MAB Q&A

Justin,

your link didn't work [for me]. It took me to a login screen, but after I logged in, it said no videos found?

phil g.

Phil, I've been working on "Bored Games" to play out tomorrow night (and in my Oct./Nov.+ shows), and am excited!!  It's really going to be fun!!  As soon as I get a good recording of it, I'll put it up (or send it to you, as I'm having trouble uploading songs here lately)!  Look forward to seeing you at Frank Brown (if not sooner, if you're coming to Nashville before)!!  

That is awsome RiDawn. MAB sent me a great recording of him singing the song, but I think your version will be better, SINCE, it IS a girl's song. LOL! He even sent me a guy's 3rd person version of the lyrics so I could learn it. I will see you in Nov. at Frank Brown. Won't make it back to Nashville before then. Maybe MAB will bring you up to do the song live? Would be great!

phil g.

                                                                              KIDS

Hey folks. Yesterday was one of those days that can make you feel both OLD AS HELL and totally out of touch, and a bit proud at the same time. Trying to write with three women and coming up with NOTHING, shows the humanity we all deal with from time to time, and then watching several of my "students/friends" on display, one even winning a contest, was a long but interesting day. And just the overall aspect of living in this town, the cool the strange, all made for an interesting day.

The writing session was between three of the girl's I work with, Alice Bargeron, Shelagh Brown and of course, our little maiden here, RiDawn Rae. Was an interesting day.

There is a saying here I like to call "Who gets the coffee?"
It actually comes from Ralph Murphy and it speaks to the things that happen sometimes in co-writing. Sometimes, no matter how experienced, or talented a writer or artist might be, they just come up BLANK when it comes to working on a song. They don't seem to get any ideas, have any inspiration, they just come up dry. That person "GOES AND GETS THE COFFEE." The other writer or writers do the "Heavy lifting."
Sometimes in that same situation the same writer is ON FIRE, hitting on all cylinders, coming up with lyrics, music, brilliance all over the place. The other people barely get anything in. They go "GET THE COFFEE."

It happens to all of us. Even the MAB. Yesterday was one of those days. The three girls did very well, which in fact I was really hoping for. The main reason for the session, aside from me enjoying being around my peeps, was Shelagh coming into town. It has been about three years since she was able to make a trip, her Father's unfortunate passing, dealing with jobs, school, family, and of course, the inevitable BOYFRIEND, and life just got in the way. So with her coming down, I wanted to get her around some other writers and I did.
Alice happened to be on this day, she and Shelagh hit a really good groove and then doggone if RiDawn didn't start jumping in there at just the right time with just the right word. It is funny how that works.

Not only did I "get the coffee' but I spent most of my time getting the lunch! I'd love to take credit and say I did it all on purpose to "let them work', but I really just didn't have anything. They were in the zone and I didn't want to get in the way. But I have to say I did enjoy watching them work. They did very well. And with a time limit coming down on them, they FINISHED the song just in time. Very good job womenzes!!!! Was a pleasure to be there. 
All three of them liked the song and so I hope they will want to perform it.

After that, I had to rehearse a few things with RiDawn and Shelagh for the next part of the adventure. Alice is hosting a Monday night song contest at 360 Burger. Now, you all know my opinion of contests, I am not a particular fan, but do enjoy the fact that they force people to be on top of their game. I was playing guitar for Shelagh and RiDawn to get them out performing and to support Alice. They were doing three of the songs I had written with them and one of Shelagh's. Had to be on my stuff as well. Hard to remember all these things.

The contest was a pretty big one. About 14 participants, all doing two songs each. Pretty much all of them young kids. Of course, everyone is young now. But it was pretty cool. So many of the artists are just copies of other artists. It is terrible to do, but you almost catagorize people when they get up. The "Emo" Halloween costumed pair from West Tennessee, trying to be a new Johnny and June, and missing pretty tremendously. The 16 and 17 year old girls, with their parents, grandparents, all trying to find their way, doing songs about... well, I don't really know what they were about. The kind of'off kilter" New Yorkers, doing some kind of music that you really can't identify, a lot of "Americana" type stuff, that doesn't really have a catagory, a couple of interesting girl's here and there, an older guy from California, who sounds... a little older, a "backward cap act' doing songs about trucks, surprised there wasn't more of those.

