Art as a Movement

By JaJuan Isaacs
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Growing up a visual artist, I learned to appreciate different forms of creativity that form what we call art today. I have made it my mission to inform the readers of this blog site of various and creative art forms that have impacted my life and interested me in general.

Art can be portrayed in many different ways. Many artists are visual and use forms such as paint, sculpture or drawing. Other visual artists such as photographers and videographers use cameras to capture live-action moments. Art is something opinion-based determined by the artist.
          When people hear the word art, they instantly think of paintbrushes and pencils, and they forget to include the clothing designers, make-up artists, musicians, poets, chefs and anything else that is considered an art form. The reality is, literally anything can be art, and as humans, it is our job to appreciate and respect different cultures of art around the world. I am making it my mission to introduce the readers to a new way of thinking and better appreciation of art. With that being said, here are a few artists who have impacted my life.

These are some of the artists that have inspired me. Of all artists, they have managed to be more than different from every person who call themselves artists. Their ideas are original and have helped inspire me to express my creativity through various forms of art.

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist known for his various styles of art including cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Over the course of his life, Picasso managed to produce an estimated 50,000 artworks including paintings, sculptures, drawings, rugs, ceramics and tapestries. Many of his paintings can be found in museums across the globe. 

When I was introduced to his art, I instantly thought to myself, “What is this and why do the faces look like that?” The way he constructed the faces would sometimes have an eye where the nose is supposed to be and the nose in place of the eye, forcing me to ask the question, “Why?”. Well, the simple answer is that’s just what he liked to do, and in doing that he was able to build a plethora of unique masterpieces. 
Picasso was an artist that has helped to influence many artists like myself. His work is extraordinary in a variety of aspects and helps upcoming artists strive to be different. Learn more about Picasso at https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pablo-Picasso

 Hype Williams is a film and video director known for directing many music videos throughout the 1990s and for a few movies such as “Belly.” In his videos, he more goes in-depth with greater detail than the common director. He differs from other video artists using unique angles, colors, sound, and even how he adds effects to skin tones.

One of the most iconic music videos he directed is “California Love” by Dr. Dre and Tupac. The video begins with actor and comedian Chris Tucker breaking the ice into the future-based video. Dr. Dre plays a cyborg and the other actors in the video, as well as Tupac, are revolutionaries. This was different from many of the typical rap/Hip-Hop videos because of his use of science-fiction. Many rappers look at science-fiction as “wack” or “lame” because it isn’t gangster or thuggish. Williams took advantage of his creativity, striving to be different and not a basic videographer. 
          Check this out: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hype-williams-mn0001380160 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wBTdfAkqGU

          Williams has continued to direct music videos. A recent video he directed is “Finna Get Loose” by Puff Daddy and The Family featuring Pharell. The video has an ’80s vibe because of the instrumental and clothes worn, and Williams could not have done a better job directing. The video took off, especially with the help of rapper and producer Pharell Williams, who is also known for bringing an artistic flavor in his videos. 
          Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Z9fUXNVoI

This mural, by artist Shelley Miller, is made of sugar and frosting decorations, and it looks like it could be made of everything but something you would eat. Art is something that comes from the creative mind, and it amazes me that people have brought it upon themselves to use food as their base for projects. This mural could have easily been painted or even created with fibers or metals, but Miller decided to use food simply because, “Why not?” Miller’s media for art just goes to prove that art can come from anything, and anyone can be an artist as long as they have passion for what they are doing. 
You can view her art at http://magazine.art21.org/2010/09/13/how-sweet-it-is-shelley-miller/sugar_day1/

 Over a recent weekend, I personally saw art from many different standpoints. University School of Nashville, a private school in the city, held an event called the Artcletic. While being there, I spoke with many different artists and heard how they go through the processes of creating their media. There were painters, pencil artists, soda can art, and many more to name.

 Of all the artists I spoke with, the most interesting was a man named Spears McAllester. He is a photographer who uses a special printer to print life-like images on aluminum. He had pictures of trees, rooms and nature that looked like the photos were jumping out of the frames. His process of editing is using Photoshop to edit and develop the images and sell them for $800. 
You can find some of his work at https://photographybyspears.com/f221685686

 Art is not only a wonderful hobby, but if good enough, can be a stable source of income.

