Back at Nashville Airport at 4.30am... YAY! What fun! Annabella and I have by this time decided that there is strength in numbers and she needed to be back in Newark by midday... our flight via Chicago would get her there just in time. It also meant that I would have a chance to meet Anna and Keith for lunch. Sorted.
As time ticked on at the gate (which luckily was in the part of Nashville Airport that had better shops than the day before) it became obvious that this flight wasn't leaving on time. Weather problems again? Well no, all the snow had melted from Nashville and Chicago was clear (for the moment). No the reason it was delayed was that a strap was loose... not an important strap but one that needed a 'special' glue which only maintenance crew had and as it was Sunday the crew weren't actually at the airport. GRRRRRR.
By the time we knew all this, the only other flight that we could have got to Newark via Atlanta had taken off. So we were left watching the time tick and the gap between our connecting flights got shorter and shorter. Annabella managed to get a map of Chicago O'Hare and the gate number of our connecting flight and we got our seats moved to the front of the plane. We also made sure we were booked on another flight out of Chicago at midday... just in case.
And we eventually took off... and for the hour or so flight Annabella and I plus another lady also on the same connection planned our route. If the flight to Newark was delayed we had a chance of making the connection. Sod our cases. As we landed we were poised like Olympic sprinters only with more bags. We thundered off the aircraft, Annabella is one of those little people with a fast turn of speed I was in her wake. We skidded to a stop in front of the desk and panting asked whether the Newark flight had taken off yet. It hadn't... because it was CANCELLED!!!
Annabella lost it slightly at this point as would have I if you know you are missing a baby shower you have organised. I decided that maybe I needed to see if I could fly out of Chicago to the UK. We were all booked on the midday flight to Newark which so far was not cancelled or delayed. We had some time to kill... I left the others at Chillis drinking margaritas (ok so it was 10am but we were having a bad weekend!) as I went to another terminal to find some BA staff.
Ten nminutes later at another terminal I was faced by an expanse of empty desks... as BA flights fly in the afternoon and evening out of Chicago they don't actually get there until 1PM!! I needed a drink and fast. Back I went to the original terminal, back through security and with a quick call I found the gang were still in Chillis. At least I had friends. And food. And drink. So we sat and ate and drank a margarita whilst sharing our stories. I felt a little less alone but I still had to get back to London.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Journey Home - Part One
It is almost a month since this trip but it has taken me this long to get over the traumatic trip home.
Let me take you back... that last night in Nashville it had started to snow and snow, the next morning it was still snowing a bit but luckily wasn't settling too much in Nashville. And my flight was still listed as going on time. So off I went to the airport full of expectation that I would be in Newark that afternoon and spending a lovely evening with the delightful Anna Sugden (of such places as the Romance Bandits) and her lovely husband.
I settled at the gate with all my trashy magazines and waited to board the flight. And waited. And waited as the takeoff time was pushed back and back. Originally due to take off at midday we eventually boarded at 2pm and pushed away from the gate. We sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes and then went back to the gate to disembark because we now weren't leaving until 4pm.
So we waited some more... and more.
At about 6pm I approached the desk for about the seventh time.
"Just tell me, this flight isn't actually leaving is it?" I said.
"It's still on the system as going." said the lady, not meeting my eye.
I should have realised that I wasn't going to get the truth from them... so I wandered off to get some food. When I got back there was a twenty people queue at the desk and the flight had been cancelled! CANCELLED!! Five minutes after I had asked!! Over six hours since the flight was supposed to takeoff!! They must have known!!
It turns out that due to bad weather at Newark there were problems getting people in there... but they knew that hours ago and now there were no direct flights with space to Newark from Nashville until Monday morning! It was now Saturday night and my UK flight was going on Sunday night. Not much use to me. ARGHHHH!!!
I stood in the queue and started up a conversation with the lady behind me. She had also been to CRS and was trying to get home for a friend's baby shower that she had organised. Both of us were getting a tad irate. By the time I got to the desk I was resigned to not seeing Newark until Sunday but when I was told I would be flying to St Louis that night to stay over AT MY OWN EXPENSE and then fly to Newark I will admit to being a little upset. Especially when I heard the lady behind me, Annabella being on a flight the next morning via Chicago. I queried the lady, who stomped off complaining and eventually gave me the 6am flight from Nashville and a hotel voucher!
