James Lee Stanley
I just finished ten days in themidwest. My schedule was to fly into Chicago on Friday, May 8th; pickup a rental car and be out of the airport by 2:30 pm for a ninety miledrive to Three Oaks, Michigan, where I was doing a concert at the AcornTheater (www.acorntheater.com). They had arranged a live radioappearance on the local radio station to promote the concert onSaturday, May 9th.
Theradio show appearance was scheduled from five to six that Friday.Chicago traffic and the fact that I was losing an hour by driving toMichigan caused me to not arrive in Three Oaks til quarter of six. Iraced right to the station with David, one of the theater owners, andsomehow did the last fifteen minutes of the DJ, Jim Harvey’s show andthe fellows who were on next with a blues show liked what I was doingso much they let us go over into their show, and while we didn’t have asell out, we did pick up more people and made our guarantee.
Ihad performance dates on May 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th. Ialso did one TV show in Milwaukee and three radio stations in Chicago.It’s important to take advantage of being in a new city. Don’t just sitin your hotel room and watch TV.
When you are doing shows inplaces you have never been, be sure to ask the booker or whomever youare working with for their media list. Even if they contact the medialist themselves, you should still contact it, or if you are on a label,have them contact the list…and then still contact them yourself.
Personalcontact in our business is really important and always impactful. Andone thing I always do is to get the names of the people I am workingwith. Look them in the eye and say their name back to them. Makecertain you have it in your head. And if you realize you have forgottenit, then tell them right away and make them repeat it again. I findthat remembering people’s names makes them feel wonderful and it issuch a simple thing to do.
I remember working at the Shadows inVirginia Beach, Virginia in 1963 with a fake I.D. A group called theGateway Trio came to town for their two week gig (all the club gigswere like that then…one to two weeks in a club. A great way to go, asopposed to the one night stands we do now. It’s grueling and not nearlyas much fun as it is to spend a little time in a new town with newpeople)
The bass player, one Milt Chapman, (formerly of theAxidentals—a Four Freshman type of vocal group) took a liking to me andtaught me to finger pick…actually gave me my first set of fingerpicks and showed me songs and guitar technique.
When theyreturned the next year, I was there (still with a fake I.D.) and when Isaw Milton, I was thrilled. An actual recording artist that I alreadyknew, though I was convinced he wouldn’t remember me. I walked up tohim and the club owner who were talking, and pretended I had somethingto say to the owner. Milton turned to me and said, “Young Jim! It’s me,Milt Chapman” . I’m telling you, I was so very thrilled that someonewho traveled all around the country knew my name, I vowed that I woulddo that when I became a professional musician. It’s easy to make peoplefeel good. It makes you feel good too, and it goes a long way.
Socontact everyone on the media list and try to arrange to meet themperson to person. Ask them questions about themselves and write it downif you can’t remember it. Keep a notebook or at least notes in youraddress book about those folks. I don’t do that, but I seem to beblessed with a remarkable memory. If you don’t have it, then use notes.
Ifpeople feel like they are an actual person to you, then they seem to bemore supportive than if you are just a name coming through. And notonly that, but you are enriched by the people you interact with. Youlearn things, you are exposed to things, foods, books, etc…and all ofthis makes you a more interesting person, a more interesting interview,and a more interesting performer and, if you are so inclined, a moreinteresting composer.
Just make the effort. If you are shy anddon’t to say to strangers, ask them a simple question about themselvesand then get out of the way. People love to talk about themselves andfor some reason, most people are better talkers than they arelisteners. So listen and sincerely care about the person talking to you.
Ifyou do that, you will learn stuff you’d have never learned otherwise,and you will benefit from making the effort to know these people, bothprofessionally and spiritually. Now I’m not advocating fakingsincerity. I’m saying make it a point to learn about people besidesyourself. It goes a long way in every direction.
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