I am presenting a Workshop for the Virtual Track – so you can join from anywhere! : “The Transformational Power of Storytelling: Craft Your Story, Shape Your Life”
Friday, March 27, 4:30-6pm
Description: Discover how reframing your personal narrative can transform your life. In this interactive workshop, you’ll become the protagonist of your own story, using story-crafting tools including structure, themes, and character to shift your perspective and breathe new life into your stories. Applying this approach will empower you to navigate challenges and find meaning through the lens of a storyteller.
More info & to register go HERE.
Tuesday, April 7th. Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm.
The Ark, 316 South Main, Ann Arbor
Get your TICKETS HERE
I am thrilled to be one of the 10 monthly Story SLAM winners to compete for in the ultimate storytelling competition: Ann Arbor’s annual Moth GrandSLAM. The Theme is LOST & FOUND and I’m working up a brand new story. Come cheer all of us on. If you haven’t been to a Moth event – do yourself a favor. All the storytellers will be wonderful, and I’m happy to be a part of it!
Sunday, April 12, 7-9pm, Empty Chair Night, featuring Annie Capps and Yours Truly
Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile, Livonia, MI 48152
So excited to return to Trinity House and to this fabulous concert series! Not just another open mic show, the Empty Chair Night offers members of the audience a chance to join the hosts and featured act on stage to share a song “in-the-round” style. Trinity House is one of my very favorite venues in Michigan. Cozy yet professional, daring and creative. And, of course, I’ll never pass up a chance to perform with the incredible Annie Capps!
Buy Tickets HERE: $12 or $9 for members of the Trinity House.
Today so many of us remember where we were 20 years ago. Those of us not in NYC, or Arlington, Virginia or a field in Pennsylvania glued to our TVs or radios. I couldn’t seem to get out of my car in front of my Austin office at Antone’s Records. Not the kind of “driveway moment” NPR is famous for. Old school desktops wouldn’t load CNN. For good or bad, we couldn’t watch the destruction in real time. Our boss, shaken, “OK, back to work.” Really? There is no back to work. There is no, back to anything. That afternoon, or was it evening, members of our US Congress emerged onto the Capital steps. What I remember is them, all of them, holding hands and singing, “God Bless America.”
We live in divided times. We lived in divided times. Less than a year earlier throngs of news media camped out (literally) outside Austin’s Governor’s mansion awaiting the results of the contested 2000 Gore vs Bush election. Hanging Chads and all. Democrats and Republics were not BFFs. Some felt, perhaps, an election had been stolen. All that to say, the sight, the sound of our leaders, dropping their weapons and singing oursong – together. THAT sticks to me.
The next day, with that scene in my head, this song poured out of me. A few weeks later I recorded it with Matt Hubbard at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales studio. And later that year, recording another version with Austin producers Chris Gage and Christine Albert, roping in my Antone’s Records buddy, the incredible Miss Lavelle White.
I am one of the fortunate not to have lost a loved one on 9/11/01. I ache for my fellow citizens. Their names are being read today from a podium by those left behind. A little girl knights an uncle she never met, as her guardian angel. I am yet again glued to the images coming from lower Manhattan this morning, and the gravel of Bruce Springsteen singing “For death is not the end. I’ll see you in my dreams.” Thank you, Bruce. Clintons, Obamas, Bidens, firefighters, police, standing in silence with the rest of us, all of America surrounding them. (And the Bush family in Shanksville) All of us. Together.
I share in the collective trauma of our country. Writing is my avenue to get out the feels. “On the Day (September 11, 2001)” is my grieving and honoring space. It’s been played and sung in classrooms, universities, community memorials over the years to offer a reflective space.
However you grieve, or honor, or mark this day, those moments… However you find solace, bring peace, reflect, and conjure spiritual recovery… May you do so.
]]>I’m a songwriter. And sometimes songs come out of me and it’s not quite what I intended, but what the song demanded. A few years ago a song came to me. One of my good friend’s battle with cancer took a turn for the worse. This followed several other friends having run ins with cancer and my beloved aunt having died from it years before. The song that came to me was – “FU Cancer!”.
