40 years ago today, my parents stood in St. James Church - before family, friends, and God - and committed their lives to each other.
Congratulations, Mom and Dad, on 40 wonderful years of family, laughter, adventure, and love.
May we all be so blessed!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
DIVAs in Nashville - again!
What a great night! I think this was the second largest DIVA gathering in Christian DIVA history. Beth, Leah, Tara, Rachanee and I were all in Nashville on the same day, so we gathered for Chinese food and ice cream. It would have been nice to do a show together, but there just wasn't time to make that happen.
There were lots of laughs, stories, and general silliness. Beth and Leah just finished a two-week tour, so we got lots of stories from that. Beth even gave us a tailgate concert, singing a song they wrote about their tour.
Lunch was also a nice musical time. We had a gathering of the Redeemer praise team to catch up on summer vacations and adventures. Jenna is taking a mission trip to Sri Lanka this fall, so I'm hoping to get a Sunday in while she's still here.
It was nice to have a fun day out. Things really haven't slowed down much since NQC. Mom and Dad were here til Wednesday, and I've worked a few days too. I'm still trying to play catch-up on all emails, phone calls, NQC thank yous, etc. We realized this week that we've basically been going non-stop since June, so it's actually nice to have a bit of a quiet schedule for the next few weeks.
There were lots of laughs, stories, and general silliness. Beth and Leah just finished a two-week tour, so we got lots of stories from that. Beth even gave us a tailgate concert, singing a song they wrote about their tour.
Lunch was also a nice musical time. We had a gathering of the Redeemer praise team to catch up on summer vacations and adventures. Jenna is taking a mission trip to Sri Lanka this fall, so I'm hoping to get a Sunday in while she's still here.
It was nice to have a fun day out. Things really haven't slowed down much since NQC. Mom and Dad were here til Wednesday, and I've worked a few days too. I'm still trying to play catch-up on all emails, phone calls, NQC thank yous, etc. We realized this week that we've basically been going non-stop since June, so it's actually nice to have a bit of a quiet schedule for the next few weeks.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
NQC - Final Day
For the first time this week, my feet genuinely hurt. I'm taking it as a sign that it's time to go home. I had grand intentions of getting up early today to pack so I'd save time tomorrow morning, but we all know what happens to good intentions...
Instead, I left the hotel in the early afternoon to attend the Crabb Family showcase. I missed the opening songs, but arrived just as Aaron and Amanda Crabb were finishing a song. From there, the other three Crabb incarnations each took the stage for 2-song sets. Mike and Kelly Bowling sounded great with strong vocals. Next, Crabb Revival came on stage. I had sent them my demo when they were looking for a third singer. Seeing them today, I realized two things: One, I was not the singer for this group. Two, I am an instant fan of Crabb Revival! They were awesome! It was driving and rootsy and had lots of groove. Killer vocals and awesome instrumental parts made everything soulful and cool. Love them!
Jason Crabb was backed up by a five piece band, and he was just incredible. (No real surprise there.) There is nothing like Jason's voice, his phrasing, his choice of riffing notes. Always wonderful, always musical, always spiritual. After Jason's songs, the rest of the family joined him for the 'reunion' part of the showcase, but I had to leave early to hear my friend Wess Adams in the Regional Artist Showcase. Wess is a Stamps-Baxter friend, and I've heard him sing many times, but today was definitely his best performance that I've seen. The Dove Brothers were one of the guest artists on the showcase, and the audience nearly lost control when they sang "Get Away Jordan".
The exhibit hall was sheer madness for the first two hours tonight. NQC moved the Singing News Fan Awards to tonight, and I'm sure there must be a difference in attendance. Singing News had a songwriting contest this year, and part of the prize was a performance of the song on mainstage. Well, the quartet to sing the song was Allison Durham Speer, Johnny Minick, Aaron Minick (my fabulous producer!), and Mike Allen. They are still performing as an unnamed quartet, so tonight they announced their new contest called NameThatQuartet.com Actually, that was supposed to be announced, but the audio was out on Bill Gaither's taped piece that made the announcement. I watched their performance with Brian Speer, so I got the inside scoop.
