How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
6 years go I was planning a move to Vegas. I saw this as an opportunity to elevate my game in support of indie creative soulz.
I came up with this concept of putting together a platform for Indie Artists to showcase their craft with performance events, book readings and art showings. I had the business plan and started to scout out venues, but I was a one person team. I held onto the concept for about a year or two before I gave up. I had people who said it was a great concept but no one committed to helping me get it off the ground.
Flava’s Lounge; a platform supporting and showcasing Original Authentic Art. Providing a place to Indie Artists to come and present their creativity in the Entertainment World Capital of The World, Las Vegas, NV.
I also changed my radio station to Flava’s Lounge Radio to provide another platform to show support which ties into my Vegas project. Branding was the goal.
I was blessed to gain a local (Seattle) following to across the United States and around The World. People expressed an interest in flying to Vegas to perform or just attend my events.
My problem is, I was unaware of the entertainment culture of Las Vegas. What is embraced here in Vegas is cover songs, music that is familiar to the masses. And there is nothing wrong with that. It’s just not my scene.
Many of the Vegas Entertainers do have original music, but they don’t necessarily have the opportunity to perform their own music , or off and on they slide it in without out it really standing out that’s an original song.
Again, from my research and understanding of Vegas now is, it is known for the B & C Level Entertainment is contracted or expected to perform Top 40 and The Classics. Possibly the casinos and venues are only licensed to have this type of music performed in their establishments. (I should research this.)
You know the old saying, “The grass is not always greener on the other side.” This is a lesson I had to learn. I wasn’t doing so bad back in Seattle. I was known across the United States and Globally. I was involved, valued and excited. I miss those days.
Maybe I thought I was in a position to open doors for Original Art from Independent Artists in Vegas, but clearly I do not have that type of influence on my own. Sometimes, I have thought if I was younger with this same concept, I may have been able to pull it off. Maybe, maybe not.
I got caught up in supporting entertainment individuals and bands which, was fun in the beginning but it became the same thing over and over. As much as I can appreciate the amazing talents, I became bored. I craved to experience something that I didn’t know. Something different, a surprise in creativity.
I’m different, I come from a different perspective within the arts and entertainment industry. I come from a different background and community. I am different. I am also an Empath and we experience life and creativity very differently than most. We see and feel things that go unnoticed by most people.
I had the wrong voices in my head, that did not embrace me as an industry professional. They were okay with me joining their team, but they never showed an interest in joining my team. That should have been the tell all for me, but it took years before I opened my eyes, my spirit to really see and accept it.
So I felt like I came to Vegas and failed. My dream, my goal died before I could even plant the seed.
So, I felt like a failure.
And I believe that because I was not able to pull off my purpose for moving to Vegas I let the wrong voices stab my soul. Depression set in.
The blessing of my life is, I believe in the power of God and the lessons of his teachings. I never stopped my prayer and meditation, I never stopped listening to Gods word through the challenges I faced in Vegas.
I believe now that God has been talking to me all along but I wasn’t hearing the correct message, I put my own twist on the truth.
October of 2022, God told me to stop. He let me know I had become an unhealthy person. I was allowing the challenges of the people in my life to become trauma bonded. The struggle and the sadness embraced each other, and darkness took over conversations and presence.
So God said to STOP it all. Stop communicating and stop helping people who made me feel less than.
God said forgive myself and others, to let go with love and prepare to go home.
Once I Stopped and let go, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I had something to look forward to. I no longer felt responsible to help others. I stopped passing judgment and respected who they are and how the do what they do. It was no longer my business to be involved.
This is was the beginning of my win.
It has been years since I have allowed myself to dream and write out a plan for a project. My people are happy that I am returning home. Indie Creatives are reaching out to me for advice and input on their projects.
This excites me and I feel the drive and purpose being restored. This is the win, this is where success starts.
Now I’m back to being unapologetically myself. Taking my new found peace and passion that is growing within my soul. I’m going home to my family, my people, my community and my creative foundation. Seattle, here I come… Next, to establish the new direction in showing my passion for creative soulz.
My success is being birthed.
God is Good | The Power of 60+ | Doing Me
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