Why I Blog: A Drama in 5 Parts. - Christine Kane

Characters (in order of appearance):

Christine Kane, singer-songwriter, performer, blogger
Chris Cree, the well-known Success Creeations blogger from Savannah, GA

Setting: Christine’s office. Painted a shade of green that reminds our heroine of Campbell’s Green Pea Soup, or fresh horse manure. Somehow this pea-soup-horse-poop green has become not only acceptable, but it is on the cutting edge of interior design. It looks fantastic, if she does say so herself.

Our heroine’s furniture can be summed up in one word: IKEA. It looks like an IKEA truck ran into her office and drove away without its contents. She still bears the scars of putting it all together with an allen wrench the size of a paper clip. Her chiropractor is happy she chooses IKEA furniture.

Chris Cree enters the room (via the computer).

“So here are five folks that I’m tagging because I’d love to hear share 5 reasons why you blog…” (links his blog to Christine’s blog.)

Christine: (puts down her guitar) “Oh good! An excuse to stop working on this song!”

(Begins to type)

“Friends, Romans, countrymen…”

(Realizes she’s heard that one before. Starts over.)

“Ahem.”

Five Reasons Why I Blog…

1. To inpsire and encourage.

Hands down, this is the biggest reason. I have three things going for me on this front. One is that I’ve reached a certain level of success in making art, music, and writing my profession. Another is that I had no idea how on earth this would or could ever happen, and I’ve had to persistently work through old belief patterns, fears, and emotional obstacles that told me there was no way. And the third is that I am hyper-aware. I observe myself – the good, the bad and the ugly – with constant intensity. I’ve been this way since I started writing in a journal at the age of 9.

This may sound like a weird combination. But it’s the perfect combination to serve others. It’s the part of me that thinks, “Hey, if I can do it, then believe me, you can.” I know I’m still in process, and I still have a lot to learn. But I love encouraging people to recognize their own power and abilities and thought patterns and talents. It’s why I’m here on earth at all. It sounds lofty. Maybe it is lofty. But it’s the truth.

2. Because blogging doesn’t have to rhyme.

3. Because of the non-statistical benefits.

Lots of blogs are about making money from blogging, and business blogging statistics, etc.

Not enough people talk about the non-statistical benefits that happen.

Here are just a few that I’ve experienced:

– Some mornings I wake up to find that other bloggers have written about my music. Here’s a post from just this morning from Karen Lynch at Live The Power. Though performers and songwriters will often say, “I do it for the self-satisfaction of creating beauty,” that’s only partly true. (Some would say it’s a big fat lie!) We like applause. What other job can you find where people clap when you show up for work? We just LOVE this. And those blog posts are like little applauses. (Reason number one still applies, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love a little appreciation and reward as well! I’m not an enlightened master or anything!)

– Two of the women who came to my last retreat had never heard my music at all. They had never seen me perform. They came because of my blogs. It blew me away. That had never happened before.

– I’ve had bloggers come see me perform. I’ve had people come to shows because they knew my blog and didn’t even know that a music circuit existed for indie acoustic artists like me. They will now probably find other performers and songwriters that they love too. I am indirectly helping others in the field!

4. Because not everyone wants to go out to hear live music.

Since I started blogging my iTunes sales have increased 200%. This tells me I’m reaching people who wouldn’t normally go out to clubs to hear music. My feeling is that not all music lovers have the time to go out, that lots of them have children, and that it’s a risk to spend money to see a new performer. If, however, someone reads my blogs a few times, and then gives a listen to a song, then they might be willing to spend a buck at iTunes to get that song. And they don’t have to leave their homes!

5. Because of other bloggers.

People who blog (or, PWB’s) tend to be smart, willing to take chances, excited to learn, self-motivated, and they like to connect with others. Whenever I’ve had an issue or a conundrum or a question, I’ve always found the answer either in a blog post, or from emailing a fellow blogger. That’s a breath of fresh air when you’ve spent time in the music business!

(She finishes. Wipes her brow. She then tags Elizabeth at A Girl’s Guide to Managing Projects, and then Debra Moorhead, and Michelle, her newest favorite blog read. Stares at her guitar. Sighs. Picks it up and begins again.)

26 COMMENTS ADD A COMMENT
  • Caren

    Nope – been a dweeb for many a year, now! AND a nerd. I embrace my nerdiness, my nerdiness is a valuable part of who I am. My nerd deserves to be loved…. hmmm… dweeb and nerd affirmations… could start a whole new trend!

  • Christine Kane

    Germain, Tell brendan his music is great. I love it! And actually I was hitchhiking in the early 90’s there… so it wasn’t really bad. Lots of people were out on the roads hitchhiking!

    Well, Starbucker, either way…it was a great way to propose!

