Man it's been awhile since I wrote one of these. Not because I hadn't thought about it. I just didn't think what I had to say at the time was appropriate for this or any form of interesting. Who knows, I could just be writing these for myself. In any case, welcome back. Monday, March 17, 2014 was my first true step forward on the business side of this music thing I do. For months, years even, I have been creating music and slowly building up my home studio. I even went to school and earned my Associates for studio engineering. But other than my music business class, I never really thought about how I would run and operate in a business fashion. Especially on an independent level. When I was younger I thought I'd make music, put it out, someone would hear it, love it, and eventually I'd get signed to a great deal and the record company would take care of the rest. I'd just create. How time changes things. Independent is my choice. But in 4 years I have truly learned what comes with that title. All the paperwork, procuring the finances to operate, deciding what to spend it on to help my music go the furthest with that money, how to promote and get the word out, building a website. So on and so on. Even after finishing the album, how would it be sold, how much, and even how do you sell yourself to the public to gain their interests? Never in my life have I thought so much and so hard about strategies and planning. But it all came to fruition on Monday, March 17, 2014. Just before work, I sold my first copy of Double Negative to the general public. Someone I have no ties to, doesn't know me and I don't know them, took a chance on it and bought a copy. It gave me confidence. It gave me validation. And it gave an ends to the means. All the work, planning and strategizing led to that first moment. It was nerve-racking, but fulfilling. And I said FIRST moment. Because even with all the no's that will come following that moment, I know that moment will come again. And it will drive me to have another moment, and another, and another..