Phil,
I just hope "she" doesn't turn into what most people's equipment turn into, "Old Doorstop", "Old Coat hanger" "Old Excercise equipment." Nice guitar. Just make sure you get out and use it! And don't forget your acoustic, because until you get a band behind you, those electrics can be PRETTY THIN on the solo stuff.
J.I.M.M.YYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Man it is good to see you again. Damn if you don't show up in the weirdest things, and always with MORE KIDS!!! Geeze boy, don't you know how to stop that stuff? LOL! Was great to see all of you recently. Hope to see you out more soon.
That is so funny hearing you talk about your first experience in town. Last night we had our first "WELCOME TO NASHVILLE" mixer event in town. About 65 people, mostly new young artists, ALL had that same look. They all have that "WAIT'LL THEY GET A LOAD OF ME!!!!!" Look. Check back in three months newbies!!!! Those that are still here.
The REALITY CHECK factor hits pretty hard in this town. We see it nightly on the writers nights, open mics, stages all over town. All these newcomers will get in, and doing their songs. They line up at the Bluebird, sit all night at Douglas Corner, come to Sams Jams (Happening today, by the way.) They hear mostly people like themselves, just mediocre songs and performances. They get a flase sense of security, most are not as good as they are, and they think, "wow, this ain't so hard!"
Then they have one of the heavy hitters pop up. Some times they have been sitting right beside some monster writer or player and didn't even know it. Sometimes the waiters, waitresses or bartenders come out and play a song.
AND BAM!!!! they are slapped right between the eyes. And that feeling you felt in July 2012 hits home. "IF THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE DEALS, WHAT THE HELL AM I EVEN THINKING?"
Happens to all of us. My first "guitar pull" in town was in a room with about thirty in the big circle. I was pretty secure in my own stuff, and had been playing around and getting the pat on the back people all over. They were approaching me left and right. Record company people, publishing people, hit writers. I was THE STUFF!!!!
Then I get invited to this "private party" of a big Nashville money person. I can't remember where it was but it was a HUGE HOUSE I think in Belle Meade. I'm sitting there in this big group of people and suddenly there was one person after another doing HIT SONGS I HAVE HEARD ON THE RADIO. As it came around it was just one hit after another. I was still fine, but got a little less confident with each person as it swung my way. But I stood my ground.
Then I get invited to this "private party" of a big Nashville money person. I can't remember where it was but it was a HUGE HOUSE I think in Belle Meade. I'm sitting there in this big group of people and suddenly there was one person after another doing HIT SONGS I HAVE HEARD ON THE RADIO. As it came around it was just one hit after another. I was still fine, but got a little less confident with each person as it swung my way. But I stood my ground.
THEN, it got to the guy sitting next to me. I had seen him before. He was this really older guy, shock white hair, and drinking a white Russian. As everyone played, he just kind of sat there, not really smiling, not saying anything, not really clapping, like the rest of us. I was thinking "Hey Pops! Wait'll you get a load of ME!!" There's a new sherrif in town.
Then he just starts playing his song and I nearly CRAPPED IN MY PANTS!!! It was "I'VE GOT A TIGER BY THE TAIL" by BUCK OWENS. That guy was HARLAND HOWARD!!!!! I nearly died!!!! But had to keep my cool. I thought about shaking his hand but had seen him earlier around some other people and Harland didn't SHAKE HANDS! He thought everyone was idiots and didn't suffer newcomer fools easier. Years later I see he was right.
I did my song, CAN'T BLAME NOBODY BUT ME" and got a huge reaction. I thought 'THIS IS IT!!!! I'VE MADE IT!!!!" The applause went on for a few seconds then quieted down. The guy on my other side, pulls out this incredible fast chicken pickin stuff that nearly knocked me off my stool again. BLAZING FAST GUITAR WORK and he was playing LEADS AND RHYTHM at the same time. I was hoping my jaw didn't hit the floor. THEN...HE STARTS SINGING. This high tenor voice that sounded like nothing I had EVER BEEN CLOSE TO! He just blew everything away!!! He did shake hands and introduced himself.
I did my song, CAN'T BLAME NOBODY BUT ME" and got a huge reaction. I thought 'THIS IS IT!!!! I'VE MADE IT!!!!" The applause went on for a few seconds then quieted down. The guy on my other side, pulls out this incredible fast chicken pickin stuff that nearly knocked me off my stool again. BLAZING FAST GUITAR WORK and he was playing LEADS AND RHYTHM at the same time. I was hoping my jaw didn't hit the floor. THEN...HE STARTS SINGING. This high tenor voice that sounded like nothing I had EVER BEEN CLOSE TO! He just blew everything away!!! He did shake hands and introduced himself.
THAT WAS VINCE GILL.
And the music went on. Nobody asked me to write, nobody made a big fuss. It went on and on and on.
THOSE WHO WANT A ROYALTY CHECK, MUST FIRST GET A REALITY CHECK.
Try that three months into town. Just when you think you got a handle on it. You better think again.
Glad you're back Jim. Stick around.
John, you are absolutely right. Reality shows have also taken the wind out of sites like this sails. But of course those are fleeting as well. American Idol is gone now and I predict, THE VOICE, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, and the others will follow suit before long. All of those shows have peaked in their ratings and are starting to decline because people are always fickle and start looking for the next big thing. Remember SURVIVOR? The show where everyone was out there trying to survive on islands, voting each other off, starting the hidden camera politics of personal destruction?
John, you are absolutely right. Reality shows have also taken the wind out of sites like this sails. But of course those are fleeting as well. American Idol is gone now and I predict, THE VOICE, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, and the others will follow suit before long. All of those shows have peaked in their ratings and are starting to decline because people are always fickle and start looking for the next big thing. Remember SURVIVOR? The show where everyone was out there trying to survive on islands, voting each other off, starting the hidden camera politics of personal destruction?
The next thing was every show featured something like that. The GREAT RACE, AMERICAN NIJAS, BATTLE BOTS, you name it. Every show was trying to out gross each other, having people eat bugs, do discusting things. They were all the rage and water cooler talk for a while.
Then ratings starting peaking and they started dissapearing. They are still out there, just have gone from most of the major networks and onto smaller cable networks.
For everything there is a season. And the channel turns.
MAB
Like