here's a fancy, funny, and innovative title.

truth or dare?

Tonight was a game of truth or dare for me. Yup, at 3 AM I unwillingly experienced one of those nights (and lately, there have been many) where you cannot sleep obsessing over a simple fact. A fact that I have longed for for so many years, yet now that it is beginning to creep up on me, it is starting to irritate my sleeping patterns. It is kind of like an exam you have been cramming for all night, however the midterm I am going to take in less than 12 hours is not what is keeping me awake. To prepare for this type of test, here are the truths I am going to admit:

TRUTH #1) I am graduating from college in 64 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes, and 10 seconds… well thats when the ceremony begins at least.

TRUTH #2) I have a plan for life post-college, but nothing that guarantees me a steady paycheck… at least not for a while.

TRUTH #3) Big cities are thrilling, but just thinking about it is already overwhelming me and I haven’t even moved there yet.

TRUTH #4) I’m not sure I will know how to function without school.

TRUTH #5) I have a very supportive family.

There it is. It is all there- plain and simple. It is slightly awkward to confront my uncertainties about “the future” (dun dun dunnnnn), yet it needed to be said.

Sidenote: I always hated playing “truth or dare” in middle school. I would always take the “safe route” and choose truth, which for 11, 12, 13 year-old girls always seemed to be “Who do you have a crush on?”… thrilling, on-the-edge-of-your-seat question, I know.

But if you think about it, the good thing about this game is that there is a challenge that is presented to you in conjunction with the truth. When someone asks you “Truth or Dare?” you make a choice; either admit something you are embarrassed of or afraid to say aloud (or in this case online), or take a risk as to what type of mission or task the other person confronts you with. Here are the dares in response to the truths:

DARE #1) I get to go forward with my career! I have the chance to put all of my training to use. After years of papers, tests, juries, 8 AM classes, auditions (though that won’t be ending any time soon), and professors, I am almost done. 

DARE #2) Once I get to where I want to be, I can be an example of “Do something you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!” … plus, Ramen noodles are quite tasty… oh and I don’t have to worry about student loans. Thats definitely something to be grateful for.

DARE #3) I’m only young once! Might as well make it exciting in a big city with as many opportunities as I can manage.

DARE #4) I functioned without school every summer for the past 16 years! Growing up means changing your environment, your daily routine, and that’s just the way it is.

5) Yup, I do. (there’s no dare to this one… except maybe to appreciate them more often I suppose)

So I’ve come to a conclusion: Life after college = … (the dots mean “uncertainty” if you didn’t catch on) But it’s all about taking that so called “leap of faith” or what have you! It’s the same leap of faith that got me through rounds of chemotherapy when I was 17, that pushed me to go to school 12 hours away from home, and now its what will help me find a new life outside of the comforts of parents or a classroom.

Call this what you want- maybe I’m just whining, venting, or maybe I’m trying to think more optimistically about the whole thing…

In reality though, it’s just a simple game of “Truth or Dare?”
(Cue: drums.) BA DUN CHH. 

this is why I never keep up with diaries…

It has almost been a month since I last wrote on my blog! The main reason is because things have seriously calmed down in my life… kinda. Don’t get me wrong, ALOT of exciting stuff has happened, but I am now fully back into the college routine. yay.

Before I talk about what all has gone on since I last wrote on here, I just have to say one thing. There is something SO serene about staying up all night like I am having to do tonight… knowing that everyone else is sleeping and there is very little going on in the world at this moment while I am sitting in a hall way babysitting my dorm (ill get to that later) oddly enough puts me in a very peaceful mood. Although I do love sleeping, I also love the occasional all-nighters. No one is there to distract you. All that you have is yourself and whatever you want to accomplish that your busy schedule wouldn’t let you do during the day… it’s very productive! 

That said, I am looking quite hobo right now. I am indeed sitting (rather, lounging) in the hallway of my dorm literally babysitting it to make sure it does not fall apart. Okay, maybe a little dramatic, but the way its been reacting towards this freezing cold weather Oklahoma has been hit with recently would make you believe otherwise. Yup! Another pipe burst last week… awesome. This is not the job I signed up for, BUT I will grin and bear it since it is letting me live here free of charge! just one more semester… on the plus side I am getting paid 10 dollars/hr!