Truthfully, what came to me was the full monty, not the initials. In 26 years of songwriting I had never used an expletive, but this song kept returning with the biggest cussing out it could muster. I couldn’t seem to tone it down. Cancer did deserve a good cussing out, though, and it felt great to sing.
But… I didn’t finish the song. Fast forward 3 years… 2 weeks after one of my friends lost her battle, I was diagnosed with my crazy rare cancer. I was told my chemo could take my senses of touch and hearing, making it pretty hard to be a singer/musician. So, 2 days before starting chemo we threw a party to celebrate all our blessings – friends, singing, playing and my hair! That morning, with a different perspective, I finished the song. John had never heard it. I pulled aside my musician extraordinaire friends Annie & Rod Capps and showed them what I had. They listened, we walked on stage and played it. John, too, learning as he went. It felt so empowering to sing it, and to hear the room full of friends chanting along like an anthem. It was like a battle cry, a victory cheer. And it bolstered me up right into chemo.
Many friends asked if they could get the song for someone they love with cancer. They thought it could lift spirits. Not that I felt like doing much of anything after a round of chemo, but If I was ever going to offer this song to the world, I’d better do it while I could still hear and play guitar. So, 2 days before my 2nd round of chemo, we recorded it.
The music video “Can’t Take My Heart” If you like it, LIKE IT, COMMENT, SHARE IT, BUY IT, SUBSCRIBE
TRAILER for “Can’t Take My Heart”
(The party & recording session are captured in the trailer to the music video at youtube.com/allisondowney). The act of creation is life affirming. The act of singing is an expression of love and joy. As much energy as it cost me during chemo to take on a recording session, it offered me back –myself. When cancer comes it takes over everything. It’s hard to feel like yourself when you don’t feel like yourself, or look like yourself, and can’t do the things that make you feel like you. Creating, singing, recording – this IS me and it felt like I took the reigns back from cancer for that day.
In editing the song, and listening to it I realized that the song is not just about cussing out cancer, but as a woman fighting cancer it is an act of defiance, an expression of empowerment over cancer. Laughter and music are healing. To laugh and sing in the middle of hell is defiant. The song’s final title became “Can’t Take My Heart (FU, Cancer!)” – yes, I’m still cussing out cancer, but the message is that cancer has taken much from me and may take more, but it can never take my heart.
This sense of empowerment is something I want to share with anyone else dealing with the devastating effects of this disease as a survivor or caretaker. If this message could give a lift (or even a laugh) to someone you know, share the song (censored versions available) and/or video with them. You can listen to the song here. And, Sing it, Baby!
What? Wait a second, what’s this about cancer? Did I miss something?
In October of 2014 I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, called Anal Mucosal Melanoma. Only 1 in 2.5 million people get it. Let’s just say there aren’t enough of us to form a team for a walkathon. The tests showed it hadn’t spread – I’m in good shape. I had me some surgery, a month of radiation, and am now 3 months into chemo. The treatments have not been fun, but I’ve learned a ton over these months and have enjoyed celebrating the moments of respite and all the blessings I have. The cancer journey has opened the creative floodgates for me: check out the NEW SONG (Can’t Take My Heart (FU, Cancer!), video blog, and music video (to be released Tuesday, May 19th).
Thanks for checking in… More soon!
]]>I’ve got a new blog about my cancer journey going that you can subscribe to. (Working Title: Can’t Take My Heart: Musings on Life, Cancer, and Everything in Between). Don’t worry, I talk about life outside of cancer, too! So, if you want to stay up to date, I’d recommend subscribing to the new blog – this older one’s gonna be pretty quiet till I’m through with all this cancer stuff.
I’ve written a song called “Can’t Take My Heart (F U, Cancer!)” and we will have it available HERE for download. There are censored and uncensored versions available. After medical expenses, 10% of proceeds will go to mucosal melanoma research.
