Recently I led a qigong workshop in my neighborhood. Setting up the workshop proved to be much harder than I expected, especially having to promote my teaching. I had to get my website looking good! Set up my Instagram links! Make little Instagram reels to promote my class! Jump back onto Facebook to invite people!
All of these tasks felt really difficult, I think because I haven’t had to promote myself professionally since 2016 when I stopped working to take care of my kids. Imposter syndrome came to visit, and I struggled to get my class materials ready. But I did it, the class happened, and it went well.
But boy, was all the setup stressful. Once my class was over, my first thought was, “Ahhh, well, now I can focus on music for a while.”
So that’s what I’m doing.
There’s a part of me that knows I need to start my band in earnest before my martial arts school gets going. Not like one will lead to the other, more like the band is the part I want to do the most, the most fun part. Once that is going, and I’m feeling happy about it, I imagine getting the rest of the school set-up will be easier.
The band is Madam Ant Band, a glorious cover band dream I’ve had for a few years now. I will be Madam Ant, a frontwoman version of Adam Ant, the deliciously cheeky British artist who had big fame in the 80’s. I love his look, his costumes, his devotion to having a good time. I created Madam Ant so I could both hide inside of Adam and celebrate his music (and music of artists in a similar post-punk vein.)
For the band, I won’t have to promote myself, I’ll promote the Madam and her ant band. Madam Ant is ferocious and kind, colorful and loud. She stands for fun, joy, and encouraging self-expression. Her band are people who love to play music and have their own wild expressions in need of expressing.
She is a way for me to hide inside a different version of myself.
I like the idea of hiding in a really flashy costume. To hide while drawing attention to oneself. It sort of takes the self away, so all that’s left is the art.
It sounds exciting, but also safe and cozy, this costume, this band idea. I’ll keep moving forward with it and report back.
Michelle Folk Johnson 