There were actually two winners. One from the judge, who is an industry bass player and producer named "Brotherman" (his actual last name) who has been around for many years, and has cut a couple of my songs over the years, and the crowd, which could judge also, writing down their favorites. The "crowd" winner, was another student of mine, Beth Anderson, from Canada, who I have not seen for a while. Good voice, and did some good songs.
And the judge favorite was a 17 year old cute girl, who just moved here from Orlando, with her Mom in tow. Nice folks. I couldn't exactly place who that girl sounded like but it was some artist out there, you could tell she was influenced by.

My girls both did very well if they had had a decent guitar player. They weren't so much "competing" as showcasing. I wanted Shelagh to keep performing when she is in town, and RiDawn is now starting play out. We will play there again tomorrow night. I was very proud of both of them. Especially RiDawn, who was very nervous because JIMBEAU showed up! He had just gotten back from Miami where his movie was shown, and the whole crew, Susie, Tommy, Brenda and Jimbeau showed up. RiDawn was really on edge, but having her husband Tom, there, and me pushing her got her up there. She is getting much better with ennunciation. And being comfortable on stage.
Shelagh has a great range, and kicked butt. I was a bit on edge backing her up with a song I had only heard yesterday, but it came together fine. I was tickled with both of them. You have to be able to sit back and let the songs and their presentation take over and see how it affects people. I felt they did great jobs, and I of course would have voted for those two. But I was not a judge.

Beth ended up doing one that she wrote with me and Alice and it is funny hearing these things a few years after writing them. Takes a minute to realize that you were a writer on the song, but it all comes back. Good to hear it.

Then, of course, I got Jimbeau up and we did a couple. I think we were both pretty tired and did less than stellar performances, but we managed to get through it okay.

I'll tell you how hard it is to get and keep attention these days, this group of younger people, don't pay a lot of attention. A few glow songs and conversations going on even during me and Jimbeau. We are pretty hard to ignore. I kind of hate it because they all could do with a few lessons here and there. One of the things I see missing from so many people who come into this town is they don't  LISTEN. Are only interested in themselves. But when you know what it is about and expect it, it makes sense. I don't want to get into a "back in my day' thing, but I do wish they would take advantage of having a monster writer like Jimbeau in their midst. Oh well.

The overall experience was interesting. Interesting to see new people in town, interesting to see interaction, interesting to be able to take a back seat and just kind of watch everyone else. A lot of songs in there. 
Maybe I can actually get back to writing those sometimes.

MAB 

Sorry, had all that to get out of the way while I still tried to remember it. Didn't mean to ignore what you were talking about. 

OD, you are culling down your collection eh? Yeah, I'm doing that myself. When you grow up playing guitar, it seems that is all you want to do. Collect guitars. Every time I go back to my Mother's house, I find all these scrap books, posters, pictures, of guitars I collected when I was younger. I have tons of them and then a bunch that I drew. I used to think I was going to be an artist. I sucked, but could draw a pretty damn good Stratocaster. I even have the first FENDER catalogue I ever got. Lusted for a white Strat, just like George Harrison played in Concert for Bangledesh. I spent hours by myself learning that album, and others. That's really how I learned to play. Being left handed, it was hard to find guitars. Ordered a Strat from Fender that never came. So my Mother got me an Ibanez copy of it. Still have the magazine ad where I found out about that one too. LOL! Yeah, I was a guitar nut for a while.

Then as we grow older, they tend to just take up room. I have nine of them. That old white Ibanez, a black real Strat, (Mexican), a black Telecaster, two Taelors,  a Martin, the Breedlove, a Yamaha, and a few others with no real names, including an acoustic bass just for kicks. Have a few out there, a Les Paul copy, a Precision bass, and a couple more i don't even know what they are. All WAY TOO MANY! So I am doing the same as OD. Trying to get rid of a few. 
And due to a LOT of house construction over the past couple months, you realize how much you relish the space. I am surprised Tina Dee Babe, hasn't had a  big bonfire or yard sale. Day ain't over yet.
But it is nice to have some space.  Shows you what you can live without. I don't know that I'll ever get rid of all mine, but am trying to sell one that I can't play.

Was glad that you spent time OD, on Justin's song. I thought you took it in a good direction and hope you guys can get something together for it. sometimes it is hard to interact on someone else's story. But I think you did it well there. You have come a long way from those old days. You've learned well.

Kevin and Ott, always good to hear from you guys. What's going on in the outside world there? Nice to know what you guys are doing.  I feel its important to everyone putting in elements about what their journey is doing, Shows how much relativity there is going on.

Justin, that link didn't work for me either. Sorry. couldn't get to your song. Let me know if it is somewhere else I can take a look at. 

