traught. I would want them to "Get a job at Publix, with benefits," like my mom hounded me about. I never even applied and have never regretted that choice.


There are the few artists we know that went


out, got a taste of the bright lights and gave it up. The cost was too high, and they felt like they lost their way and diminished their music. Sure, talent and dedication matter, but sometimes “making it” is random. Maybe it’s luck and who you know or being in the right place at the right time. There are a couple of famous bands and sev-


eral famous musicians that came out of our town. We boast eightmembers of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame! Stephen Stills, Don Felder and Bernie Leadon once called our town “home.” We have a whole band who are the remaining


five members. Their music stands up to the test of time. When you’re beloved all over the world and are invited to play with Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynn and George Harrison, you know you’ve “arrived!” If we could ask Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers the prices they paid, I know there would be many. Hopefully they felt the rewards far outweighed the cost. Since Tom played until his tragic and untimely death, we would assume so. But I also know that he felt the pressure of being responsible for the financial liveli- hood of those he employed. That speaks to the caliber of human he was, but that’s a heavy burden. And what about the Heartbreakers? Are they ok with their ride, although Tom got more of the limelight? Another local band became famous decades


ago, but are by no means the best our town had to offer. They appealed to the machine and off they went. They’re back now. I wonder how they feel. Most of the musicians we know won't make it


"big." Sadly, there isn't really a "big" for them to make anymore, unless you count standing in line to try out for a big-business TV show. I don’t. We're working really hard to change that un-


fair market, but for now it's tough to watch them put every last drop of their souls into that dream, knowing they will either end up like the older musicians still pounding that pavement or will have to succumb to the proverbial 9-5. The idea of them having to give up their dreams and trying to fit into some other boxes makes me really sad. What about the few that will "make it?!" Will it


be what they wanted, envisioned, and will it fulfill their desires? Or will it crush them and make them lose their creativity and dreams? Since starting ElectraLand Radio, we have


seen some of the seedy side of entertainment. There have been those with ulterior motives and agendas.


We've run into foes who pretended to be friends. It's a really sad reality. I was naive. I thought people would understand our pure intentions and our desire to ele- vate everyone along with ourselves. I wasn't prepared for petty and ugly adults to behave like spoiled chil- dren having a tantrum. We've also had to make decisions based on


what was best for the "business," not necessarily what was best for us. My lifelong pursuit of being able to tell anyone who crossed me to go straight to hell, with my help, has often taken a backseat. This is another painful lesson I faced in parenting. My desire for my children not to suffer the effects of my wrath out- weighed my urge to inflict that wrath, but that was NOT something I learned overnight! There were plenty of screwups and consequential fallout. Now my desire for the success of our service to our musicians, listeners and ourselves is often the greater motivator. But, oh, how I often long to return to my freer self. Sometimes I do… I wish I had a "Health Coach" answer to all of


these problems. I'm just one of the travelers attempt- ing to navigate this road. If you have answers, please enlighten us. What I DO know is that each of us must define our own boundaries, when and if to cross them and to what end. Knowing if we can live with our- selves afterward is probably not something we can al- ways surmise before the fact. Dealing with it when we've gone too far and feel we've sold ourselves out is yet another mountain to climb. 1My wish is that we all find our own personal Meccas, with very little, if any, damage to our psyches. Until then, let's all go forth and rock the shit out of the world we hope to navigate and/or create! •


Electra (The Rock-n-Roll Health Chick) is an Integra- tive Health Journalist, Con- sultant and Coach, specializing in the health of musicians. She is the CEO of ElectraLand Radio and Direc- tor and Host of “Rockin’ Your Health,” which is heard on FM radio, is streaming on www.ElectraLandRadio.net and is archived at


www.RockinYourHealth.net. You can also find her on Face book and Instagram.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60