          As I stated earlier, art comes in many shapes and forms. The creativity of people continues to change the world of art each and every day, and if continued, will bring in more art forms in the future.

Taylor Swift Shakes Indianapolis

By Georgie Allen
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved attending concerts. The first show I ever saw was Brooks & Dunn at the Houston rodeo when I was 5 years old. From then on, I was hooked.

Over the years I have seen some amazing shows: One direction, Foreigner, Taylor Swift (five times) and many, many more. Nothing else comes close to the rush I get when I’m at a show. In the course of my life, I have seen about 36 shows. From personally driving to carpooling, from hotel booking to sleeping in cars, I’ve done it all.

I consider myself a veteran concert attendee, and I’d love to share my reviews and advice to all of you. I’ll let you know the dos and don’ts of concert etiquette and which shows are and aren’t worth attending. Stay tuned to see if my first review hits a high note with you!

Are you ready for it? Because I sure wasn't. On Sept. 15, 2018, Taylor Swift brought her Reputation Stadium tour to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Swift broke the stadium's attendance record, beating out acts like U2 and One Direction. In a note of gratitude posted on Instagram, the pop star said her fans broke the concert attendance record at the 67,000-plus capacity. Check out Billboard’s article on her record-breaking night here: Taylor Swift Breaks Indianapolis Attendance Record

With openers Charli XCX and Camila Cabello, Swift put on a heck of a show. She opened with "...Ready for it?" and serenaded the crowd with hits like "Look What You Made Me Do,” "Blank Space” and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." With astonishing effects such as fireworks, fire and flying through the crowd in a lit-up cage, Swift totally enraptured the Indianapolis crowd. Swift also gave each of her fans a free gift: A plastic bracelet that changed colors with the songs of the show.

During the middle of the show, Swift ran down the middle of the stadium floor through a barricade, touching hands with fans. Swift took her time and tried to reach everyone before jumping up on B stage and surprising fans with a performance of "Forever and Always" from her "Fearless" album that came out back in 2008.

Though there were no special guests at the Indianapolis show, there were quite a few celebrities, including John Green, Kelsea Ballerini, and Bailey Madison.

Swift clearly does not care what anyone thinks of her anymore. She shed her good girl persona for a sexy bad girl-esque performance. Fans don snakeskin attire and Swift sells snake accessories at her shows, has a giant cobra prop during the concert, and has even named herself, "Mother of snakes." She completely embraces her snake persona that was meant to tear her down. See Billboard’s article explaining Swift’s serpent history here: “Why Do People Call Taylor Swift A Snake?”

Reputation has agreeably been Swift's most exciting chapter so far. Swift is set to be grossing $9 million (yes million!) a show, and now has the title of highest-grossing U.S. tour of a female artist. According to Billboard, after only 27 shows, Swift has raked in more than $200 million.  Take a look at Rolling Stone’s article on Swift’s record-breaking stadium tour here: Taylor Swift Breaks Her Own Record for Highest-Grossing U.S. Tour by a Woman

Maybe it is a good thing that the "old Taylor is dead" as Swift says. 
Swift seems truly happier on this tour, and she seems to be acting like her true self. After she waved her final goodbyes to the Indianapolis crowd and blew the fans one last kiss, she walked off stage. The lights went out and one single quote appeared on the screen: "And in the death of her reputation, she felt truly alive."

Reputation Tour Indianapolis Set List: Swift kicked off Act One with “…Ready For It,” “Gorgeous,” and “I Did Something Bad.” Next was Act Two with “Look What You Made Me Do,” “End Game,” and “King of My Heart.” Following was Act Three with “Delicate,” “Shake It Off,” and “Dancing With Our Hands Tied.”

Swift went through an unbelievable six acts! This show was truly unforgettable and without a doubt one of the best nights of my life!

