Today I forced myself to get out for a brief walk in the park to give my body some much-needed exercise. The scenery did not disappoint! I’ve been writing a fair amount during my quarantining due to Covid-19 in NYC and social distancing, but today I needed a break. I hope the picture I took at my local park makes you happy!
Category: Hamilton
Composing Beauty
Ingenuity, I love that word! It has such a nice ring to it, and such a deep meaning (at least to me). I view ingenuity as an essential skill in creativity, and creativity/ingenuity an essential skill of surviving in this new, digital age. I find it fascinating that one can create a job or a career for themselves where there was nothing before. In today’s day and age the opportunities for money making are endless. One of my inspirations for this exact thing is Lin-Manuel Miranda, internationally famous composer of Hamilton, In The Heights, and a member of Freestyle Love Supreme (who, I’m sure, has many more credits, both famous and not, to his name).
I’m absolutely enthralled by his tenacity, skill, perseverance, and his genius. He literally put himself on the map in the entertainment world. He created something brilliant using just his brains, skills, experience, and a pencil and paper. Not only that, but it’s given other artists the opportunity to be a part of the beautiful, caring community that he’s created throughout this process. He’s even changing the world and peoples’ lives by using his works to support causes that he cares deeply about. That, to me, is ingenuity. It”s creativity. I could write many, MANY more paragraphs about my admiration for him as an artist and person, but I’ll get to that in a later post because I could write a novel on it with my ability to go off on tangents and daydream (although that is not a bad thing).
With technology we have the tools to create new things every day. Heck, this article is new right now. It is not a masterpiece of an article, but it’s being created now, in the moment, and shared. Nowadays we have all kinds of opportunities for financial success, we just have to use our ingenuity to build on them. For example, in the past we couldn’t write something and automatically earn money within a moments’ notice. Now we can. We couldn’t write a book and have it published on amazon without going through the proper book publishers outside of the company and then selling it…but now we can self-publish books and sell them online. We couldn’t automatically create a video of ourselves performing and broadcast it to the world, thereby gaining fame. Now, we have stars who got their start doing just that on youtube. The opportunities are endless. When you think about it, once you open up your mind and heart to creativity so many ideas can come pouring in, and you just have to work tirelessly at them, with all your passion and heart, to create something that you truly stand by. You don’t even have to create for others. Create for yourself, and your passion, care, tenacity, strength, and genius will shine through and you will find your own success by using inginuity.
Composing Beauty
Ingenuity, I love that word! It has such a nice ring to it, and such a deep meaning (at least to me). I view ingenuity as an essential skill in creativity, and creativity/ingenuity an essential skill of surviving in this new, digital age. I find it fascinating that one can create a job or a career for themselves where there was nothing before. In today’s day and age the opportunities for money making are endless. One of my inspirations for this exact thing is Lin-Manuel Miranda, internationally famous composer of Hamilton, In The Heights, and a member of Freestyle Love Supreme (who, I’m sure, has many more credits, both famous and not, to his name).
I’m absolutely enthralled by his tenacity, skill, perseverance, and his genius. He literally put himself on the map in the entertainment world. He created something brilliant using just his brains, skills, experience, and a pencil and paper. Not only that, but it’s given other artists the opportunity to be a part of the beautiful, caring community that he’s created throughout this process. He’s even changing the world and peoples’ lives by using his works to support causes that he cares deeply about. That, to me, is ingenuity. It”s creativity. I could write many, MANY more paragraphs about my admiration for him as an artist and person, but I’ll get to that in a later post because I could write a novel on it with my ability to go off on tangents and daydream (although that is not a bad thing).
With technology we have the tools to create new things every day. Heck, this article is new right now. It is not a masterpiece of an article, but it’s being created now, in the moment, and shared. Nowadays we have all kinds of opportunities for financial success, we just have to use our ingenuity to build on them. For example, in the past we couldn’t write something and automatically earn money within a moments’ notice. Now we can. We couldn’t write a book and have it published on amazon without going through the proper book publishers outside of the company and then selling it…but now we can self-publish books and sell them online. We couldn’t automatically create a video of ourselves performing and broadcast it to the world, thereby gaining fame. Now, we have stars who got their start doing just that on youtube. The opportunities are endless. When you think about it, once you open up your mind and heart to creativity so many ideas can come pouring in, and you just have to work tirelessly at them, with all your passion and heart, to create something that you truly stand by. You don’t even have to create for others. Create for yourself, and your passion, care, tenacity, strength, and genius will shine through and you will find your own success by using inginuity.
Ragtag Daily Prompt Sunday: Surprise
Surprise! I love surprises! Do you? I’m curious! Just this weekend I received a wonderful gift from a very special love in my life! You see, I’m an artist living in NYC and loving it, but I miss my roots, too! I grew up in the mountains of Colorado, so I’m an outdoors girl, too! It’s so beautiful there…and here, too, in different ways. Well…recently it was my birthday…and he surprised me with the BEST gift of all…a trail ride in the Shenandoah Valley!!!!!!!!! I haven’t been on a horse in over a decade. I’m not even a regular rider, or anything, but I LOVE them. I LOVED IT! IT WAS MAGICAL! HE WON MAJOR POINTS FOR THAT ONE! The horse was amazing, so gentle and responsive to my commands. The guides were incredible (seriously, River’s Bend Ranch, they’re awesome), and the experience was excellent! We took a ride by the river, through the forest, and loved every minute of it! He won major boyfriend points with that one. The sweetest thing: he’s not an outdoorsy guy himself, but he knows how much I love the air, the mountains, the animals, etc., so he planned this whole day trip (zipcar, lunch) and everything and then surprised me with the bday gift! Such a lovely guy, and I feel so blessed to have him. Plus…this isn’t the first time he’s surprised me with something I wanted so badly…he surprised me with Hamilton tickets for our anniversary…so he’s definitely amazing!
