tag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:/blogs/keeping-up-with-benjamin?p=3Keeping Up with Benjamin2022-12-28T13:55:00-05:00Benjamin Marshallfalsetag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/71386822022-12-28T13:55:00-05:002024-03-05T22:43:20-05:00Aloha from Benjamin<p>Howdy friends! </p>
<p>It's Benjamin here, checking in. Happy Holidays from me to you! </p>
<p>How the heck are ya? Hit that respond button. Give me the deets. Whether it's good, okay, or bad, I always want to know how YOU are doing, especially if I don't hear from you often. Life seems to be flying by, even when it feels like it's been crawling. </p>
<p>I'll give you the condensed version of my last few years. For those of who you don't know, I've made a wee bit of a career path change (my job outside of music). As of this past August, I've been working as a special ed teacher at an elementary school, securing my first job as a licensed educator. Admittedly, the whole "licensed educator" thing still feels weird to say, creating this "imposter syndrome" in me. I'm sure you all have been there and know that feeling. I'll get over that, eventually. </p>
<p>You might be asking...why'd you go back to school? Well, I'm glad you asked. When the pandemic started in 2020, in an attempt to keep myself out of trouble, and engaged with life, I figured I'd keep myself busy...because that's the way I roll. I've always had a heart for serving individuals with disabilities (which is a LARGE, DIVERSE part of our population). I started grad school in January of 2021 and finished up this past August of 2022. And here we are, doing the things. Well, I'm attempting to do the things. Not that I'm counting or anything, but I've made it through 82 school days. Woohoo! I won't bore you with all the details of my classroom experience...but I will say...it's been a period of growth for Mr. Ben! Now, I'm on winter break, which is a recipe for catching up on life, especially music. Hence why you're receiving this email right now! </p>
<p>Anyways, I've got good news for you. Are you ready for it? I've actually got some upcoming shows to share with you! </p>
<p>Friday, December 30 @ 7 PM at the Columbus Zoo </p>
<p>Benjamin Marshall @ The Columbus Zoo | Facebook </p>
<p>Saturday, January 7th @ 8 PM at Kafe Kerouac (w/Shiloh Hawkins, Shawn Hedderman, Cylia Queen, and Whitley Trusler </p>
<p>All I Do is Win-Ter Songwriter Night | Facebook </p>
<p>That's all I've got for you. As always, thanks for all of your love and support. Stay tuned for more updates! If you're free to catch either of those events, I'd LOVE to see you. If not, I forgive you. The good news is I think I may have caught the music bug again, which MIGHT mean more new music on the horizon. <crossing fingers=""> </crossing></p>
<p>Anyways, happy new year to you and your loved ones! Hope to hear from you! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/71386832022-07-13T13:00:00-04:002023-12-22T01:17:50-05:00My First Post of 2022<p>Heyyyy, friends. </p>
<p>Benjamin here at your service. I realized..so far in 2022, I've neglected you. Will you forgive me? I haven't sent an email yet this year. To be fair, you haven't missed much. Full-time school and work, along with a new music project, have taken up MOST of my time, which unfortunately has resulted in me neglecting my music duties. No music = sad Benjamin. The good news is...now, it's summertime. Well, not officially. But as defined by the school year, it's summertime, which means more time for music. </p>
<p>A few updates: </p>
<p>1. I'm gigging with a new punk band, a band called Coxey's Army. Started by my friend, Nate, it's composed of him (bass/vocals), Ryan (drummer), AJ (guitar/backing vox), and me (guitars...and hopefully an accordion in the future). It's a bit different than my solo acoustic but in all the best ways. A lot louder. A lot faster. And a whole lotta fun. </p>
<p>Check out our Facebook page for upcoming shows...(we've got on THIS Friday at the "Hell is Ohio" festival </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/coxeysarmy/events/ </p>
<p>2. I've been starting to pick up a few more gigs! Thursday, from 4 to 6 PM, if you happen to be at the airport waiting on your Southwest flight, you'll most likely see me playing some music off to the side. Every Thursday, I have the privilege of busking for a few hours, playing all sorts of tunes for the bored, busy, preoccupied, and frustrated travelers. I must admit, it serves as an inspiration for the songwriting process as I develop my own stories for the people I observe and experience on a weekly basis. People are fascinating. </p>
<p>3. After a two-year hiatus, the Westerville Arts Festival is back! Saturday, July 9th, at 2 PM, I'll be playing some tunes at the Songwriter tent! </p>
<p>4. I'm hosting an open mic on July 16th at the Global Gallery from 6 - 8 PM. It's been quite a while since hosting an open mic, so I'm really looking forward to this. Got a song? Poem? Joke? Melody? Funny noise with our arm-pits? Whatever you got, bring it! </p>
<p>Alright, that's all I got for now. I'll see ya in another 9 months. Haha, I kid, I kid. Maybe 6 months? ;-) Please do me a favor. Let me know how you are doing. As always, I love getting responses to these emails on what's going on with YOUR life. Whether it be good things, bad things, neutral things, intense things, boring things, scary things, whatever it is, I'm all ears. Or, since it's email, maybe I should say eyes. </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/71386862021-03-24T13:00:00-04:002023-12-22T01:18:24-05:00What's going on, friend?<p>Howdy friends! </p>
<p>These days, I seem to start off emails the same way. Start off by saying, "Man, it's been a REALLY LONG TIME", then carry on to the meat of the email. </p>
<p>This email isn't going to be any different. It's been 9 months since my last email to you all, so clearly it has been a hot minute with a few cold minutes in there too. So, here it is. </p>
<p>Man, it's been a while!! </p>
<p>I've realized that since I haven't updated my website much, I've been getting some new fans on my mailing list. Unfortunately, the fans appear to be robots. But, hey, robots are cool too? </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm mainly sending this email to see how YOU are doing. I'd LOVE to know how 2021 is treating you. </p>
<p>Here are some quick updates from me! </p>
<p>1. I released a new single, "Agape" back on Valentine's day (February 14th). Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, or Bandcamp! </p>
<p>2. Super blessed to have a lady in my life, Emily! Our first "face to face" date was February 29th of 2020, two weeks before our whole world changed. She's a multi-instrumentalist herself, so I'm really excited to do some musical collaborations with her! Stay tuned! </p>
<p>3. I started going back to school a few months ago at Ohio University, trying to get my Master's in Special Education! It's all online, which is great, but also proves to be quite challenging for a person like me, who has trouble being still. Haha. </p>
<p>Anyways, that's about it for me! DO LET ME KNOW HOW YOU ARE HOLDING UP! Stay tuned for new music coming your way! </p>
<p>PS: The "Agape" download is available in this email as well. </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/71386882020-04-10T14:00:00-04:002023-12-22T01:19:00-05:00Happy Good Friday!<p>Hello my friends, </p>
<p>Benjamin here, checkin in. I sincerely hope that you are hangin' in there right now on this Good Friday! </p>
<p>I've always been curious about why it's called "Good Friday". Based off of what I learned about Jesus and what happened to him on the cross this day, for me personally, it's tough to call it "good". </p>
<p>Feeling curious, I found a short article online from the BBC which was interesting to me. It gave a few different reasons for the title. According to the article, some suggest the day is "good" as in "holy", some speculate it may be a corruption of "God's Friday", and the dictionary states that it "refers to a day or season of religious observance" </p>
<p>https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-27067136 </p>
<p>On a different note, I am starting to get used to the "working from home" thing....although, I'll be quite honest, it's been a tough transition. For those of you who know me well, you probably know that I like to run around a lot. "Homebody" has never really been a word that I felt best characterized me... </p>
<p>But, here I am. </p>
<p>THREE weeks later, I think I've finally accepted some of the pros of being a "homebody". And, I must say - it's been nice. I am fortunate in the fact that I can stay at home, working my job, and although I could complain about the rate of pay, I'm still receiving a paycheck. </p>
<p>Also, the fact that I'm not wasting money on gas, eating out, and other expenses, has led me to be more aware of my own spending habits. It's been over THREE weeks since I've had carry out. In hindsight, I have been quite impulsive when it comes to eating out. :-) </p>
<p>BUT HAVE NO FEAR, I WILL support local food...but for now, I am realizing that I need to practice these limits of my spending habits. </p>
<p>HOW ARE YOU DOING? </p>
<p>Tell me a little bit about what's going on in your life. These are tough time...and while some of the struggles may be similar, everyone's story is quite different...Please fill me in on what's going on in your life. </p>
<p>QUICK MUSIC UPDATE! </p>
<p>- Some of you may know...but I started a Patreon page. I've been making a LOT of music...and have been doing DAILY performances at 4 PM on this platform. I'll spare ya the details...but feel free to check it out below! </p>
<p>Patreon.com/BenjaminMarshallMusic </p>
<p>Thanks, friends. That's all I've got. I'll probably be sending emails a bit more frequently...due to the increased amount of time on my computer. Hope ya don't mind! </p>
<p>Have a great Easter weekend! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/71386902020-03-28T14:00:00-04:002023-12-22T01:19:59-05:00Social Distancing Update<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>Benjamin here... and I'm typing this email from inside my house, continuing to practice my social distancing. I'm sure you are doing the same thing. If not, I hope that you change your practices. :-) </p>
<p>I have been blessed that I still am technically working my full-time job, but unfortunately many of my music gigs (like every other musician) were cancelled.. As unfortunate as it is, this is part of life. And I know there are many musicians who are impacted even more by this, as they do this as their main source of income. </p>
<p>But, at this point, many, if not all, know the struggle. I don't need to go any further into details, since I'm sure you've witnessed it... </p>
<p>I will say, the isolation thing is real though. I didn't realize how much I crave human interaction until being forced on this computer (which I did already...but not to this extent). </p>
<p>That being said, I would LOVE to hear from you. I sincerely hope that YOU are doing well. I know this has been a tough month, and it seems like the next few months will be tough as well, but I know we will get through this. Things aren't normal, I'll never admit that. But we do have to find a new way to feel normal, even when things aren't. </p>
<p>Shoot me an email, share with me your struggles...AND...share with me some of your silver linings....There are some light moments in these tough times.. Let's share some love with the world. </p>
<p>Here are a few music updates below </p>
<p>1. DAILY LIVE PERFORMANCES at 4 PM on: </p>
<p>Patreon: www.patreon.com/benjaminmarshallmusic </p>
<p>...or if you don't have the money to support me at this time, no pressure! You can listen on YouTube - just respond to this email, and I can help you with access! </p>
<p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoy2oB-u9JGOwr-l6yF7Fpg </p>
<p>Feel free to check out the Patreon page to see some of the perks of supporting me. I'm still working on this...so if you have some cool ideas, DO LET ME KNOW! </p>
<p>2. SUNDAY PERFORMANCES: </p>
<p>Facebook @ 7 PM (Facebook.com/BenjaminMarshallMusic) </p>
<p>Instagram @ 8:30 PM (Instagram.com/BenjaminDavidMarshallMusic) </p>
<p>3. MY NEW SINGLE IS OUT, "Wrong Together": </p>
<p>Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, BandCamp...and plenty more! </p>
