Dragging my feet...why!!

Okay, in a little over an hour and a half I have to leave for a birthday party gig that's just down the street...but I'm dragging my feet. I know that by nature, I'm a procrastinator, but I'm getting sick of myself. Does anyone else find that they drag before going to a gig? It's not an unpleasant gig, I just am not motivated to get all giddy about it. What does that mean?

Giddy about a gig? Sometimes I'm a little nervous if I am driving to someplace I've never been that's a few hours away. But can't say I've ever been giddy (I have visions of Alastair Sim skipping around the room in his night gown with that word!!!)

I have mornings where getting ready isn't really all interesting... can't come up with anything to paint on myself, forget to brush my teeth BEFORE I start to paint myself - then I have to brush very carefully so as not to mess up my mouth! Just feel blah about the whole thing... perfectly normal.

It is a job... one we love, but, the process of getting ready and getting there is completely different from the PAINTING part!!!

Haha, I don't always want to GO to a job - once I'm there I'm fine! I also find that the closer the party is to my house, the more I procrastinate leaving - maybe I think it's closer than it actually is? Or I don't want to be too early? Then I forget about traffic...haven't been late, but I've cut it close to my set-up time before.

And I don't usually "get giddy" until I'm ringing the doorbell

Hmmm, have you lost that lovin feeling? Wooooh that lovin feeling? How long ago was our little Jeanette being afraid to start painting pro because she wasn't "ready" enough? 6-9 months ago?

Okay... if you want the psycho-babble I can lay it out for you. It's called Opponent Process Theory. Anything that causes excitement (jumping out of planes, falling in love, riding a rollercoaster, the thrill of painting, even getting high) causes our bodies to go out of homeostasis. The excitement part is what we like. But the body doesn't like prolonged stress, so begins to produce the metabolites to counter-act the stress. So, after a while, the thrill diminishes or it takes something bigger to get the same kick out of it.

So, when it comes to love, or painting, once the excitement of being new wears off, it's important to like each other or the relationship doesn't last. So, getting ready for a gig doesn't curl your toes anymore. Neither does getting a phonecall from my husband (hasn't that man figured out I hate talking on the phone???). But if you really enjoy it... you don't need the thrill to sustain it.

My college degree has a use!!!!! First time in ages!

Wow Jennifer,
I had no idea that my sluggish 'tude had a real name! I feel so validated!

Yeah...it's been a long 6-9 months. I still pretty much feel that I don't know what the *bleep* I'm doing but I take a daily "get over yourself pill".

The party went great. The party went over by an hour because the guest list doubled from the time she confirmed earlier this week until today. BUT, she kept coming over to tell me that I was doing a wonderful job and that she didn't care how long I had to stay to get through the kids (who seemed to multiply) she pay. And she did, so whoo hoo! Another great gig!

I sometimes get asked to do parties far, farrrr, AWAY (shrek II) and If I dont feel like doing it, I set a price that I think if accepted is well worth it and THAT makes me . I also try to pump myself up by setting some challenges, like if there is gonna be 30+ kids at a 2 hour party, can I finish before time's up? Once, I left my binder of pics on purpose to see if I can I could paint by heart, and I did it! So now, I just go without it and ask what they wanna be and do it. If it's something I've never done, thats even more exciting or at least it makes my adrenaline pump b/c I dont know what the end results gonna be. Then I tell the kid, "Do you like it? Your my first model EVER to have gotten that design!" and then they usually gush and get excited as well. And if all else fails, just remember: You will most likely make more money in 2 hours (or one depending on ur price vs 9-5 hourly rate) then you would have in 8 at your "day" job I know that gives me a BIG grin when I see that $$ at the end of a long day

I'm so glad to see that you do carry a binder around for reference. Before I started reading more of the forum, I was thinking "OMG, I'm never going to remember how to do everything. How do they remember all the details?" But......I know from the few parties and afternoon picnis I have done that once I get going, things just start to flow. I guess it is more of a confidence/build more experience thing. Make sense?

Lady Jayde,
Don 't feel like the Lone Ranger either.
<~~~I'm the same way!

Oh, Janette.... Linda is your Tonto... she completes you...

It is 6 AM here and I need to dress for a professional meeting. I would SO rather be going to a gig somewhere, or staying home and playing with my paints/designs. I am sluggish and unhappy if I don't get to paint for a while. The forum helps me deal with my painting-Jones by giving me me a boost vicariously through you guys. Even hearing the down side of what we do is often better than the up side of other stuff we do.

ROFL Jenn!
<~~~~I could be a side kick!

I'm dragging my feet to start homeschool w/ my kids:-)