There I was still in Nashville, I had a few choices I could go to the Opry, go see Trent Wilmon play or collapse at the hotel knowing I had to be at the airport at 4.30am the next day. Oh and the clocks were going forward. After a salad, glass of wine and a bowl of fries I tucked myself into bed. Sometimes a girl just has to be sensible... and I was glad I was. Because it still wasn't over.
Let me take you back... that last night in Nashville it had started to snow and snow, the next morning it was still snowing a bit but luckily wasn't settling too much in Nashville. And my flight was still listed as going on time. So off I went to the airport full of expectation that I would be in Newark that afternoon and spending a lovely evening with the delightful Anna Sugden (of such places as the Romance Bandits) and her lovely husband.
I settled at the gate with all my trashy magazines and waited to board the flight. And waited. And waited as the takeoff time was pushed back and back. Originally due to take off at midday we eventually boarded at 2pm and pushed away from the gate. We sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes and then went back to the gate to disembark because we now weren't leaving until 4pm.
So we waited some more... and more.
At about 6pm I approached the desk for about the seventh time.
"Just tell me, this flight isn't actually leaving is it?" I said.
"It's still on the system as going." said the lady, not meeting my eye.
I should have realised that I wasn't going to get the truth from them... so I wandered off to get some food. When I got back there was a twenty people queue at the desk and the flight had been cancelled! CANCELLED!! Five minutes after I had asked!! Over six hours since the flight was supposed to takeoff!! They must have known!!
It turns out that due to bad weather at Newark there were problems getting people in there... but they knew that hours ago and now there were no direct flights with space to Newark from Nashville until Monday morning! It was now Saturday night and my UK flight was going on Sunday night. Not much use to me. ARGHHHH!!!
I stood in the queue and started up a conversation with the lady behind me. She had also been to CRS and was trying to get home for a friend's baby shower that she had organised. Both of us were getting a tad irate. By the time I got to the desk I was resigned to not seeing Newark until Sunday but when I was told I would be flying to St Louis that night to stay over AT MY OWN EXPENSE and then fly to Newark I will admit to being a little upset. Especially when I heard the lady behind me, Annabella being on a flight the next morning via Chicago. I queried the lady, who stomped off complaining and eventually gave me the 6am flight from Nashville and a hotel voucher!
There I was still in Nashville, I had a few choices I could go to the Opry, go see Trent Wilmon play or collapse at the hotel knowing I had to be at the airport at 4.30am the next day. Oh and the clocks were going forward. After a salad, glass of wine and a bowl of fries I tucked myself into bed. Sometimes a girl just has to be sensible... and I was glad I was. Because it still wasn't over.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Day Three Part Two - The New Faces Show
Sorry for the small gap between blog posts... yes the day job got in the way again.
Anyway... I have realised that I don't have any photos from the New Faces Show... I think I was photoed out by then.
But I digress... As I was wandering towards the cocktail drinks thingy before the dinner and show I bumped into the wonderful John Willyard, he is the voice of the CMAs!! I had met him earlier in the week and so he very kindly bought me a drink and let me bend his ear about... well I can't remember but I am sure it was interesting! He is also the voice of CNN and CNN International as well as many other things.
Then we wandered off to her respective tables and I was lucky enough to sit next to a lovely gentleman who had broadcast on Radio Luxembourg!! It was a radio history lesson... *waves to Jay*
The meal itself was meat and meat with a side order of salad. And then the show began.
Luke Bryan and Bucky Covington were good but the sheer excellence and drama of Jake Owen blew me away and seemed to blow away the audience, which is hard to do with jaded radio types. Jason Michael Carroll was good but too rocky in some cases. And then of course the wonderful Taylor Swift who just seems to get better and better. She has gained so much confidence compared to seeing her showcase last year. It was a great ending to the seminar.
But the best thing about the Friday NIght is the disco night that is put on... which also includes artists singing seventies disco hits! Now last year it was a fabulous night out. Loved it. This year I was tired, talked out and I had some news that made me a little fragile. I tried to stay but all I could think of was my bed. So with that I finished my wine, said goodbye to the people I could find and slunk back to my hotel. Which on reflection was the best thing I could have done. Why? Well that is a subject of my next post...