The Best Albums of 2018 So Far

     By Amari Young

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

                                

                The year is yet to be over, and new music is still dropping. The time we live in is an era led by playlists. Whether you have Apple Music and listen to their curated playlists, or let YouTube’s discovery be your guide, the idea of listening through an entire album in one sitting becomes more unusual by the hour. Having the availability of thousands of great songs available at your fingertips, sitting through anything that’s not up to par can feel like a mistake. Over the last few months, there have been a substantial amount of records that have made an impact to the culture.

                  This article will focus on the top artists, best new albums, and the music industry. It will also dive more into detail explaining my top five best albums of 2018 so far. Topics will include technology, deal making, and general industry trends. If this interests you, this is the first category to check out to stay on top of what’s happening. It features critics for artists’ albums, also counting down the best songs from the track.

                  In his latest attempt, the late rapper Mac Miller dropped his highly anticipated fifth studio album “Swimming” on Aug. 3, 2018. In September, he passed away from an apparent drug overdose, but the music he created lives on. The death of Mac affected everyone who has been touched by his music. After a high-profile breakup with Ariana Grande, he slipped into this black hole. He lost a muse, relationship and a collaborator.  

                  In 2016, his effort with “The Divine Feminine” was closely recorded with Grande. It was represented as a love letter to the woman he’d do anything for.  He went from “you and me against the world” to just “me against the world.” As much as Mac tried to persuade himself that it was almost as good, on his warm but wounded fifth album, “Swimming”, he knew it wasn’t. It takes a certain type of artist to be as vulnerable and authentic as Mac Miller was on this album. For more information about his album click here http://www.macmillerswebsite.com/ 

                    “Whatever head space produced ‘Swimming’, it captures this perfectly” according to Chase McMullen at Metacritic.com. On Swimming, he made frequent references to keeping his head above water…or not. “Got my head underwater, but I ain’t in the shower, and I ain’t getting baptized.” It was clearer why the self-described “chill dude” became a prominent existence on the top 10 of Billboard’s albums chart despite never landing a major radio hit.

                   The Weeknd struck a few nerves releasing “My Dear Melancholy,” his first since 2016’s overly slick “Starboy,” which had moments that were guided by a stronger vision. “My Dear Melancholy” was slight with a collection of six songs. Wearing his emotions on his sleeve is what the Canadian singer does best, and without a doubt he came to a jumping-off point for uncovering a more profound texture in his sound. For more information about his album click here https://open.spotify.com/album/3N88bRVAwQrtKqSV0UgU69

                  “My Dear Melancholy surprisingly provides the clearest, most engaging example yet of the Weeknd's angst. It's the sound of a man kneeling at love's altar still in search of an elusive healing,” Reported Rolling Stone Magazine. With lyrics like “You ain’t steady, you look ready to take it all the way, if you let me take you down on me,” you can tell he’s passionate for his desires but at the same time lonely. It’s no surprise that this album is in my top list.

                      Drake’s fifth studio album “Scorpion” debuted at the top of the charts with his heavy hitter single “God’s Plan.” Although it received mixed reviews from many critics, it is still a contender in my best albums of 2018 so far. Aside from being a Drake fan, many of its 25 tracks are built around standard-issue Drake themes. Mostly the themes consist of heartbreak, hardships, revenge and his newfound feelings towards his son.  Click here for more information https://drakeofficial.com/ 

        Scorpion invites us to pretend that becoming a dad hasn’t been one of Drake’s foremost concerns for the last decade. He makes the disclosure for the first time on the stunning “Emotionless,” cruising along an instantly familiar Mariah Carey sample: “I wasn’t hidin’ my kid from the world, I was hidin’ the world from my kid.” This album is about losing and coming to the realization that missteps do happen in life and how you must push forward to become the best you can be. For his truthfulness, I commend Drake.

                   “Astroworld,” the latest project from Houston native rapper Travis Scott, dominated on first -week streams, which comes as no surprise. This album is by far his most collective his sound has been. Each song flows well together. This is one of those albums that you can listen to without skipping a beat. “Astroworld” comes nearly two years after his previous attempt Birds in “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight,” which is also another critical acclaim piece of material. He writes, “Sins controllin’ me, yeah Angels, halos over me, I need blessings and my peace.”

