Something happened last night that happens a ton now and I have been meaning to say something about it. It’s gonna seem like a rant(which it sort of is) but it is more a stern reminder to all you writers and artists that are trying to understand all this. I see it all the time so I want you all to think about it.

The big thing here are ROUNDS, with three-Four people playing on stage for one set. One round will end and the next round will come up and get set and start playing.
The previous round, who just got offstage, will proceed to walk IN FRONT OF THE NEXT PERFORMERS AND TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS AND CO PERFORMERS AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS WHILE STANDING UP AND BLOCKING THE VIEW AND HEARING OF EVERYBODY ELSE!

REALLY? And you guys are wanting RESPECT AND FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO YOU?

SIT YOUR ASS DOWN! OR GO TO THE BACK AND LOWER YOUR VOICE!!! Get some common sense and courtesy FOR GODS SAKE!!

One of the problems we have as a society is that we have lost all our people skills. New people coming into this simply don’t seem to understand there are other people than themselves. They want to show up, do their sets, play their songs and GO DIRECTLY TO STARDOM!!!
Listen my fellow younger (and some not so older) brethren of the treble clef, you are judged as much OFF THE STAGE as you are ON THE STAGE! Your behavior and activities are as important as anything you’ll ever write,
Perform or record. You never know who is in the audience, who is listening and who you are destroying your career with before it gets started.

Last night I remembered an artist who did this. He was new to town,
Making the rounds. One night in a particularly packed house, he did this exact thing. He came off and was talking loud to some friends. What he didn’t realize is that he was bent over sticking his ass in the face of one of the most powerful A&R, song pluggers in town. She was highly pissed.

That guy was gone in a couple of
Months. Remember this. There are around 500-600 people who move or come to Nashville for music a week. This is offset by around 1000-1200 a week who MOVE HOME, HAVING LASTED SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS.

Just remember that the next time you feel compelled to be the loudest person off stage in the room.
Want to be respected?
Goes both ways!

by Marc Alan Barnette
www.marcalanbarnette.com