#/Measure/

Please allow me to introduce myself. A post about my name. Listen or read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/12/21/claiming-my-name/ Song: I Got a Name by Jim Croce Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis

The front page article in New York magazine was some advice for artists. I have some thoughts. Listen to hear them or you can read them here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/advice-for-artists/ Song: Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis Or buy me a cof...

Some people seem to have megaphones built into their mouths/platforms. The rest of us need amplification. This is my idea for making my corner of the world a little louder for the voices I want to hear. If you want to join me for #AmplifyWednesday, feel free! You can read the original post here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/12/05/amplify-wednesday/ Song: Pump It Up by Elvis Costello F...

I'm reading so many books about anger. Are they helping or making it worse? Listen here or read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/books-about-anger-and-the-safety-tax/ Song: Martina by Meryn Cadell Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis

In which I google how to growl and ride on a Trumpy plane. I also find hope. You can read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/11/23/we-might-be-okay/ Song: Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis

I have very specific viewing needs these days. Many many points to the entertainment that can provide it. You can read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/11/20/if-shes-not-shooting-fire-from-her-fingers-i-dont-want-to-see-it/ Song: "Light My Fire" by The Doors Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emi...

In which I am confronted by a giant man in an elevator and think about what defiance means. You can read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/11/16/thoughts-on-defiance/ Song: Murder or a Heart Attack by Old 97s Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis

How do you define productivity? Do people ask you if you've had a productive day? What do they mean? What do you mean? Why are we all so obsessed with how productive we've been? You can read it here, too: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/11/11/im-not-a-productive-member-of-society-and-i-have-no-worth/ Song: a brand new lullaby by me, Emily Rainbow Davis, called "Reuben's Lullaby" follow m...

Has she become unhinged? Undone? Why, yes, she has! And speaks both in first AND third person! You can do it too! And you can read the blog here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/why-yes-i-am-unhinged-thank-you-for-noticing/ Song: Undun by The Guess Who follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Join my mailing list: https://www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon...

Am I a dragon? No. Am I a witch? I wish. But I do have a vivid imagination. Here's why that's good. Read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/10/23/real-talk-about-imagination/ Painting by Remedios Varo Song: Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis

An irritating man in a coffee shop gives me an idea for how we can start the revolution. You can read along here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/10/18/how-we-can-win/ Song: In My Command by Crowded House To support the podcast, join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis

Is this shouting and racism and such what they want? Really? Also - what song should we sing at racists? You can listen here or read it at: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2018/10/13/one-womans-dystopia-is-another-mans-utopia-i-guess/ Episode 119 Song: Do You Hear the People Sing? from Les Miserables Support me here: https://www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis On Twitter @erainbowd