Besides my new babysitting job, school has been, well… school. Classes this semester are interesting. My only honors class I have taken in college is also probably my easiest class as well. Our topics include the following: alien abductions, big foot, and abstract theories. I wish I was kidding… not to mention this professor is the DEFINITION of monotone. 

Exciting things have happened though that don’t include school! I was cast as the LEAD at my school for the mainstage musical production of “The Wedding Singer”! I get to play Drew Barrymore’s character for those of you who have seen the movie and I CANNOT wait to start! In addition, I have been working ALOT with the local record label that I mentioned in my last post. “LandRun Records” have been SO wonderful! They have given me so many amazing opportunities to perform and just gain experience in so many different areas! I even got to travel to a small town outside of Tulsa called Talehquah, OK and drove on their very own tour bus!! Btw, if you ever get to ride on one, the bunks on those things are the most comfortable beds in the world! 

I’ve gotten to know both of their signed artists really well who were all the exact opposite of what I expected them to act like! Seriously, the most dedicated, down to earth, welcoming people EVER. www.kyliemorgan.com and www.nicnosband.com <— go check them out!

It’s been pretty tough trying to juggle performing on the weekends with the label, focusing on classes, being an RA in this dorm, and everything else that has been going on… but its all good. I’m happy :) Really, really happy. 2011 has been so wonderful to me so far! So far i’ve gotten to interview and perform on national tv, perform at my first NBA game, sing my own songs that i wrote in front of a crowd, met wonderful people with MAJOR connections, AND was cast in a mainstage musical… I’m ready for more of what wonderful opportunities this year has in store! (knock on wood…) 

That’s about it!

Oh yea, and me and my favorite person in the world/my other half/twin/sister/Amanda Lee are going to spend an entire week in South Padre, TX in 5 weeks. 

Can.

Not.

Wait!

xo bd

ps. you can check out my national anthem performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKquNmQKvmQ

Weekends are for staying in bed… all day.

Okay, so I havent stayed in bed all day, but I am from now until church tomorrow morning!

This week was… wow. So not only do I have class from 9 AM - 5 PM on Monday & Wednesday and work all day on Tuesday and Thursday, but I also met with a local record label AND I have my Junior Recital in the next week that is required as a part of my major! Gezz. oh yea, and I sang the national anthem for an NBA game!

I am so excited though! Monday I met with the record label and they are really excited about working with me! Nothing is being signed, but I WILL be opening up for two of their signed artists at the Oklahoma Rodeo Opry later this month! I get to sing two cover songs and an ORIGINAL!!!!! :D! I had my first band practice with 5 awesome talented guys last night and I also did a photoshoot with the band earlier that day!

Tuesday morning, I did an interview with 101.9 FM The Twister for promo for the Thunder game on Thursday. But, then tuesday night… insane. So as I was doing a photoshoot for www.ionokmag.com that will be up later this week, one of my sorority sisters ran up and told me that my dorm (the one I work for as an RA) FLOODED! Literally 30,000 gallons of water was running down the sides of the walls on the opposite side of where my room is (thank GOD). It was COMPLETE MADNESS! The only good thing is that I clocked in like 25 hours this week… Dang.

Thursday night, I sang for the OKC Thunder vs. Orlando Magic game and got to spend the ENTIRE night acting like an idiot, dancing like crazy with one of my best friends, Amanda Lee. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! Amanda and I are officially going to South Padre for my last Spring Break as a college student and if any of our 5 days in Padre are like Thursday night at the NBA game, this spring break will be the most epic spring break of my LIFE (did I mention, we have a jacuzzi IN THE BEDROOM OF OUR HOTEL!?) There was like 16,000 people there at the NBA game cuz it was televised on TNT. I would not let myself come to terms with that fact until AFTER i sang… scary.

