Monthly Archives: June 2012

CMA Fest Recap

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During the first full week of June, CMA Fest ruled my life.  It was an amazing but life-consuming week that I’ll never forget.  If you have never been to CMA Fest, but want to know what it is like, then you came to the right place!  I’ll try to recap everything I did and what I took from this MAJOR festival.  So, sit back and enjoy!

What did I do at CMA Fest? Hmm… The real question is, what didn’t I do?  The artist for whom I play, Payton Taylor, had a grand total of EIGHT shows over the course of SIX days.  To say it was hectic is an understatement.  In between shows, we tried to find food, maybe find a few hours of sleep, and hit up the Bluebell Ice Cream truck as many times as humanly possible for their free ice cream cups.  Every night, we got to bed late and woke up early.  I could have slept later most mornings, but that would mean I would have missed the hotel continental breakfast; I’ll take Danishes and pancakes over sleep any day!

Besides the free Bluebell ice cream, I was exposed to many other foods that I tried for the first time – foot long corn dogs, fried pickles, fried okra, grits, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and dumplings.  I decided on this trip that even if I wasn’t a musician, I would move to the south just for their food.  I got to explore a HUGE tour bus and see what it’s like for big artists to travel, got to watch major label artists do signings for fans, and see some pretty awesome bands at the downtown honky tonks.  All in all, it was an amazing week!

On Thursday night, I ventured out to LP Field to see that night’s concert.  I got to see Glenn Campbell, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Lauren Alaina, and Brad Paisley all in ONE night! How cool is that?! Definitely one of the best nights of my life.  But the most memorable moment of that concert, for me, was getting to see my biggest inspiration perform on stage – Tully Kennedy, the bassist for Jason Aldean.  Tully is the person whom I aspire to be like in my career; he has played for artists like Keith Urban, Thompson Square, Pam Tillis, Lee Brice, Jason Aldean, and so many more.  I hope to have just as an impressive list of credits someday. Seeing him perform was absolutely the biggest highlight to a great week.

Above all, I drew a lot of inspiration from CMA Fest.  I watched more bands than I can count.  Some weren’t as established as we were, some were just as established, and some were MUCH more established.  No matter where each of the bands stood on the ladder of success, all were willing to talk, offer advice, share stories, etc. I loved experiencing the camaraderie of all the musicians and artists who were part of the festival, all of whom were there for the same reason – to make music.  The more people I met, the more I felt the drive to keep working harder, so one day soon I can get back down to Nashville and play everyday for the rest of my life!

I cannot wait for next year’s CMA Fest! If you’re thinking of attending in 2013, be sure to check my blog – I’m sure I’ll be posting all the places where I’ll be performing. But, next up for me this summer is Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – the world’s LARGEST music festival. I’ll be performing there on July 5th, so stay tuned… I’m sure I’ll have more exciting festival stories for all of you then!

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5 Rules For Summer Touring

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It is officially summer time!  That means it’s officially the busiest time of year for musicians, and believe me… it’s getting BU-SY! Summer is the time of festivals, beach concerts, car shows, barbecues, grand openings, carnivals, sporting events, and state fairs.  Since so many of these events are held outside, in sweltering heat, under a blazing sun, or in humidity so thick you can cut it with a knife, musicians need to consider a few extra things before putting on their favorite leather stage pants, grabbing their instruments, and running out into these glorious conditions (please note sarcasm) to play a 4 hour show. So, with that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 5 things to remember that will help you Musical Warriors survive the Summer “Play-cation”.*

1.  Water: Water is possibly the most important thing to remember.  There are some venues that require you to bring your own sound, do your own sound check, and play on top of that.  You can get pretty exhausted pretty quick after setting up speakers, monitors, a sound board, running cables to mics, and doing so in 90 degree heat.  Then, you must sound check, play, and break down the whole system after the show.  Nothing will suck the energy out of you faster than being dehydrated.  So, before you pile into the mini-van tour bus, make sure you fill a couple coolers full of  bottled water, and keep a bottle with you on and off stage.

2.  Sunblock: Sunblock is important for people like myself who have porcelain skin.  Heck, even for people who have darker skin that burns easy.  I had to learn the hard way how uncomfortable and PAINFUL it is trying to rock out on stage with what felt like 2nd degree burns all over my face, arms and neck. Don’t let this happen to YOU… take the precaution of stopping it before it starts.  I carry a can of SPF 70 spray sun block everywhere I go now. Make it a band ritual to “Block Each Other Up” before you hit the stage, and in between sets… it’ll be a great “band-bonding” experience.

3.  Shades:  Your eyes could seriously take a toll from the harsh UV rays of the sun.  Get yourself a good pair of UV Protecting, Polarized (if possible) shades for when you’re on stage.  They’ll protect your eyes and make you look way cool at the same time.  Plus, they eliminate the problem of the squinty pictures that are taken by your friends.

4.  Protect Your Instrument: Whether it’s made of wood, plastic, or metal, the heat and the sun could cause a lot of damage to your instrument.  Too much humidity could cause your wood instrument to warp.  Your metal instrument could expand, which will cause your instrument to constantly fall out of tune.  When you aren’t playing, make sure your instrument is either in the shade or in some kind of case.  Ideally, you’d be able to find some temperature controlled room that venues will let you store your instruments in while you aren’t playing. And never, NEVER, leave your instrument in a closed up car, truck, or van for a long period of time… temperatures inside a car on a hot day can reach over 125 degrees. That will BAKE your instrument!

5.  Sleep: This is not a good idea when you’re on stage,  but when you aren’t playing, rest… a LOT!  Sleep can be inconsistent during a summer tour schedule, so take it when you can get it.  Sleep and rest during your days off to refuel and reenergize for when you’re back on the road.  Think of your energy as your cell phone battery, it takes an awful long time to charge and it’s dead in two hours.

Above all, have fun.  Summer touring can be a blast, but always remember to take care of yourself and your instrument.

As always, thanks for reading. I’m leaving for CMA Fest in a couple of days and may not have time to write another blog until the festival is over.  However, ya’ll can expect a looooong post all about it when I get back :)

*By the way, I borrowed the term “Play-Cation” from a great friend, John Bohlinger.  He is an excellent guitarist and one of the funniest men I know.  Check him out here: http://www.johnbohlinger.com/