Letting it all go at the House of Blues! Image by me.

FireStarters!

September started with a nice little boost from the FireStarter Sessions.  I’ve written about this several times, so go here and here to read more!  Loved it and, as the name implies, it lit a fire under my ass!

Nomad Courier

I became an official Nomad! I love that I now have this wonderful official position with an amazing new site, The Nomad Courier.  The site publishes digital postcards from 7 Nomads traveling the world and sending photos for everyone to enjoy!  Please check it out- Jenneil from Hello Meet World has done an amazing job bringing this to life and my fellow nomads create some amazing artwork! Enjoy! (If you’re on the Twitter- follow us here- @NomadCourier )

The Daily Brainstorm

The Storytelling blog made the top spot on the Daily Brainstorm in mid-september and shot through the roof (well, for me it did).  I began publishing a series of articles about seizing your work life from the jaws of mediocrity and the feed back abounds! Two of the follow-up articles to the top post made it in the top three spots at The Daily Brainstorm and I was amongst some other fabulous writers who I read and admire often!  Yea!!

Art & Commerce Collide!

I began tackling an e-book about Artistic Entrepreneurship.  The Why, The How and The Biz behind tackling your AE adventure! You’ll notice a parallel on the Storyteller’s content as I write the e-book.  I’m unsure exactly how the project will evolve, I see the work manifesting in several ways, but I believe the project will encompass a new blog, multiple e-books, lots of teaching components and some videos on how to start and maintain an AE adventure.  I rather naively believed I could bust this e-book out in a couple weeks- and while I could- I believe the depth of what’s unfolding needs more time to truly gestate and mature into something fabulous. That said, I do have a few smaller books I’ll be producing on How To do certain components of working and traveling abroad.  I also launched an Amazon store with all of my favorite art and business books, so please check it out and do some shopping! and Stay tuned!

The Professional Stuff

On the professional front, I produced a website and photography for Main & Academy Members Only Sports Club in Kingstree, S.C.  My client, who originally hired me for some multimedia branding for another project, called me one day in late August and said he needed a website on the fly for his fabulous new endeavor in Kingstree!  I birthed that little puppy in a week and then followed up with some photography as the bar came to life.  Main & Academy rocked the town with their wildly successful opening and are rolling along, bringing some much needed night life and community gathering in Kingstree.  Good luck guys!

I also had the pleasure of photographing an amazing blues artist here in the Low Country, Todd Roth of My Buddy Todd.  Last week, I photographed a blues festival at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach and to my delight I received the pro photo treatment!  The HOB requires a press pass (oops- forgot that little detail- they generously gave me one on the spot) and I had three songs and my own special pit to shoot from.

My Current Projects – Images by Crystal Street

Before I returned to school, I focused on concert work and was able to photograph some of the big boys, Dave Matthews Band, Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, Widespread Panic, etc. with all the lovely perks- press passes, pit access and those elusive three song limits.  I had forgotten how much I missed photographing musicians on stage.  The lighting is amazing to play with and the artists are so passionate about their work- they are truly in the state of Flow and documenting this is a wondrous endeavor. I believe my little HOB moment will propel me back to those concert roots!  Look out Rolling Stone- I’m headed your way.

Storyteller Data

More Storyteller logistics.  I installed a new theme this month, Genesis from Studio Press. While I liked the look of my other theme, there were some back end issues that were driving me bat-shit crazy, so I had to just suck it up and change the skin.  I will probably hire someone this winter to make her look gorgeous in a way that is outside of my current WordPress abilities and my meager graphic design skills.  I rearrange the side bar often to test new options for promoting my other work and try to implement user-friendly layouts over actual aesthetics.

I’ve almost broken 100 subscribers to the blog- I know that’s not much for some of you big bloggers out there- but I am so honored and elated to have 100 people interested in what I’m writing about!  What a treat!  And, I sold 2 e-books!! (Thanks peeps!!) It’s a starting place and for the first time since her launch, The Storyteller covered her domain hosting and a latte for the writer!! Woo-hoo!!  Let the fun begin!