Phil, we are working every few days at getting RiDawn up to speed on all the songs. Bored games is the next up in the rotation. Will actually play it tomorrow night. Every one of these are kind of "live rehearsals." There is something you can't rehearse until you are in front of an audience. We hope to have her CD together before long. But we are not under any real pressure. Just taking it slowly. I like to write them, rehearse them, play them,record them. So this will be a new step toward that. I am hoping she makes it down to Frank Brown and I will get her up to do some there.

RiDawn, would be kind of cool if you gave your perceptions of the show last night. I always like the other viewpoints. Did I hit it or miss something?

A light day today. Waiting to work on the house a bit. Here if you need me.

MAB 

Ooooops! Guess I forgot to post this. If you click on Justin's Face Book link in his post, it will take you to a page where he has posted the song, "There Is A Road", by him and Bretten Low. I guess that is the song he wants feed back on?

phil g.

NO   link!!

John W., Justin's comment brings up a question. I thought I remembered a comment from you or another admin type about there being a way to upload songs into some kind of "invitation only" area, and we could invite friends to listen to and critique the song. But the only thing I've been able to figure out is to upload songs and publish them, which puts them in the open mic area for everyone to listen too. So, is there an area similar to the old "Private Listening Room"? And if so, how do we get songs there?

phil g.

Morning folks,

Phil, one of the reasons we have developed the thread this way is to get to know people personally. This morning I, and I believe you, Od, and other's got a private email from Justin with the song included. This is actually the point, where you can get personal information, irrespective of other's opinions. When you have multiple people saying roughly the same thing, you get a sense of where you need to go. Or, if everyone is all over the map, you get a sense of going with your gut.

I would be interested in hearing what other people say AFTER he has time to digest it. But if you have people who you trust their opinions, it makes it easier to get a lot of information.

MAB 

MAB, yes, i did get the e-mail. But my question to John and Admin was, I thought there was supposed to be a way to get that private feedback right here on this site, without having to use outside e-mail.

I guess you would like a private message or e-mail from me about what I told Justin? I'll go retrieve the sent e-mail and save it for when you want my input. Also, should we all be sharing our feed back with each other? This kind of sharing private input was what I thought was supposed to be available on this site.

phil g.

Phil,

No, that is why I said, it would be AFTER he made changes or getting his thoughts, or possibly never. It is private.  On times that I have done that, where I might have two or more co-writers, all making notes, getting their own opinions, then going to the studio and implementing what I believe is right. Also, when writing with multiple performers, EACH performer doing a version. I have one song, TRYING MY BEST TO LIVE, that has three distinct versions, one with Allen Shervelle, one with Norm Bradley, and one of my own. In it they do different bridges. I don't do a bridge at all, I do a double chorus. 

So there are ways to do multiple versions of songs, get outside opinions and take it all into consideration. At times, I have feedback that I just plain don't agree with. But have been able to do alternative versions so that everyone gets what they need. There are many occassions of songs even becoming big hits and having other parts that didn't get recorded.

There was actually a third verse to "FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES" that was not done by Garth on the recording, but was done live. And of course, the real story behind Joe Cocker's version of "YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL" is that he was too drunk to deliver the second verse or the bridge. So they just had one verse and three choruses, which was actually only one chorus, but was just cut and pasted so it was done three times. Editing can be a pretty interesting thing.

When it comes to someone like Justin, who is relatively new to writing, he needs to get imput and has been around everyone long enough to understand where they come from. So he can take it as he needs it. But since he is in Texas, generally working with Texas artists, he might even keep it like it is. Always the writers perogative. 

As far as "private messages" on this site, I think people still can do that. I have gotten them from most of you on here.And sent a few to each of you. All in learning about the site I guess.

MAB 

Phil, just wanted you to know MAB and I are doing "BORED GAMES" tonight at 360 Burger  It's my first time singing it out -- soooo excited!!  I can't wait for you to have a copy of it with vocals   Working on that, I promise!

 To  get /send private messages you  need to be a "friend".  This prevents spamming  from folk you dont know

 John

Hi  Phil,

Post this question in the feedback  forum  so that All can see it  not just users of this thread.  I know we had a PLR  kind of thing. I havent  used it myself  but Ed will answer that question if you post it

john

Thank you John,

I had thought this was something still on here. I have gotten private messages from different people. Thanks for helping in it.
MAB 

                                                        FRIENDLY CRITIQUES

I know a lot of people don't "feel qualified" to give critiques on songs.The reality is that none of us are probably qualified on any of this. They are just opinions. But I'd like to think that on these boards, everyone kind of has done a lot of research on their own and other people's songs. So I would be more inclined to listen to people here. Simply because everyone thinks a little more from more varied angles than a lot of places. Here we talk about dealing with the marketplace, artists, publishers, making impact in our own communities, etc. So I think you are all pretty qualified.