Anyway... I have realised that I don't have any photos from the New Faces Show... I think I was photoed out by then.
But I digress... As I was wandering towards the cocktail drinks thingy before the dinner and show I bumped into the wonderful John Willyard, he is the voice of the CMAs!! I had met him earlier in the week and so he very kindly bought me a drink and let me bend his ear about... well I can't remember but I am sure it was interesting! He is also the voice of CNN and CNN International as well as many other things.
Then we wandered off to her respective tables and I was lucky enough to sit next to a lovely gentleman who had broadcast on Radio Luxembourg!! It was a radio history lesson... *waves to Jay*
The meal itself was meat and meat with a side order of salad. And then the show began.
Luke Bryan and Bucky Covington were good but the sheer excellence and drama of Jake Owen blew me away and seemed to blow away the audience, which is hard to do with jaded radio types. Jason Michael Carroll was good but too rocky in some cases. And then of course the wonderful Taylor Swift who just seems to get better and better. She has gained so much confidence compared to seeing her showcase last year. It was a great ending to the seminar.
But the best thing about the Friday NIght is the disco night that is put on... which also includes artists singing seventies disco hits! Now last year it was a fabulous night out. Loved it. This year I was tired, talked out and I had some news that made me a little fragile. I tried to stay but all I could think of was my bed. So with that I finished my wine, said goodbye to the people I could find and slunk back to my hotel. Which on reflection was the best thing I could have done. Why? Well that is a subject of my next post...
Monday, March 24, 2008
Day Three Part One - Flagging
As I sat for breakfast on day three I was flagging... where was all the partying I did last year?? Sheesh this work lark was getting in the way of my media social butterflying etc.
Anyway it was straight back in with interviews. Skyler Spencer was in first.
Then I had some time off before I was inundated with The Road Hammers where we discussed among other things shaving cats... odd I know.
Then I got to interview the wonderful Amber Rhodes. Now Amber and I first met back on Day One, bonded at the Music City Jam with aching feet so it was wonderful to have time to chat with her. And she didn't disappoint... check her out.
Then I met three great brothers who have were an entertaining interview and also have an amazing story to tell. They are in Nashville via South Africa and Zaire. You can read and hear more about them here http://taverenmusic.com/ They also have an amazing energy.
And then my last interview came into sight... Katie Armiger. I have to say I had been hearing her latest quite often over the week and was eager to meet her. Yet again I was out sophisticated by a 16 year old.
And suddenly I was free... and all I wanted was to get out of the conference centre and be by myself. So I took myself off for lunch at Merchants on Broadway and then met Karen Miller (another CMRNashville presenter) at Roberts Western Wear World. It was suddenly good to be in a slightly different world. And then Karen took me on a research trip to Fido http://www.bongojava.com/fido.html this is a coffee shop where songwriters hang out... yes! Dream Date was beginning to look better!
And so relaxed I suddenly realised that I needed to get back for the New Faces Show!
Anyway it was straight back in with interviews. Skyler Spencer was in first.
Then I had some time off before I was inundated with The Road Hammers where we discussed among other things shaving cats... odd I know.
Then I got to interview the wonderful Amber Rhodes. Now Amber and I first met back on Day One, bonded at the Music City Jam with aching feet so it was wonderful to have time to chat with her. And she didn't disappoint... check her out.
Then I met three great brothers who have were an entertaining interview and also have an amazing story to tell. They are in Nashville via South Africa and Zaire. You can read and hear more about them here http://taverenmusic.com/ They also have an amazing energy.
And then my last interview came into sight... Katie Armiger. I have to say I had been hearing her latest quite often over the week and was eager to meet her. Yet again I was out sophisticated by a 16 year old.
And suddenly I was free... and all I wanted was to get out of the conference centre and be by myself. So I took myself off for lunch at Merchants on Broadway and then met Karen Miller (another CMRNashville presenter) at Roberts Western Wear World. It was suddenly good to be in a slightly different world. And then Karen took me on a research trip to Fido http://www.bongojava.com/fido.html this is a coffee shop where songwriters hang out... yes! Dream Date was beginning to look better!
And so relaxed I suddenly realised that I needed to get back for the New Faces Show!
Day Two Part Three - TOUR BUS! STUDIO! YEAH BABY!