<p>4. I wrote a toilet paper song. Wanna hear it? Lemme know! </p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I look forward to hearing from you. </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/61723582020-01-25T09:51:57-05:002023-12-22T01:21:01-05:00My First Post of 2020<p><span class="font_large">Heyyyyy everyone! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Did you forget about me? I know I didn't forget about you. Waking up this Saturday morning...I realized I needed to play catch up on this whole email thing. Nothing beats drafting an email with a pot of coffee on a Saturday morning! #motivation </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So, let me make this about YOU first. I LOVE reading responses to these emails...so, if you have the chance, hit that reply button! This isn't a one way street email. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">1. How is 2020 treating you? /</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">2. Do you have any goals for this year? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">2020 has been good to me so far! One of my MAJOR goals is to commit to music even more. Crazy, huh? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I'm sure you're thinking...."But, Ben, you already spend so much time with it!" </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Yes, you're right. Part of this goal is to be more intentional AND efficient with my time! It's always tough to balance work versus personal life...when it hardly seems like work. But, I do realize there has to be some separation involved! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">That being said..... </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Some of my MUSIC goals include (and yes I have other PERSONAL goals as well): </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- Booking more gigs round the year </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- Improving on my live performance (guitar playing, looping, the commentary between songs, etc) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- Finding more ways to connect with people and music (open mics, jam sessions, etc) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- New album summer of 2020 </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- Producing/Engineering my own music....along with other artists! (I splurged on some new audio equipment...which forced me to reinvest in this skill!) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- Summer music tour </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- More collaborations! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- More dad puns... </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">- and most importantly, not losing the heart of why I do music. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Now, I also have PLENTY of personal goals as well...but, I'll share that with you in person! I need more accountability partners, so if you want to be that person, let me know! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Today, I'll be making my way down to Portsmouth, Ohio, hometown to my friend Cylia Queen, sharing a bill with her and Shiloh Hawkins at the Port City Pub. I'm stoked to be playing there and experiencing new territories! If you're from the Portsmouth area...or feel like traveling a few hours, come see us play from 8 - 11. Shall be a grand night! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">If you can't come down to Portsmouth, next week, I'll be back at the Shrunken Head (Friday, January 31st) from 6 - 8 PM, doing a happy hour show. I'd LOVE to see you there! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I hope this email finds you all well on this Saturday morning. In fact, I hope you're enjoying this Saturday morning so much, that you don't even see this email. But, if you're like me...you just might be checking those emails on the weekend! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Remember, to hit the reply button and tell me about your new year...and your goals (if you have some!) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">PS: One last thing...I'm trying out Patreon (a monthly subscription site for my music stuff)...it's not completely finished, but if you have a minute to look at the site and perhaps even let me know of some ideas for incentives, products, specials, etc. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">www.patreon.com/benjaminmarshallmusic </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Peace and love, </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Benjamin</span></p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/59963712019-11-27T13:20:00-05:002024-03-05T22:32:49-05:00I'm Grateful For You!<p>It's been a while since I've written you...but I HAD to write you before Thanksgiving and let you know HOW GRATEFUL I am to have YOU in my life. </p>
<p>If you don't already know this by now, let me say this a few more times. </p>
<p>I'm GRATEFUL for YOU! </p>
<p>I'm GRATEFUL for YOU! </p>
<p>I'm GRATEFUL for YOU! </p>
<p>Truth be told, I keep wanting to spell "Grateful' incorrectly....I'll blame technology on it..or perhaps that was my warning that I don't use the word enough. Or maybe I don't take enough time to express my gratitude. </p>
<p>The holidays are a mixed bag of emotions. For some of us, it can be a joy-filled time, getting to spend time with family who otherwise are distant - whether in proximity or in stages of life. </p>
<p>For others, the holidays can be dominated by grief, anxiety or even anger. This time of the year can be a trigger of emotions, amplifying them in ways we wouldn't expect. </p>
<p>Although I probably don't know your exact story or situation, there is one thing I do know. </p>
<p>You are loved. </p>
<p>Yes, it's cliche, I know. But, we need this reminder. I need this reminder. Whether you like it or not...whether you know it or not....whether you believe it or not. YOU ARE LOVED! </p>
<p>Regardless of your stage of life, accomplishments, abilities, confidence, job status, education level, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, depression/anxiety, past/current addiction, neighborhood you reside in, community you lack, or any other barrier you have in your life, YOU ARE LOVED. </p>
<p>Love doesn't always come dressed with the fluffy, good-feelin', PG-rated movies, but it does present itself with sacrifice, humility, peace, perseverance, consistency, patience, and most importantly, joy. </p>
<p>Music Updates </p>
<p>-- THIS BLACK FRIDAY, I have a new song, "FREE", being released on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other popular music platforms. If you don't want to wait until then..I have good news for you. I've included the FREE download of "FREE" in this e-mail. --- </p>
<p>--- Want exclusive Benjamin Marshall music, lyrics, recordings, videos? Do me a favor, help support my music by considering a $3/month donation, the price of a small cappuccino. By doing this, you'll have access to unreleased music, demo songs, lyrics, music charts, exclusive videos, AND more! </p>
<p>Check out BenjaminMarshallMusic.com/Subscribe for more info! </p>
<p>That's all I got. I hope you have an AMAZING holiday! </p>
<p>Let me know how YOU are doing. Simply respond to this email. I'd love to hear from you! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/59963722019-10-05T13:25:00-04:002023-12-22T01:22:33-05:00Baby, It's Cold Outside!<p>View this email in your browser </p>
<p>Hello there folks! </p>
<p>Benjamin here again! Hope this email finds you well and doesn’t fall into your spam folder! </p>
<p>Last night, I had the privilege of playing at a new-ish place, called Bourbon and Barley - over in the Short North area. Let me tell ya, the parking was a catastrophe. I ended up parking about a ½ away from the spot, which doesn’t sound bad in theory - however, once you start adding in the gear that needs to be transported, it turns into a journey! I later found out that it was the beginning of the Blue Jacket season. </p>
<p>As some of you may know, I have had a history of losing/misplacing things. I’d like to say that I am getting better storing/organizing things, but apparently last night was trying to test me. Somewhere on that 1/2 mile hike to the bar, I dropped my keys. The good news is that I found them. They were sitting on the sidewalk about 100 yards from my car, which is exactly where I thought they would be. Yay! </p>
<p>Last night’s performance went well. My friend, Cylia, played with me and helped make the night last until 12:30 AM! It was a late but fun night. Bars are tricky. Sometimes people pay attention, and sometimes they don’t. Knowing your role and keeping your ego in check is SO important. </p>
<p>As for last night, it took a while...however, by the time we left, people were listening! At this point in my life, I’ve come to realize that I can sing to the backs of heads for two hours and still have my heart filled if at least one person is engaged...or engaged at some point in the night. I believe that EVERY musical performance has meaning and dignity. </p>
<p>Anyways, that’s my little rant. Here are some of my upcoming shows this next month! </p>
<p>Saturday, October 19th </p>
<p>8:00 PM</p>
<p><strong>Victory's</strong> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Friday, November 8th </p>
<p>6:00 PM</p>
<p><strong>Rambling House</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>As usual, let me know how you're doing! I love responses and getting updates from you. Especially if you're putting up with my updates! </p>
<p>Have a SPLENDID Saturday, my friends! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/58844522019-09-07T18:49:43-04:002023-12-10T11:51:12-05:00Columbus is Alive!<p>First things first...THANK YOU...to EVERYONE who came out last Saturday. It was the first full band show since January...and I must say, it was an amazing experience....and this time I still have a voice (last time, I lost it)! Playing alongside October Ember and Lydia Brownfield was incredible. So much talent...but also so much humility in the room. It's always an honor to be a part of these shows, with the main goal of creating connection </p>
<p>Right now...as I'm typing this e-mail, I'm casually eating some pizza, getting my computer greasy and observing the gleeful Ohio State fans. Ohio State is back in session, and the football season has kicked off. Although I successfully managed to not watch football all day, I was able to tell that OSU won today. </p>
<p>Between you and me...I was born in Michigan (many of you already know this)...and have never been a hardcore Ohio State fan...but, I like being around happy people - so I'm a fan when OSU wins. When it comes to football, I consider myself a pacifist between the war of OSU and Michigan. I know...you might think less of me...but FORGIVE ME! </p>
<p>Needless to say, it's busy here in the Short North. And for a good reason! </p>
<p>I'm here at the Donato's in the Short North, ready to play some music from 8 to 10 PM. If you're free tonight, stop by! It's the 1st Saturday of the month, which means it's GALLERY HOP! An Ohio State victory PLUS gallery hop PLUS BEAUTIFUL WEATHfER = "Hey, let's get out of the house!" </p>
<p>That's all I have for you today. I've got some upcoming shows that I'll be sure to share with you soon enough...but, I'll save that for another e-mail. </p>
<p>Just a final reminder - be sure to check out the new single, "I'm Ready to Begin", which I released last month. I will be releasing another single around November, so be sure to stay tuned! (on Spotify) </p>
<p>As usual, please let me know how you are doing! I always love hearing your responses! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/58463782019-08-03T12:19:17-04:002023-01-16T15:27:40-05:00New Single Alert!!!!<p>It's busy over here, but I think that's the normal, default response. I think everyone uses the "busy" answer..because life does keep us busy! </p>
<p>--- I just put the final touches on a NEW single being released this Saturday. It'll be available on Spotify, iTunes, AppleMusic...and whole lot more. <strong>Sign up for my e-mail list, and you can get a copy of this song now!</strong></p>
<p>Back in February, this was the song that I was working on that convinced me to finally see a doctor regarding my voice. It was this chorus, shouting "I'm Ready to Begin", where ironically my voice was ready to end. Late into the night, I even attempted to utter a few conversational words and couldn't even do that. As many of you knew, this is what led me into my quiet, nonverbal February. </p>
<p>Six months later...I'm proud to say that this song is done and ready for your listening pleasure. I sincerely hope you enjoy this song! It was a good lesson in perseverance, patience...and overcoming stubbornness. </p>
<p><u><strong>Here are the lyrics: </strong></u></p>
<p>Take a little sip of love, <br>Find a way to boost this life again, <br>You're my morning cup, </p>
<p>I'll wait until I find myself alert, <br>I know it takes some time, <br>You're my morning cure </p>
<p>I've yet to find a better way <br>Reminds me that I'm still alive, <br>I'll be ready for the day </p>
<p>Dependent on your warmth, <br>And the power of your love <br>Brings me closer to the door </p>
<p>I'm ready to begin, <br>I'm ready to engage the heart within <br>I'm ready to inspire <br>I'm ready for the cause, <br>even when I grow tired </p>
<p>The fire in my step has slowed <br>My energy is dissipating, <br>What can keep my flow </p>
<p>The battle of my apathy, <br>I'll find way to make it through, <br>Till the day is new </p>
<p>I'm ready to begin, <br>I'm ready to engage, <br>I'm ready to inspire <br>I'm ready for the cause </p>
<p>My time is almost here, <br>This rest I seem to fear, <br>Renew my waning heart, <br>Let tomorrow do its part </p>
<p>I'm ready to begin, <br>I'm ready to engage, <br>I'm ready to inspire <br>I'm ready for the cause </p>
<p>Thanks for being a part of this journey! </p>
<p>Please do keep me posted on what's going on in your life. Your response means a lot to me! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/58463792019-06-02T12:25:00-04:002023-01-16T15:28:01-05:00It's Been TWO Months!!<p>It's been almost TWO months since I've written you last...please forgive me for the delay in keeping you updated. I know it must have been tough for you, eagerly awaiting this e-mail to be sent...but here we are! </p>
