Making Your Road Map 1.1 2006/01/25 11:10:56.641 US/Central 2006/01/25 15:06:05.358 US/Central Mark Douglas Maxey m-squared@m-squared.org Mark Douglas Maxey m-squared@m-squared.org charting directions moving road map We have come to the point of this process where we make a map of our direction we plan to take. This can be frightening but once done is how we move past a dream and into reality with our art. Well by now, you have better defined your dreams and have them organized in a concise way. Now you should be able to see what steps must be taken. Here I want you to list those steps in a numerical manner. The order does not matter. This should be a freestyle writing experience. Just start listing them. Ordering them in sequence will happen later. For now just list them all. For example I want and desire to make a national tour someday with my poetry. That is obtainable but I can’t do that now. While I know this is a dream, I can make a list of how to see it become reality.

Write a body of poems in order to be able to perform a 30 minute set. Practice and memorize the poems so they flow naturally. Know what my segue ways will be in between each poem. Practice, Practice, Practice. Find the venues and book the show. Make sure I have the means to pay my way and be paid what I need. Those are just some aspects of a list. Each of them are realistic, however, if I had listed that I wanted to do this in one month then I doubt if it would have been realistic. Being realistic keeps us as an artist from having disappointments or setbacks. This can be devastating to our dreams, hopes and desires with our art. Be realistic when you make your list of steps. This will give you the game plan you need. Having your dream come to fruition is your goal. Being realistic with your plan is essential. This workbook and specifically this exercise can be compared to a ladder. Each step you define moves you further up the ladder towards your goal. Each step leads to the next. Each step you do brings you closer towards your goal.

Winter Circle in less than a year, Winter Circle, appeared on MTV, and opened for Hawthorne Heights. Dreams do come true.

Question: What steps will you take to reach those goals? Are they realistic steps? Question: What is your reason for a tour, show, performance? Question: What body of work do you have completed to reach your goals? Question: Have you completed a written segue ways between each piece of work? Question: How many hours out of the week have you practiced? Question: Does your set list flow? Question: Have you found the venues to perform? Question: Have you made sure you have the means to pay your way?