                      It’s obvious to point out that he was struggling with his inner demons and dealing with reality during the process of the album.  To hear more of this album click https://www.amazon.com/ASTROWORLD-Travis-Scott/dp/B07FZ99HXL 

                        Pop singer Ariana Grande’s fifth studio album “Sweetener” was met with critical acclaim, being named best album on multiple lists, including mine.  What makes this album more special than any other project she put out is that she had a lot to deal with over the past year: from the bombing in Manchester last year, to the death of her ex Mac Miller, to an abrupt ending of an engagement.

                  Other than the fact that she is a brave woman, her talent comes undefeated. She starts the album singing the lyrics, “When raindrops fell from the sky, the day you left me, an angel cried.” It sets the tone of the rest of the album, especially since the first track is only 30 seconds. It’s a brilliant masterpiece. For more about her album, visit https://www.arianagrande.com/ 

                     In this industry, we play a large role by constantly combing through daily data, more specifically the digital side. This includes information on streaming music vitals, including the latest on subscriber counts, royalties, and Wall Street valuations. LayLowRecords is based in the United States, and our audience is largely U.S.-based. We also cover worldwide happenings, including international artists and albums.  And since the web is global, so by default, the music industry is as well.

                  For more information, check out www.pitchfork.com.  LayLowRecords discusses our thoughts and insights about how we feel towards new music and upcoming artists. So, we ask you this simple question. What is one of your favorite albums of 2018 so far? 

                                                              

                                                                               

How to Spot a Grizzly Bear

By Elizabeth Overcast

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

On a misty, late afternoon in June of 2018, I had my first experience with a grizzly bear.

No one tells you what to expect when you see one in person. I was shocked to find out that, yes, grizzly bears are very large, but not as large as some may think. They naturally stand a little shorter than the average human, but standing upright, it is easy to see what all of the hype is about. It is a humbling, almost enlightening, experience to see a grizzly up close, and I had the amazing chance to do so.

            Grizzly bears are magnificent and beautiful animals that are a pleasure to watch. On account of the National Parks Service of the United States government, the protection of grizzly bears has provided the chance for people to see these beautiful animals up close.

            However, grizzlies are dangerous animals, and they should be respected in their territory. There are not many horror stories surrounding grizzly bear attacks, given that grizzlies do not attack often. But nearly every grizzly bear attack is fatal and should be taken seriously.

According to a news article by Sidney Sullivan, from the year 2000 to current time, there have been 48 fatal bear attacks in North America. Twenty-seven occurred in the United States and the remaining nineteen occurred in Canada. Surprisingly, 25 of these attacks were committed by black bears, a usually docile species of bear.

An article written by Todd Orr vividly describes a thankfully, non-fatal grizzly bear attack from a mother protecting her cubs. He writes, “The force of each bite was like a sledgehammer with teeth.” In this article, the writer describes how he used some safety tactics when attacked. These safety tactics saved his life. He goes on further to talk about how he protected vital organs and his neck. His story is another reminder to be especially cautious when in bear country.

            With the right precautions taken, it is easy to enjoy these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat. The first and foremost important thing to remember is safety. To safely be near a grizzly bear or in its territory, knowing as much information about grizzlies is vital. While grizzly bears do not think of humans as a food source, a grizzly’s first instinct is to protect itself. On account of this, grizzlies typically live secluded lives.

Grizzlies live in densely forested areas, traveling to meadows and plains in search of food. Trails of national parks sometimes overlap these regions, making hiking on them a gamble. The primary cause of most attacks is surprising the grizzly bears. Surprising a grizzly protecting its food, its young, or simply walking upon a grizzly in a threatening manner is enough to provoke an attack. If you are walking trails in a national park, or hiking up the slope of a mountain, remember to make as much noise as possible. It is not in a bear’s nature to want to attack.

            If a bear hears noise, it will leave the area. In the off chance of an encounter with a grizzly, it is important to not run. Running will provoke an attack and, let’s face it, it is impossible to outrun a bear. Instead of running, try to move slowly out of the area, avoiding eye contact. A bear will perceive arm waving and speaking softly as a nonthreatening behavior. If a bear charges, prepare to use bear repellent spray. Bear repellent can be purchased at most hunting outlets or can be purchased at shops in national parks. Rangers can teach tourists how to use the bear repellent effectively.

