I HUSTLED FROM DAY ONE
This is a picture of me and my son Harrison when I first came to Brisbane. My family and I were living in an AirBnB in Albion and being new to the area we had not yet found any places of employment. I remember how anxious I was to get out and perform again. As I looked out at the tall buildings of the Central Business District from the balcony I remembered feeling butterflies in my stomach not knowing if I would succeed. I asked my wife how to get to the live venues and packed my backpack and guitar up armed with business cards and went down to the direction of the Fortitude Valley.
It took me at least 45 minutes to get there walking. Not knowing where to start I just walked into what felt like every building that had a sign board advertising food and drinks. After an hour I remember sitting down on a bench in the city watching the people walk by in the shade of the buildings listening to Vance Joy's song "Georgia". (I also wrote a poem that day but for some reason I deleted it.)
I remember walking past one venue on the way to McDonalds. After walking around the city for about two hours, my guitar felt heavy and my feet hurt so I decided to get something to eat but something told me to turn around and give it once last shot. Inside I was greeted by a very kind lady who smiled and took my business card. She then informed me that the manager had just put out a request on Facebook looking for soloist to promote Friday nights.
In an instant my spirits had been lifted and after a snack I hauled my gear up and started on the prowl again looking for some more live venues. I stumbled upon a bar that looked half empty but once I got inside I was again greeted with smiles from a very cheerful bartender at a place called The Elephant Hotel who told me he would definitely check my stuff out. I walked back to Albion from The Fortitude Valley feeling tired but satisfied that I did all I could to try to help out. That very week I got my first gig at the Nest Bar, Hotel Jen, on Roma Street.
I now play full time in and around the CDB and with the help of St. John Entertainment (a company that finds acts for live venues) I've been able to travel to the Sunshine and Gold Coast doing what I love. As I reflect on the past two years I would like to thank everyone who has supported me from day 1 until now. My wife (for making sure I don't get lost, filing my taxes correctly, making sure I didn't lose everything and spending so much money on buying me gear so I could start playing music again), my son for inspiring me to appreciate the beauty of life, my in-laws for housing me and taking care of us when I first moved from Barbados to Australia, my team at Odyssey Entertainment who constantly keep me in check since I started performing live nearly eight years ago, and my mom (for helping me rise above my shyness and sending me to piano lessons and buying me my first guitar). Thank you to all the fans who have liked the page and continue to encourage me.
I want to implore all of you to go out and make stuff happen for this year. Forget all the negative people in your life and try to make a living doing the thing that you love. Turn that side hustle into your main squeeze. I believe in you. I hope this story inspires you! Have a great 2018 - Love Millzman
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