That morning, I also got a call from a producer in LA. literally, I answered the phone and he was like “Hi my name is Trevor! I am a producer in LA and am working on a reality TV show with CMT!”.. I am sending in a video with a cover song and an original, but I doubt I will do it. My first reason is because I am so focused on FINALLY finishing this degree in December that it would suck having to wait ANOTHER semester. Second, I would rather be seen as a person who actually worked hard to “make it” on the radio and “make it” by scoring a record deal and not through being on a reality tv show. 

We’ll see though!

These next two semesters are going to be CRAZY. Not only am I scrambling to finish my degree in December, but I am also trying to work a 20 hour/week job AND work with this local record label. It will all be worth it, though. I know it. 

In addition to the MILLION things that went on this week, I also gave my first guitar lesson this morning. IT WENT GREAT! She is a 9 year old girl named Taylor who also happens to love Taylor Swift. So I taught her some chords and introduced her to my favorite instrument :)

I have never been so focused in my LIFE! But I know that it will work out for the best. This week has been INSANELY busy and it won’t be slowing down anytime soon, but I would rather be busy doing things that I love then being lazy doing nothing… except for today. Saturday - I declare you LAZY DAY! Complete with a Facial :)

Sex and the City is on right now… I will be living my crazy, fun love life through Carrie Bradshaw for the next 30 minutes.

xo bd

www.brittanygdavis.com

New semester, new plans…

Oh 3 A.M… You annoying little &*(3!)*&*)@#!

Its the first day of classes back at OCU- good times? Well, if I simply focus on the fact that its my second to last first day of school ever, then i’m happy. Otherwise all I want to do is hop in my car and drive back to Nashville. Its funny how easily I fell in love there- the way the music from the bars and local hotels filled the streets of Broadway (ironic?), the comfort I felt driving down music row, the friendliness of the staff at CMT, EVERYTHING! I know for a FACT it is where I am supposed to be. Its not as crazy and hectic as New York (which I don’t think I would ever truly want to live around/in for a long period of time), but its just enough craziness. :) I smile just thinking about it.

But, enough daydreaming- I am in Oklahoma City until December 17, 2011. From now until then I will be pushing myself beyond what I think I can do. I already have given myself a TON of opportunities here in OKC- from singing the national anthem at a Thunder game that will be airing on TNT to a meeting with a local record label (which is today- exactly a week after my meeting with Sony). Like I said, its all about networking and taking advantage of the opportunities no matter where you are in life. 

I am hoping that from this meeting I can gain even MORE contacts (I already have a 4 page word document ranging from the publicist I met through the contest for CMT to the VICE PRESIDENT OF CMT!) & hopefully they can help me put together a more solid demo CD of the songs I already have written which I can either sell online to gain interest or have when I am ready to fully tackle Nashville! 

Its weird that my life has changed so much in the past 3 months. October- picked up my friends guitar, November- taught myself chords & wrote a song every other day, December- Won a contest, interviewed by radio stations, newspapers, etc. January- meeting with Major Record Label, interviewed and performed on CMT’s Top 20 Countdown. But I loved every. single. minute. 

We will see what happens from here! I am trying to keep the momentum going- Jim Catino (who is the VP of A&R at Sony) gave me the best advice in our meeting… he said “You are the CEO and Manager of your own company. If you want something in life, people are going to say no. Its the people who are successful who don’t listen to that answer.” 

Okay, so maybe he didnt say that verbatim, but it was close! 

xo bd
www.brittanygdavis.com 

Day 3: CMT Top 20 Countdown & Starstruck.

Last night in Nashville- sad day. Woke up this morning around 7:15- showered and then two ladies came into my hotel room with this big old toolbox filled with MAKEUP. 

score!

It was so cool- I can’t believe people who are successful in the music industry have people like this around them everyday. It was a nice one time thing though!

After figuring out what would look best on camera (cowboy boots- too cliche?), I got in the car- JASON!- and we drove over to the CMT Top 20 Countdown set.

It. was. awesome!