Some of us have gotten a message and song from justin, seeking some imput and I gave mine. A few guides on critiquing songs are to be AS SPECIFIC AS YOU CAN in them. I like to break it down to melody, lyrics, tone, groove, and give an overall opinion of the song. This could be obscure. Sometimes I will say "There is nothing WRONG with this song, just not enough RIGHT with it." What that means usually is just that the song doesn't grab me. 
This happens with a LOT of songs, even my own. We get into a lot of "good ideas at the time" songs that seem really great at a certain time in our lives, or in the heat of the moment writing something. Getting some space in between you and the song, might help. I have listened to songs in the morning and felt great about them, and then in the afternoon just change my mind on them.

The truth is that our opinions will change. So when you are giving yours, keep that in mind. Sometimes you might want to give a
a second or even third listen to a song. Never know what might grab you later.

MAB 

                                                           OFF TO MISSISSIPPI

Well, early tomorrow morning, Ms. Dee Babe and I will be headed south to OCEAN PARK MISSISSIPPI, to attend the third annual MISSISSIPPI SONGWRITER'S FESTIVAL. I have been hearing about it for a while and TRIED everything to get booked. My Friend, Karen Reynolds, had been trying to get me on, but nothing ever happened. I called several times, emailed, facebooked, all to no avail. So I will not be booked. But I am going.

The way most of these things work is that the first time you attend and be a part of the festivities. IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOU, FIRST SUPPORT THEM!!!! That is what we are doing. Thanks to Ms. Dee Babe's tremendous amounts of SOUTHWEST POINTS, we are able to fly, rent a car, and actually have a relaxing trip. Really looking forward to it. And to NOT TO HAVE TO BE ON A SCHEDULE is a pretty cool thing. Usually I am rushing around trying to be five places at one time. So this should be an easy one. 

What I hope to do is see some friends, and get a sense of another songwriter's festival. I think these things are very important. Of course we get to know our peers and possible co-writers, but get to be a part of something larger than ourselves. So I think it is all going to be a good thing. And I hope I can get considered for next year's fest.

Will be checking in and let you know of any advances. I'll, as always be pitching the Ramp,so don't be surprised if we pick up a few new faces around. 

Tonight is a good show featuring myself and RiDawn Rae. I have a real  special place for RiDawn, not only because she is just a great friend and very good singer, great personality and sort of kind of cute. She is a GREAT SPIRIT. And she has been working hard to get herself up to speed with her songs, her performance and her networking. This week she wrote with Alice Bargeron and Shelagh Brown, is actively putting herself out there, and doing it all IN ADDITION to a wife, stepmother, caregiver for her Mother, and a lot going on. 
We'll be doing several of the songs from her upcoming project I hope to produce in the next few months. One of which is a song, BORED GAMES that we wrote with Phil when he was in town last time. That is the ULTIMATE purpose for this thread, in my opinion. Bringing people together that might otherwise never meet. And it is always fun to see where things go when you get three people in a room, throwing stuff out there. Always a hoot.

Hopefully she'll be checking back in and let you know how she feels about it.

MAB 

Sometimes a  great arraangement can totally change a "meh " song too.

2 examples. There are many many  more  going way  back.

 I always thought  the Beatles " A little help from my friends" was too lame for a Beatles song. Then I heard Joe Cockers version.

The song was the same   but the performance and arrangement  were WOW!!!

different era  and genre..

Frank Sinatra  "New York New York"   And  Cat Power  version . Franks was ok  for the what and when  but totally revitalised by Cat Power.

So.. Even a good  but still Meh  song  can be lifted  IF  you are an artist too and  have a gifted producer/Arranger/engineer on your  team

It comes back to ..

backing  your judgement with cash  and having CONTACTS that can lead you to the production team  and being  open  to  new ideas of how the song could sound

my 2c

john

If you have any  issues or  comments about how the site works  or any  ideas for improvements , this is where you should post them as well as  commenting  here in Marcs forum.

https://www.songramp.net/forum/thread/40/observations-bugs-issues/

 John

MAB,

I got the Kid's email and tried to offer some constructive criticism like;  "you don't look as fat as you used to" , and "now that you have two guitars, try learning how to play 'one' of them" .  I do try and support the Kid in his efforts.