<p>So, I turned the big 30 back in April...and I must say, the last six months of 29 were pretty eventful. I'll recap some of the things that happened...good and bad. :-) </p>
<p><strong>1. First time out of the country</strong>. Canada. Yeah, I know it's next door...but it counts! </p>
<p><strong>2. First silent month of my life.</strong> Due to my vocal injury, February was pretty quiet. Literally. Although, I kinda wish it happened in March...since I could have given it a cool name like "Mute March", it all worked out. </p>
<p><strong>3. First house break-in.</strong> Apparently, we were giving some good vibes to some late night shenanigans. </p>
<p><strong>4. First car to be stolen.</strong> I guess when you see car keys in a house, the opportunity presents itself, right? </p>
<p><strong>5. First car to be set on fire.</strong> If you're looking to have a "lit" time, I guess that's the thing to do. </p>
<p><strong>6. First time talking with an arson detective.</strong> The job title just sounds cool. I'd imagine that would be a cool title to have at a dinner party....great conversation starter. </p>
<p>---- If you didn't guess, 3-6 were all related. ---- </p>
<p><strong>7. First time being "officially" defrauded.</strong> PledgeMusic, if you just Google their name, you can learn more. They were a fairly successful crowdfunding option, like IndieGoGo or GoFundMe, but recently were found to be not paying their musicians...and...it only goes downhill from there. </p>
<p><strong>8. First time attempting to learn French.</strong> Now, it was Canadian French, which I know is different. But, I must say, driving through Montreal, I was able to at least learn the word "Arret". </p>
<p><strong>9. First time playing music in Buffalo, NY!</strong> I ended up playing for a friends wedding in the Boston area, which was awesome! What was even cooler was that I got to do this with my dad - a little father/son bonding trip. Buffalo was as stopping point...because...why not? </p>
<p><strong>10. First time staying in Erie, PA!</strong> Had the honor, although being mute, of staying with some family (Andrea & John), who I have not seen in a very long time! Great to see them again.... </p>
<p><strong>11. First time going back to my birth town...on my own</strong>. I had the honor and privilege to visit good ol' Livonia (near Detroit). I was able to visit a family friend, see the rebuilding / renewal of Detroit. Thanks Mr. Al! He's a great tour guide. </p>
<p><strong>12. First time writing and recording a song for my nieces....and nephew.</strong> The songs "Something We Forgot", inspired by my niece in Columbus, and "Brother", inspired by my niece and nephew in Texas - both on the new album, "The Bear Minimum" </p>
<p>Okay, I think 12 is a good stopping point. Needless to say, there were some better things...and some worse things...but they all were experiences. And experiences are life. What you do with those experiences are crucial for growth.. </p>
<p>On another note, I'm STOKED. I starting to prepare for my first DIY US Tour. I'll be making my way to Texas in the middle of August and will be stopping through Cinci, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, and Dallas (perhaps another one in between). It's a learning experience for me...but, it's a lot of fun being a nerd and sending out a bazillion e-mails to venues in an attempt to secure a gig. </p>
<p>That being said, if you are in ANY of these areas... let me know! This is the breakdown of where and when I'll be in certain areas: </p>
<p>August 10th: Cincinnati - Bean and Barley </p>
<p>August 11th: Louisville - Venue TBA </p>
<p>August 12th: Nashville - The Basement (still pending confirmation) </p>
<p>August 13th: Memphis - Java Cabana </p>
<p>August 14th: TBA </p>
<p>August 15th: Dallas - Opening Bell </p>
<p>August 16th - 18th: Austin - DIY Conference </p>
<p>Thanks everyone! AS USUAL, let me know how YOU are doing.</p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin Marshall</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/58463802019-04-06T12:25:00-04:002023-12-10T11:32:56-05:00I'm Ready to Begin<p><strong>Last night was beautiful. </strong></p>
<p>For the first time in a while, I participated in a singer-songwriter round in a new, but old place called the Market at Flint. https://www.themarketatflintstation.com/ </p>
<p>The establishment is a restored building off of Park Rd which used to settle in a city called Flint, as I learned. From what I gather, as Columbus continued to grow, it absorbed the little town of Flint, but still has its history with some of the citizens around the area. I was told it used to be a "speak easy" joint back in the day! </p>
<p>Paired with two other incredibly songwriters, Dan Heidt (https://danheidt.com/) and Kristen Gramza (https://www.kristingramza.com/), there was no shortage of talent in the room...and of course, nerves were gettin' to me. </p>
<p>1. It had been a while since I had performed in an intimate setting such as this. I wasn't used to people listening. And... well, let's just say, I still need to work on the "story behind my song" dialogue. :-) </p>
<p>2. I'm still walking on egg shells on what this voice will do in the future. It's tough to not do these performances though... I figured this might be a good transition gig, right? </p>
<p>The nerves were quickly trumped by the power of music. </p>
<p>These events always serve as a great reminder of how much we crave intimacy, connection and an avenue for community. In a songwriter round, we have the ability to talk about the inspiration behind the song, which sometimes allows to dive in to topics that are tough in casual conversation. </p>
<p>Topics like: faith, life's meaning, relationships, love, mourning, heart-break, and other subjects that don't often casually come up in conversation, are often great song topics. Not only are you talking about it on stage, but it allows you to have a way to share a conversation OFF stage, potentially connecting with people you had never thought. </p>
<p>During this round, I performed the last song I wrote prior to losing my voice, "I'm Ready To Begin". Back in January, it was during the chorus where my voice LITERALLY just stopped working. I couldn't even hold a conversation. This lead me to go to a doctor and have it checked out, eventually leading to my little silent retreat. Being able to perform this song last night was an honor and a triumph for me....and very fitting too, since "I'm Ready to Begin" is very true. </p>
<p>Anyways, I highly recommend you come out to one of their events, hosted by Rich Sharick on a bi-weekly basis.The NEXT one is April 20th at 8:30 PM. I won't be playing, but it's a warm, welcoming place to hang out, have a date night, or just casually listen to music! Here's my next FREE Show! </p>
<p>Friday, April 26th - 8:00, FREE SHOW! <br>Live at Victory's w/Luke Johnson, Cynthia Miller, and Josh Brenneman </p>
<p>Classics Victory's <br>543 S High St, <br>Columbus 43215 </p>
<p>If you've read this far, THANKS! </p>
<p>Please let me know how you are doing! As I will always say, this is not a one-sided conversation. I love to hear from you and what is going on in your life, so don't be shy. </p>
<p>Love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/58463812019-03-24T12:30:00-04:002023-12-10T12:35:13-05:00Just Sayin' Hello!<p>Howdy friends! </p>
<p>Ben here - checking back in. It's Sunday evening, so I figured what better way to end the weekend than share time with you? ;-) </p>
<p>For those who had kept up with my previous e-mail, I had previously been on "vocal rest", attempting the ambitious endeavor of "no talking" for about a month...which was really about three weeks. If you didn't know this, now you do! Yay! </p>
<p>To elaborate, but not bore you too much, I'll say it was an interesting experience! It included a variety of different communication methods, including paper/pencil, smart phone, awkward body language, limited sign language...aka, MANY thumbs up and the occasional thumbs down, and the last resort of no communication at all. Many of you probably had a fun encounter with me doing this! </p>
<p>About three weeks ago, I started giving my voice a shot again. I had my follow up from the ENT doctor and voice pathologist, which to their surprise did observe shrinkage of the vocal lesion/polyp. This was good news to hear. </p>
<p><strong>So what was the follow up plan/verdict?</strong> More waiting! </p>
<p>At this point, I'm still "waiting" to see if this thing will completely go away. They made it seem like there was a high chance that it probably WOULD NOT completely go away. But, who knows, right? And at the very least, if surgery is a necessity, the smaller it is, the higher chance for success! Unfortunately, it wasn't realistic to continue with complete voice rest...since LIFE is DEMANDING! </p>
<p>Now that I'm using my voice again, I must say, it was weird at first. Almost didn't want to say anything...scared of the strange voice that came out of my mouth. But after getting used to it, I also realized how easy it was to go back to the normal range of voice usage. Like many things in life, it seems you don't realize how much you use something...until you try to NOT use it. This was the case of my vocals. I also realized the importance of wanting to be understood, and how often we are misunderstood even when we're able to talk. There is so much beyond communication than the words we say. </p>
<p>With all this being said, I'm learning my limits! I'm trying to keep my gigs at two a month, and staying away from the really long ones (2 + hours) until around summer time! That being said...here are the gigs for April! I would love to see you at either show. If you see me doing more than two gigs in a month in May or June, yell at me. Please! </p>
<p><strong>SHOW UPDATES for April: </strong></p>
<p><u>Friday, April 5th - 8:30 PM, $10 </u><br>Singer-Songwriter Round - with Kristin Gramza and Dan Heidt </p>
<p>The Music Room at the Market <br>225 Park Rd, Columbus 43236 </p>
<p><u>Friday, April 26th - 8:00, FREE SHOW! </u><br>Live at Victory's w/Luke Johnson, Cynthia Miller, and Josh Brenneman </p>
<p>Classics Victory's <br>543 S High St, Columbus 43215 </p>
<p>Thanks all for reading! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/56467352019-02-16T18:37:07-05:002023-12-10T11:55:10-05:00Live from Montreal!!<p>Bonjour! </p>
<p>That's the "petit" amount of French I know right now. Merci! </p>
<p>So, I finally did it. I made into another country. Sure, Canada is right next door, but I must say, of the Canadian cities to visit, Montreal seems to have a very "foreign" or "exotic" feel. As soon as I crossed the Quebec border in my tiny little Prius, fighting off the beastly winter storm, English and French no longer partnered with each other on the highway signs. From that point on, only French was what I saw in everything, including: signs, buildings, and advertisements, which understandably makes sense. French is the primary language of the province and was quickly revealed. Thank, God for the psychology behind graphic design. Without those helpful, self-explanatory symbols, who knows how many epic fails I would have. </p>
<p><strong>A few things right off the bat: </strong></p>
<p>1. 100 kph is a lot slower than it sounds. </p>
<p>2. 90 cents p/l is a lot more expensive than it sounds. </p>
<p>3. Right turns are not a thing in Montreal. </p>
<p>4. It's only about an hour away from the northern New York border (the state) and an hour and a half from Vermont border </p>
<p>So, you might ask, why Montreal? especially during this crazy winter storm? </p>
<p>Well, I'm at the one and only Folk Alliance International Conference, which happens to be in this lovely city to the north. It's my second year doing it, and I continue to plan on going to it on an annual basis. Unfortunately, due to previously diagnosed vocal cord issues, I have had to practice my "silent" conversation on this trip. It's proved to be a bit difficult, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I've been doing a lot of writing! </p>
<p><strong>Music updates:</strong> </p>
<p>1. I have cancelled most recent performances due to recent vocal cord issues, but it doesn't mean I'm not still playing music. I have handed off my happy hour performance to my dear friend, Cylia, over at the Shrunken Head NEXT Saturday who will be sharing a set with my friend, Matthew Neill. I would LOVE to see you. I'll be trying out some glockenspiel stuff along with some piano. </p>
<p><u><strong>Happy Hour performance at the Shrunken Head </strong></u></p>
<p>Saturday, February 23rd w/Cylia Queen & Matthew Neill </p>
<p>251 W 5th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201 </p>
<p>6 :00 - 8:00 PM </p>
<p>2. I have a few performances scheduled in March, which are still ON right now, but will keep you posted after my next doctor appt! </p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Respond to this e-mail to let me know how you are doing! If you don't know where to begin, answer this question: </p>
<p>What is your current dream or project? (a new job, home remodeling, cooking, etc) </p>
<p>Thanks for all that you do!</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/56467362019-02-09T18:40:00-05:002023-12-10T12:35:13-05:00Voice Updates<p>Warning this might be a long e-mail update! Skip to the bottom if you want to hear the silver-lining! </p>
