Getting To Know Nashville

Hello again. Thank you for coming back. I'm going to try and introduce you to sides of Nashville you may not be aware of if you've never been here. I'm assuming those of you who are reading this blog have a dream of living here and being involved in the music business in one way or another. Some of you want to be musicians or managers, while I know some of you want to be stars. Whatever your dreams are, I hope to give you the tools to be more educated about your career plans and be prepared when you arrive.

Nashville is so much more than the town that is advertised in most publications or that you see on television. Say "Nashville" to almost anyone and the first thing to pop into their mind is Country Music. Yes, there is country music here, but there is so much more. There are clubs all over town where great bands are playing rock, blues, hip hop, disco, or big band music. Sometimes you will even catch stars of yesteryear either headlining or just dropping by and sitting in. Jimmy Hall of the 70’s group Wet Willy has a great blues band that plays regularly in clubs around town. There isn't a better place to be for a real music lover.

In recent years more and more music industry people have left L. A. and New York and moved to Music City. Many because of the great songwriting community here. For they know some of the greatest songs written anywhere are written here. Even those who don't move here, come here to record because of the wealth of original material. Legends like Michael McDonald and Peter Cetera now call Nashville home. And yes you can go down to lower Broadway almost any night of the week and hear real Country Music coming from bands and singers in the downtown area. Many visitors are surprised that most of the songs they hear in these venues are from artists like George Jones and Ferlin Husky rather than Brooks and Dunn or Rascal Flatts. Yes, old time Country Music is alive and well here. Many of today's Country stars started out in these little bars, places like the great Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.

Once you have spent some time here you realize Nashville is very much like most hometowns. Along with the places that are advertised to draw the tourists, there are also regular places and neighborhoods that look like anywhere else. There are also areas you wouldn’t want to be caught in alone at night. But over all Nashville is a very friendly town. People will speak to you and help you if you are lost. For those coming here for the music business, you will largely find others in the business very willing to help you. I personally think that it’s the fact that everyone here knows how hard it is trying to make it and are eager to help those who are new. They remember what it was like when they first got here.

Next time we’ll look at some things like getting a job and surviving until your big break comes. I’ll tell you about musician lists and the musician’s union. We’ll even look at some ways to make enough money to get you through until your ship comes in. See ya then!