            If in the event that a bear does attack, you are advised to curl into a ball, making no noise and being as still as possible. As stated before, bears are generally docile animals and will not attack if the correct steps are taken.

            Having safety as a priority, it is easy to enjoy witnessing a grizzly in its natural habitat. Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park are popular parks to see grizzly bears and where I, personally, had my first experience with grizzly bears. After a long day of sight-seeing, I had completely given up on spotting a bear. On the way out of Glacier, we noticed a large crowd of people standing in the road, with a ranger’s car nearby. My first thought was that someone had been hurt, until I saw the bear crossing the road. It is advised to be at least five bus lengths away from a grizzly bear when watching one, as not to scare it. Seeing the bear in its natural habitat reminded me of the beautiful, natural wonders this world has to offer.

            There are many places in national parks that offer the chance to see bears in the wild. Some popular places in the Northwest region of the United States include meadows in Yellowstone (especially Belcher Meadows Trails) and sloped mountains in Glacier (Logan Pass at the top of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is where I saw my first bear).

Here, a list of more popular places is provided:

Things to do in Yellowstone 

Where to See Bears in Alaska

Where to go Bear Watching in Canada

Crafting a Campfire Story

By Jeremy Broadwater

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            I can still remember as a young child sitting around the campfire listening to my grandfather and dad telling stories. I can still hear the crackling of the fire wood, the smell of it as it burned. My dad and my grandfather were the storytellers. They would often start every gathering by positioning the firewood and igniting a fire symbolizing the power and light to bring truth.  

We recently celebrated Halloween and generally, if you are like me, you are enjoying nightly gatherings watching horror movies or listening to scary and eerie stories about ghosts, goblins, vampires, and all things that go bump in the night. I have always enjoyed all things of the unknown, whether it is horrifying or some crazy supernatural occurrence that has left my mind boggled.

I remember as a very young child hearing the stories about my family’s history of hauntings and the crazy tales of other beings following them from the old country eons ago. This has always fascinated me to a great degree growing up. I have used horror movies and horror books as sources of influence and fuel to create and tell my own stories. I share them with friends to scare them out of their minds.

           Creating and telling your campfire story takes a lot of skill and imagination. Over time it will become easier and easier to frighten or to wow your listeners. If you can remember your dreams, mainly nightmares, it can help you to spin a great story.

Andrew Blackman, a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, wrote that keeping a “dream” journal can help you create a good story for your campfire gathering. You will be able to recall the dreams on demand after writing them down. If you want to learn more about this, visit Blackman’s at https://writetodone.com/author/andrew/.

Develop a rich vocabulary to vividly describe what the person in a tale is sensing, his/her surroundings, and what missions the hero of your story must accomplish. Vocabulary usage is challenging but essential. I struggle with it. I find it useful to discover new words in the dictionary or a thesaurus. Finding synonyms or antonyms for those words helps me to add depth.

Reading is another way to build your vocabulary. It’s also important to learn from the storytellers of old. Study how they write, including their verbs, modifiers and sentence structures. I found this site to be very helpful: https://wordcounter.net/blog/2014/01/22/1027_25-ways-to-improve-your-writing-vocabulary.html

            Is it stormy or foggy? Create an appropriate atmosphere in your storytelling that mirrors the one you are experiencing in real time. Edger Allan Poe had true-to-life descriptive tales that captured the imagination of thousands, bringing shivers down their spins. You could feel the chill and dampness of the pit in Poe’s chilling tale “Pit and the Pendulum.” You could almost smell the scents of various aromas the characters smelled.

Algernon Blackwood’s tale “Wendigo” makes us feel the night’s bitter, cold air as the campfire’s heat keeps us warm. We hear sticks crack under the feet of something unknown and the sweetened scents of decay from a strange something wondering out in the darkness. We can't see it, but it can see us. We become terrified as we imagine a sleeping Defago experiencing discomfort as when the wendigo lurks just outside of Defago’s and Simson’s tent. Our hearts skip beats as Defago runs outside the tent after hearing the menacing voice of the Wendigo, and it’s there, just beyond the open flaps of the tent.