Jamie, who works at CMT in New York, showed me around! We went on all of the floors and went through the offices and everything! Then we finally showed up at the Top 20 set where I met with Evan (the host of the show- who was such a cool guy!) and even the VICE PRESIDENT OF CMT!!!!!! Then we hung out in the greenroom (FOODDD) while Garrett Hedlund went in and interviewed. 

It was funny how they did it. When it airs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (this weekend!), it will look like I interviewed, then Garrett “surprised” me to congratulate me, and then we watch my performance of the song “Country Strong” and then he sat down to interview- not at all what happened. First, Garrett went in to interview, then I met him and told him that I saw him in the lobby of our hotel and he said “Oh yea! You were on your Macbook, right?” haha good thing I was rocking my sweatpants and no makeup look. After we met, we filmed my interview and THEN I performed at the CMT Top 20 Countdown Studio.

So when I first heard that I was gunna be singing at the CMT 330 Studio, I THOUGHT that meant a sit down, recording studio. THEN they informed me I was actually going to be standing up and performing. This stage has been the stage for Reba, Carrie, COLBIE CALLIET!, Everyone. 

So much fun :) I really felt like I got along with everyone there! Evan (the host of the show) told the VP of CMT I was the “next big thing”! haha and he even gave me his card! People kept telling my parents that I was a natural on stage, but I’ll let YOU be the judge of that becauseeeee

THE PERFORMANCE WILL BE ON CMT.COM AS EARLY AS THURSDAY!!!!!

Gah, Life could not get much cooler. Tomorrow we will be heading back to bama then the next day I go back to OKC.

Just in case you were wondering, I have a couple of things set up for when I get back:

On January 13th, I will be singing the National Anthem at the OKC Thunder vs. Orlando Magic game which airs on TNT. Be sure to watch/come to the game!

THEN on January 29th, I will be doing a showcase at the Oklahoma Rodeo Opry! I’ll be performing 3 original songs I wrote, so be sure to come check that out!

… I really don’t want to leave. I feel so happy though! I met SOOO many people and have gained so many connections. I graduate in 11 months and then I am moving to Nashville. I know that this is what I need to do with my life- I’ve met so many people who are wanting to help me out when I move here so it’s going to be a great life choice… i hope.

Otherwise I’ll go with plan B- CRUISE SHIP :)

Night guys! 

P.S> go on www.cmt.com in the next day or two to see pics with me and Garrett and Evan/watch my performance of “Country Strong”

AND

Watch CMT’s Top 20 Countdown & CMT Insider ALL this weekend starting Friday!

www.brittanygdavis.com

Day 2: Sony Nashville Records & BlueBird Cafe

Its been a longgggggg day.

First, I woke up at around 7:30 AM, took a shower, and then spent 15 minutes changing my mind AGAIN on what outfit I should wear… i’m such a girl.

Then me and the parents headed down to the hotel lobby where I met the film crew of the CMT Top 20 Countdown and my AWESOME tour guide Tom! :) he was so nice.

We hoped in the Escalade (hollaa!) and took a grand tour of Nashville while the camera was in the front seat filming me going “oooo” “ahhh”! hahah i loved it.

After taking a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame & the Grand Ole Opry Hotel (Park Singers, good times), We came back to eat lunch whicccchhhhh… didn’t happen. I was WAYYY to nervous. Had to call like a million people to calm my nerves! If you helped me with my freak out session, thank you :)

Soo we got into the car (Jason was there!! Still soo cute…) and headed over to Sony Nashville Records.

Okay, this is where I feel dumb because I was getting nervous over NOTHING! the guy I met with (Jim Catino) was SOO cool! He had such a laid back personality, which I loved, and was REALLY honest with me. He basically explained this business to me and how everything works between record labels, the artists on them, managers, publicists, attorneys, EVERYTHING! I think we really hit it off and I felt so comfortable talking with him! I gave him my demo and he told me to contact him in a week so we can discuss my songs that I wrote on there… AND he said that once I graduate (which will be in December of 2011) to come back to Nashville and meet with him so he can introduce me to more people on Music Row (aka other songwriters, publishers, managers, etc.) To people wondering, OF COURSE i didn’t leave the meeting with my signnature on any sort of document… it was our first time meeting! I DID however leave the meeting with a new friend who knows alot of great people in the Nashville music scene.

