Corey Balsamo

Month
Filter by post type
All posts

Text
Photo
Quote
Link
Chat
Audio
Video
Ask

November 2014

Morgan from Rhode Island

From: Morgan Clark – 11/20/14, 10:43 AM

I’ve contemplated writing this note for a few weeks now. I’ve mulled over what I was going to say but didn’t know how to say it without it sounding strange or too much like a “fangirl” – I apologize if it does so.

I was fortunate enough to hear you play at the Brighton Music Hall on November 2 with Aaron Carter. I hadn’t listened to his work in years, but when I saw the advertisement for his show back in June, I figured it would be fun to go. I decided not to look up any of the music from any of the performers ahead of time, like I usually do. I wanted to walk into the venue free of preconceived ideas and opinions and just wanted to soak in the music right then as it was presented to me. I found something to appreciate in all of the performances that night, but I took away something different from yours.

When you walked onstage and started playing I turned around to look at my mother to see what she thought. I remember smiling and leaning in to tell her that I had to get your album after the show. I did and you came over to thank me for purchasing it. We made small talk and took a picture before I walked away a little awestruck.

It’s quite evident seeing you perform and talking to you how much you love what you do. It’s just infectious. I am a second year theatre student at the University of Rhode Island, where I will graduate with concentrations in technical theatre, acting, directing and management. It’s refreshing meeting someone close to my age that has that much drive and ambition and is really pursuing what he loves. It showed me that hard work and following your dreams really does pay off.

I’ve had people tell me that I dream too big for my age (I’m nineteen). They tell me that I should take a step back, and take it easy. I never heeded their advice, and because of that I’ve been given so many incredible opportunities. I’ve been able to travel the world, including Antarctica; I’ve worked on numerous productions, met incredible people, and even got to intern in the wardrobe department for a Woody Allen film this past summer. Eventually, I would like to get my Doctorate in Technical Theatre. (Completely unnecessarily in the world of theatre, but nonetheless an accomplishment I am set on achieving for my own personal and academic benefit). Currently, I am applying for a four month internship with a theatre in Sitka, Alaska.

A few days ago I was running an errand and decided to take the more scenic route. I was driving along the coast contemplating whether or not I was being practical in my decision to pursue this opportunity in Alaska when your song “Why Wait” came on. It clicked for me then. Why shouldn’t I go? Why not take a risk and put myself in an unfamiliar position? I could only learn from it. It was in that moment that I decided I was going to take the job if I was selected. I’m going to continue to take advantage of the time I have here. I have the words “no day but today” tattooed on my wrist, and realize I have to keep living up to that promise I made to myself.

So I would like to say thank you. I know you have absolutely no clue as to who I am, and I hardly know you, but in some strange way you’ve really ignited something in me. I’ve been a little lost and disjointed with myself for awhile, but I see some light now.

As I come to conclude this lengthy letter I would like to say that if I could be of assistance in any way to you during any of your future performances, or if there is any promotion that I could do over here in Lil’ Rhody please don’t hesitate to contact me! Working on concerts and touring shows is something that I eventually want to pursue and I would be more than happy to volunteer my time.

Keep doing what you’re doing Corey. Your music is breathtaking.

Love from a new fan, Morgan


_______________________________________________________

On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 1:10 PM, Corey Balsamo <c**********@*****.com> wrote:
Subject: Hi Morgan

I’m choosing to respond to your “note” via email rather than through social media not because I wanted to be less informal, but I feel I can better organize my thoughts here - and because you so kindly supplied me with a means to better reach you. I hope that is O.K.

So often is it that I’ll receive something vaguely along the lines of what you sent me, but nothing to the degree or caliber that you’ve attained. Certainly you’ve now set the bar and, for many more reasons than just the length of said “note”, you warrant a response - and I’ll tell you why:

It is always a great feeling to hear kind feedback. It means I did enough to reach a certain level of performance that someone finds substantial enough and make known to me. In short, it means I did my job. Especially opening for Aaron Carter, especially on a “pop-dance” tour - where you are the singer/songwriter “Ed Sheeran-like dude” (not my words). On a tour like the one you saw me on, crowds can get chatty and you’re uncertain if your reach is as large as it could be. So, I maneuver and make changes. I try to keep the stage banter fresh and funny and interesting. But still always kind of uncertain.

I know what I sound like, so I’m not as concerned for me as I am for the person in the crowd who’s never heard me before, standing behind the group of chatty BC sorority sisters on their iPhones who are (as expected) there for Aaron and not the floppy-haired kid on stage in the jean jacket. A few times on the run, after I’d leave the stage and Aaron’s set would begin, I would get pulled aside by a security guard or the doorman at the venue or a boyfriend/Mom/friend of a fan of the headliner, usually in the back of the venue, and they’d say something along the lines of “right sound, wrong tour” - which I don’t 100% agree with, per se. But the special thing about hearing that is knowing that I broke some kind of assumed “mold” - or stood out. While I’m not a “pop artist”, nor do I think I’ll ever be, I can’t be too picky at this stage in my career for who I choose I want to play in front of. The performer in me just wants to play. Maybe a discouraged industry move, but I was putting out a record and I wanted to tour it. I’ve done Aaron Carter tours before, so it was familiar ground for me. 

I treat it like a gift every night I get the chance to walk out on stage in front of a crowd - because it is a gift. While I feel a need to be up there, it’s not in my nature to be cocky and have the attitude that “I’ve earned this. Shut up and listen.” That’s for someone else to say, not me. Every night before the lights dim and the house music cuts and I walk out - sometimes to cheers, sometimes to chatter - I say a prayer to my Grandmother and my friend Mitch and I ask them to be there with me on stage. And I always make sure, at least before the last song, that I acknowledge what the privilege it is to be up there - no matter the size of the crowd or if I think they “got it” or not.

Much like yourself, I’ve been told that my age plays a factor into my “dreams”. On the reversal, I was told YEARS ago (I was also nineteen at the time), that my music career would never take off because I was becoming “too old” and anything worth while would’ve already come my way, if it ever were to. If I were someone with half the brain, fixated only on being young and with full-blown success/money/fame “now or never”, that might have been the advice I chose to follow - instead of fighting it out all these years. But I’m a writer first before anything. And a writer doesn’t just stop writing. I’m really proud of you for not caving. I see a lot - and I mean A LOT - of myself in you.

I’m also really glad you took that scenic route. I had this conversation with a friend the other day that the best feeling in the world for someone like me is to create something, throw the line out there and reel in someone that goes “I get it”. Ultimately, this is why I do what I do. We don’t have to have ever met before November 2nd to share a common thread. That is the power of songwriting. You can hear something someone else wrote and you say “Oh my God. I’ve felt this way, but could never verbalize it on my own. And it means so much to me that you feel this way, too.” Writing music is my outlet. And, for me, a good song is the most humanizing part about being alive. You further reinforce and give meaning for me to keep pushing forward.

So I would like to say Thank YOU, Morgan. Your letter stopped me dead in my tracks today. And I couldn’t not respond to it. I read everything that comes into my inbox, not everything gets replied to. Often times, its a little love note that says “Hey, I like what you do. Keep going.” And I take that with me throughout my day. Purpose is the most important thing in life. Helping someone continue to find theirs, well - that’s that light you were talking about. Thank you for further brightening mine.

Love from a new friend,

Corey

Nov 26, 2014
Nov 23, 2014 443 notes
Next page →
20142015
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
201320142015
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
201220132014
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
201120122013
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
201020112012
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
200920102011
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
20092010
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December