The waiting is the hardest part, it's my petty pet peeve. Sell Cheap, Tell The Truth was submitted weeks ago. The rules and timelines of The Anthem Contest were clear, I knew February would be a challenge. The anxiety will nudge a bit during the early March initial judging process, prior to public voting. Referring back to page 7 of the fully capitalized NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART SONGWRITING COMPETITION OFFICIAL RULES, a tremendously formal document, all submissions will be screened by one or more NFM designated judges. Then, at NFM's sole discretion, up to 10 submissions will be chosen for public voting and will appear on the competition website. The rules also indicated only submissions that are chosen for public voting will receive prior notification by email or phone. Don't call us, we'll call you. Ruthless, but the most pragmatic method for sure. Take it on faith, take it to the heart, the waiting is the hardest part.
To even consider public voting process strategies or tactics seems presumptuous and entitled, but it's impossible not to think ahead. First, the rules are clear. No shenanigans! Any macro robotic scripts, bribes, or other fraudulent means to achieve voting success will be quickly squashed and the submission thrown out of the contest. Legit is the only way with NFM, integrity is in the song title--Tell The Truth. My loose plan is to engage my various contacts, introduce the contest, and ask they participate in the voting process. Not to vote for my entry, to be clear, but to participate in the voting process. Fair and square, best song wins. Entitlement is for the weak, nothing is deserved, prevail on the merits. Maybe I'll catch some breaks, maybe I'll catch some luck. Like the song goes. Perhaps my tune is the best anthem for Nebraska Furniture Mart, perhaps it's not. We'll see, I expect it to win.
In the meantime, to remain occupied, plenty to keep me busy. If a person is blessed to live a long life, it's roughly 30,000 days. To me, that doesn't seem like a lot, so spending days anticipating tomorrows seems wasteful. Got full time work, where I get to lead a group of corporate professionals at a world class private company in the financial services industry. Got full time family, where my wife of 28 years and 2 daughters aged 19 and 21 keep me grounded, loved, and motivated to try and pay my bills. Got other musical projects, including completion of Some Dude Named Amos Vol. 6 which features 5 songs released in the 70s, among them Hotel California and Bobby McGee. Texans Don Henley and Janis Joplin can bust out a tune, so it's a significant challenge. Always reminded that NFL Hall Of Famer and overall football legend, Jimmy Johnson, went to high school with Janis in Port Arthur, Texas. Something in that water for sure. Got a tennis career, of course. Vantaggio Tennis Apparel Company is in full flight. Third year of the five year plan. I remain an unpaid, unofficial, affiliate of the brand. We are much like NFM in some ways it seems. Their anthem, which I wrote couple of years ago, is similar to the approach taken with Sell Cheap, Tell The Truth, but that was more of a brand defining situation. NFM is 85 years old, and doubling down on their values. Lots to admire, lots to learn. My backhand is grooved out better than ever, my hip hurts.
Driving home from work yesterday, noticed an electronic billboard on the south side of 121, between NFM and Toyota World Headquarters. The Anthem Contest was being advertised. A gleaming NFM delivery truck was in the right lane next to me, cruising in late afternoon Collin County traffic. The Billboard changed, evidently Tony Bennet was appearing at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma on April 18th. Doubt I'll make the show, casinos bore me, but I like his version of Fly Me To The Moon even better than Sinatra's. Perhaps it was a good sign. We'll just have to wait and see.