After their performance, I got to spend some time with Allison and Brian and show them my banner and booth. Since they were part of the Banner Photo Selection Committee, it was great to be able to show them the gorgeous finished product. We also did some Elijah Conference chatting. I can't believe that's only a few weeks away!
Freedom Hall was packed again tonight, so Tara and I watched most of the awards from a live feed in the exhibit hall. Tara was getting a drive back to Nashville tonight, so she left just after the awards, taking her table and stools with her. Naturally, that pretty much dismantled the booth, but I was determined to keep my half of the booth going, so I left my banner up, and put the CD rack on the chair with a few artfully displayed business cards. Later, Wess gave me the flowers from his booth, so I placed them strategically and decoratively by the chair. Probably didn't bring me any business, but it all made me smile. I spent the next few hours visiting booths, saying hi to people, booking another SGM Radio interview (Mark Bishop!), and shopping for CDs. I also got to meet two more radio people, so that was cool.
My friends, the Stutzman Family, had comfy couches and a live feed in their booth, so near the end of the night, I just hung out with them, watching the final mainstage performances and eating their homemade cookies. Last year, Mark Lowrey and Lordsong were one of my favourite acts all week, and tonight's set kept the standard high. I guess, like a lot of people, I mostly know Mark through his Gaither appearances. Maybe I don't know enough about him, but I feel like he's found a new level of performing in the last few years. His voice is great and his patter is smooth and easy. He has you laughing hard, and then boom, he nails you with this serious, heartfelt thought. Lordsong sounded incredible, and the whole presentation was very professional and entertaining. I'm not quite ready for Mark's senior tour, but I'd be interested in seeing him in a solo performance.
Finally, it was time to break down the booth (or my half-booth, as I started calling it). As I was bringing stuff to the car, I started to think about the week. I know I'll spend more time with this as the week goes on, but for tonight, I think I'm really pleased with it. I think we came here with realistic goals, and overall, I think we met them. I learned a lot, I met lots of great people, I made some great connections, and I feel I performed well. Now, it's just about getting a good night's sleep and having a safe drive home tomorrow. Can't wait to see the puppies!
Instead, I left the hotel in the early afternoon to attend the Crabb Family showcase. I missed the opening songs, but arrived just as Aaron and Amanda Crabb were finishing a song. From there, the other three Crabb incarnations each took the stage for 2-song sets. Mike and Kelly Bowling sounded great with strong vocals. Next, Crabb Revival came on stage. I had sent them my demo when they were looking for a third singer. Seeing them today, I realized two things: One, I was not the singer for this group. Two, I am an instant fan of Crabb Revival! They were awesome! It was driving and rootsy and had lots of groove. Killer vocals and awesome instrumental parts made everything soulful and cool. Love them!
Jason Crabb was backed up by a five piece band, and he was just incredible. (No real surprise there.) There is nothing like Jason's voice, his phrasing, his choice of riffing notes. Always wonderful, always musical, always spiritual. After Jason's songs, the rest of the family joined him for the 'reunion' part of the showcase, but I had to leave early to hear my friend Wess Adams in the Regional Artist Showcase. Wess is a Stamps-Baxter friend, and I've heard him sing many times, but today was definitely his best performance that I've seen. The Dove Brothers were one of the guest artists on the showcase, and the audience nearly lost control when they sang "Get Away Jordan".
The exhibit hall was sheer madness for the first two hours tonight. NQC moved the Singing News Fan Awards to tonight, and I'm sure there must be a difference in attendance. Singing News had a songwriting contest this year, and part of the prize was a performance of the song on mainstage. Well, the quartet to sing the song was Allison Durham Speer, Johnny Minick, Aaron Minick (my fabulous producer!), and Mike Allen. They are still performing as an unnamed quartet, so tonight they announced their new contest called NameThatQuartet.com Actually, that was supposed to be announced, but the audio was out on Bill Gaither's taped piece that made the announcement. I watched their performance with Brian Speer, so I got the inside scoop.