Hey MAB,  I hope you and RiDawn Raelette have a great show tonight.  I applaud the girl for stepping on the stage and performing her songs.   I also give her "pats on the back"  for working music in with all of her other obligations.  I was always impressed with her possitive attitude in her posts.

I hope you and Tina have a safe trip and enjoy yourselves at the Festival.  Sounds like a great time.

OD

PS........ A Shout Out To My Buddies,  Philboy, KevMo, Ott, and EddieR.

RiDawn, you are such a sweet heart! I am waiting to hear you sing our song, but there really is no rush. As a matter of fact, I'm still trying (a little) to learn the male version so I can do it at an open mic here. I do need some help from MAB though. I'm gonna have to break down and embarrass myself and PM him for the help.

OD and MAB, it looks like the three of us have responded to Justin. Don't know about Melissa. Are we supposed to share all of our critiques now? BTW eveyone else. PLEASE don't feel slighted by Justin. He and I, Melissa, and OD have all worked directly with MAB, some of us at the same time, and that is why he wanted us to give him feedback.

John, I will post my question in the Observations thread. Thanks.

phil g.

Philboy,

I was included on Miss Meliss's email but not on you and MAB's.  No problem, maybe you guys wanted to keep it personal between you and Justin.  I was just curious how all of you reacted to Justin's song and what advise you gave.  Just being nosey, and trying to learn something too because I'm one of those that doesn't feel qualified to offer advise (even though I do).

About Miss Meliss's response,  she was more interested in what the Old Dog was wearing than in Justin's song.  Ha!!!

OD

Well, since both Marc & OD mentioned my name, I thought I'd update (tried last night, but the computer froze and swallowed my missive). One of the things I do with my tunes is put them on YouTube. I have a friend in London, England who does lyric videos at a very reasonable price, and frequently adds special effects. He's done over 20 for me. We posted my latest tune, "All Fall Down My Rabbit Hole", on YouTube last month. Last week, I posted it up here on Open Mike, and just tonight I uploaded it to the Videos tab of this site. Listens and comments appreciated.  Ott

Phil and the gang .... Just wanted to chime in on MAB's take on the recent shows Alice Bargeron, Shelagh Brown, MAB and myself were participating in.  I echo MAB's words to the tee, and want to add that it is surreal for me to have sung in front of over 2500 people, on a huge stage, dressed in glamour gowns with the best sound and lighting and FRESH blood every performance (both mine and the patrons), as my audience was literally held captive as they were aboard a ship!     I got spoiled by that, AND ... UGH ... it was over 20 years ago!! :O  Oh how we relish our glory days, eh?  Getting PAID too!  What a concept here in NashVegas.  Anyway, my point is ... I was a nervous wreck in a little bar with no more than 50 people max, with no chance of losing a paying gig for lack of stellar performance, and no pressure whatsoever.  Basically, it was, and was suppose to be, a dress rehearsal for my upcoming 'coming out' party, lol, in November at the Commodore here in Nashville.  THAT show is what I'm gearing up for and really want to be sure I put my best everything out there for.  I use to do writer's nights when I first moved here 18 years ago, and as I've said before, bla bla bla bla excuses and finally got my inspiration back thanks to (drumroll here, sincerely), Marc-Alan!!  Just because I've been around this business for 18 years doesn't mean I actually learned much :O   I'm learning now though, and no matter how discouraging the biz side reality is, I won't let it steal my joy of writing and performing.  Not any more.  Not when I have Marc-Alan to teach me, patiently I might add, to fish (so to say) so I can feed myself!  I hope to work with Marc ongoing for the rest of my life, but I'm excited he is teaching me the tools to be able to attract other writers to WANT to write with me, and to scout out other new artists to write with and to NETWORK my ass off!!  I promise to get some of my new stuff up as soon as I can figure out how, and have good working versions at least.  I'm hoping that every writer gets to take one of his Nashville Tours and get to write a song with him through that, and benefit from all he teaches and the musical relationships he creates and helps writers create!   MAB bragged on us girls in his tread, but let's talk about HIS performances for a minute  Even on his tiredest, worn-out day (and who wouldn't have those after listening to as much, hmmm, non-ear candy performance as he has do).  He kicks the butts of all the rest of us on stage.  He doesn't REALIZE that on those days, but it's true.  He knows how to sell a song, and he writes songs that are hits (whether some of them have been picked up by industry yet or not)!!  I'm nagging him to play some of his older songs as well as new, because I'm telling you, he continues to blow my away with his quality of catalog!!  He did "The Heart Still Knows" (I got to sing back-up, woo hoo!) and "Can't Blame Nobody But Me" and the crowd eats him up!!!  He always brings peeps, is quiet while others are performing, orders food and drinks to support the venue AND plays for several of us, helps Alice with sound, fills in if someone no-shows and never complains about it!  He is a true professional.  He has his beautiful love,Tina, to keep him inspired, and a great bunch of friends that love his music and him personally.  That's the goal, I'd say!  We can bring it! We just gotta keep plugging along, AND if any of you know people thinking of moving to Nashville or just wanting to write killer songs for their town 'til they're so big they have a demand here ... MAB's the one to send 'em to. I'm hoping for their sake, they get MAB'd first, before they spend any unnecessary $$ and get misinformed by know-it-alls that don't  So, Marc, THANK YOU for everything you bring, do, teach, all the crazy humor you inject into every part of the process!!   You are pricelesss!!  Okay, getting typers-cramp so on to domestic goddess chores for now, lol!

