What It TakesOne of my most memorable experiences took place when I worked as Associate Director of ASCAP in Nashville. At the time, Rod Phelps, one of my Texas friends, asked me to talk with a new guy he was sending to see me. You must understand that in the music business, it's common courtesy to listen to your friends and spend time with the people they send you. Soon after talking with Rod, the new guy dropped by my office and played me some songs. I remember I didn't pull any punches; I told him his songs were only "fair." In the middle of our conversation, I was distracted when one of my writers--a guy with money problems-barged in. I asked my guest to excuse me a moment while I got the writer some paperwork to support a bank loan application. Later, I asked the new guy to keep the writer's situation confidential because it was a private matter. My guest responded, "Man, I recognize that writer. He needs a bank loan?" "Yeah! Everybody needs help now and then," I told him. Overhearing the conversation the guy caught the amount of money that the writer needed. My guest said he made more than that in a week playing in Oklahoma. "If that's the case, you'd better get on back to Oklahoma. You'll never make that kind of money playing the clubs in Nashville. I've got this saying: 'We create music in Nashville, and we sell it in Texas.' You can certainly include Oklahoma in there, too," I added. The new guy laughed, "Well I just can't believe that. What if I bring my whole band down here?" "How many is in your band?" I asked. "Five.ö "Well," I said, "you and five other guys will starve to death in Nashville," I predicted. Sensing that I'd offended my guest, I tried to make amends by telling him, "Those are just the facts in this town. If you want to come here and write, if you want to make it as an artist, it's going to be tough. However, I'll be glad to help you. I'll see you at 9:00 tomorrow morning right here in my office. Since my friend, Rod, sent you to me, I'm going to do what I can to help you." Later, I learned that my guest had the use of Rod's personal credit cards so the guy could get to Nashville--that's how much Rod believed in his potential. "You be here at 9:00, and I'll help you find a place to live," I promised. Well, at 9:00 the next morning, the Oklahoma guy didn't show. I waited 'til about 10:30 before I called Rod and asked if he'd seen him. "No, I thought he was with you," was the response. I told Rod the guy was supposed to be with me. That bothered Rod because, well, this guy always kept his appointments. That afternoon, Rod called to let me know what had happened. His guy was all upset with me and was headed back to Oklahoma. I explained that all I did was just tell him the truth. "Man, if he can't take the truth, well, I'm sorry. I just told him the way things are in a detailed story of what has to be done to make it in Nashville.ö That was the end of it--or so I thought. About a year later, this Excerpted from Chicken Soup for the Country Soul: Stories Served up Country-Style and Straight from the Heart by Jack L. Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Ron Camacho, Jack Canfield All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