After their performance, I got to spend some time with Allison and Brian and show them my banner and booth. Since they were part of the Banner Photo Selection Committee, it was great to be able to show them the gorgeous finished product. We also did some Elijah Conference chatting. I can't believe that's only a few weeks away!
Freedom Hall was packed again tonight, so Tara and I watched most of the awards from a live feed in the exhibit hall. Tara was getting a drive back to Nashville tonight, so she left just after the awards, taking her table and stools with her. Naturally, that pretty much dismantled the booth, but I was determined to keep my half of the booth going, so I left my banner up, and put the CD rack on the chair with a few artfully displayed business cards. Later, Wess gave me the flowers from his booth, so I placed them strategically and decoratively by the chair. Probably didn't bring me any business, but it all made me smile. I spent the next few hours visiting booths, saying hi to people, booking another SGM Radio interview (Mark Bishop!), and shopping for CDs. I also got to meet two more radio people, so that was cool.
My friends, the Stutzman Family, had comfy couches and a live feed in their booth, so near the end of the night, I just hung out with them, watching the final mainstage performances and eating their homemade cookies. Last year, Mark Lowrey and Lordsong were one of my favourite acts all week, and tonight's set kept the standard high. I guess, like a lot of people, I mostly know Mark through his Gaither appearances. Maybe I don't know enough about him, but I feel like he's found a new level of performing in the last few years. His voice is great and his patter is smooth and easy. He has you laughing hard, and then boom, he nails you with this serious, heartfelt thought. Lordsong sounded incredible, and the whole presentation was very professional and entertaining. I'm not quite ready for Mark's senior tour, but I'd be interested in seeing him in a solo performance.
Finally, it was time to break down the booth (or my half-booth, as I started calling it). As I was bringing stuff to the car, I started to think about the week. I know I'll spend more time with this as the week goes on, but for tonight, I think I'm really pleased with it. I think we came here with realistic goals, and overall, I think we met them. I learned a lot, I met lots of great people, I made some great connections, and I feel I performed well. Now, it's just about getting a good night's sleep and having a safe drive home tomorrow. Can't wait to see the puppies!
Friday, September 12, 2008
NQC - Day Five
Long day! After last night's midnight excursion, I was brave and bold enough to be up bright and early to attend this morning's Paradigm showcase. This is an industry, invite-only showcase, but I have a lot of friends on their label, so I got a ticket and took the opportunity to see a lot of friends at once. I got to hear my friend Darlene Chapman, who was wonderful. I also got to hear a number of female soloists I've heard of but never seen perform, like Cricket Lee, Tammy Kirkland, and Grace Bailey. It's always nice to see what other soloists are doing - a great chance to learn what audiences are seeing, and how other artists are approaching the solo stage. Jennifer Strickland just released an entirely self-written album, and her song was great, and the Shireys also did an original song written by their young female lead singer. Kim Hopper hosted the event, and just nailed a couple of solo numbers. Paradigm isn't a women-only label, but you'd hardly know it this morning.
Gerald and I had this afternoon reserved on our calendar for the songwriter's showcase. Last year, this showcase was the highlight of my week. It was one hour, and many songs were performed acoustically or by the writer. This year, it was a much bigger production. Phil Cross put together a 3 hour show to record for a DVD. (I missed the intro, so I think this is right.) Many songs were sung to tracks, and just a few were done acoustically. There were some definite highlights, though. There was a choir and an orchestra, and we all know how I feel about a good choir! Ronnie Hinson told the story behind his classic, "The Lighthouse", and Mosie Lister spoke about his song, "Where No One Stands Alone." The show ended with Kyla Rowland talking about "Holy Shore." I love this song, and the Perrys finished the whole show in great style.
It wasn't hard to tell the Gaithers were in the house today: You had to hunt for parking, and for the first few hours, while GVB and Signature Sound were having autograph sessions, you could hardly walk through the exhibit hall. It was great to have a lot of people there, because it also meant I got to see lots of Stamps-Baxter people.