My stats.  Here they are- cold sweats as I post this- don’t judge!  I’m publishing these for both my own motivation and to help my fellow bloggers just starting out on their journey! While I try not to get hung up on stats, I also pay attention to see how people respond to the articles, particularly how long they stay on the site, how deep they go into my pages and what keywords are bringing random traffic to my blog.  I hone in on the keywords that not only bring people- but more importantly- keep them on the site for longer then other search engine traffic.

September's Overview

Sept's Visitors

Sept's Keywords

Well, I’m growing at a steady pace and September actually brought some of my summer efforts to fruition. I took some time to really analyze my blog and I came to the conclusion that my blog will probably grow at a slower rate then most, because once again- as with most things in my life- I’ve decided to do it my way.

My blog goes against conventional wisdom and user’s habits with online content. My posts are long, filled with info and external links and most of them don’t solve an immediate problem (though I am trying to incorporate more of this principle in my writings).  And the response from my core readers is positive, so I am not going to change my format just to increase traffic. I am incorporating more of their wants, more photos, more philosophy and less multiple ??? & !!! The grammar police got me on that one!

If you’d like to participate in the content creation of this blog- please go to my survey page and let me know what you need!

I’ve made some amazing online connections with some fabulous fellow bloggers and travelers this past month and am so excited to have these people in my sphere of communications now!  I look forward to meeting them in the offline world as my traveling ass crosses their paths!

October holds some wonderful adventures, both professionally and personally and I can not wait to share them with you all!  Stay tuned- this shit is about to blow!!

Love it!  Now, go forth and Crush It!!

The Storyteller got a face-lift last night!! It was one long night, but she looks pretty good!  I switched themes to a more user friendly Genisis theme from Studio Press.  (I’ve been using their themes for several years now for my clients and just decided to treat myself.  They really are user friendly once you get the basics down!)

Please contact me if you notice any major gliches that I missed.  I’ll be tweaking for a few more days and trying to correct any links that might have been misplaced, but probably missed something.  Please speak up and let me know if you see something!!

Big changes are on the way here and I’ll be filling you in as they happen!  Woo-hoo!!  I love a little change!!  Or alot!!

The Storyteller, aka me, is getting cracked out on the social media.  It’s just that simple.

In the never ending quest to dial in my work- by dial in I mean, make a “predictable” income as a freelancer photographer, writer, blogger and establish a stream of passive income to support my artwork- I’ve decided that I’m missing something.

Something big.

I’ve loved writing on this blog- the journey into becoming a blogger fills me with both a sense of accomplishment and the hope that I’m building something that is useful and valuable to someone else.  Granted, I’ve picked a topic that’s a little tough to maintain when I’m not traveling- as this summer has proven- but I’m working on fixing that little dilemma with a new, sister blog.  More about that later.

I’ve gathered a small audience and am grateful for that, but I’d like to keep building the community and expand my reach.  And this summer I hit the stagnation!  Big time. Part of the problem is I’m not traveling at the moment- poses a minor dilemma when the title of your blog has the words “Independent Traveler” in it.  But that’s just logistics.

I’ve dropped the ball in two arenas- BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA. Branding has been a bur in my ass since the first moment I decided to launch my own freelance career over 10 years ago. My interests are many and my photography covers a wide swath of potential buyers. For years, I’ve been under the belief that each photographic market I target should be a separate business, or at least a separate identity.  This thinking was developed pre-Web 2.0, when I was still shooting on film, processing in a darkroom and a website was rarity.

Fast forward to the present. I now have a huge skill set that I market separately- documentary and commercial photography, multimedia production and branding, web development and now writing.  I’ve been pulling each hair follicle out over the past few years trying to figure out how the hell I tie all of this together so a major commercial client needing multimedia branding can still engage with my marketing material along side the president of an NGO who needs a documentary photographer and a real estate agent who needs a blog.  And I’ve planned, and built separate websites for each one.  And it’s exhausting.

And trying to promote all this on social media without coming across as a schizophrenic nut job?  Good luck with that.

