#evawalsh

It’s April.

After April is May, and in May, I jump off a cliff, so to speak.

  I’ve been working full-time as an administrative assistant since I moved to Boston 3 ½ years ago. In that time, I’ve lived a double life. During the day, I’m a mostly-cheerful, busy violin shop receptionist, string instrument accessory specialist, Queen of the paper trail, Keeper of the phone system, Crusader for recycling & cleanliness efforts, Champion of customer relations and generally the catch-all “I can take care of that” person. At night, I’m a mostly-cheerful, busy singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and 5-string fiddle player whose schedule is saturated with rehearsals, performances, recording sessions and the occasional radio show on top of being my own promoter, booking agent & manager.

  After working all day at Job #1, I scoot to Job #2, tearing through traffic & skipping dinner to make a sound check before a show or to learn a song before rehearsal, etc., often returning home late at night. Then the next morning, I wake up and do it all again, always over-extended, always wishing for a different balance in my life. I’ve longed for the time & energy to practice my instruments, hone my songwriting, make a new album, play more shows, do more recording sessions and just generally be the best version of me in a career that makes me happiest.

  I’ve been planning this transition for years, but it’s always felt too far off and I’ve always felt like too much of a chicken to take the big leap. But having taken several years to approach the edge of the cliff, I now have no choice but to fling myself into the sky. (Please excuse my cliché metaphor.)

  *gulp*

  I’m not the type of person you’d usually find in risky situations. I stick to what is safe—from reading every known review of a car shop before going in, to repeatedly ordering the same thing at a restaurant because I know I’ll like it. I am no big risk taker… but I figure that if there is one big risk worth taking, it’s the risk of pursuing your dreams even though there is no guarantee that it will work out. You see, being a musician is not for the faint of heart. Gosh, just pursuing your dreams is not for the faint of heart. There is so much to lose and so much to gain.

  But putting that aside, I know that now is the best chance I’ll ever have to pursue this. I don’t have any delusions of grandeur, but I do have a hard-working attitude and the knowledge that any success or happiness I find will be self-made. It’s terrifying & exciting. I can’t hide behind a desk anymore or ride the fence between two careers. I’m taking away my safety net because that’s the only way I can move forward from here.

  Now don’t get too excited (or concerned, if you’re my parents reading this), I’m not totally taking a flying leap into full-time musicianhood. Job #1 has kindly offered me a part-time job for when I return from my tour (more details to come!). So, that takes a little pressure off of my musical endeavors to be my only source of income.

I am a strong believer that if you do your best with every situation or decision, you’re going to end up in an okay place. I have no idea where jumping off this cliff may lead, but I do know that it’ll all be okay, with the chance that things will turn out way better than I ever imagined it could.

  There is one thing that is certain, though: without the support, encouragement and mentoring I’ve received these last few years, this cliff-jump wouldn’t be possible. You were the ones who convinced me I had the wings to fly and now I believe you.