Tara and I had a good day for radio. We gave out several CDs and press kits, and I did two interviews. One was with a DJ from Sarnia, Ontario, and the other was with Chuck Peters of Southern Gospel Reporter. (You can visit there to see my ad!) I thought I'd be nervous about doing the interviews, but I've felt very relaxed, so it's really just been fun. Thinking about it, I don't really know why I'd be nervous. I usually talk about music, Stamps-Baxter, Canada, Gerald, and the Gospel - why would I not love that?
After the second interview, Tara and I had supper with Tammy Norris. Tammy is in the process of putting together her first ever women's conference. She's hosting it at her home church, and has organized the whole thing herself. Tara and I have tossed about ideas about hosting or somehow getting involved in women's conferences, so it was fascinating to hear about Tammy's plans and experiences.
But after that conversation, we had to make our way to Freedom Hall for my second only mainstage performance this week: Signature Sound and Gaither Vocal Band. The hall was packed! Tara and I finally found empty seats way up on the second level, in a back corner somewhere. Luckily, two Stamps-Baxter students saw us and pointed out some empty seats. The ground level was packed, and people were standing and blocking up every entrance. Signature Sound was on fire! I know some people aren't into their style of music and performance, but what can I say? I'm a music theatre girl - I love singing and dancing and any kind of dynamic stagecraft. They sounded great, and they fed off the energy of the packed house. Gaither Vocal Band sounded fantastic! They did a mix of classics and new songs. Their blend was beautiful and the solo verses sounded great. It was a fantastic double set - well worth hunting for seats!
That sort of wrapped up the day. There are a number of things we want to do tomorrow, and I've already started wrapping my mind around packing up the booth and all our stuff at the hotel. I can't believe how quickly this week has passed by. I already have plans for next year...
Gerald and I had this afternoon reserved on our calendar for the songwriter's showcase. Last year, this showcase was the highlight of my week. It was one hour, and many songs were performed acoustically or by the writer. This year, it was a much bigger production. Phil Cross put together a 3 hour show to record for a DVD. (I missed the intro, so I think this is right.) Many songs were sung to tracks, and just a few were done acoustically. There were some definite highlights, though. There was a choir and an orchestra, and we all know how I feel about a good choir! Ronnie Hinson told the story behind his classic, "The Lighthouse", and Mosie Lister spoke about his song, "Where No One Stands Alone." The show ended with Kyla Rowland talking about "Holy Shore." I love this song, and the Perrys finished the whole show in great style.
It wasn't hard to tell the Gaithers were in the house today: You had to hunt for parking, and for the first few hours, while GVB and Signature Sound were having autograph sessions, you could hardly walk through the exhibit hall. It was great to have a lot of people there, because it also meant I got to see lots of Stamps-Baxter people.
Tara and I had a good day for radio. We gave out several CDs and press kits, and I did two interviews. One was with a DJ from Sarnia, Ontario, and the other was with Chuck Peters of Southern Gospel Reporter. (You can visit there to see my ad!) I thought I'd be nervous about doing the interviews, but I've felt very relaxed, so it's really just been fun. Thinking about it, I don't really know why I'd be nervous. I usually talk about music, Stamps-Baxter, Canada, Gerald, and the Gospel - why would I not love that?
After the second interview, Tara and I had supper with Tammy Norris. Tammy is in the process of putting together her first ever women's conference. She's hosting it at her home church, and has organized the whole thing herself. Tara and I have tossed about ideas about hosting or somehow getting involved in women's conferences, so it was fascinating to hear about Tammy's plans and experiences.
But after that conversation, we had to make our way to Freedom Hall for my second only mainstage performance this week: Signature Sound and Gaither Vocal Band. The hall was packed! Tara and I finally found empty seats way up on the second level, in a back corner somewhere. Luckily, two Stamps-Baxter students saw us and pointed out some empty seats. The ground level was packed, and people were standing and blocking up every entrance. Signature Sound was on fire! I know some people aren't into their style of music and performance, but what can I say? I'm a music theatre girl - I love singing and dancing and any kind of dynamic stagecraft. They sounded great, and they fed off the energy of the packed house. Gaither Vocal Band sounded fantastic! They did a mix of classics and new songs. Their blend was beautiful and the solo verses sounded great. It was a fantastic double set - well worth hunting for seats!
