The Family I learned yesterday morning that Gary Smith, a guy that has played on many of my demos passed away unexpectedly. Gary was a good guy. He worked hard and gave his best at every session. He loved to laugh. It was fun to hear him laughing and cutting up between songs at my sessions. Seeing the outpouring of love for him that people expressed on Facebook reminded me that the music business in Nashville has an element of family to it that most music centers dont have. I have been working with the same 40-50 musicians for the past twenty years. I have co-writers and publishers that I have known that long as well. We share a common thread. We are all dreamers that have chosen a path that is not always easy. We bet everything on the idea that SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE would pay to listen to our music SOMEDAY. And weve been together through thick and thin. Weve kept on working together when the cuts were coming and when they werent. They have made me a better writer. Hopefully, I have helped them improve themselves. The point being - we have shared a lot and have stuck together for a long period of time. Sometimes, I shake my head when I hear people talk about the music business being closed off and exclusive. For the most part, it is only closed off and exclusive in the sense that your family Thanksgiving is closed off and exclusive. People are around your Thanksgiving table because they earned a spot there. Whether by blood connections, adoption, or invitation, they have worked their way to the family table through relationship. A stranger walking in unannounced and proclaiming, Here I am - Im as good as anyone here - and I want a seat at the table!! would probably get a boot in the butt and a restraining order. Yet, that happens in Nashville and places like it every day. And those people leave with their tail between their legs wondering why they werent invited in. If you want a place at the family table - in Nashville or anywhere else, earn it. Earn it. Work hard. Get to know the family. Be humble. Give - dont just take. And, one day you will get that invitation to the table. It worked for a former youth minister who had NO idea how the music business worked, who could hardly play guitar and who had NO connections. It can work for you too. Marty Dodson - Co-Founder of Songtown Co-writer of Must Be Doin Somethin Right, Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, Fire It Up, Let Me Down Easy and more.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:00:00 +0000
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