            What is the nature of your story? Every story needs a moral so that the listeners can learn and take away something valuable. Every story needs a character who takes risks. Only by the grace of God can the character survive till the end. Your story should show the character’s bravery, especially to younger listeners. The hero faces terrors and troubles that would seem be his end, but by some unknown power he never gives up. Like all of us, he might doubt himself. The names of the character need to fit what they symbolize. If you want more information about this, visit https://thewritelife.com/6-creative-ways-to-name-your-fictional-characters/

            Your body movement should also be part of the story. Get into it and act it out as much as you can without being too distracting and goofy. Your facial features should change constantly with the ebb and flow of the story. With body language, you need to figure out the right body postures and the right time to jump scare your audience. It is all in perfect timing. Think of it as a musical piece with everything having its place.

Michael Roth’s research paper titled “The Role of Gestures in Storytelling” explains this very well. His research shows how young children use gestures without any verbal communication present. Body language is a big part of any kind of storytelling. Native Americans use a lot of gestures and dances within their stories.

            When my dad told a story, he would ask us to gather around a fire he built. Neighbors would be invited to join us. He would tell tales about hunting trips that he took with his father and brother. He described the noises and sights in the woods. He also talked about how scared he was as a young boy camping out in the woods and hearing all the night sounds closing in on him. One tale he told was about a screech-owl.

He told his story in casual fashion while sitting in a wooden lawn chair with listeners gathering around him. He would sit upright like a king before his people with his hands on his knees and his head looking forward at us. My dad explained how a screech-owl had scared him witless as a child. Somewhere outside the tent was a monster coming to devour him. My dad signaled with his hands in hypnotizing movements, distorting his face like he was afraid. At the end of his story, he made a silhouette of an owl on the tree above us.  At just the right moment while everybody was staring at the shadow, he would scream and scare us all.  

Like my dad, I have written a campfire story for friends and family called “The Scarecrow Man.” The story is about a working college man named Ted who loves Halloween and enjoys decorating. One of his favorite decorations is a scarecrow he nails to a tree that stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall. The man is awakened by strange noises outside of his bedroom, where the scarecrow stands. When he investigates, he believes he see the scarecrow moving. He quickly comes to the conclusion that he is hallucinating due to exhaustion from lack of sleep. The following evening, however, Ted is faced with a terror beyond imagination. What terror does Ted face? To find out, visit my blog at https://storytellingaroundthecampfire.blogspot.com/. I hope you enjoy it.

How to Prepare for the Bonnaroo Festival

By Sarah Queen

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Imagine arriving to Bonnaroo on a hot summer day. You start to unpack and set up your campsite. But oh no! You forgot to bring a tarp, and it is going to be 90' plus degrees in your tent without any shade! You don’t need to worry. I have been to Bonnaroo, and have you covered on what you need!

Bonnaroo is a music and arts festival that is staged annually in Manchester, Tennessee. In 2019, it will be held June 13-16. Bonnaroo started in 2002 and is held in the Great Stage Park.

Buy your ticket:

The first step planning for Bonnaroo is to make sure you’ve bought your ticket and a car parking pass if you plan to camp. The general admission tickets start off at $274.50 plus fees. The prices will increase the closer Bonnaroo gets. After you have purchased your ticket and registered your wristband, it is time to start packing. You can also add your card to your wristband and pay for everything inside of Roo cashless! This is a good way to avoid people stealing from you.

Selecting your wardrobe:

 If you have been to a music festival before, you know the outfits can be very creative and lively. I plan out an outfit for each day, and I also like to pack a couple extra outfits in case I decide I want to wear something else. It is also important to pack a swimsuit if you want to play in the fountain, even though it is totally acceptable to play in your clothes or underwear, but I prefer my swimsuit. Also, do not forget to pack comfy clothes to sleep in! Getting back to your tent and changing into something more comfortable after a long day of enjoying music is a great feeling.

