Well, I’ve been back from LA for a week now. I have to confess, visiting LA is always a little bittersweet for me. I moved four years ago because I wanted to try out a new place, sure, but I never really meant to leave. I mean, I was going to go back after 6 months or so. Who would honestly leave LA for Wisconsin, given the choice? Not I. So even though I love my life in Chicago, and I’m happy where I’m at, as soon as I see the Grand Canyon from the plane window I get butterflies in my belly. Little flutter butterflies whispering, “Yay! We’re almost home!”
I had a wonderful time visiting my friends, wandering around Venice Beach, getting a sunburn, and all the things I used to take for granted. It was definitely hard to leave…thankfully, spring has finally hit the Midwest and Chicago has been warm and sunny since I got back. Otherwise I’d probably be scrounging the couch for enough change to get a ticket back to California…
Friday and Saturday at the Expo were just as great as Thursday. In fact, Friday was definitely the hardcore learning day – I started with my first panel (“Opportunities for Music Placement in Film & TV”) at 9am, and didn’t get back to my friend’s apartment until after 10pm, with just enough time to myself for dinner with my playwrite and actor friend John. I attended panels with celebrities like Jill Sobule (best known for the song “I Kissed A Girl” and the “Jill’s Next Record” website) and John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, and learned about how to get my music into movies and TV from the people who have placed music in Pulp Fiction, Entourage, Big Love, and my new favorite show Weeds. I even had a one-on-one session with a professional publisher and industry exec who listened to my demo album and highly recommended I focus on film and TV placement.
Not too shabby for a couple days’ work, eh?
Friday night was an artist showcase featuring four successful, professional songwriters, one of whom I of course love – Jonatha Brooke. I almost didn’t make it to the show, though, as John and I had enjoyed a lavish spread at The Grill. I had a few glasses of wine and was a bit giggly by the time I left, but apparently both Slash and Alice Cooper were at the same restaurant. Which, instead of leading me to go snap a picture or something, got me into a huge discussion with the hostess about how hard it is to beat Slash on Guitar Hero.
At the show, Rivers Rutherford, who has written for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, played some fabulous redneck rough music; Darrell Scott not only played his own stuff but joined in with some beautiful guitar harmonies on everyone else’s tunes; Jonatha played some beautiful covers along with one of my favorites, Because I Told You So; and Desmond Child impressed the crowd completely with not just his music (he’s written for Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey…) but his hilarious banter. It kicked some pretty serious ass. Lots of us were pretty exhausted by this point, so we just sat on the floor of the club and enjoyed the music.
On Saturday I got to see a one-on-one interview with Desmond about how he wrote some of his biggest hits. It was a great session, though I was a little disappointed by his attitude as he walked out – another girl and I both tried to say hi and just thank him for the great session, but he didn’t even bother to look our way. Too busy for the likes of us silly little songwriters, I suppose. Oh well, he’s still a frickin’ rock star. I also got to see a great panel with Evan Taubenfeld, who co-wrote some of Avril Lavigne’s big hits with her. He’s a little too young for me, but damn was he funny! One of those guys who makes jokes and witty remarks one after another without ever cracking a smile or laughing at himself, which just makes it that much funnier.
A night out partying, a long day at the beach, and dinner with Cate and her baby boy Ben, and then I was on a plane back to Chicago. Where I am now. About to go take a nap. 