    Caren, you can call it the blogosphere no matter who you are. (if you don’t mind being a dweeb!)

    Hey Sham, thanks for the note. Now it’s your turn to write about why you blog!

    Jer… What a great idea and a great blog title. I’m excited for you to start this!

  • Jer

    hey, thanks for the tip on the spam blocker thing for blog comments. i remember reading your road notes from years ago and how entertaining those were, so i have no doubt you could fill pages and pages with even more stories. i doubt i’ll be having quite as many adventures, but at least this gives me one more thing to kill time with at work.

  • Jer

    Well, add me to the list of people you’ve inspired to blog. And since I actually have a subject/theme that my blog can be about, that made the decision easier. Hopefully topics will be thrust upon me as I travel along with my friends’ band (that’s what I’m bloggin’ about), so I won’t have to rack my brain for something interesting to ramble on about.

  • sham

    Hi,
    I’ve been reading your blog through RSS subscription for sometime time.
    I really enjoy what your post.
    Love the meme, it nice to hear different people say about why they blog 🙂

    Sham

  • Caren

    You’re why I *read* blogs now. I never had before — now I’m checking a couple regularly. And so glad to be, too! Like Verna Wilder’s “Out of the Cube”and her recent post on Faulkner — a beautiful piece of writing that I otherwise would not have known about.

    Thanks for the intro to the blogosphere! (or can you only call it that if you’re a pwb?) 😉

  • Terry Starbucker

    You are so right Christine! BTW, it was “Are You Lonesome Tonight” I used to propose. “If I Can’t Have You” holds its place in the Starbucker history book as the song I won a disco dancing contest with (and the one I’ve driven everyone on Liz’s Open Mic Night crazy with). So many songs, so many memories! 🙂

  • Germaine

    Interesting story…..and you’re very brave hitch-hiking – please promise me you’ll never ever do that again in SA!!!

    Brendan is still working on his CD, but you can check his http://www.myspace.com/rossbrendan out, there’s 2 songs you can listen to so long, he’s mostly known as a sax player (he’s brilliant), sings, does keys, he did sax, keys and backing vocals for Johnny.

    Johnny is definitely one of our best exports and is hugely successful all over, mostly in SA & Europe, but they’ve been to the US a couple of times and think they’re going back this year, you should try and see a show!

    Any case, let me know what you think of the songs, although it’s very different to your style, I’m curious to hear!

  • Christine Kane

    Thanks Meikah! I’ll go visit you now too…

    Germaine, I was there before I started performing music at all. It’s a looooong story involving a sudden “getting dumped” moment in the Johannesburg Airport and subsequent hitch-hiking around and ending up in Grahamstown by chance. I love Johnny Clegg, too! Send a link for your husband’s CD. I want to hear it.

  • Germaine

    O wow, always nice to hear when someone has visited our beautiful country! Hope you’ll return and we’ll come and check your gig out if we can and bring some friends along!

    We live close to Johannesburg in Pretoria. My husband has played @ Grahamstown before not sure what year you went but recently he’s played with Concord Nkabinde and also Johnny Clegg (who he’s left but been with for 6 years), not sure if you know the names? I don’t particularly like Grahamstown festival, but hope it was a good experience for you?

    Thanks again for your great blog!!!

  • Meikah Delid

    Great 5 Why’s, Christine! I’d have to say, I agree with you on all five accounts. 😀 The other bloggers and those who take your thoughts to their blogs inspire me to blog more. Keep at it, and hope to hear your music one of these days. 😉

  • Christine Kane

    Hi Debra. I look forward to having you at the retreat! It’s a great group of women. Thanks for posting your Five Reasons!

    Thanks Colleen! Welcome to my blog! You made me smile… 😀

    thodarumm, well you absolutely have to come up and introduce yourself if you DO happen to make it to one of my shows. My tour dates are gonna be udated here any day now!

    Hi Germaine! I spent almost a month in South Africa. I just love it there. Congrats to your husband! I went to the Grahamstown Arts Festival while I was there. Maybe I saw him play…

    Ron, It was fun to frame the post like this. And that’s another reason…cuz I get to find new ways to be creative! Thanks for your note!

  • Ron

    Interesting meme and answers. Motivation is a funny thing. You know that people don’t need a reason to laugh, to have sex, to become absorbed in a task? Such autotelic experiences are just gratifying in themselves. I’m sure that you could come up with five more reasons to blog but I’d also guess that you blog because it is inherently gratifying. At least that’s how it feels to this idea junkie.

    By the way – I love the way you framed the post.

  • Germaine

    Hi Christine,

    Just wanted to send you a note from South Africa, I live here and love your blog, I look forward to new entries and frequently check in. I respect you for the time and energy that you put into it!