Oh Yeah! Tour bus here I come! I have realised I don't have any actual photos of the tour bus... which is a pity as it was quite something. All swagging, flock wallpaper and chandeliers... no really it was! We settled ourselves down and were driven across Nashville to County Q studios. Now this isn't the first studio I have visited in Nashville and something I have realised about many studios in that town is that a lot of them are in houses. Yup houses. All of them converted into studios. It seems a little odd... I'm not sure what I thought it was going to be like but it wasn't that.
Anyway we arrived as The Drew Davis Band were putting down a track. And all I could think about was RESEARCH! This is just what I needed for Dream Date... my heroine is a singer/songwriter, making a demo in Nashville! Wooooo!! So I asked if I could take photos... and here are some of them.
The control room was between the vocal booth and the other instrument booths. It was amazing to hear them. The guys then going back in adding tracks like the banjo and hammond organ. And I heard the words "We Need More Cow Bells!" Very Cool.
And Drew has just got married so he had his wife tucked into the vocal booth with him...
Then it was back on the bus and touring all the different parties to go to... but first I had to refuel so I found a party that was serving tortilla chips and salsa as well as free drinks! YAY!
I then gatecrashed the MCA party with a nice gentleman called Carson from Maryland who I met in the lobby... he was officially allowed to go to the party. I was the gatecrasher. I was almost a crasher in deed as well. Part way through a fine acoustic performance by their new signing David Nail, I leaned a little too much to the left on the wall and knocked a large piece of art half of the wall!! Luckily we saved it before it hit the performer... ho hum. By the way David Nail sounded great... the whole art crashing was not a critique of his talent.
And then I went to play poker with the Country Thunder Record lot... well not so much played poker as talked at them and then took myself off before I bored them all senseless. And so to bed... because it was another big day on DAY THREE!
Anyway we arrived as The Drew Davis Band were putting down a track. And all I could think about was RESEARCH! This is just what I needed for Dream Date... my heroine is a singer/songwriter, making a demo in Nashville! Wooooo!! So I asked if I could take photos... and here are some of them.
The control room was between the vocal booth and the other instrument booths. It was amazing to hear them. The guys then going back in adding tracks like the banjo and hammond organ. And I heard the words "We Need More Cow Bells!" Very Cool.
And Drew has just got married so he had his wife tucked into the vocal booth with him...
Then it was back on the bus and touring all the different parties to go to... but first I had to refuel so I found a party that was serving tortilla chips and salsa as well as free drinks! YAY!
I then gatecrashed the MCA party with a nice gentleman called Carson from Maryland who I met in the lobby... he was officially allowed to go to the party. I was the gatecrasher. I was almost a crasher in deed as well. Part way through a fine acoustic performance by their new signing David Nail, I leaned a little too much to the left on the wall and knocked a large piece of art half of the wall!! Luckily we saved it before it hit the performer... ho hum. By the way David Nail sounded great... the whole art crashing was not a critique of his talent.
And then I went to play poker with the Country Thunder Record lot... well not so much played poker as talked at them and then took myself off before I bored them all senseless. And so to bed... because it was another big day on DAY THREE!
Day Two Part Two - Pretty Boy Alert!
After a refreshing lunch and drool over Keith Anderson it was back to the interviewing...
Doug Stone was first up (no he wasn't the Pretty Boy I am referring to... that is the third photo down)
And then a legend in the shape of Richie McDonald, ex-lead singer from the band Lonestar. Y'know he was on Top of the Pops back in the 90s? The song 'Amazed'... you remember!! Anyway we had a chat about it all and he is now striking out on his own.
Then I met another amazing man, Michael Martin Murphy. I won't go back over his history as a cowboy poet but if you want to you can read about it here http://www.michaelmartinmurphey.com/biography.htm and by the way Willie Nelson opened for him!! *bows* Anyway he was an interesting to talk to especially about writing and creativity and how he lives the life of a cowboy on his ranch.
I then got to meet the Pretty Boy of the title... Adam Gregory. He started as a child in Canada and is now in Nashville breaking hearts.
Can I just interrupt this for a moment... what the hell was going on with my hair??? Not a good look! Next year I will be employing a stylist of my own I think... anyway back to action.
I then got to interview Ashley Gearing who is way more sophisticated than me and she is just 17... really she was. Except when she saw Adam Gregory though... then she went all girlie. Very sweet.