<p>So, I swallowed my pride finally, and saw a doctor. Let me tell ya, I'm certainly glad I did. </p>
<p>Initially went to an urgent care, which didn't do much. They just saw me for two minutes and made a quick diagnosis of a sinus infection and laryngitis, prescribing me an anti-biotic and a steroid to hopefully reduce the swelling for a little while. </p>
<p>I already had an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) appointment scheduled for two weeks out, but after waking up the following day, I realized I needed to get in sooner. I called an employee on the phone on Thursday at the end of the day, who said she would reach back out if there were any openings the following day. Sure enough, the customer service representative followed through and called back Friday morning with an appointment opening. -- Imagine that, someone with follow-through skills -- I honestly was shocked that she called back. She called me at 8:45 for a 9:30 AM appointment THAT day. </p>
<p>After finding word about the appointment, I hustled to the ENT office and checked in, eagerly trying to figure out what's going on. I was introduced to Dr. Jeffrey Hall, who I quickly learned was Canadian and a previous opera singer. He was an incredibly personable guy who knew the importance of singing as a performer and a voice pathologist! After doing a quick test of my throat, they did discover a lesion (polyp) on one of my vocal cords. --- If you want any cool pictures, I'd be happy to send...;-) --- </p>
<p>We talked about strategies of what to do including voice therapy, surgery or vocal rest. He stated that therapy would not be any good at this point and suggested that "vocal rest" was the best option. If not improved, surgery may be considered, which is not the most ideal. Later in the day, I then met with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who confirmed the Dr. Hall's findings. Voice rest was the answer. </p>
<p>This was unfortunate for a few reasons: </p>
<p>1. I had a performance that night, and have several other gigs scheduled for this month as well. <br>2. I'm heading to a Folk Conference this next week, which is a great opportunity for collaborating and meeting other musicians along with networking opportunities. <br>3. I use my voice for my day job. <br>4. I could not attend two interviews with employers because of this issue. </p>
<p>It's frustrating. Singing is therapy to me. But not only that, I also realized how important verbal communication is. Last night, I still attended the gig I had to cancel. I wanted to show support but also wanted to practice not talking while being in social interactions. So, what did I do?? </p>
<p>I brought my note pad...and used body language. As slow as it was to communicate, I wrote down everything I wanted to say on notebook paper and made it through the night without saying a word. Well, I'm sure a few slipped out, but I got away with not talking for MOST of the night. </p>
<p>After getting used to being "silent" for a while, the weird part was that I actually kind of enjoyed it. No temptation to be the center of attention. I could just enjoy the company of others and listen while practicing more intentional body language. It also forced an element of patience on my end. If I wanted to ask a question, the important ones would stick with me, but the unimportant ones would slip away. </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm still figuring this whole thing out as of now, but DO keep in mind that if I see you, most likely you will see this for the next month: </p>
<p><strong>1. I will not be talking/using my voice. (Hopefully) </strong></p>
<p><strong>2. I will be communicating on notebook paper or text message</strong> (unless I can get a new iPad or Phone) </p>
<p><strong>3. I hope to STILL play music...but must do so by playing an instrument, not singing. </strong></p>
<p><strong>4. I'm attempting to learn some sign language as well to potentially help with communication! </strong></p>
<p>Any prayers, thoughts or good vibes you can send me would be GREATLY appreciated. I know this will be a valuable experience for me, but it's also a tough one to accept. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your love and support! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin </p>
<p>PS: Here's an interesting read regarding vocal issues with pop singers, specifically Adele ( which I heard a few references to already, haha) </p>
<p>https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/stars-like-adele-keep-losing-their-voices-because-theyre-singing-wrong-voice</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/56225682019-01-28T23:05:00-05:002023-01-16T15:30:39-05:00Thank YOU!<p>Good morning, friends! </p>
<p>I know I'm over a week late on this...but let me start this e-mail by saying... </p>
<p>Thank you for the AMAZING CD Release Night on Saturday (January 19th)!!!!! </p>
<p>As unpredictable as the weather was, I couldn't ask for a better turnout. The song, "Hurricane" turned out to be very fitting to start the show, which was inspired while driving behind/around the Hurricane Harvey storm in Fall of 2017. Last year's show at Shrunken Head was actually CANCELLED due to bad weather, so I was blessed to still put on a show! I must have a thing for storms, eh? </p>
<p>This past week has been a restful one. Having lost my voice, I've been trying to spend the last few days resting...and listening. Not singing. I thought this would be easier...but MAN, it's tough. Singing is a beautiful thing....and I've come to realize how tough it is to NOT to sing. </p>
<p>Most of this was a product of stubbornness on my end...as I sang an event this past Thursday when I probably should have just rested...but... I didn't. And guess what? I came home eventually sounding like Tom Waits...or for those of you who don't know ol' Tom, I'll reference Louis Armstrong. As a result, I've been taking a break since Friday with hopes of sounding somewhat normal again. It's only been three days, but I can't help but be reminded of Ecclesiastes 3. </p>
<p><strong>"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:.....a time to be silent and a time to speak," Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 </strong></p>
<p>Now, this verse has MUCH more than what I just listed.....but I purposefully skipped to "a time to be silent and a time to speak". When you're not able to talk with ease, what do you do? You're silent. And when you're silent, it gives you more opportunities to listen. Because of this, I'm trying to embrace this time! I'm confident my voice will come back soon enough, however, I believe it's a good excuse to listen to some new albums, podcasts, heart-felt conversations, and... to have silence! </p>
<p>Anyways, this is my short sentiment for today! I've been meaning to send this e-mail for several days now, and finally got to it....with the help of some coffee! </p>
<p>Reminder: CD's have all been shipped out/sent through e-mail (for the Digital Download). Please let me know if you haven't received it yet! If you would like a copy, feel free to order it on my site...or you can e-mail me, text me, call me...get ahold of me somehow! </p>
<p>https://benjaminmarshallmusic.com/music </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for ALL of your support. I hope you have a great start to your week! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/56225692019-01-01T23:10:00-05:002023-01-16T15:31:04-05:002019: I Thought it was 2007 Still<p>HOWDDDDDY FRIENDS! HAPPY NEW YEAR! </p>
<p>I sincerely hope that 2018 brought in some good final memories...but now that we're in the beginning of 2019, let's be cliche and talk about our New Years resolutions. I'll go ahead and start by telling you one of my new years resolutions....well, when I say one... I really mean three. </p>
<p>1. Hug more. Give at least one hug a day. It's a bit cheesy, but I continue to forget the value of a good hug. I'm not the most "huggy" person in the world, so we'll see how this one goes. Feel free to hold me accountable to this. :-) </p>
<p>2. Read a book a month. I'm not gonna set the bar too high..since I don't read much. I go to the library quite often but for some reason, don't read that much. I even check out a bunch of books and have them for months on end...and still forget to read them. That being said, I think one book a month is doable. </p>
<p>3. Get out of the country. This is actually already planned. I'll be heading to Canada in February for a Folk Music conference. If all goes well, I'll reach this goal within the first few months! </p>
<p>I have PLENTY more goals for music...but I won't bore you with them. </p>
<p>What are your plans for 2019? </p>
<p>--- I'd love to hear what your plans are. Simply hit the respond to this e-mail and give let me know what you're up to! ---- </p>
<p><u><strong>MUSIC UPDATES </strong></u></p>
<p>- CD's are officially printed and should be in my hands tomorrow. For those of you who contributed to the campaign, you SHOULD have received an e-mail LAST WEEK with the digital download. PLEASE let me know if you didn't get it. </p>
<p>- CD Release Show: Saturday, January 19th, 2019 @ 8 PM </p>
<p><strong>Classic Victory's: </strong><br>543 S High St <br>Columbus, OH. </p>
<p>Lots of awesome music from PFC Pierce, October Ember and Paper Morning! </p>
<p>- Be on the lookout for some future podcast episodes from "Just Play a Song" - a community music Meet Up group. Looking to start producing some music-related podcast episodes in a story-telling theme. Let me know if you're interested or have any cool ideas!</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55669752018-12-23T18:46:11-05:002023-01-16T15:31:47-05:00Just Play a Song - First Podcast<p>Howdy friends,</p>
<p>Trying something new out. I'm starting a podcast called, Just Play a Song, based off of a music group I started a while back!</p>
<p>Let me know what you think! Hoping to bring in other musicians, creatives to help fill out the space, but this is just my initial episode!</p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Ben</p>7:31Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513222018-12-11T17:45:00-05:002023-01-16T15:32:10-05:00It's Time for The Bear Minimum<p>Howdy friends, </p>
<p>Merry Christmas everyone! Can't believe we are TWO weeks away from the Christmas. </p>
<p>Also, as a late delivery, but early Christmas present, it is finally that time! The album is in the FINAL, FINAL, FINAL stages. No more mixing, no more mastering...Although, I'm realizing I can always make further adjustments, tweaks - it is in the stage where it's going to be replicated! </p>
<p>If you didn't already see, the album's official title is "The Bear Minimum". Thanks to all of you who have supported me and voted on the album title. Apparently, me naming album titles after an animal is becoming a consistent thing. Now that I have both a giraffe and a bear, we'll have plenty of time to decide on the next animal title... I mean album title. </p>
<p>For those of you who preordered the album, I will be e-mailing you very shortly with the download, so stay tuned for that. If you didn't preorder it, you can still do so - just respond to this e-mail or check out my PledgeMusic page. </p>
<p>I'll keep this e-mail nice and short, since I know you have plenty of Christmas shopping to do along with other activities that don't involve reading e-mails. Be sure to mark your calendars for January 19th - the CD Release Show. It'll be at Victory's, which is not far at all from my house in the German Village area! Not only will this be a fun time, but I'll even have some new self-recorded songs to give out that'll only be offered at the show! </p>
<p>Facebook invite: </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/440256456509263/ </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all of your love and support! </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513212018-11-11T20:15:00-05:002023-01-16T15:32:56-05:00The Choice Is Yours<p>Today, I was scrolling through Netflix...as many of us do, and couldn't make a decision for the life of me. I wanted to find a "good" movie so I wouldn't "waste my time". Ironically, most of the times I do this, I waste more time scrolling than I do with actually watching the movie. I'm sure you all know the struggle! </p>
<p>Luckily, I did make a decision that didn't take TOO long. The movie was called "Mr. Nobody"...which of all movies was very fitting. It was a film that dealt with the consequences of choice. If you haven't watched the movie, I won't spoil it for you - mainly because I'm bad at explaining movies. I definitely recommend it! </p>
<p>The movie dives into several different lives of one specific individual, showcasing the outcomes of his decisions had he made one decision over another (almost a butter-fly effect idea). It makes you ask the question: If we knew the outcome of our decisions beforehand, would it aid our decision-making process? Or would it make us even more burdened? </p>
<p>Me personally, I'm not too sure. Knowing the potential future of every decision you make would be overwhelming. But, I also do know that fear of the unknown is also a legitimate concern for making decisions. I'm realizing that decisions aren't always necessarily right or wrong, as I have previously thought; some decisions are simply just decisions. They may lead is down a different path but not always a worse path. It's not to say that there aren't better or worse decisions, but the fact that their could be neutral decisions. </p>