    My husband is also a professional musician – and I’ve forwarded some of your entries to him and some friends. He’s working on releasing his first solo CD, although he’s had a very successful career thusfar playing with great artists and also doing his solo thing which people just love, he’s never released his own CD though, frightening thing for him although he’s brilliant!

    Any case, thought you might want to hear from us here in sunny SA and thanks for all the inspiring messages.

  • thodarumm

    🙂
    Hugs!
    Best wishes!
    :).. just cannot help smiling.. I am not a blogger, but I leave a lot of comments, I like showing my appreciation to people who care enough to write. I like connecting and it has been even more worthwhile when somebody wrote to me and said that my comment lifted their spirits..

    And yes, I am one of those who would come to see you perform not because I heard your music, but because I read your blogs. ( I do love your music, though I found them only through your blog) 🙂

  • Colleen

    Hi Christine,

    I just stumbled upon your website and have read a few of your entries (somewhat randomly selected). I’m now halfway through this most recent entry and had to comment on your amazement that two women came to your retreat purely based on this blog.

    Don’t be amazed. I’m amazed at what I’m reading. This won’t feel like little applauses, but I had never heard of you before today. And yet, I’m reading your blog entries asking myself: “Who is this brilliantly inspiring woman?” You’re already added to my favourites and my ‘Music to buy’ list.

    Now I’m going back to finish reading this entry. Amazing… 🙂

  • Debra Moorhead

    Hey, Christine. Thanks for the challenge. My response is coming out tomorrow and I have to admit, I would never have thought to write a post like that.

    I have been deliberately delaying downloading any of your music until after the retreat. Now I’m thinking, can I wait four weeks?

    I know the retreat will be memorable anyway, I can feel it in my bones. I’m especially looking forward to creating my vision board. The Oprah show is going to have everyone anticipating this part of the retreat. (By the way, my husband is a dentist and we’re saving all of our magazines.)

    Thanks, again, for the opportunity and I’ll see you next month. In the meantime, I’ll be reading, and listening!

  • Christine Kane

    (rolling her eyes) Really Chris, you shouldn’t be so modest!

    Hi Ryan! Thanks for the kind words. It means a lot to read this. I’m working on a batch of new songs now, and your words give me reasons to keep going, even when I have those “aw what’s the point?!” moments! 😉

    Starbucker…Of course a guy who proposed to his wife by singing “If I Can’t Have You” karaoke style wouldn’t mind a person being lofty, now, would he???

  • Terry Starbucker

    Well done Christine – Chris has also tagged me for this and you’ve set the bar very, very high. Oh, and go ahead and be lofty -it’s so refreshing to know people who know why they are here. And, nice job on the post length – you are getting there! 🙂

    All the best from a fellow PWB

  • Ryan

    Christine…
    I only found your blog(s) and thus your music about a month ago. It was your blog on ‘Feeling, Doing, and Choosing Emotions’ that I ran into. What a wonderful find…I have already read most of the blogs in the archives and now own all your music. Your words are so well thought out in both your blogs and music. A great discovery that I really needed at this point in my life.
    Thank you…

  • Chris Cree

    [Burps rather rudely] Thanks for the frosty beverage. 🙂

    I just noticed the opening character list. (I had been blinded earlier by seeing my own name on such a well read blog.) “Well known”? It might be exaggerating just a titch. Kinda-sorta-heard-of-in-some-less-than-prominent-circles is probably more accurate.

    Not that I mind the recognition, mind you. [He says vainly]

  • Christine Kane

    Hey Michelle… I’m very interested to see what your reasons are… and I’m sure all of your readers are as well!

    Chris, Well, you inspired the drama part of this post. (hands him a beer and toasts)

    bridgegirls, how kind. Thanks for your thoughts. I don’t have a TV… but i know lots of people who watched!

    Hey there Char! Thanks for stopping by… and I hope your weekend is fabulous.

  • Char

    Christine – I love your reasons and I am also a big fan of Michelle’s blog. Definitely a daily read.

    Have a great weekend.

  • bridgegirl

    Christine,

    Thanks for blogging. Honestly, yours is the first I’d ever read and it has opened so many experiences for me. When my coworkers go smoke between clients, I check out your blog. When I’ve had a crappy day, I listen to part of a song. When I’m getting whiny, I find inspiration in your past posts. Now I’m contemplating starting my own blog.

    On a sort of related note…Oprah had “The Secret” on yesterday. Brought back nice memories of the retreat!

  • Chris Cree

    And the next meeting of Procrastinators Anonymous will be meeting… well…

    I don’t have it on the calendar yet. But I’m sure we’ll be meeting soon.

    Thanks Christine for sharing. Always an inspiration for sure. 🙂

  • Michelle

    Thanks for the compliment, I’ll see if I can come up with five reasons (I’m decidedly less complex and creative than you I fear!)