Last stop of the day was the legendary BLUE BIRD cafe!!!!! This is where Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, and MANY other recording artists were discovered. Such an amazing atmosphere.

I signed in at 5:30 and didn’t perform my song until 8:50. PHEW! it closed at 9 PM. Lucky Lucky!

That video is on my YouTube page (www.youtube.com/brittanygaledavis) so go check it out! Sorry, those low notes were not being my friend! hahaha

Goodnight! I’m exhausted. Tomorrow=8 AM hair & makeup in the hotel room, then we head over to the CMT Top 20 Countdown Set to film the interview and record the song “Country Strong”! 

xo bd

P.s. DEFINITELY saw GARRETT HEDLUND from the movie “Country Strong” in the lobby of my hotel today. WOAH! he is a beautiful man! haha and apparently I am gunna meet him tomorrow on set :)

Day 1: cowboy boots & country strong

This trip has already turned out great! We landed in Nashville around 10 and had a chauffeur waiting at the terminal named Jason. Woah… Jason is a beautiful nashville native (born and raised)! I get to drive around with him for the next few days :)!! …pics to come. Lol

The hotel that Sony has us staying at is INCREDIBLE!!! wow. Okay so first, they told us while we were checking in that there is a complimentary Lexus hybrid SUV! What?!? Second, they are a legit green hotel. Not only do the lights automatically turn off unless your room key is in the slot, they have a toilet with separate buttons! That’s right- one and two. Too much information? Sorry… Haha

After lunch in the hotel paid by Sony (they give us $125/day!!), we went and got cowboy boots! This place has a buy one get TWO free!!!! I’ll post a picture of those later, but the guy selling them to us said I looked good in them! :)… Yeah I know he probably says that to everyone…

We are about to go see “Country Strong” for the first time!! I’m SO excited! The whole time I’ll be saying “the director of this film called me a couple of weeks ago” :)

Bye YALL! (Gotta love tennessee…)

About to take my first… tumbl?

It’s 5:13 AM and the third and final interruption in tonight’s sleep. I won’t be attempting to go back to bed though because in the next 72 hours I will be (*TAKES A BIG BREATH*)

gettingonaplanetonashvillemeetingwithamajorrecordlabelsingingatthebluebirdcafeon
camerainterviewwithcmtstop20countdownandrecordingthesongcountrystrong (*EXHALE*)

gezz.

Ok so when I first heard that I had won CMT’s National “Country Strong” singing challenge, I was like out-of-my-mind CRAZY excited (no seriously, I started jumping up and down, crying in an airport terminal) and now the day is actually here and all I want is my mom to tell me to go back to bed so I can be ready for preschool later today. Big, BIG, baby! Right Here!

It’s one of those moments where you realize everything you have ever wanted in life has led up to this. This one meeting with this HUGE big deal record label could quite possibly change my entire life. Then again, it could also mean nothing! I could literally walk in there (demo package in hand) and them say “No thanks! Just wanted to say “Hi” and thanks for entering the contest! We got alot of promotion from it towards the movie” and I would say “Oh! Okay cool!” and peace out. who knows.

I’m afraid. and nervous. Which is odd because (and I’m really not kidding), I never get nervous. I’ve been singing/performing for a while now and big crowds don’t scare me! I think its because I’m putting too much pressure on myself rather then just letting it all go and simply do what is asked of me on this trip. If something happens, great. If something doesn’t happen, well I still got to go to Nashville and meet a really important person in the music industry!

Okay Brittany, just remember that and you’ll be good. No pressure…

I’m about to get out of bed to get ready for a car that will be here in 90 minutes to take us to the airport (fancy, fancy)… 

It’s a day late and all (actually 31 hours late) but I’d like to make a toast to the new year… “Here is to possibilities, opportunities, family, great supportive friends, and to having faith. In myself and in God. If I don’t have this under control, at least he does!”

xo bd