I understood that social media was the missing link, and I know the nuts and bolts of each individual platform and how to implement a strategy for other people.  Hell, I know how to launch a photography business for other people- but turn that lens on myself- forget it.  So, last week, while taking a “stay-cation” after my poor truck engine blew and was recovering in the driveway, I stumbled onto my missing link.

I found the golden ticket!  And that little bastard was right under my nose the whole damn time.

I devoured The Zen of Social Media Marketing in a couple days.  Loved it!!  While I’ve read several books that talk about social media strategies and implementation, I’ve never found one that took the overall concepts and created a philosophy of action that made sense to me.  Sweet relief!  Its all in the Twitter.

Then, I stumbled onto Gary Vayderchuk’s book, Crush It! And read it in one sitting!  If you’ve ever thought of starting your own business or just leaving your cubicle life in the dust and jumping off the hamster wheel, set everything down- right now, run- don’t walk (now’s not the time for laziness) and go buy this book.  Seriously.  Its not a “How To” or a “You’ll get rich overnight book” but it’s an awesome, simple read that truly resonates with the entrepreneurial mind.  (check out some of his keynote speeches too- great energy!)

Yep, social media.  That’s my missing link. That’s where I’ve dropped the ball.  I’ve been following people on Twitter in my industries and watching how they engage with the platform for almost 2 years now.  And I never truly engaged with it or could see its relevance in my world.  Seriously- that’s a pretty damning thing to admit for someone who helps teach other people how to use social media.  I am a dumb ass sometimes, what can I say.

And last night, while reading this fabulous blog, SmartPassiveIncome.com, the light bulb finally brightened and it all clicked.  One of the reasons I always got hung up with social media is I wasn’t sure what part of myself to promote.  And why, you ask?

Because I never dialed in my branding properly.  My branding, like my business and my social media approach, is fractured.  All of it.  Each time I would try to Tweet or post on my News Feed, I didn’t know who my audience was or why I was speaking to them.  Would my portrait client who reads my stories want to see the news story about dead pelicans that I posted on Facebook?  Would my former executive client gain any value from my Thoreau quote I tweeted last week or think I’m a tree-hugging flake and not hire me again?  Would anyone even read my crap and give a shit?

I had it all wrong.  Stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid.

I just needed to brand me.  Just me.  Me, with all my shiny, eclectic, artistic endeavors.  Me, with all my hitches, warts and insecurities.  Me, with all my insight, brilliance and potty mouth.  Just me.  And it’s just that simple.

So, this past week, I dove into the deep end of social media- and, look- I CAN SWIM!!  Woo-Hoo!!

I’m building a community around the information I have to share. Not just about me, but about the things I’m passionate about, photography, travel, lifestyle design, artistic entrepreneurship and more.  I’m reaching out, I’m placing my preconceived notions and insecurities on the shelf and I’m going there.

I’m also writing my first book with all the content to date on this blog.  I realize my writing is lengthy and not everyone wants to engage with this type of content online.  So, I’m self-publishing the first volume of the Walkabout on LuLu and you’ll be able to buy a copy soon for yourself or someone you know who will relate to my ramblings and insights.

I’m launching another blog under my name, which will focus more on the business, freelancing and minimalism.  Combining these topics with Storytelling just doesn’t seem to mesh properly, so the new blog will be more How To’s and technical topics about lifestyle design, artistic entrepreneurship, long term, independent travel and minimalism.  The Storyteller will still be rolling along as well.  What does that mean for you?  More content!

Yep- there’s a new walkabout on the way.  I’m going to Italy!!  Woo-hoo!!  I just can’t take it anymore- I must go wander amongst all that art and food.  My departure is tentative now, but I’m hoping to finish up my two major multimedia projects by September and then jump the pond.  I’ll keep you posted!

There’s more that’s taking up my time, but its just details!  I am spending as much time as possible on the beach, just in-case that BP oil fuck up ends up on my favorite beaches.  Bastards.

So, to bring it back around, I’m still here!  I’m still writing!  And I’m building my Empire, starting my Movement and getting the ball rolling so I can continue to share my experiences and stories with you!!  And hopefully, you’ll come join me in world domination.