AND we’ve got the “Can’t Take My Heart” music video on the way! Share it away. The video will be published on my soon to be published YouTube channel along with my new video blog.
Thanks for checking in… More soon!
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After a two-week jaunt in Brazil and meticulous research (drinking caipirinhas with Brazilian friends while watching World Cup matches on TV), I’d like to chime in on the World Cup commentary and speculations about “how Brazil feels at this moment.” I can assure you that no Brazilian shed a tear over Argentina’s loss yesterday. Yes, Germany destroyed Brazil 7-0. Ripped them out of the standings, perhaps like hair in bikini wax (Thank you, John Oliver!). Even so, my research suggests that no one in green and yellow rooted for their blue and white South American compadres. And why? The answer is #1 on my list of Top 10 Lessons I Learned in Brazil During the World Cup.
Top 10 Lessons I Learned In Brazil During the World Cup:
1. *Argentina sucks. Now, I know this may sound harsh, especially after their defeat by Germany yesterday that left blue and white fans crying in the stands and ignited riots in the streets of Buenos Aires. However, I’m speaking purely from a Brazilian perspective. See, Brazilians loathe all things Argentinian. Why? Because Argentina thinks it is the best country on the continent – Everyone knows that Brazil holds that honor. I wager that this sibling rivalry trumps their humiliation-inspired vengeance towards Germany. Regardless, the arrogant Argentinians arrived by the VW Bus-load. I mean just look at them:
Argentinian Fans “dressing” for the game
In a small bar nestled in the colonial town of Paraty, the room rooted for Iran, rather than giving love to these Smurfs. (Note: we also cheered for Ghana over Germany) Outside of Brazil *I have heard only wonderful things about Argentina and have found the people lovely.
However, when in Brazil, if you know what’s good for you, don’t root for Argentina – root for Iran, China, ISIS – anyone, but Argentina.
2. Wear your country with pride. Speaking of Smurfs, I learned that the World Cup provides a unique opportunity for both nationalism and Halloween-style exhibitionism. On my one venture out for a caipirinha without my phone/camera, I missed snapping shots of Americans in Cat in the Hat-sized Uncle Sam hats draped in the American flag. Even our Independence Day can’t drum up this kind of support. Here are a few examples from other countries: 
3. “Futbol” is pronounced Foocheebowl in Portuguese. If you are an American who, out of reverence for American Football, clings to the term “soccer” when referring to the game at the center of the World Cup, no worries. You, too, can join the rest of the world. No one will confuse Foocheebowl for the NFL.
4. Futbol (Foocheebowl) is an international language. On a playground in Rio my five-year old son approached a couple of boys and in butchered Portuguese attempted to ask them to play. The boys passed confused glances back and forth, then dropped a futbol between them and they were off! The ball, a Rosetta Stone. For the next hour they spoke the language of Foocheebowl. Before this moment, my son was not a fan of soccer. He’d taken a class when he was three, but lost interest when he realized that the “games” the coaches led were just drills masquerading as fun. But, in Brazil everyone speaks Foocheebowl. As a matter of fact, the World Cup demonstrated that everyone in the world speaks Foocheebowl. All you need is a ball – no helmet, no expensive equipment. Despite FIFAs excesses, the game still has a purity to it. Now, my son is hooked – and our customs form declared a green and yellow flagged foocheebowl.
It’s ON!
5. Protesting is better with Superheroes. If you’re in the mood to protest something it’s always good to bring along an internationally recognized superhero. Batman works well. Here he is supporting a teacher strike at the Camara dos Vereadores (equivalent of their city hall) downtown… …and later at Copacabana beach for a protest against privatization of health care.
Education Batman
Health Care Batman
6. When in doubt, bring out the military police.
Here’s the view out of our window near Copacabana… 
And here they are bringing up the rear of Batman’s health care protest…
7. Nothing is more important than the World Cup. Nothing. During one round, the games were scheduled for 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm Brazil time. EVERYTHING shut down when the games started. Even the bars. Streets were deserted. Businesses were shuttered. At bars that showed the game, employees huddled around TVs in the back. And the government helped out by declaring national holidays whenever Brazil played.