<p>Sometimes, the worst decision could be the decision to not make a decision. </p>
<p>I say all of this to reflect on my own life...and what I believe is a big struggle for much of humanity (at least in America). I've had many moments of life where I've contemplated so much and failed to make a decision at all. Choices are EVERYWHERE: including anything and anyone at anytime. It's good to think through decisions, but at the end of the day, we cannot predict the future. </p>
<p>My motto (as of now): Pray about it, make a decision....and pray some more! </p>
<p>MUSIC UPDATES </p>
<p>The album is officially mastered! It's going to be called "The Bear Minimum"! My good friend is helping me out with getting some artwork ready - so be on the lookout! I'm eager to share the music with you! It's been a long time in the making - we're now on countdown! </p>
<p>As always, let me know how you are doing! Simply respond with a "Hey Ben! Life is....." </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513202018-10-21T16:30:00-04:002024-03-05T22:42:21-05:00You're Under a "Rest"<p>I'm starting to realize the importance of rest. </p>
<p>Yesterday, I had the luxury of not having much on my plate. It was awesome! But of course, I thought I had something to do...so I initially set my alarm for 6 AM the night before. I always like the idea of being productive on the weekend....but, more often than not..these aspirations are not met by action. So, a few minutes after... I thought to myself...why in the world do I need to get up at 6 AM? So, I pushed it to 8 AM.. falling straight to sleep. I eventually wake up to the melody of my apocalyptic sounding alarm at 8 AM...with no sense of urgency. </p>
<p>So, what did I do with my alarm? </p>
<p>I just turned it off...and fell back asleep. No snooze button AT ALL! </p>
<p>Moral of the story? Rest is good. It's even BETTER when you can plan on rest. </p>
<p>I always feel like I need to be doing something, but in reality, doing "nothing" can be more productive. Many of us call it the Sabbath...and I can see the importance of why it is needed for us humans. If we work, work, work, and have no rest, we have no time to even enjoy the fruits of our labor...and more importantly, we end up losing our steam, becoming more and more drained. We NEED rest. </p>
<p>Anyways, I won't bore you with much more of my Saturday...but DO KNOW...it was very unproductive....which I am quite proud to admit. Several hours of Netflix may or may not have been a part of the day. </p>
<p>A FEW BIG MUSIC UPDATES: </p>
<p>1. All tracks are recorded....doing a final mix review this Monday (tomorrow) and hopefully can officially get things mastered and RELEASED! I'm STOKED! Now, an album title is needed....see update #2 </p>
<p>2. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PLEDGE MUSIC CAMPAIGN, YOU get a say in my awful, terrible, but awesome album title potentials... </p>
<p>Simply respond to this e-mail with the title you hate the least. </p>
<p>- Cat Me if You Can <br>- Shark Appeal <br>- The Bear Minimum </p>
<p>3. CD Release Show is SET for January 19th at Victory's. Mark your calendars! </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all of your support. Each and every single one of you is a blessing in my life and I am forever grateful for YOU! </p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513192018-09-08T18:20:00-04:002023-01-16T15:33:51-05:00Feed My Sheep<p>This past Thursday, I had the absolute pleasure of recording a new song....well, really a BRAND new song. I could have went with a familiar song that I was more comfortable with recording, but I was feeling led to track this song and throw it on the album. I had eight amazing other human beings come in on a whim and sing some back up harmonies to give it a mini choir feel. I'm stoked to share it with ya'll...but it may be a while...:-( </p>
<p>The song, called Feed My Sheep, was inspired by the story between Peter and Jesus in the Bible. Yeah, I'm about to get a little bit bible on ya....sorry.... </p>
<p>For those who are unfamiliar, Peter was a bold character and a strong follower of Jesus. I'd say he's one of those guys you'd want on your side; the type of person who would stick up for you through thick and thin. Peter probably thought that until the end, he would be there right by his side. But much to his dismay and probably shock, Jesus informed him that he would deny him THREE times before the rooster crows. He had hard time processing this but sure enough, by the time the rooster crowed, he wept in remorse. </p>
<p>Luckily, the story doesn't end like this. When Jesus is resurrected, alive from the dead, he asks Peter three times: Do you Love Me? After each time of asking "Do You Love Me", he replies with similarly but differently worded statements as followed: "Feed My Lambs", "Take Care of My Sheep" and finally, "Feed My Sheep". </p>
<p>Clearly, this was a statement for not only Peter, but all of us to love our neighbors. This is a requirement on our end. I wrote this song to remind myself, and others, of not only the importance but also how vulnerable we are in this area. It is so easy to fail at doing this. But when we do fail, it doesn't have to define us. </p>
<p>On a musical note... (ha, get it)), if you're free, come out to the Tree Bar tonight! I'll be playing at 9-ish </p>
<p>I'd love to see you and perhaps talk with you some more on your thoughts! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>UPCOMING SHOWS: </strong></p>
<p>Saturday, September 8th at Tree Bar - TONIGHT!!!!!! </p>
<p>Davey Dynamite, Chase Duncan, and PFC Pierce </p>
<p>$5, 9 PM </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/1918607214864490/ </p>
<p>Thursday, September 13th at Bobbys Idle Hour </p>
<p>Songwriter Round (Nashville) </p>
<p>FREE, 10:45 PM </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/229527241052746/ </p>
<p>Saturday, September 22nd at Troubador Farms </p>
<p>What If I Would Stock, Galena, OH </p>
<p>$10 wristbands, $15 at site, $5 PM (goes on until 2 am!) </p>
<p>Thursday, September 27th at the Tree Bar </p>
<p>The Rightly So w/ Jeff German & Benjamin Marshall </p>
<p>$5, 10 PM </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/501272236988354/ </p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Do me a solid, and continue to let me know how your are doing. If you don't know where to begin, this might be a good starter prompt..... </p>
<p>If you had to pick an animal that represented your life RIGHT NOW, what would it be?</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513182018-08-28T19:30:00-04:002023-01-16T15:34:06-05:00The Music City<p>Oh, how I missed Nashville. </p>
<p>Over the past weekend, I had the pleasure of being in Nashville for a "DIY Music Conference" put on by CD Baby. It was actually my 2nd year, so this time I wasn't a complete newbie. Utilizing my grandpa driving skills along with the great mileage of my prius, I ventured off to the Music City with a few music pals - David and Nate and stayed in a hostel downtown. We were right in the heart of the city...and for only $35 a night. Not too bad, huh? </p>
<p>All four of the dudes in our little dormitory room were here for the conference - one from Santiago, Chile and another from Pittsburgh - and of course my friend and I. I was fascinated by the fact that someone would travel so far for this conference. He definitely wasn't the only one. There were people from all over the world that attended this conference - from New Zealand to Chile to Brazil. Apparently, Nash-vegas was the city to be in this past weekend. </p>
<p>So, I won't bore you with all the details of the conference - but the big takeaway for me is the connection aspect. I always find myself in the "jam room" playing music with other talented individuals....And since my voice was gone the first night, I found myself LOVING accompanying other people - whether on piano or guitar. Seeing the diversity in styles - unified by a simple, causal jam room...was all I needed. Don't get me wrong, the seminars were great as well...but, the relationship building part is always is a priority to me. </p>
<p>So, here I am. Typing away at the computer. Back in Columbus...and long behold, the Nashville connection happens again. One of the new neighbors randomly found my business card on the street...and actually checked out my music. </p>
<p>Yeah. You read that correct. </p>
<p>A stranger...who had no idea of who's business card it was... randomly checked out the website and music. Maybe that'll be my new way of marketing. </p>
<p>He told me today that his son plays bass in a band, based out of Nashville, but lives in Columbus. It's a band called, Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes... I am going to check them out RIGHT now! I think you should too! </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/danielellsworthandthegreatlakes/ </p>
<p>Anyways, thanks for reading my e-mail. I'd LOVE to hear from you. I'm realizing how small this world can be sometimes. </p>
<p>Tell me about a time/situation where YOU realized how small this world can be...aka six degrees of separation. </p>
<p>UPCOMING SHOWS: </p>
<p>Saturday, September 8th - 9 PM at the Tree Bar </p>
<p>Davey Dynamite, Chase Duncan, and PFC Pierce </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/1918607214864490/ </p>
<p>Thursday, September 27th - 10 PM at the Tree Bar </p>
<p>The Rightly So w/ Jeff German & Benjamin Marshall </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/501272236988354/ </p>
<p>For those of you who actually have read this far....or happened to scroll to this point, here's a treat for you. For the next several e-mails, I'm going to send you a few old recordings of my OLD band. Here's the first one on the list. Take a listen...Dive into "Fearing All the Evidence" - a song recorded OVER a decade ago. </p>
<p>https://www.dropbox.com/s/7fzscrhguux0d8d/01%20It%27s%20Just%20So%20Hard.mp3?dl=0 </p>
<p>Thanks all! Have a great rest of the week! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin Marshall</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513172018-08-18T17:30:00-04:002021-08-03T05:12:28-04:00The Wedding Singer<p>^^^ This summer has been flying....And slowly but surely, I'm becoming a little bit more like this fellow, the Wedding Singer! I think this summer/fall will be a total of six! </p>
<p>The thing I love about performing at these weddings is how DIFFERENT they are from person to person. I was talking to the "Wedding Lady" who officiated the wedding yesterday. She said that one of the weddings she officiated was a "zombie" wedding in which she, and everyone else who were invited, had dressed up as a zombie in order to perfect their vowels on their day of marriage. I can only hope to become a zombie wedding singer in the future. :-) </p>
<p>Sure, the anticipation of screwing up someone's wedding is always a fear of mine....hence why I probably quadruple-checked my sound equipment making sure I had everything I needed for yesterday's occasion. I also got their super early....you know...because it's a big day! I don't wanna be that bad memory for someone's wedding. </p>
<p>But after the ceremony, the celebration begins. And that's what I really love. Celebrating life. Weddings, without a doubt, always provide an element of celebration - an excuse to party. It's a perfect reason. We're celebrating two lives who are committed to loving each other - and what better excuse to party than love? </p>
<p>(I know that's cheesy, but dude. It's true) </p>
<p>Updates about that ol' music stuff that Benjamin likes to do: </p>
<p>1) I'm up to SEVEN tracks on the album. Hoping to record ONE or TWO more - then LET THE mixing, mastering, distribution begin. We're getting close, folks! </p>
<p>2) I'll be heading to Nashville next week for the CDBaby DIY Conference. I miss Nashville...so it's gonna be good to go back there and say hello...along with getting inspired for music again. </p>
<p>3) I've got a few gigs lines up at the Tree Bar and have to confirm some potential performances at the Crest as well: </p>
<p>Saturday, September 8th (Tree Bar) </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/1918607214864490/ </p>
<p>Thursday, September 27th (Tree Bar) </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/501272236988354/ </p>
<p>4) Finally, MY OPEN MIC IS BEING CHANGED TO TUESDAY (at the Grandview Grind) - same time - 7 PM sign up, 7:30 PM start </p>
<p>Thanks all! Keep me posted on how you are doing! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/55513162018-07-22T11:00:00-04:002020-09-07T02:46:40-04:00Epic Fail<p>After a lovely week in Hilton Head, South Carolina, I'm back in the buckeye state. What a great time we had! We had the whole family - including my parents, my sisters, my two nieces and the newest addition, the nephew. It was a much needed vacation from life, which we all need at times. Now being back in Columbus, I thought it would be a tough transition to get back in the "work" mindset - both in my day job and in music - but now that I'm back, I'm thinking that I'm going to be okay. </p>