Playing in the hills outside of Quartzsite.

While the Storyteller will be returning to her point of origin at the beginning of this walkabout, she will be maintaining the Story vibe. Here’s a few projects on the horizon.

- Processing all the black and white film from my Arizona time and compiling several stories, both in print and multimedia.  Hopefully to be published somewhere interesting.

- Producing an e-book about this walkabout and the stories I found.

- I will be back in the darkroom- woo-hoo!- and printing some artwork from the past 4 years of international travel and random walkabouts.

- Launching a healing crystal business, called Nomadic Crystals, and seeing where that little adventure takes me.

- And, among many other things, squirreling away my earnings to go on the road full time.  I’m looking to take the walkabout to a new level and travel the country in an Airstream, with my trusty four-legged friend.  Stay tuned, it’ll be interesting!

Stories are everywhere and everyone has one.  I’ll still be posting stories and artwork from my interactions as I travel the East coast.  I will also be publishing my work in the darkroom on this blog, the whole process, from contact sheets to prints.  I know many of my photographic readers have never worked in the darkroom- so I’d like to share the process!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!  I’ll be publishing articles this week about the Yin and Yang of art and commerce.

Holy Comment Spam!

Wow!

I’m going to share some of these lovely entries, since I spent the past hour sifting through them and visiting the sites of all entries that looked remotely human.  So, if your comment took some time to make it on the site, I apologize.  The spam filter caught you.

I have structured this blog to catch all the comments and wait for their approval by myself before publishing.  Once you have been approved, your future comments automatically post.  I’ve done this for several reasons.

1. I want to filter comments for obscenity, maliciousness and negativity.  There is a time and place for everything and this blog is not the place for the three things mentioned above.  That said, if I publish something controversial or political, I will allow opposing viewpoints, of course, in the spirit of debate.  But I won’t allow personal attacks towards other commenters or towards any future guest writers.
2. I want to be sure a human is on the other end of the comment.  As you’ll see below, there are some serious spammers out there.  I check every comment ( about 100 per week) by visiting the commenters’ link to their site and see if a human is on the other end.  Determining the humanesque quality is quite the challenge.  I just let a handful on the blog and I’m still not sure they are humans or are sincere in their comments.
3. I want to edit out obvious marketers.  If there’s a URL in your post- beyond providing outside information for people, you won’t make it on the blog.  Sorry.

So, here are some of my favorites left by spammers, crazies or people with too much free-time.  Please excuse the nasty one, I just had to show the diversity of writing here.

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“Louisville Kentucky see is controlled close both the Metro mayor and a legislative main part called Metro Council. The Metro Directors comprises of 26 seats which turn up from the 26 Districts constituting the Louisville Kentucky metropolitan area. The caucus is directed nigh the caucus president with 13 seats being reelected after each two years of civil office.”

“If we can recollect a previous news when US blamed Russia for the earthquake in Georgio. What do you guys think? Is it really possible to create an earthquake by humans?”

Seriously.  That’s real.  And I use a strong spam filter that makes people enter letters and numbers generated by the computer first.  So, someone, somewhere, took the time to register, log in, get approved and write this shit.  It baffles me.

So, bear with the comments on this site as I learn this side of the blogging world.  And if the comments continue in this manner, I may start a separate blog for all the best crazy comment spam.  Seriously.

But please, if you’re a human and want to share, don’t hesitate to comment! And I promise to get you out of the spam filter if that’s where you land.  Though, if you are human, I doubt you’ll find yourself with the bottom-feeders in the lowly spam folder- if you do end up with the bottom-feeders, maybe its time to change your approach.

I’ve settled in Quartzsite, AZ for a bit and am adjusting to this alternative lifestyle.  I say alternative because social norms are not embraced by the majority here, and its rather refreshing.  Living in an RV is normal and the change of scenery is a welcome change from my sedentary life back East.  Though re-assimilating into “normal” life might not be an easy endeavor after this walkabout- and I might not even bother trying.

Fulfilling my Airstream Dreams- no its not an airstream- but its only 1200!!