An abandoned street in Paraty during a game
The employee TV in our restaurant’s kitchen
8. Brazil fever is contagious! As we learned this week, national pride and team pride are inseparable. And demonstrations of this pride are everywhere, from big city to small hut (with the notable exception of the protests). It is nearly impossible not to fall in love with this country and their passion for their team simultaneously. I mean, who doesn’t love Brazil? (Perhaps Argentina, but who else?)
An American stricken with Brazil Fever
Actual Brazilians with Brazil Fever
Even the fruit is patriotic
Brazil Fever is found in the most remote Brazilian locations
9. Brazilian “team spirit” is passionate, but not blind. (i.e. They ain’t Redskin fans). I grew up in DC, and we cheered for the Redskins through the rain and snow, through strings of defeats, like happy minions, and after the occasional win, the city shut down. There is a saying in Brazil that people trade wives, but never teams. Brazil fans are crazy passionate and committed. But, don’t mistake that passion for blind love. Theirs is a tough love. It is the job of every Brazilian fan to gesticulate wildly, curse in front of small children and babies and throw things at the screen if a player misses a goal the fan deems unmissable. Otherwise kind, gentle people, pacifists even will mutate temporarily into blood-thirsty colliseum-goers. Nobody is blowing sunshine here.
An otherwise gentle, kind, and peaceful Brazilian doing her part for her team
A halftime with a tied score does not invite encouragement, but rather, depression.
Halftime Brazil vs. Chile
But if the team makes a dramatic turn around fans will take you back. And with a win that same baby we just ranted to will be showered with kisses and thrown up in the air with something more joyful than ecstasy. A win – well, there’s nothing quite like it. I had the privilege of watching (on TV) Brazil beat Chile in the World Cup with my Brazilian friends in Copacabana. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride – ups and downs, twists and turns and a triumphant return.
And in the end, the Brazilian fans are resilient. They may trade wives after their crushing defeat, but never teams.
10. And finally, #10 – Did I mention that Argentina sucks?
Goodbye to Brazil’s World Cup…
See you at the Olympics!
BEGIN! July 3, 2014
I don’t know quite where to begin, but I have been wanting to start a blog for many years now, but I don’t know where to begin. But I have been wanting to …
I teach a college course on the nature of creativity and use choreographer, Twyla Tharpe’s book The Creative Habit as a primary text. She offers wisdom for those of us who can’t quite start the big project we’ve been dreaming about because we are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the task and can’t find a way in. To us, Tharpe says:
“BEGIN!”
Simply begin somewhere, anywhere. It doesn’t matter where. It doesn’t need to be at the beginning of the story. Just start and eventually you will carve pathways that lead you forward. I’m not sure about so many things: how often I will write, if there will be a consistent theme, topic or format… And so, even still, I begin. I imagine that the shape of this offering will form itself as I continue to write.
Years ago, before the ferocious Midwestern storms took down so many of our trees in our ½ acre back yard, Fall leaf raking was an arduous task. I have this memory of standing in the middle of our yard, buried practically up to my knees in crimson, gold, and fire orange leaves, leaning on my rake and moaning at the magnitude of the task in front of me. Where would I even begin?!! I decided that I would just start raking – right there in the middle of the yard. You have to start somewhere.
Is there a project that has been scratching at your soul? The thing you never have enough time to do? Well…
BEGIN…
and the path will present itself
- A fantastically fun performance with Sue Fink at the “On the Tracks Songwriter Showcase” in Chelsea, MI
- The honor of presenting a Personal Narrative Storytelling Workshop for high school teachers at Lincoln Center Theater’s Education wing as outreach for their new Tony nominated show “Act One,” based on a memoir of Moss Hart
- Meeting face to face in NYC with my business storytelling client, Chris Langenskiold, for 2 days of coaching. Chris is CEO of The Big Picture, a Finnish innovative service design consultancy firm
- Performing my interactive musical storytelling program for over 500 children at Jackson Storyfest