The Music Business

I've been school what, 3 days, 4 today? I guess it says something about me when I can sit in my classes and look around and see 98% of my department failing. Hey, less competition in the long run I guess. Call me a bitch but hey, I'm just stating the facts.

I am SO TIRED of people doubting my knowledge or looking at me like I really don't know what I am talking about when I open my mouth in class. There is nothing you are learning in that classroom that can prepare you for the real music business, and I mean that. Everything I do for bands, I learned from my 2 internships in Nashville at Big Machine. The knowledge I gained there set me far ahead of the pack, and I love it.

I pretty much refuse, or have a really hard time, being friends with anyone in my department who doesn't really want this. I want this. I'm good at what I do and dammit, I know it and my teachers knows it. The self-control is takes for me not to launch across the room and throttle the dude who's like, " Yo, my best friend be T.I'S brother yo and he got me this internship waitin' on me yo." Well, that's super dee duper awesome for you, too bad I know you are lying though your damn teeth.

I'm not sorry for any amount of money, time, effort, anything I put forth in getting me to Nashville, being asked back, and going back. I'm not sorry that people are intimidated by that and, they are. I'm not trying to sound arrogant here but seriously, I know what I'm doing and I can size up someone and their desire and passion for this whole business in about 30 seconds. I can tell you who is going to be eaten alive and who's name you should jot down and remember because they're going places and I believe in them.

I love this business. I love songwriting so much I get giddy about the fact. I love hearing a song come in on a comp, being turned into a work tape, and then seeing it hopefully make the final cut for the album. I love getting bands and musicians I know names out there. I love promoting people I believe in. I love seeing that hunger in someone's eye, the eagerness to hit the road, to just make it by as long as they are getting to play out. In the same breath, I am not unaware of the dark side of the business and don't think it hasn't bit me in the ass once or twice. But, because I love, I keep going. You have to have a spin, you have to have thick skin, but most of all, you have to have heart.

Conan O'Brien said, " I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism - it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." HE'S RIGHT. I live my life by this quote everyday and I plan on keeping on.