I’m freelancing for a “content farm” and making about the same amount of money as I was bartending back East, so, that works for me.  I can control my schedule, fund my work and my travels and work in the RV at 2 am.  Its not meaningful journalism, by any stretch of the imagination, but if you want to know “How to use a Liberal Arts Degree” or “How to Start a Photography Career” well, you might just find an article or two by yours truly.  The regular writing practice and being edited has been wonderful for my writing and provides a little confidence to go for bigger freelance writing gigs.

My uncle decided to kick my little ass towards starting a crystal business, so, Crystal is now dealing in crystals!  Ha!  I’ll be launching a healing crystal business in a couple months once I’ve built my inventory, so if you need some healing stones, give me a holler. I start taking gem stone, silver-smithing and jewelry making classes this week and can’t wait to learn something new!

I’ve started a documentary photography project on Happy J’s RV park and a larger essay on the town itself.  I’m shooting all black and white film and it feels just fabulous!

I’ll most likely stick around here until late February and then try to take a whirlwind Amtrak trip around the country and land back East.  After that, well, I’ve been filling up my wish list of projects/locations to settle and its getting a little full.  I met a gem stone importer whose my age and lives in California, but is from Afghanistan and we may take a journey to her homeland and document the point of origins for some gemstones and an NGO she has started in country, I may have a documentary lining up in Alaska in the near future (hello Pat M.- your documentary is in the thought bubble!) I’m looking to visit my best friend in the Smokies for a bit and get the Crystal business off the ground, looking to spend some time in Raleigh and might head to Italy in the fall to spend time with one of my best friends from childhood who is relocating to Naples.  The wish-list is filling up and I love it!

Who knows what’s coming tomorrow, but it won’t be dull.

While my time in Walla Walla, Washington has been extremely productive and I’ve enjoyed catching up with a dear friend, the time has come to move on.  And, honestly, the sun doesn’t shine too often in this town during the winter and I am suffereing from a little sunshine deficency that might not end well if I stay too long!

A Shoe Tree outside of Quartzsite, AZ

So, I’m off to be a Desert Rat.  Yep, the desert is calling and I’ll be arriving in Quartzsite, AZ on Monday morning!  The itinerary is not too exciting- a flight to Seattle, then Phoenix, a few hours at the Greyhound bus station and then a 2 hour bus ride to Quartzsite at 3 am.  Yes, there will be tales to tell.  I will stay caffeinated so I can witness all that a Phoenix Greyhound station has to offer after midnight. Hmmm….

Where in the world is Quartzsite, you might ask?  Well, Quartzsite is a little oddity tucked away in the Southwest deserts of Arizona.  During the month of January, the town’s small population explodes as the Gem Hounds and Snowbirds make their way to a gigantic swap meet.   Its fascinating!!  I have family that owns an RV park in town and the last time I visited, about 7 years ago, the spectacle was fabulous!  So, I figure its time to revisit this little odditity and see how its evolved and if I can find some fascinating stories to share!

I will also be killing the cell phone in the process- so email will be it, folks!!  Woo-hoo!!

There are many links surfacing throughout the internet with Facebook and Twitter contributing a large amount of content and resources emerging for this ravaged country.  It is amazing to me the role the social media is playing in today’s media climate.  Spend some time with this story, and be thankful.

The Miami Herald has some excellent images and reporters on the ground in Haiti- they are graphic and intense.  A fellow classmate from UNC has an excellent blog about multimedia and has highlighted some of the aid being generated in social media and the multimedia coverage throughout the media industry.  The BBC also has done a good job of covering a timeline of the events.

As these stories continue to emerge from this disaster, we should take the time to engage with the story and make some sort of contribution of time or resources to those in need.  And, of course, be thankful for the privileges we have and the resources our country can provide.

I’m currently “residing” in Eastern Washington State and it looks as though I may squat here for a little bit.  I’m looking into several documentary projects with a dear friend in the area.   I will also be offering workshops for digital photography and social media, so stay tuned!

As always, I’m available for photography and multimedia assignments, web site development projects and coffee!!

Take care and stay tuned!!

Crystal