Journal
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Working with Steve
10/22/2025 By Joy Lynn Clark I already had my own apartment on the southside with my boyfriend who was a dance dj. After I had just done the Jerry Springer Show, I met my first producer at a rap concert. We went to some cool clubs and he introduced me different artists in the cities’ local music scene. I felt guilty going out to meet a man that’s not my boyfriend but I wanted to do more hip/hop and EDM and my boyfriend was more of a old school/deep house/disco dj. He reluctantly accepted that I am trying to further my own career. I felt guilty because he seemed to…
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Jennifer and Joy
09/20/2025 By Joy Lynn Clark I was struggling as a single parent when I moved back home with my parents. It was a humbling experience. At first I worked as a weekend hostess on the breakfast shift at the local diner where I saw all of my former classmates. I held my head up and showed every last one of them to their tables. I also attended bartending school where I earned my certificate. I still had my hopes for radio and television so I kept sending my resume around. I said goodbye to all of my friends on the breakfast shift and started tending bar just 10 minutes from…
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Strange Case
By Joy Lynn Clark 09/06/2025 In spring of 2019 soon after the rains, I decided to lease a studio in the Mellwood Arts Building in Louisville. The space was very industrial and home to several arts groups. My studio was nestled between a dance, pottery, and wax studios (candlemaking). I had just recently met the potters assistant and she said something like, “in training”. I never met the candle maker but, I saw those dancers all the time at first. I ended up deciding to work the graveyard shift after my foul debut singing, “Prostitute” at the very top of my lungs. “Oops” I think to myself as the ballerinas…
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I am a human being
08/25/2025 By Joy Lynn Clark Somebody decided to take all of my money with a cell note, claiming that I could not be paid for owing this phone bill. The next company decided that I was not allowed to change my phone number. I kept asking myself, “Do I need to walk around with this phone bill and show people that it was in fact paid off?” My banker asked to see my rental lease in order to allow me to be paid. “Rent lease? I don’t think that’s appropriate.” . . . So I brought in a commercial lease and added it to my business account. They had every…
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Flights
07/15/2025 By Joy Lynn Clark I had just quit my job at a software company to do freelance work when my stepmother called. “I have great news!” she announces. “We are going to Europe to visit your brother on base.” She adds. “Europe? I thought that he was in Texas.” I comment. “He is actually in Europe so get your passport and start packing.” My stepmom says. After I hung up the phone I sigh as I realize that I am going to have to, “resume download” for this huge presentation that I am working on. Seems easy enough but it is barely the year 2000 and I have a…
