Back to my regularly scheduled.... (long ramblings ahead)

“Regularly scheduled” in my life usually happens around people. I play the organ, I teach, I display my tatting, I demonstrate and talk about what I do. During the Shelter in Place, I’ve grown into a different schedule. I need to change some things so that the income can still come in, but I’ve adapted. Not a huge amount, but I've adapted.

My instrument is large and permanently installed in rather large buildings. I’m only responsible for walking in, changing my shoes, turning on the blower, and then things happen. Typically, the upkeep of the instrument happens when I’m not around. So, what goes on my calendar is typically just what a lot of people are around for. Those events should end in earning money through concerts, services and teaching.

Yes, I practice alone at the keyboard for hours. Because I do not have just one organ I play regularly, entries on my calendar for practice time are usually when I’m around people. For the rest of the practice time, I’m usually at my home with the scores open on a table, a cardboard keyboard at the ready, or even the small organ I have in the studio.

So, the shelter in place order hasn’t really changed my practice schedule. The performance schedule evaporated. Add to that my teaching schedule evaporated also, so no income from organ. 

I’ve gotten good at pivoting over the years. Easter comes and goes; stow the music I used and pull out the next scores needed. Electricity goes out; turn off the blower switch and pull out the cardboard keyboard.

As for tatting, I’m still learning to set goals that will result in income. Like most small businesses, I brainstorm almost daily, try out new opportunities, assess failures and successes, and complete tasks. All that should end in earning money through sales and or teaching. I’ve found that my regularly scheduled tasks for tatting should include record keeping for design ideas. I’ve not been as careful with that as I should. So, that’s the task that’s filled most of my schedule.

My shelter in place: practice a bit, tat a bit, type a bit, brainstorm a bit, and walk a bit. And dream of being around people to close the loop when the schedule allows. I hope your shelter in place has been an experience you have grown into but wish to change. I hope you’ve adapted. When things get back to a regular schedule, I’ll let you know what I will keep and what I’ll change.