And then I was let out for good behaviour! I mooched over to the Bridge Bar where I met RJ for a drink and then randomly chatted to people. I found out that The Drew Davis Band were taking people to see them in the studio in their TOUR BUS! Hey I'm a sucker for that sort of thing. So when the time was right I was there waiting for my ride...
Doug Stone was first up (no he wasn't the Pretty Boy I am referring to... that is the third photo down)
And then a legend in the shape of Richie McDonald, ex-lead singer from the band Lonestar. Y'know he was on Top of the Pops back in the 90s? The song 'Amazed'... you remember!! Anyway we had a chat about it all and he is now striking out on his own.
Then I met another amazing man, Michael Martin Murphy. I won't go back over his history as a cowboy poet but if you want to you can read about it here http://www.michaelmartinmurphey.com/biography.htm and by the way Willie Nelson opened for him!! *bows* Anyway he was an interesting to talk to especially about writing and creativity and how he lives the life of a cowboy on his ranch.
I then got to meet the Pretty Boy of the title... Adam Gregory. He started as a child in Canada and is now in Nashville breaking hearts.
Can I just interrupt this for a moment... what the hell was going on with my hair??? Not a good look! Next year I will be employing a stylist of my own I think... anyway back to action.
I then got to interview Ashley Gearing who is way more sophisticated than me and she is just 17... really she was. Except when she saw Adam Gregory though... then she went all girlie. Very sweet.
And then I was let out for good behaviour! I mooched over to the Bridge Bar where I met RJ for a drink and then randomly chatted to people. I found out that The Drew Davis Band were taking people to see them in the studio in their TOUR BUS! Hey I'm a sucker for that sort of thing. So when the time was right I was there waiting for my ride...
Day Two Part One - TV CALLS!
Sorry all these blogs are coming in dribs and drabs but Easter got in the middle and there was much chocolate to be eaten. Oh and snow and stuff.
Anyway day two... I was starting to flag... which was a bit of an issue as I had a full day of interviews and then some PARTYING to do!
So first off I got to interview The Drew Davis Band! Ooooo lovely boys... lovely. *sigh*
I met up with them later but more of that then...
Then my interview with Floyd Flowers was cancelled and I did get to interview someone else, the name of who escapes me. Sorry. I then interviewed Tom Wurth, a fast talking charmer if ever I met one.
AND THEN I WAS ON TELLY!!
Well on DigitalRodeo... they filmed me interviewing Zane Lewis for their website. It was cool! And I also got to meet Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks) and Randy Travis! Sadly no documentary evidence of this but it did happen! Here I am with Zane by the DIgitalRodeo booth.
I am trying to find the video of it... when I do watch out!
So then we met with Lila McCain...
Oh and if you can you must support this wonderful man... Ansel Brown. He was one of the most interesting men I interviewed over the week. He is travelling to a hospital in every State and hoping to come overseas entertaining sick children. It is call the 'Bigger Heart Tour' go to see him http://www.myspace.com/anselbrown on MySpace. Oh and I like his music!
And then I broke for lunch... where the beeeyooowtiful Keith Anderson entertained us. Including the fabulous song 'Every Time I Hear Your Name.'
Anyway day two... I was starting to flag... which was a bit of an issue as I had a full day of interviews and then some PARTYING to do!
So first off I got to interview The Drew Davis Band! Ooooo lovely boys... lovely. *sigh*
I met up with them later but more of that then...
Then my interview with Floyd Flowers was cancelled and I did get to interview someone else, the name of who escapes me. Sorry. I then interviewed Tom Wurth, a fast talking charmer if ever I met one.
AND THEN I WAS ON TELLY!!
Well on DigitalRodeo... they filmed me interviewing Zane Lewis for their website. It was cool! And I also got to meet Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks) and Randy Travis! Sadly no documentary evidence of this but it did happen! Here I am with Zane by the DIgitalRodeo booth.
I am trying to find the video of it... when I do watch out!
So then we met with Lila McCain...
Oh and if you can you must support this wonderful man... Ansel Brown. He was one of the most interesting men I interviewed over the week. He is travelling to a hospital in every State and hoping to come overseas entertaining sick children. It is call the 'Bigger Heart Tour' go to see him http://www.myspace.com/anselbrown on MySpace. Oh and I like his music!
