Cruisin' with JACK

Best laid plans dept.: I was supposed to go hear someone play at a store opening. I drive out to the location only to find a detour on the way, which resulted in a massive traffic backup. That plus not being sure where the place was from the detour area, by the time I thought I was getting close to the area, I'd missed the show.

So I stopped into a bookstore for a bit and then drove home via some back roads and JACK-FM on the radio to try and clear my head about a issue that's been weighing on me. Normally I'm not much for driving, but it was somehow comforting and healing cruising on dark but generally empty roads with Tommy Tutone, Eddie Money and yeah, even AC-DC as the background.

Me and JACK

Yes, the rumors are true...there is a man in my life this week. His name is JACK.

I was picked for JACK-FM 96.3 Nashville's "Ordinary Listener of the Week". This is where they bring you into the studio and you read blurbs for events going on each day of the week, and do some station IDs. They also take a video of you while you're doing this because they know everyone's going to have bloopers. Mine was pretty funny, actually. I thought I was focusing so much on reading the copy that I didn't show enough flair for the camera. But if you see some of my expressions, I did get some mugging in.

They also told me that my session was one of the quickest they ever had because I nailed the reads pretty well overall. Maybe there's hope for my radio career yet.

Anyhow, here is the profile page for JACK-FM Ordinary Listener of the Week --this will be up only for one week. However, the video is for keeps on YouTube. Go ahead--laugh at me.

Explain Thyself

I've been in Nashville a year and a half. If you read the "Wendy V's Nashville Blend" blog I write, you know that I still hold a sense of wonder about this town. Yet, in the past couple of weeks as I've talked to many musicians, or even overhearing a conversation or two, the subject has come up about the downside of trying to have a music career in Nashville...it can be heartbreaking and ruthless if you don't fit inside a certain "box". Some of you may be very surprised to find that the people you've seen on a stage someplace shining like a bright star can be found these days working day jobs in various Nashville establishments.

The subject came up also as I've had musicians who understand what I'm trying to do in my calling to inspire and encourage beg me to continue and not stop. I came here wondering if any of the artists here would get what I do because their level of talent was so high that they didn't need to hear it. Instead, I found a community hungry for the slightest bit of affirmation and encouragement.

It would not surprise me in the least to learn that some may find my writings and approach as "Pollyana-ish" because I choose to not be critical in my blog. That's fine. I know who and what I'm doing this for. If I end up doing nothing else than writing in my blog, showing up at gigs and smiling and bringing energy to the struggling songwriters, I will still have gotten the greatest rewards I couldn't have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. Those who aren't on board with me can simply get off the bus at the next stop.

So, don't worry, all of you who do get it. I will not lose my sense of wonder.