 You should also bring sandals, towels and shower necessities. Roo has showers you can pay to use, and they also have a happy hour during which the showers are half price. If you do not want to pay for a shower you, can always shower in the mushroom fountain in Centeroo or bring a portable shower! If you do not want to buy a portable shower, I would bring baby wipes and a couple gallons of water to clean yourself with.

Consider the weather:

Last year when I went to Bonnaroo, the weather forecast was sunny for each day, so I pack accordingly. On the last day, Mother Nature changed her mind, and it rained pretty hard all night. This was nice because it cooled the camp down some, and I was able to sleep in. Unfortunately, I did not pack any rain boots or a poncho. When there are thousands of people walking in wet grass, it can turn into mud really quick. Unfortunately, I ruined a pair of shoes, but next year I will make sure I bring my rain boots.

Bathroom Horror:

You also want to bring toilet paper, not only for your campsite, but for when you are in Centeroo as well. Imagine that one of your favorite bands is about to start and you really have to use the bathroom. You leave to go real quick because you want to be sure you have time to make it back before they start. When you arrive at port-a-potties, there is a long line. You notice several empty stalls, so you pick one. After you’ve already started your business, you realize why the stalls were empty. There is no toilet paper! With your bathroom stall being a portapotty, and there being hundreds of strangers on the outside, your options are limited. This is why it is important to bring your own. You would rather be safe than sorry. I suggest bringing someone inside Centeroo with you just in case.

Now you are heading back into the crowd to find your friends. You thought you remembered where they were, but you do not see them anywhere. This is why it is important to bring a totem pole or flag, so your friends can find you in the crowd. I would also set up lights or a flag at your campsite so you can find it easier on the way home at night.

Food:

 Snacks, meals and water are all very important. The food inside of Bonnaroo can get very pricey, so it is important to eat at your campsite before Roo, and you can bring some snacks into Centeroo.

 Now besides all the obvious, you will need to bring camping supplies. Make sure you pack a tent, sleeping bag, and warm clothes. Even though the festival is during the middle of the summer, it can get cold at night, so bring a hoodie!

I also found it very helpful to bring a tarp to put over your tent, and tapestries to put inside of it. They will shade it from the sun some, and they are nice decorations! Sunscreen is also very important, and I brought a couple bottles of Pedalyte (https://pedialyte.com/?gclid=COjy0_mRkN4CFRTvgQodR5MNog ) to help restore some energy the sun took away from me.

Use a Map:

If you have never been to Bonnaroo before, you might want to take a look at the map and lineup to try to become familiar with where the stages are. Last year was my first year attending, and luckily I went with friends who have been multiple times, so they showed me around. If it is your first time going and you do not have any friends who have been before, I would look at the lineup and the map to figure out where you are going. Otherwise you might wait an hour for a set that is at another stage.

You can download a Bonnaroo app that has a mobile schedule and map. It also sends you any important alerts throughout the weekend. Whenever it stormed the last day of Bonnaroo, the phone alerts let us know that Centeroo closed, and what time it reopened!

Basically all that is left is to have a good time and enjoy yourself! Everyone at Bonnaroo is very helpful and friendly. Do not forget to spread good vibes! And remember no music festival is perfect, but you have to make the most out of what you got.

These are just some of the things I thought were important to know before going to Bonnaroo. Here is Bonnaroo’s official checklist, so you can make sure you pack everything you need!

Here is Bonnaroo’s official checklist:

https://www.bonnaroo.com/what-to-pack/

And also a very helpful checklist from Nashville Guru:

http://nashvilleguru.com/11446/bonnaroo-what-to-bring

https://www.bonnaroo.com/

Balance: Priorities, Deadlines and Time Management

By Sarah Hood

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

It is 9 p.m., the night before class. You have just worked a double shift at work, and you are exhausted. You realize that you haven't eaten today, so you run by McDonald's on your way home. Your phone rings, and his face pops up. Chad. You haven't talked to him all day because work was SO busy. You decide to ignore the call and call him back once you get settled and at home. It rings again. And again. And again. You finally answer, and you hear the words that no one wants to hear: "We need to talk. Can you come over?"