<p>One thing I realized from hanging with the kiddos is how much of life is trial and error and encountering failure. It didn't really hit me until thinking about this on the ride home. This is especially for kiddos but also applies to parents as well (although I can only base this off of what I see!) For the new-to-life human, it seems like they are often figuring out what adults are doing. This "How are they doing what they are doing"...and "WHY can I not do that?" Or "when can I do that?" That leads to curiosity and exploration. Seeing them discover the beauty and intensity of ocean water reminded me of how scary it can be to seek something so new, foreign and unknown. So much of what they learn seems to be by experience - "successful" and "failed" experiences. </p>
<p>Failure is crucial for development. And I'm terrible at pursuing failure. As we speak, one little thing I am trying to do is actively seek constructive criticism. Music is such a personal experience...and if I'm being honest, it's incredibly tough to pursue criticism. When the criticism is not pleasing to the ear, it's easy to take it personally. "If someone tells me that MY song can be done differently, then it's not MY song". Not true. It just means that someone wants to help make it better. </p>
<p>The way I look at it - one person may have their opinion - BUT, if you're hearing that same opinion or perspective from other people, maybe that means there should be some amendments or changes. It doesn't mean you have to adapt your whole song, craft, passion to appeal to people, compromising your whole identity..but if you're life is to help express yourself AND appeal to people, there has to be an element of risk in seeking criticism, advice, and collaboration. And I for one need to improve in this balance of seeking more "failure" opportunities. Check out this Ted Talk for a cool project...conducted specifically on failure - "100 Days of Rejection" </p>
<p>https://www.ted.com/talks/jia_jiang_what_i_learned_from_100_days_of_rejection </p>
<p>A few updates! </p>
<p>This Thursday 7/26 -I'll be hosting a worship/jam! Super low-key but if you're interested in coming out, bring an instrument and some worship song ideas! </p>
<p>Next Sunday (7/29): I'll be playing at the Crest for a few hours (11 - 2 PM). Would love to see you there! I'll be playing some originals AND cover songs for you. </p>
<p>Also, started tracking THREE more songs. The recording process...is a bit slower than I expected...mainly because of balancing everything in life! But, I'm still shooting for Fall of 2018 for the album release! </p>
<p>Finally, keep me posted on how you are doing! Just shoot me an e-mail - let me know what's going on with you this summer. </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/53517322018-06-27T15:00:00-04:002022-01-16T07:46:14-05:00Whens-day!<p>Happy Hump-day! </p>
<p>For all you fellow Monday through Friday-ers, we're over half way through the week. Not that I'm counting or anything. </p>
<p>For those who came out a few weeks ago to my Single Release show and supported some local music, your support, THANK YOU. It means the WORLD TO ME. Yeah...This is two weeks late, but I wanted to make sure I let you know how much fun I had. Playing music is such a privilege, even more so when it's with other people. Music is meant to be shared wither others! </p>
<p><strong>A few announcements: </strong></p>
<p>1. Tonight is open mic. Short notice, I know. But, feel free to stop by the Grandview Grind anytime until 9:30 PM tonight! </p>
<p>Address: 1423A Grandview Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 </p>
<p>2. TOMORROW - I'm having a worship/jam night at my house. <br>- E-mail/call/text/Facebook back if you'd like to come out! We'll be starting around 7 PM. </p>
<p>3. Shows coming up: </p>
<p>July 6th - TREE BAR - Songwriter Night! </p>
<p>Address: 887 Chambers Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43212 <br>Starts at 8 PM - $5! <br>https://www.facebook.com/events/1948734411828149/ </p>
<p>July 12th - KAFE KEROUAC - FREE SHOW! </p>
<p>Address: 2250 N High St. Columbus, OH <br>Starts around 8, I'll be closing it out! Probably around 10 or so! </p>
<p>Finally, it's wedding season! If you're someone who needs assistance or knows someone who needs assistance with musical entertainment for a wedding, don't hesitate to let me know. I'd love to help provide musical needs! I'm realizing that it's a lot of fun for me. </p>
<p>That's all! Hope the summer is starting off great for ya'll. </p>
<p>Thanks for your support and as always, show me some love and respond to this e-mail to let me know how you are doing! </p>
<p>OH WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost forgot. I started recording some more songs! We're working on the second batch of three songs - making it to a total of six studio recorded songs! The goal is to get to nine - so we're getting there! Can't wait to share some more tunes with ya'll...if you haven't already tuned me out. :-) Now, I'm done. </p>
<p>Peace and love,</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/53517332018-06-04T09:55:00-04:002018-08-28T04:34:04-04:00Precious Time<p>Random thoughts from Benjamin! (If you'd rather just read the music updates, scroll to the bottom. Seriously, I won't be offended.) </p>
<p>Do you ever think about how much time you waste THINKING about time? </p>
<p>I've been thinking about this in my own life...You might say that I've been spending some "time" on this. I waste a lot of time...in fact, I'm even spending some of this time writing an e-mail on it right now! ;-) </p>
<p><span style="color:#c0392b;">"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiates 3:1-8, NIV </span></p>
<p>When it comes to time, it either doesn't come fast enough or goes by TOO fast. </p>
<p>I'm SURE, you probably already know this. On one side, it includes those horrible moments where you just want to cross out from your life. But, on the other side, it includes those precious, beautiful, inspiring moments that you want to last forever. On this fast-paced planet, there is ALWAYS an expiration date to the array of human experiences we have. I don't mean this in a morbid way but merely to show the integrity and power of change - which always includes some sort of beginning, middle and end. For some of those experiences, the beginnings are the beautiful part...and for other experiences, the endings are the beautiful part. It's crazy how diverse the experiences and situations can be. </p>
<p>Everyone has to deal with time - whether you like it or not. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, I don't hear many people give time a positive vibe, but it is one of the few constant, objective parts of life, unlike many of our human experiences. It does not have a prejudice against anyone. It doesn't judge. It merely passes. </p>
<p>Sure, you caught me. I don't like it. Time sucks. </p>
<p>But, then, without the impact of time on our life, would there be a sense of urgency for ANYTHING we do? Would there be a sense of importance? How would we prioritize anything? </p>
<p>The difficult thing about our evaluation of time is that it's always based off of previous experiences. When we talk about the "good ol days", we don't necessarily think those are the good days in the moment. But, we eventually realize that THOSE were the good ol days when TIME gets to work. </p>
<p>I've noticed that there are two EXTREME reactions to effect of time: </p>
<p>1. Avoiding it: Finding ways to occupy your mind from processing the impact of time. Not accepting different seasons of life, different stages/roles of your identity or purpose. </p>
<p>By pursuing this route, we can lose track of our purpose, our relationships and most importantly, our identity. We are not meant to be the same our whole lives. Sure, we may be the same "person" but we are constantly evolving, transitioning into different stages. We must approach time with a sense of reality. </p>
<p>2. Smothering it: Trying to hang on to every moment all the time. Putting the weight of spontaneity, the moment on your soul. </p>
<p>As much as I wish this was possible, we can't live the day by day, hoping to hold on to every single breath we take. That's just too much weight on our shoulders. When we TRY to do this, we overwhelm ourselves. Life keeps us too busy. Too distracted. Too preoccupied. Too worried. Too future-focused. </p>
<p>Why am I bringing this up? </p>
<p>Time is valuable. It's more precious than any money or subjectively-valued item on Earth. It's non-refundable and more often than not, always going to cost you more when you don't spend it appropriately. We can't avoid it. But, at the same time, we can't prevent it. Finding the appropriate balance of processing time is crucial for our adulthood! </p>
<p>Ultimately, the reality is....where you spend your time IS where your heart is. I challenge you to use this time to reflect on how you are spending your time. Is this a reflection of who you think you are? </p>
<p>Thanks for reading! Below is an update of my music, shindigs! </p>
<p>TWO GIGS COMING UP (SINGLE RELEASE SHOW IS COMING UP!!!!) </p>
<p>Friday, June 8th </p>
<p>Acoustic Showdown </p>
<p>The Tree Bar <br>887 Chambers Rd. Columbus, Ohio 43212 </p>
<p>Join us for an exciting night of acoustic music and community with: </p>
<p>Tom Barrett (of Blatant Finger) <br>Chase Duncan <br>Benjamin Marshall <br>PFC Pierce <br>The Lucid Youth </p>
<p>Music starts at 9. $5 at the door. </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/212442082865178/ </p>
<p>Saturday, June 16th </p>
<p>SINGLE RELEASE SHOW </p>
<p>THE SHRUNKEN HEAD <br>251 W 5th Ave Columbus, OH 43201 </p>
<p>Come celebrate with Benjamin & Friends while we kick off a new single off the album to be released towards Fall of 2018! </p>
<p>Featuring: <br>Benjamin Marshall Music <br>Carole Walker Music <br>The Zach Whitney Show <br>Javelina <br>Mark Zonakis <br>...and potentially more! </p>
<p>ALL PROCEEDS TO GO TO MID-OHIO FOOD BANK! <br>http://midohiofoodbank.com </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/213808162544530/ </p>
<p>I'm stoked for BOTH shows. Hope to catch you at either OR BOTH SHOWS! </p>
<p>The Friday, June 8th show will be just an acoustic show but the June 16th show will be a fun-filled night with a full band on the bill! I'm getting pumped! </p>
<p>Anyways, thanks for putting up with me for this long email. As always, please don't hesitate to share with me some of your sentiments of "time", music, faith or just where you are at in life! I would love to hear from you. </p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/51404462018-03-18T18:25:00-04:002018-07-20T06:00:56-04:00Sunday!<p>Call me a slacker...I've been trying to send out these e-mails on Saturdays...but time ran away from me yesterday! Or, maybe I ran away from time. So, here we are on Sunday -staring at this computer screen on a BEAUTIFUL DAY - typing this e-mail! I sincerely hope you get to experience some mother nature today! </p>
<p>For those of you who didn't know, I played a show this past Friday at the Angry Baker with October Ember and Mark Zonakis. It was a great time - Mark and October are FANTASTIC! I'm hoping to potentially book some more shows there due to the cozy, relaxed vibes! They just recently started allowing music entertainment at their bakery (after hours) so I'm hoping to make it a monthly or every other month event. See below for a little clip from Friday! </p>
<p>NEXT SHOW!!!! (FULL BAND SHOW) </p>
<p>Star House Fundraiser (rescheduled from January) - The Shrunken Head - Saturday, April 7th </p>
<p>251 W 5th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201 </p>
<p>$5 , doors open at 8 PM </p>
<p>LIVE MUSIC FROM: </p>
<p>Benjamin Marshall <br>Shiloh Hawkins <br>Sonny B Gould <br>Silvis <br>Backyard Sticks </p>
<p>ALL PROCEEDS GOING TOWARDS STAR HOUSE! <br>- Fundraiser show for drop-in shelter, Star House, assisting the needs of homeless youth - ages 14 - 24 - </p>
<p>Also, be sure to Pre-Order the NEW Album on "PledgeMusic" . Anticipated release date of Summer/Fall 2018! </p>
<p>Check out the site to see a wide variety of options to help support the album production process including: custom made songs, private performances, your name in the album credits, VIP studio access....and more!. The campaign is under 30 days, so be sure to act soon if you are able to help! It'll be open until April 9th! </p>
<p>www.pledgemusic.com/projects/benjaminmarshallalbum. </p>
<p>That's all I have for now. Take care! </p>
<p>As always, send me some love. Check in with me and let me know what's new with you. </p>
<p>PS: OH YEAH! I want a new unique, instrument...that isn't TOO expensive. E-mail me with your thoughts! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/51404452018-03-10T18:20:00-05:002023-12-10T12:17:39-05:00The Joys of Technology<p>The reason for the title of this update? Technology.... </p>
<p>I tried to send an e-mail from a month ago a bunch of times but... apparently, it was not in the cards to be sent. Shame on you technology. The DIY mentality is awesome...but also awesomely difficult at times. I'm persevering and still going to write about this experience...even though it was a month ago. </p>
<p>Last MONTH, I was in the WONDERFUL city of Kansas City. And I must say, from day one, it was an easy transition. Not bad traffic and it seemed to have similar vibes to Columbus (at least from what I saw). Most importantly, SO MANY of the people I encountered were awesome/friendly...well, with exception of a intoxicated individual who apparently had a distaste for the city of Columbus...but that's a different story. </p>