And then I broke for lunch... where the beeeyooowtiful Keith Anderson entertained us. Including the fabulous song 'Every Time I Hear Your Name.'
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Evening...
I had been trying to get an interview with Heartland through my contact at their record company. Luckily the wonderful RJ Jordan came through... in fact RJ was a star all week. Bless him. Well it was more a case of introducing me to Seth Necessary who was organising all the interviews for them.
So I met Heartland. They were a good bunch of guys... especially as they had a showcase coming up that night and they didn't mind chatting to the weird English girl. In fact they were all huggy and chatty when I met them at their showcase later that evening... even when I bailed before they hit the stage due to jetlag and sore feet.
But the sore feet were worth it as I had been watching Brad Paisley, Chuck WIcks and Jewel
So I met Heartland. They were a good bunch of guys... especially as they had a showcase coming up that night and they didn't mind chatting to the weird English girl. In fact they were all huggy and chatty when I met them at their showcase later that evening... even when I bailed before they hit the stage due to jetlag and sore feet.
But the sore feet were worth it as I had been watching Brad Paisley, Chuck WIcks and Jewel
Day One - THE INTERVIEWS!!
I had seen Garth Brooks! I was buzzing but in the back of my mind was the realisation that I was going to have to start interviewing people!
But before all that happened I spotted Aaron Tippin who was recording some links for Blue Highway TV, so I grabbed a photo with him. That man keeps himself in tip top shape... I know I felt it :-)
My first interviewees was Clear Blue 22... I think it went ok. However I have since realised that I failed to get a photo of them with me. I was obviously not quite so together as I thought!
I then interviewed the lovely Darren 'With the surname I can neither say nor spell' but he looks like this! As it turns out I had met his manager last year at the Big & Rich show... looks like my networking worked somewhat.
And then if you are big fan of the US soaps Guiding Light and One Life To Live you might recognise this lady, Kassie DePaiva! She has a song out at the moment. We had a lovely chat... a very nice lady!
Laura Bryna was next... a tiny bundle of energy!
And then Mr Colt Ford... he was a charmer. I then spent the next few days running into him all the time! We joked that he was stalking me. He is doing a fine line in mixing country and rap.
Shawna Russell was next... and she didn't look old enough to be married!
And then the final gentleman of the day... Jeremy McComb! Well I say final but I'll tell you about the lovely men I interviewed in the next post...
But before all that happened I spotted Aaron Tippin who was recording some links for Blue Highway TV, so I grabbed a photo with him. That man keeps himself in tip top shape... I know I felt it :-)
My first interviewees was Clear Blue 22... I think it went ok. However I have since realised that I failed to get a photo of them with me. I was obviously not quite so together as I thought!
I then interviewed the lovely Darren 'With the surname I can neither say nor spell' but he looks like this! As it turns out I had met his manager last year at the Big & Rich show... looks like my networking worked somewhat.
And then if you are big fan of the US soaps Guiding Light and One Life To Live you might recognise this lady, Kassie DePaiva! She has a song out at the moment. We had a lovely chat... a very nice lady!
Laura Bryna was next... a tiny bundle of energy!
And then Mr Colt Ford... he was a charmer. I then spent the next few days running into him all the time! We joked that he was stalking me. He is doing a fine line in mixing country and rap.
Shawna Russell was next... and she didn't look old enough to be married!
And then the final gentleman of the day... Jeremy McComb! Well I say final but I'll tell you about the lovely men I interviewed in the next post...
We Have Photos!!
Ok so I have managed to wrestle my photos off the camera (with help from super athlete, head of the family and all round good egg Pop Coady) Some are most unattractive... I must remember to be a tad more together next year (and also lose a tonne of weight!)
So here is the photo of Garth Brooks.
So here is the photo of Garth Brooks.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
An Aside
I can't get my photos off the damn photo card!! I have tried to download them via the camera cable doohickey and also via my multi-card reader. And it doesn't bloody register! Grrrr!! The card is refusing to be read! But I know the photos are there because I can see them on the camera.
*mutter mutter mutter*
And there is no real point in talking about my interviewing when I can't show you the evidence... mind you I could then just tell you all how I interviewed Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw and none of you would know I was lying!! MWAhahahahah!!!
