GMA Week - Post #1

Saturday - It's is that time of year where those of us who have connection to the Christian music industry make a pilgrimage to Nashville for gospel music week. I arrived last night and will try to stay until Wednesday. Today, I arrived to Nashville after a few days seeing family in Dallas. All settled into my hotel and time to head to the Convention Center to check out the lay of the land.

Sunday - I have a couple of meetings with agents that I do business with throughout the year. I can't decide if I want to hit the worship event tonight but I probably will attend for portions of tonight's late-night singer/songwriter showcase. It's usually a more acoustic, stripped down sound, and it can be fun to hear songs performed by actual songwriters, especially when the songwriter is different that the artist who made it a hit. Also, I will need to connect with my friends from the band "Old Man Shattered" as I think they have a showcase somewhere tonight.

Backing up . . . . for those who don't know what GMA week is, it is the annual event hosted by the Gospel Music Association that brings our industry together for meetings, conversation, & even celebration as it all concludes with the Dove Awards. Centered in downtown Nashville, it can become a "who's who" of the industry. To give you a feel for the week, let me give a snapshot of what/who I see while sitting in the the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel. Within 10 feet in any direction, I see Chris Eaton, Aaron Schust, & Robby Shaffer from Mercy Me. They are all standing around in casual conversation.

This week will be hilarious, annoying, & fun all at the same time. I will try to keep you posted as it develops. The fun part is connecting with a few friends that you exchange emails & phone calls with throughout the year. It will be hilarious to look around & see all the people who think they are somebody, or desperately want to be somebody. The annoying part will surface in those moments of disingenuous smiles & fake greetings.