Time Management:

Time management plays a huge role in staying on track. According to my own calculations, there are only 168 hours in a week. If a student is working full time, 40 of those hours are spent at work. Out of the 168 hours, 15 hours are spent at school. If you get eight hours of sleep a day, 56 of those hours are spent sleeping. This allows you 28.5 hours a week to study and have social time. You have to be able to manage your time to avoid stress and be able to fit everything into its place. Your time is like a puzzle, and you create the pieces to fit where they need to go. Make a schedule. Get a planner and plan out time for work, school and personal life. Don’t get caught up in a routine. Just go with the plan. Everything else will fall into place.

You frantically drive over to his house, just to remember that today was your one-year anniversary. He meets you at the door with flowers and a kiss. He has made a dinner fit for royalty, but you hate to tell him that you just filled up on that juicy, savory Big Mac. You go in, grab a quick bite, just so he doesn't feel bad that you didn't eat his cooking that he probably spent hours on. Then you sit down on the couch to watch a movie with him, “The Notebook”, your favorite movie. You cuddle up on the couch, and as the movie begins, you begin to dose off. 

Priorites:

In order to stay on task in school, you need to make sure to have priorities. If you want to be able to manage everything going on in your life, you must set your tasks in order of importance. Between school, work and relationships, everything can become very overwhelming. You may find yourself pushing one thing to the side in order to deal with another. You just have to find out which of these has the greatest importance.

 Personally, I believe that school should always have the greatest priority in life. Yes, you must work in order to survive, but if you overwhelm yourself with work, school will fall to the wayside.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/07/10/study-shows-how-working-community-college-students-fared), some 44 percent of students worked “while enrolled in their first year of postsecondary education. This is a large number considering that most students attend class for 15 hours a week. This also goes back to time management. Like I said, everything plays hand in hand.

You jolt awake to the phone ringing. It's Leah, your best friend. You answer, half awake, and she begins to talk frantically into the phone. "Sarah! Did you get the answer to number three? What is he even talking about in that essay question? I know I'm gonna fail. I shouldn't have waited until the last minute to do this exam. It's 10:30! It's due by midnight! What am I going to do?" You quiet her down just to try to figure out exactly what she's talking about. "The midterm exam? Tonight? OH CRAP!" You got so distracted with work and spending time with Chad that you forgot that the midterm was due tonight by midnight. You rush to Chad's computer and attempt to start this exam with no notes, and half asleep. 

Deadlines:

Deadlines play a major role in the stresses of a student. However, they will always be there. Deadlines are deadlines, and that’s why they are deadlines. Motlow State Community College’s Mass Communications professor, Charles Whiting, has learned and grown by meeting deadlines.

“Being able to meet deadlines leads to success, while helping others,” he said. “Disregarding deadlines generally leads to failure. This is especially true for students who are developing the skills, confidence and credibility needed for challenging careers.”

Being a student myself, I struggle with meeting a deadline. In order to meet a deadline, you must prepare. You know when the assignment is due. You know the steps you need to take in order to fully and correctly complete the assignment. You know you can’t finish the assignment two hours before it is due. In order to avoid the stress, allow yourself plenty of time to prepare, brainstorm, study and finish the assignment with plenty of time to look over your assignment before it is due.

I've spent many nights after work trying to cram in homework before I fall out of exhaustion. Being a student isn't easy. Balance isn't something that just happens. You can become overwhelmed WAY too easy. Between making ends meet, to maintaining that GPA, and throw a relationship in there, it can be a horrible whirlwind. If you manage your time, prepare to meet your deadlines, and create priorities, you will notice your stress levels drop tremendously.

Here’s a tip from Professor Whiting: “Take a break (even for a few minutes) to do something you really love. Forget about what’s stressing you for a while. Take a walk, watch a movie, or bang on the piano. Read a good book. Joke and laugh with someone. Even walking around for a few minutes can relieve creativity-stealing stress. Say to yourself, ‘I can do this. I’ve been given talents that no one else has, and I love what I do.’ Remember some of the encouraging things people have said to you, and seek reassurance if needed. Know that your professors believe in you as they push and challenge you toward success. You can do it!”