<p>The reason I was in KC was because of the Folk Alliance International Conference, which is held annually around this time of the year. I found out about this wonderful event a few months ago from a friend and decided to go...rather impulsively....since I was approved as a volunteer. Normally, it's $500, so volunteering for about twenty hours seemed like a good route to go since it was "free" for volunteers. </p>
<p>The conference started on Wednesday and ended on Sunday. It was almost overwhelming with the amount of talent in the building - including over 800 performances throughout the five day conference. Some of the artists seen include John Oates (from Hall & Oates), Mary Gauthier (singer-songwriter), Joe Purdy (singer-songwriter), Neyla Pekarek (cello player from Lumineers - now having her own solo project), Anais Mitchell (singer-songwriter), and a TON of new artists I had never heard before. I realized I have a lot of homework to do...:-) </p>
<p>Needless to say, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle being a newbie. There were a ton of opportunities to do showcases, especially private showcases, which are essentially hotel rooms converted into miniature house concerts. Since I was delayed in registering, I was unable to snag a showcase slot this year, but I'm definitely planning on doing it next year! The conference will be in Montreal in 2019, so it looks like I'll need to get my passport in order to get to the next one. ;-) I'll FINALLY be heading out of the country! </p>
<p>Anyways, I'll leave you with a few updates. </p>
<p>1. The Angry Baker - Friday, March 16th </p>
<p>247 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201 </p>
<p>- Live Music at the Angry Baker - including myself, October Ember, and Mark Zonakis! Get there by 7 pm!! $5 admission </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/2049541988659257 </p>
<p>2. Star House Fundraiser (rescheduled from January) - The Shrunken Head - Saturday, April 7th </p>
<p>251 W 5th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201 </p>
<p>$5 , doors open at 8 PM </p>
<p>LIVE MUSIC FROM: </p>
<p>Benjamin Marshall <br>Shiloh Hawkins <br>Sonny B Gould <br>Silvis <br>Backyard Sticks </p>
<p>ALL PROCEEDS GOING TOWARDS STAR HOUSE! <br>- Fundraiser show for drop-in shelter, Star House, assisting the needs of homeless youth - ages 14 - 24 - </p>
<p>3. Consider helping support me in my "PledgeMusic" campaign. It's a fun little journey I'm pursuing in order to help make this SECOND album a reality. Without YOUR help, none of this is possible. The campaign is under 30 days, so be sure to act soon if you are able to help! It'll be open until April 9th! </p>
<p>Check out the website below to see a wide variety of perks to supporting the campaign - including pre-ordering the album, signed handwritten lyric sheets, custom made songs, private performances, your name in the album credits, VIP studio access...AND MORE! </p>
<p>Heck - if there's something you don't see on there and you'd LIKE to see it - let me know and I'll make it happen! </p>
<p>www.pledgemusic.com/projects/benjaminmarshallalbum. </p>
<p>That's all I have for now. Take care! </p>
<p>As always, please respond to the e-mail to let me know how you are doing. I ALWAYS love to hear from you! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/51404442018-03-03T18:20:00-05:002024-03-05T22:43:20-05:00March Madness<p>Are we almost at March Madness? It's always one of my favorite times of the year...especially now that MTSU (my college alma mater) has been doing well over the last few years! I love the excitement of rooting for the underdog! </p>
<p>Last night, I had the pleasure of doing a few solo sets at the Tree Bar in between bands last night. I didn't advertise this much...since, it was only a solo set... but it was fun! I had even more fun being the guy that completely killed the energy/mood between sets. Many of the bands were in the "punk" genre, which was always a favorite of mine growing up. But, with an acoustic guitar and my vocals, accomplishing the rawness, loudness and angst of punk....it's tough to do. So, I didn't try to be something I wasn't. I was the acoustic guy! </p>
<p>Austin, from the Kozmics, invited me to come out to the show. It was their single release show! Be sure to check it out on Spotify, iTunes or Bandcamp! </p>
<p>https://thekozmics.bandcamp.com </p>
<p>Few updates! </p>
<p>1. I've currently raised over $140 on my PledgeMusic campaign, which is great! The goal of this campaign is to obtain $2,500 throughout the campaign to help fund recording, mixing, mastering, marketing and distribution of a 9-song album and will be open until April 9th! I know it seems ambitious, but please do know that any costs that are not used for album purposes WILL be donated to the Star House! </p>
<p>2. Upcoming Show Alert: </p>
<p>Friday, March 16th - Live Music at the Angry Baker - including myself, October Ember, and Mark Zonakis! Music starts at 7:30 PM! $5 admission </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/2049541988659257 </p>
<p>That's all I have for now. If you're in Columbus, enjoy the Arnold Classic. I'll be doing my best to avoid all this traffic...:-(. Might snag a box of protein powder that'll I forget to use over the period of the next three years. ;-) </p>
<p>Like always, let me know how you're doing! I have a niece's FIRST birthday to celebrate! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin Marshall</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/50729302018-02-09T15:30:00-05:002024-03-05T22:34:20-05:00Ready for it?<p>Boy...Time flies!. </p>
<p>About two years ago, I started the journey of figuring out how to make an "full-length" studio-ish album. I didn’t exactly realize what I was getting myself into…..tracking, mixing, engineering, composing, singing, tuning, screwing up words, mastering, marketing, promoting, laughing, overdubbing, pounding coffee, forgetting to eat, trying out new instruments, finding random musicians, getting off-beat, procrastinating on an album title, forgetting about the importance of artwork, spelling people’s names wrong in the credits…well, you get the point. </p>
<p>I'm READY to do this again. With anticipations of releasing an album by SUMMER of 2018, I'd love to have you involved in this process EVERY step of the way! </p>
<p>Below you'll see a link to my PledgeMusic campaign which allows you to help support my adventure with a wide variety of incentives...anywhere from pre-ordering the new album to your own private performance at YOUR house! </p>
<p>https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/benjaminmarshallalbum </p>
<p>Know that ANY support you bring to the table is greatly appreciated! Please check out the site below for more information. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know! </p>
<p>Finally, PLEASE SHARE THIS with friends/family! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/50729602018-02-03T15:40:00-05:002024-03-05T22:35:09-05:00Oops - I Forgot About You Groundhog<p>Aren't groundhogs so cute? </p>
<p>To be honest, I forget it was their special day yesterday. Someone has to let me know if Mr. Groundhog saw his shadow or not...I myself have been a bit of a groundhog lately. </p>
<p>I'm excited to tell you that I've got some AWESOME NEWS - The Star House fundraiser show has been rescheduled! MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDARS....You ready for it? </p>
<p>It's going to be on Saturday, April 7th 2018 - still at the ol' Shrunken Head and same bands - Benjamin & Friends, Silvis, Sonny B. Gould, Backyard Sticks, and Shiloh Hawkins. Please click HERE for the Facebook event or copy the url below: </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/369347830187113/ </p>
<p>Here are ALL the upcoming shows below: (click link for more details) </p>
<p>February 22nd - The Rambling House - HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL (6 - 8 PM) </p>
<p>March 2nd - The Tree Bar w/The Kozmics - 8 PM </p>
<p>March 16th - Angry Baker w/October Ember and Mark Zonakis - 7 PM </p>
<p>April 7th - Star House Fundraiser Show @ Shrunken Head - 8 PM </p>
<p>April 8th - The Crest - HAPPY HOUR - 4 PM </p>
<p>UPDATE: I'll still be writing "new" songs for every Tuesday via Facebook Live but will only be doing this on a bi-weekly basis. I will still be playing via Facebook Live EVERY Tuesday at 7 PM, so be sure to check it out! I'll be posting occasional updates to my Facebook page - asking for requests! </p>
<p>Also, I know I'm lingering a little bit...but continue to be on the lookout for a big announcement! It's going to be awesome...but unfortunately, you're going to have to be on alert for right now! </p>
<p>Last but not least, please let me know how you are doing. All you have to do is simply reply to the e-mail and I'll get it. You know I love to hear from you. </p>
<p>Thanks again everyone! </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/50729612018-01-27T15:40:00-05:002024-03-05T22:36:02-05:00Miss Me Yet?<p>Ahoy there, </p>
<p>I love to change up the greetings in my email...so if there's another creative way of saying "hello", let me know! You might think I'm just writing this waste more space on an e-mail, but I'm absolutely serious. If you have a genius greeting you'd like to share with me, respond to this email now! Saying "Dear" or "Hello is just too boring. </p>
<p>Anyways..how are you doing? Hope life is treating you well. It's been a minute! Or almost two weeks. </p>
<p>The open mics have been going REALLY well. For those of you who don't know, I started hosting an open mic back in November, around Thanksgiving, and have been doing it WEEKLY for a few months now. This past week was one of our best nights thus far. If you're one of my musical friends/supporters, I'd LOVE to see you on a Wednesday at the Grandview Grind. Sign up is at 7:00 PM and it starts at 7:30 PM. The awesome thing about this open mic is that it's an early bird open mic...you don't have to worry about playing at midnight. The latest you'd play would be 9:15! Beautiful, huh? </p>
<p>Also, stay tuned on some upcoming shows! I've got a few lined up over the next few months - including a happy hour at the Rambling House in February, a show at Angry Baker in March, the Tree Bar (with the Kozmics) in March, the Crest in April and the rescheduled Star House Fundraiser show that will be in April. I'd LOVE to see you at ANY or ALL of these shows. Please be sure to stay tuned regarding updates on these performances! </p>
<p>Wanna do a road trip? Come along with me to Kansas City. I'm super stoked because I'll be attending the Folk Alliance International Conference the second week of February. It's gonna be a blast to witness and build relationships with so many "music junkies". It'll be my first attending this event, so we'll see how it goes! Hoping to keep the fire burning inside, which I'm sure won't be a problem when you are surrounded by over a thousand musicians, songwriters, producers, bloggers, etc...!!! </p>
<p>FINALLY, most importantly, PLEASE STAY TUNED TO MY EMAILS! I've got some awesome news that I'd love to share with you...but I wanna keep on the "hush hush" for right now. I can't say exactly when, where or how I'll reveal it to you...but you will know. (Am I being vague enough?) </p>
<p>As always, you know you receive this email because I care about you. I want to know what's going on with your life, so please feel free to shoot a response! </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all that you do! Have a great evening! </p>
<p>Sincerely, </p>
<p>Benjamin Marshall</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/50243742018-01-15T12:09:09-05:002018-01-15T12:09:09-05:00Let it Snow!!<p>Aloha!</p>
<p>It's Benjamin here - checking in! Hope you all are finding a way to stay warm....but at the same time, finding a way to enjoy all of this snow! I REALLY WANNA GO SLEDDING...!</p>
<p>Some of you may have known, the show from this past Friday (three days ago) ended having to be cancelled...due to the weather conditions. I literally pushed cancelling the show until the last minute (basically when the doors opened). I'm starting to realize that stubbornness is part of my personality...haha. By the time 8 PM struck, when doors were supposed to "open", I had to make an executive decision. The snow was pretty intense by that point, and it wasn't worth trying to risk your safety. I decided to cancel..:-(</p>
<p><strong>I HATE CANCELLING!</strong> It's my least favorite thing to do in life. But, under these circumstances, it was probably the best option.. SORRY TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ACTUALLY DID MAKE THE EFFORT TO DRIVE! You are amazing! I want to make it up to you somehow.:-) The silver lining of it all is that we <strong>WILL reschedule this </strong>(Same bands, and same cause: the Star House). Please stay tuned for the rescheduled show date! Right now, it's looking like it'll be April 13th. </p>
<p>The other good news is that I'll be playing a short set this <u><strong>Friday at The Shrunken Head (around 7:40 PM)</strong></u>. It's a new music festival called "Columbus Covers Columbus". I'll be playing around 15 minutes, covering some different groups including: House of Heroes, The Cordial Sins, Silvis and October Ember.</p>
<p><strong>Check out the Spotify playlist:</strong></p>
<p>https://open.spotify.com/user/posingmusician/playlist/1iDlqLTcP7tuy4gWr5WIAB</p>
