ANDY’S WORLD

Cliches can be Our Friends

Writing songs, poetry or even short stories for a magazine, sometimes you look for the perfect word. If you have any integrity, you ALWAYS look for the perfect word. Since I have none, I tend toward cliches.

I recently ran across a list (you can find it online) of 681 cliches that should NEVER be used in writing. This irritated me, mostly for four reasons: 1. Cliches can be a colorful, imaginative use of our language. Generations come up so fast that there are always a great number of cliches that are actually new to the “new” people, and some learning can literally take place in the process of investigating the origins of cliches in the context of our language. 2. Cliches have been around for a long time, tested and true (there’s a great cliche). That’s how they get to be cliches. 3. There are so many cliches on that stupid list that without them you might not be able to speak English, and finally, 4. Who died and left them God?

So, being the contrary being that I am, I decided to write a cliche piece in protest. Why not?

I may be labeled a pain in the neck, or accused of having an ax to grind, but all’s fair in love and war, and I figure it’s all in a day’s work, so what the heck? It could be a rough row to hoe, but another day another dollar. That’s six, and we’re still in the A’s.

A word to the wise, as luck would have it, most people that overuse cliches are a good kind soul, a far cry from dull, simply using what they heard from their folks. You know, a chip off the old block.

Blood is thicker than water, and in a family there is one who is always the Big Cheese, bigger than life, a big fish in a small pond. The one who has so many colorful turns of phrase it is like a badge of honor. As a young writer, I always wondered if I could cut the mustard. By hook or by crook, I left home and got into radio, where I was as busy as a bee for many years as a copy/commercial writer and on-air personality.

When I was called onto the carpet on my last radio job, it sort of opened a can of worms. I felt caught in the crossfire of wanting to freelance, and my passion for radio. I was chomping at the bit to do both, but got the cold shoulder from radio. I played it close to the vest and decided to cross that river when I got to it.

Day in and day out, I had done the dog and pony show of early morning radio for years, it was dog-eat-dog, and I was dog-tired. I didn’t burn any bridges, didn’t step on any toes, just drew the line and began thinking of myself as a dyed-in-the-wool creative.

Since I had an eagle eye for spotting creative work, which came as easy as pie to me, I kept my ear to the ground for gigs and jobs, which evened the playing field for me, and finally told radio, eat your heart out.

So, full steam ahead, feast or famine, I decided to find out if my 15 minutes of fame had expired, or if I was still a force to be reckoned with.

I got a leg up with several local play dates in clubs and restaurants. Getting my feet wet was a good idea, and soon I was going for broke, going the extra mile, and my music career began growing like a weed.

I can’t say it’s ever been hand to mouth. I’ve always been pretty spoiled. But I’m as happy as a clam doing freelance creative work. I have always had high hopes and occasionally we hit pay dirt with a big road gig or a stadium show.

Still, to anyone that says it’s easy, I beg to differ.

You can get in over your head in a jiffy if you don’t know what you’re doing. In this day and age, it goes without saying that it doesn’t pay to live in an ivory tower. You have to be a jack of all trades to jockey for position, especially if you are a Johnny come lately. But be fearless! Jump in with both feet! Keep a stiff upper lip! Keep your eyes open! Keep your chin up! Keep your powder dry! Keep your fingers crossed! Knuckle down! You’ll knock it out of the park! I know you will!

Last but not least, in order to land on your feet, you must be sure that what you do is a labor of love. You must look before you leap, always live and learn, and above all, don’t lose your head.

Make hay while the sun is shining but remember: Making money hand over fist isn’t the object. If you think it is, you’ve missed the boat. I’m out of space, but by FAR not out of cliches.

Well, no use crying over spilled milk.

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF Andy is a local artist, singer and songwriter, and has called Amarillo home for more than 20 years. He plays at a variety of live music venues throughout the Panhandle. Contact Andy at 376-7918.