So, yes, my wonderful interviews with Kenny and Tim... my new best friends, we're BFFs, bezzas. Honest! Would I lie to you?
*mutter mutter mutter*
And there is no real point in talking about my interviewing when I can't show you the evidence... mind you I could then just tell you all how I interviewed Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw and none of you would know I was lying!! MWAhahahahah!!!
So, yes, my wonderful interviews with Kenny and Tim... my new best friends, we're BFFs, bezzas. Honest! Would I lie to you?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Day One - Country Royalty
Day One of CRS 39 dawned and with it the realisation that this year I was actually going to have to do some work. None of this party animal/social butterfly stuff that I did last year. Up till all hours and then dragging myself to the convention centre at 11.30 in time for the lunchtime entertainment.
No this year I was interviewing people. Lots of people. Twenty-five different artists. Which is actually more than twenty-five different people because some of them were bands. Bands full of beautiful men… *drifts off on thoughts of the Drew Davis Band*
But more of them later…
The first big event of the seminar was the keynote speech. Last year we had the ever hirsute Jon Bon Jovi. This year we had country music royalty, the ever glabrescent* Garth Brooks. He chatted about his life now he has “retired” but the best part was after the talk. You see there had been a competition open to MDs and PDs giving them the chance to SING with Garth Brooks. They could put their business card in a hat with the Garth Brook song they wanted to sing and it would be pulled out. The chosen PD was a blast! That is thing with the radio industry, most of them started out on air and boy can they talk! It was this fantastic stand up routine as he is trying to call his radio station so he can be on air SINGING WITH GARTH BROOKS! And the receptionist put Garth Brooks on hold! And then he was asking anyone in the audience to phone his wife who was still in their hotel room!
Eventually they started singing ‘Friends in Low Places’ and part way through there was a thump of drums, the curtains pulled back to reveal a full band! Garth went on to perform four more songs… it was a great start to the seminar(photos to follow... can't seem to download them off the camera at the mo.)
But then I realised it was down to the real work… interviewing.
No problem you’re thinking - an interview is an interview; I’m sure Brigid has done loads of them over the years. Well you would be thinking wrong. I have done precisely HALF an interview before last week. HALF! And now I had TWENTY FIVE (or so).
I would be fine… wouldn’t I?
*this is an excellent word meaning ‘bald’! Hurrah for online thesauri
No this year I was interviewing people. Lots of people. Twenty-five different artists. Which is actually more than twenty-five different people because some of them were bands. Bands full of beautiful men… *drifts off on thoughts of the Drew Davis Band*
But more of them later…
The first big event of the seminar was the keynote speech. Last year we had the ever hirsute Jon Bon Jovi. This year we had country music royalty, the ever glabrescent* Garth Brooks. He chatted about his life now he has “retired” but the best part was after the talk. You see there had been a competition open to MDs and PDs giving them the chance to SING with Garth Brooks. They could put their business card in a hat with the Garth Brook song they wanted to sing and it would be pulled out. The chosen PD was a blast! That is thing with the radio industry, most of them started out on air and boy can they talk! It was this fantastic stand up routine as he is trying to call his radio station so he can be on air SINGING WITH GARTH BROOKS! And the receptionist put Garth Brooks on hold! And then he was asking anyone in the audience to phone his wife who was still in their hotel room!
Eventually they started singing ‘Friends in Low Places’ and part way through there was a thump of drums, the curtains pulled back to reveal a full band! Garth went on to perform four more songs… it was a great start to the seminar(photos to follow... can't seem to download them off the camera at the mo.)
But then I realised it was down to the real work… interviewing.
No problem you’re thinking - an interview is an interview; I’m sure Brigid has done loads of them over the years. Well you would be thinking wrong. I have done precisely HALF an interview before last week. HALF! And now I had TWENTY FIVE (or so).
I would be fine… wouldn’t I?
*this is an excellent word meaning ‘bald’! Hurrah for online thesauri
Thursday, March 13, 2008
In The Beginning...
So are we sitting comfortably… I’ll take you back to last week and my trip across the Pond.
Monday I was whisked via BA and in the comfort of World Traveller Plus (premium economy) to Newark where the very lovely Anna Sugden came to meet me. Off we pootled in her little red VW Beetle (the modern one.) Talking, of course, about writing. Which is pretty much what we did as we wandered through the grocery store, I was introduced to the cats and when I met the wonderful Keith… ok we did also talk about ice hockey but I have no knowledge of this so I will gloss over it.