<p><strong>Facebook event:</strong></p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/184637688753727/</p>
<p>Also, please stay tuned over the next weeks upcoming announcement! ....drum roll.....<wait for it!></p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Peace and love,,</p>
<p>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/50103572018-01-06T11:52:48-05:002022-03-16T07:41:03-04:00New Year, New Legacy!<p><span class="font_regular">Are you motivated yet? Maybe IF I TYPE IN ALL CAPS? DOES THAT HELP? <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">HOW ABOUT ALL CAPS IN BOLD AND RED</span>?</strong> Okay...I guess text can only do some much. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">It's one of my favorite times of the year because I start seeing the motivation in people to make changes in their lives....whether it's skills that are trying to be improved upon, habits that are trying to be cut out/reduced, or relationships you're trying to rebuild or restore. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Do me a favor. Tell me what you're goal is for this year. It doesn't have to be much, but I do think it's important! Without goals, it's tough to have direction in life and even tougher to prioritize. It helps find out what's important in our life! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>Few updates on my end: </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><em><strong>1. I have been blessed to have been selected for a local Spotify playlist created by Promowest Live.</strong></em> Please check it out and share. My song "Our Own Key" was selected on this playlist - but be sure to check out al the amazing talent we have in this city. I truly believe that Columbus has a local music scene that is only going to continue to grow! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">https://open.spotify.com/user/promowestlive/playlist/5zxUf1C07ncDYQKX1nfcyG </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">2. <strong>BIG SHOW THIS Friday (January 12th) at the Shrunken Head</strong> - I'm sure you've seen it in my previous e-mails. Please DO COME OUT! $5, door open at 8 PM </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> - All proceeds will be going towards the Star House, an organization helping homeless youth in our city. They do a lot of awesome things! More details below on the Facebook Page: </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">https://www.facebook.com/events/369347830187113/391104981344731/ </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">That's all for this week! Again, if you don't want to receive this e-mails - let me know! But, if you do, share me some love and tell me how you are doing. Thanks in advance! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Peace, love and blessings! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Benjamin</span></p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/49991862017-12-29T17:00:07-05:002021-04-22T05:37:26-04:002018? Are We Here, Yet?<p>So, here we are. 2018 is about to arrive...... </p>
<p>Most of the time, I'd be saying that this year went fast...but this year has been a special one. When I say "special", it's "special" in the fact that with all that has gone on - globally, nationally and locally - it seems like we should be entering year 2025 at least. (Reply with an amen if you agree!) Needless to say, It's been a LONG year. </p>
<p>But, I'm optimistic for this new year. Sure, I say that about every year - but, why not? You can give me all the reasons in the world, but life is simply too short to live WITHOUT hope. We need to have a reason to get up in the morning....and often times hope is the very thing that gets us through the year, one morning, one cup of coffee at a time (coffee definitely helps me..). </p>
<p>Anyways, I hope you all have had a great holiday and even more so, start off this new year with a boom! A few updates from me: </p>
<p>1. Be sure to come out to the show Friday, January 12th at The Shrunken Head: <br>- $5 , doors open at 8 PM <br>- LIVE MUSIC FROM: <br>Benjamin & Friends - Shiloh Hawkins - Sonny B Gould - Silvis - Backyard Sticks </p>
<p>ALL PROCEEDS GOING TOWARDS STAR HOUSE! Visit the Facebook event below for more details. </p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/369347830187113/ </p>
<p>2. I'll be back performing some more music on Facebook Live this Tuesday <br>Be sure to tune in around 7 PM! </p>
<p>3. I'll be hosting open mic again at Grandview Grind - this Wednesday. <br>If you're interested in playing, performing or listening, it starts at 7:30 PM (sign up is at 7 PM) </p>
<p>AND.......finally! </p>
<p>If you've made it to the end of the e-mail - I posted a new song! Be sure to check it out below on Soundcloud. If you'd like to know what the song is about...I'll e-mail you privately. :-) </p>
<p>https://soundcloud.com/benjamin-marshall-music/brother </p>
<p>Thanks again everyone for your love and support. As always, I love hearing about your life - good or bad, so feel free to e-mail me with what's going on in your life! </p>
<p>Peace and love, <br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/49942152017-12-20T16:35:00-05:002017-12-26T15:31:32-05:00# Merry Christmas<p>Why, hello! </p>
<p>It's Benjamin here - hope you are DOING fantastic. Just wanted to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS! And...as a Christmas gift...I now have a Twitter for my music (only 10 years late right?). Follow Me! - https://twitter.com/BenjaminMusicOH </p>
<p>Hard to believe we are only three days away from this beautiful day. I'll be playing in TWO worship services on Christmas Eve - one over at Lane Ave (Vineyard) at 10 AM and New Albany UMC at 5 PM. It'll be a busy but fun day! Hope to catch some of you there. </p>
<p>This time of the year is a joyful time of the year but also can be a very challenging time as well. To those of you who are experiencing the challenges, whether it's depression, anxiety, heartache, loneliness, isolation, you are LOVED and NOT ALONE. I know these words might seem like they lose meaning overtime...believe me, I know. It's something that I have to remind myself everyday. But, it's absolutely true. </p>
<p>Even though we don't know magnitude of God's love, He loves us more than we could ever fathom or understand. And I pray that for everyone, that we can experience it this Christmas. </p>
<p>One quick announcement - next full band show will be January 12th over at The Shrunken Head. Doors open around 8 PM and will have FIVE musical acts! Would LOVE to see you all there. It's a benefit show/clothing drive for the Star House - which will benefit homeless youth. Check out their website for more info on the organization - they are AWESOME! </p>
<p>http://starhousecolumbus.org </p>
<p>Thanks for reading. If you would like to stop receiving e-mails, don't hesitate to let me know. There are a few of you who I have added since I consider you a close friend! So, if you're curious - that's why! </p>
<p>Finally, don't hesitate to respond to this e-mail with how YOU are doing and if you have any prayer requests. </p>
<p>Peace and love, </p>
<p>Ben</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/49750142017-12-13T08:20:20-05:002024-03-05T22:39:55-05:00Happy Wednesday<p>Good morning!</p>
<p>Hope this Wednesday morning is treating you well. It's been a great start for me - attempting to spend time with God, which lately I've been neglecting more than I'd like to admit! I started off by listening to a sermon this morning by Francis Chan. Throughout the sermon, he stressed one thing that many of the churches of this day tend to miss...and it's a REALLY important aspect of following Jesus...<strong>spending time with God.</strong>...And, I tend to agree with what he says. There are many beautiful aspects of Christian fellowship and community, but often missed is the time that we spend with God - the simple (but often made difficult) notion of consistently coming to HIm, having an ongoing interaction through a relationship that is between YOU and God.</p>
<p>Anyways, if you are interested - feel free to check it out below! If I'm just blowing mist into the air, no problem - feel free to read below for music updates:</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-gd2fs1YGU</p>
<p><strong>Few updates on my end:</strong></p>
<p><strong>1. Tonight</strong> - I'm hosting my open mic again at the <strong><a contents="Grandview Grind" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/324659724610148/" style="" target="_blank"><em>Grandview Grind</em></a> </strong>- starting at 7:30 PM (Sign up is around 7 PM). Come on out! Would love to see your pretty face!</p>
<p>2. <strong>BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME NEW RECORDINGS IN THE NEW YEAR! </strong>Will probably be starting a website to help with raising some funds to help cover costs in several weeks!</p>
<p>3. Next show is <a contents="January 12th" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/369347830187113/" target="_blank">January 12th</a> at the <a contents="Shrunken Head" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/369347830187113/" target="_blank">Shrunken Head</a> - it'll be a fundraiser/donation drive with LIVE MUSIC FROM: myself, Shiloh Hawkins, Sonny B Gould, Silvis, and Backyard Sticks. $5 admission, <strong>feel free to donate any of the following AT THE SHOW or BEFORE THE SHOW:</strong></p>
<ul> <li>Men’s underwear (preferably boxers and/or boxer briefs - MUST BE NEW) </li> <li>Women’s underwear (MUST BE NEW) </li> <li>Large Towels </li> <li>Washcloths </li> <li>Deodorant (MUST BE NEW) </li> <li>Book bags </li> <li>Headphones/ear buds</li>
</ul>
<p>That's all I have folks! Thanks for your love and support. Have an amazing day! And, again, please let me know how YOU are doing and how I can pray for you.</p>
<p>Sincerely,<br>Benjamin Marshall</p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/49647812017-12-06T08:32:29-05:002021-11-20T06:04:02-05:00Blue Elephant<p>Hey there!</p>
<p>LIfe has been busy! Working full-time while attempting to do the music thing has been a TON of fun but also very exhausting. I think I'm starting to realize the importance of prioritizing...as opposed to trying to do everything all the time. When you multi-task so much, the quality of your product, whatever that product is, starts to suffer...As human beings, we want the best of both worlds, not only to be able to do EVERYTHING, but to also to EVERYTHING with quality. Unfortunately, there's not enough time.</p>
<p>So, that being said.... my eventual goal for myself...AND YOU...is to focus on one thing. And spend time on it! It's okay to slow down and use that time to completely focus in on the task! </p>
<p><u><strong>A few updates on my end!</strong></u></p>
<p>1.<strong> I started hosting an open mic! In fact, it's today! </strong>Sign up is at 6:30 PM and it starts at 7 PM (ends around 9). It's over at the Grandview Grind - check out the link for more details:</p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/324659724610148/</p>
<p>2. <em><strong>I posted my song of the week yesterday! This week's topic..</strong></em>..<strong>BLUE ELEPHANT!</strong> Will eventually start posting the lyrics, so stay tuned for that!</p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/benjaminmarshallmusic/videos/1726126260751665/</p>
<p><strong>3. We've got a full band show THIS FRIDAY at The Tree Bar.</strong> We'll be playing with The Castros, TOWNeS and The Kozmics! Should be a great night! Music starts at 8 PM with $5 admission!</p>
<p>https://www.facebook.com/events/414504218951997/</p>
<p>4. Finally, this is completely different note. Please let me know if there is any way I can pray for you. I love knowing how you all are doing, so please don't be a stranger.</p>
<p>Thanks gang!</p>
<p>Peace and love,<br>Benjamin</p>
<p> </p>Benjamin Marshalltag:benjaminmarshallmusic.com,2005:Post/49485032017-11-25T12:11:25-05:002024-03-05T22:41:12-05:00The Aftermath of Black Friday<p>Hey everyone!</p>
<p>Hope your holidays have been treating you well (and are recovering from Black Friday). Even if you don't celebrate what Thanksgiving stands for, I think we can all agree that the idea of appreciating the company of friends and family is a spectacular thing! At the VERY least, I hope you experienced some relaxation!</p>
<p>Last night, we had a Black Friday show at Tatoheads, which was a lot of fun! It's such a privilege to be playing with talented musicians, such as Cylia Queen and Mark Zonakis. I have a few pictures below in which you can check out! Hopefully, I'll have more to come! </p>
<p><strong><u>This upcoming Tuesda</u>y, </strong>I'll be performing a new Facebook Live song on "Holidays". Be sure to check it out - will be on there around 7 PM on my artist page - facebook.com/benjaminmarshallmusic/</p>
<p><strong><u>THIS Friday</u>,</strong> I'll be at Aerial Wine Boutique with Ms. Caroline Smith, doing some duet action! Be sure to check it out! Music starts around 8 and will last until 10!</p>
<p>5324 Hamilton Rd <br>Columbus, Ohio <br>(614) 933-3383<br>https://www.facebook.com/aerialwineboutique/</p>
<p>I am SO thankful for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU and the impact you have on my life. Even if I forget to tell you that, please be aware, yes - I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU! </p>
<p>Peace and love,<br>Benjamin</p>Benjamin Marshall