Hey folks from MISSISSIPPI,

The "kick off party" was last night and I got to meet a lot of the festival orgainizers and a lot of the people involved here. It was kind of funny because I know about half of the artists on the festival and they were all pretty surprised when I just showed up out of the blue. Tina and I spent most of the night, having the hit writers talk about me, and introducing me to principal people as "YOU'VE GOT TO GET THIS GUY ON HERE!!!" That is a nice feeling. My Buddies "Tommy Barnes (Indian Outlaw) and Jim Femino (Just got Started Loving You) were my biggest supporters and it was great getting to hang out with them. 

A big deal was seeing my friend KAREN REYNOLDS here. Karen is from Knoxville, and did that radio show that put the songs of my co-writer on so his "dying sister could hear those songs on the radio." And of course the sister was a hypocondriac and NOT dying! But Karen was a gem and has become a good friend. Her being here is something of a miracle.  Last week she was feeeling some shortness of breath and blacked out. Then she spent a week in the hospital and nearly died due to a blockage in her heart. They also told her that she would never sing again. 
A week later she is here and onstage. A great story and I'm so glad to see and hear her. She sounded great.

We had to get in early because Tina is working over here in the hotel room which is why I am in the hotel lobby typing this for you. In a bit I am going over to the main hotel where everyone stays and start my little move to get on the festival next year.

The reason they do it here is that Elvis used to come over here and stay in this one hotel.He could rent out a bunch of rooms and go to the beach, and be as low key as he could be as Elvis. The main hotel is where he stayed and his room is the main hospitality room. Looking forward to seeing that. Will let you know how it goes. 
The main shows are tonight and there are about seven different venues all within a pretty close proximaty to each other. So it should be easy to walk to them all and I will be pulling some surprises on people. I hope some might get me up to do a song or two,which is why I have my guitar with me. Have guitar will travel. Be prepared.

RiDawn, thank you so much for the kind words. That was a great description of what is going on and thank you for the plug for my services. I am very proud of you and what you are doing. And I want to kick those "discounters" in their teeth when you hit full stride. I believe you will.

I am very much for the "little man/woman" trying to do this writing thing. Getting cuts and deals are not the most important thing. If I can help guide someone to get outside of themselves, make strides in the right direction and prove some naysayers wrong here and there, that is what I am about. 
And there are a lot of stories.

Last night I spent a lot of time talking to a really nice guy. He is 75 years old and "should have made the Nashville trip years ago." He talks about all the things he thinks he could do if "only given the chance." That is the problem, most of us are never "given the chance" and we have to be prepared to find ways to make our own chances. We have to find our own spots and be great when they come our ways.And we have to be on top of our game. Most people never realize where  the game IS. I tried to do my best to explain it to him. I feel I'll probably hear more from him in the future.

We are having a pretty spirited discussion with Justin on one of his songs and I hope he will bring it here to continue it. One of the main reasons we do this thread the way we do is to go "behind the song' and find ways to help everyone. Justin is trying hard to be in the thick of things and is to be saluted in his efforts. He is working with artists, finding more all the time and making great strides. But the more he does it, the more he realizes how much it takes to really be a part of this game. The bar always gets higher and you are always trying to top yourself. If he brings the discussion over here that will be cool, but he has contacted a few of us privately and gotten some feedback. That is what this is about, building those friendships. All of you seem to be doing that. Thanks for being here.

MAB