Don’t Miss The Hamiltome or This Video Either!!!!
Please take a look at the video below as it is so cute and so funny. These guys are hilarious! Also, while you’re at it: check out Lin-Manuel’s fabulous book (and I’m sure it will sell out quickly on Amazon when it comes out on April 12th…so hurry because you don’t want to miss it). Here’s the direct link to Hamilton: The Revolution
 <— Click the picture to go directly to the page and buy the book in hardcover, for kindle, on audible, or even on cd!
Plus…here’s some Hamilton fun below!
I’m So Curious To See Your Answers!
This is so cool! If you like free things check it out!
I’m a book lover…and Amazon is offering a 30-day free unlimited trial for the kindle!!!! Free reading/listening for that loooong!!!!! Here’s the link to it!
<a target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/ku/sign-up/?ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1454340986887&ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=pf4&tag=gwynethjohans-20&linkId=IQOXKAG6YPA46F2M”>Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial</a><img src=”http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gwynethjohans-20&l=pf4&o=1″ width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” />
Seriously…Shut Up and Take My Money!
Seriously…shut up and take my money! As I said in my last post…I’ve been up to a few things since I wrote to you a while ago…I mean, sometimes I feel like the energizer bunny…I’m always running here and there with work, auditions, classes, friends, seeing shows, etc. I am so happy that I get to live in this bustling city! I mean, there are things to do every night of the week. You could go to an art gallery, then see local musicians at a hole-in-the-wall cute restaurant with a stage…all while chatting with your best gal pals! My friends and I like to go eat after our classes and we’ve even made a tradition of it almost every week! Aside from all the fun…I’m also working tons…but I’m trying to expand my horizons so that I have MORE time to audition, MORE time to go to classes, and MORE time to see the lovelies I call friends (and my amazing boyfriend too).
I always thought that when I got to NYC I had to get a job waiting tables or nannying, rely on people’s tips and generosity, slug it out, and then have the energy to audition as well. Turns out…there are tons of us who do that. I really feel like there should be a course in college theatre majors that has to do with the business of ACTUALLY BEING a successful artist. I mean, ACTING and BEING AN ACTRESS are two very different things. There’s this guy, his name is Bones Rodriguez, and I came across his book “No More Waiters” online one day. Seriously…the man started earning income with his online presence while being able to rehearse and do what he ACTUALLY loves…the acting part of the business! So…I bought the book…and you would not believe that options that have opened up for me since then. I’m finding out about really unique ways of making money that I never knew about…and weirdly enough, it’s caused me to get more involved with learning about things that will definitely help me navigate the business world of the theatre more successfully.
So…it took me a while to get a hold of this book that I wanted for a long time. That’s because it was sold out on amazon.com…but now it’s back in stock so you should check it out and buy a copy because it may not last long! Here’s the direct link:
P.S. While you’re there…don’t forget that Lin-Manuel Miranda has a new book coming out and you can pre-order it! Seeing as the Broadway show “Hamilton” is sold out so often and is such a smash hit, I wouldn’t wait! Here’s the link for it! 🙂
I Have To Admit It: I’m A Diehard Hamilton (and Lin-Manuel Miranda) fan!
So, you may be curious what this MusicTrGrl in NYC has been up to lately, seeing as I haven’t posted for a while. Currently, I’m working a lot and…seing LOTS of shows. Sadly, Hamilton is not one of them because it’s so popular and tough to get into (kudos to them for being out of this world amazing artists and creators). I’ve also been performing with a company called TAPNYC…which has given me the opportunity to meet lots of agents and one very sweet manager. You see, this fabulous company has given me the chance to get in front of industry professionals through their workshops and their showcases. Yes, that’s right! I’ve been able to do something really cool: to perform in front of casting directors, agents, managers, and a very sweeeeeeeeet audience.
The other thing I’ve been addicted to recently: anything and everything Hamilton related. Seriously. The soundtrack plays on repeat on my iphone. I have whipped my phone out of my pocket at some points only to find out that somehow a button got pushed and guess what’s playing without me even selecting it: yep, you’re right! It’s Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda is such an incredibly talented individual. His lyrics are so poignant and the rhythms of his rap and musical composition is so expertly decided upon and executed. Every time I listen I find something new that I hadn’t noticed before. I find something exciting. I find something meaningful…and I’ve found a renewed love of the history of the founding of this country. So, being addicted, my boyfriend constantly gets to hear about Hamilton. In fact, for Chanukah he bought me the Hamilton recording I’m speaking of! He has no idea how much that gift means to me. I’m a serious lover of genius composers and meaningful lyrics. Lin-Manuel Mirando is phenomenal (and Hamilton is not his first incredible Broadway success…you should also check out “In The Heights”). In other words…for the “Hamilton” lover in your life: I highly recommend it as a gift (hint hint: Valentines Day is this coming weekend) and I guarantee it’s a unique present that they will love. A very easy and quick link to have sent to your valentine (and maybe even gift wrapped with a personal note), is available on amazon.com. This link will take you directly to it without having to search:Â //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=gwynethjohans-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B013JLBPGE&asins=B013JLBPGE&linkId=EF5DPM5NSJYJ4LKI&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true
Happy early Valentines Day and I hope to hear your thoughts on “Hamilton.” Believe me , I can’t wait to hear what you think so we can chit chat about this show!