It was a great start to the week and as Tuesday dawned Anna drove me back to the airport to catch my flight to Nashville.
And this is probably where I should have taken the hint about me and domestic air travel in the US this week. The flight was cancelled. Instead of being on the 2pm flight I was now on the 7pm flight *sigh*
So back in the little red beetle… to a lovely Israeli run café in Tenafly. Soup, lemonade, chocolate mousse and a very flirtatious waiter which seemed like a fair deal for a cancelled flight!
And in time I made it on the 7pm flight (which actually took off at 8pm) thinking that I was now over my usual ‘going to Nashville’ travel issues. Every single time my flight to go there is cancelled. How wrong I was… but I didn’t find that out until a few days later.
Once in Nash Vegas I leapt in a cab, stormed the hotel and threw my bags through the door. Racing a few blocks south I entered the Bridge Bar… the heart of the Country Radio Seminar. The bar where deals are made, careers are broken and where lots and lots of people get very very drunk.
(By the way I have never seen this bar empty. Ever. Just wall to wall people. So that is what it looks like…)
I realised how things have changed since last year… here I was walking in alone and knowing a few people as opposed to last year when I hid behind Lee’s coattails and knew no one! Rick ‘RJ’ Jordan of Country Thunder Records grabbed hold of me and whisked me off for drinks. My sophomore CRS experience had begun (and not a naked cowboy in sight!)
Monday I was whisked via BA and in the comfort of World Traveller Plus (premium economy) to Newark where the very lovely Anna Sugden came to meet me. Off we pootled in her little red VW Beetle (the modern one.) Talking, of course, about writing. Which is pretty much what we did as we wandered through the grocery store, I was introduced to the cats and when I met the wonderful Keith… ok we did also talk about ice hockey but I have no knowledge of this so I will gloss over it.
It was a great start to the week and as Tuesday dawned Anna drove me back to the airport to catch my flight to Nashville.
And this is probably where I should have taken the hint about me and domestic air travel in the US this week. The flight was cancelled. Instead of being on the 2pm flight I was now on the 7pm flight *sigh*
So back in the little red beetle… to a lovely Israeli run café in Tenafly. Soup, lemonade, chocolate mousse and a very flirtatious waiter which seemed like a fair deal for a cancelled flight!
And in time I made it on the 7pm flight (which actually took off at 8pm) thinking that I was now over my usual ‘going to Nashville’ travel issues. Every single time my flight to go there is cancelled. How wrong I was… but I didn’t find that out until a few days later.
Once in Nash Vegas I leapt in a cab, stormed the hotel and threw my bags through the door. Racing a few blocks south I entered the Bridge Bar… the heart of the Country Radio Seminar. The bar where deals are made, careers are broken and where lots and lots of people get very very drunk.
(By the way I have never seen this bar empty. Ever. Just wall to wall people. So that is what it looks like…)
I realised how things have changed since last year… here I was walking in alone and knowing a few people as opposed to last year when I hid behind Lee’s coattails and knew no one! Rick ‘RJ’ Jordan of Country Thunder Records grabbed hold of me and whisked me off for drinks. My sophomore CRS experience had begun (and not a naked cowboy in sight!)
Monday, March 10, 2008
HOME SWEET HOME!!
I am back... bruised and battered and tired but home. The trip back from Nashville was a nightmare and when I have recovered I will tell you the tale. There were a few good things that came out of it... a new friendship and a new story idea.
Nashville at CRS was crazy but very good in terms of interviews (and my ability to do them I think) and also in making contacts.
The wireless internet at the hotel was AWFUL!! Which explains the lack of blogging... was very disappointed. So hopefully in the next few days I will be able to catch up with everything and start telling you what happened.
So what sort of stories do you want to hear about? And what else have you all been up to?
Nashville at CRS was crazy but very good in terms of interviews (and my ability to do them I think) and also in making contacts.
The wireless internet at the hotel was AWFUL!! Which explains the lack of blogging... was very disappointed. So hopefully in the next few days I will be able to catch up with everything and start telling you what happened.
So what sort of stories do you want to hear about? And what else have you all been up to?
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