That sort of wrapped up the day. There are a number of things we want to do tomorrow, and I've already started wrapping my mind around packing up the booth and all our stuff at the hotel. I can't believe how quickly this week has passed by. I already have plans for next year...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
NQC - Day Four
Awesome day! It is currently 2:00am Louisville time as I start to write this entry. A lot happened today, so I'll try to get down as much as I can:
I woke up feeling very relaxed, until I realized that this was Showcase and Single Release Day. Ugh - nervous knot in my stomach! Gerald made the espresso while I started the day with vocal warm-ups. (Yes, we brought our espresso maker to Louisville!) I went over to sign up for the showcase and have showcase orientation. My showcase today was the Regional Artist Showcase, which is basically the first level of showcases. They go up from here in prestige, the number of songs you can sing, etc. I think anyone with a booth gets to sing in this one, but frankly, I was just excited for the opportunity. It's organized by the Artist Initiative Committee, who were all present to welcome us this morning. Part of our showcase overlapped with the Gaither/Signature Sound showcase over in Freedom Hall, so the committee was also there to assure us that whether our crowd was five or five thousand, they were happy we were there and please have a great time. Phil Cross, songwriter extraordinaire and committee member, reminded us that "God will not bless you to be somebody else". Love that! After a quick chat from the sound guy, I headed back to the hotel for more rehearsal.
I really wanted to see the Gaither showcase, but I figured I had to give my own rehearsal priority. Gerald took me through a vocal warm-up (so nice to have a husband who sings), and we did some final rehearsing of the song. We then loaded up the car with all the Single Release stuff, and headed over.
I got to the showcase in time to hear about an hour's worth of other performers. The Hoppers did a song, and Kim and Dean also did a duet. I would love to tell you the names of some of the other regional artists, but to be honest, I was too nervous to keep track of the names. I'm fine if I have a whole show to do, but sometimes, it's just harder to sing one song. In a concert, you can warm up into it (not a good practice, but it happens sometimes), but with a single song, you have to be 'on' from that first note and make an impact in just a few minutes. I was the last on the program, which actually made me kind of happy. The Gaithers were over by that time, so we had a pretty good crowd of several hundred people. The moment I hit the stage, all my nerves disappeared and I just had a great time. I sang "Do You Wanna Be My Neighbour in Gloryland", and the crowd really seemed to like it. There was lots of clapping and smiles, and that just felt great.
Mark Bishop closed the showcase with two of his songs, and I'm always a fan of his. After the showcase, I got lots of great feedback, which felt wonderful, but the most powerful moment was from the man who told me he was blessed by the song. It's all worth it just for that...
Tara finally arrived in Louisville today, so after the showcase, we gathered at the booth to prepare for the Single Release Party. While getting ready, several people from Ontario stopped by to visit, so that was very cool. At 5:30, we got the party started. We played "Neighbour" and Tara's new single, "God's Got a Word", from my laptop. We passed out mini-chocolate bars, and stapled on each one was a slip of paper asking people to request our songs from their local radio stations. Because we were building on the "neighbour" theme, we also took prayer requests for neighbours. People could write down their requests on an index card and place it in a box, and we're going to pray for them tomorrow. And as a special "neighbour" gift for DJs, I had these neat little slate signs with "Welcome" or "Home" carved in them. All in all, I think the party was a great success! Again, we were up against the Gaither autograph session, but we had a good number of people come through and talk to us, make prayers requests, and eat our chocolate. Tara and I also got a joint interview out of it. A DJ from Ohio came by, and after chatting with us, asked if he could interview us together. We talked about our songs and about the Christian DIVAs, so it was all very cool!
After that, Tara and I decided we would try touring the aisles and visiting the different booths. Unfortunately/fortunately, we kept running into friends, so we never got very far. We did get over to America's Home Spun Gospel to record some liners, so that was cool.
At 8:32, however, I made sure I was in Freedom Hall for the one performer I've seen all week - Ben! He had a ten minute spot where he lead the whole audience in singing Gaither favourites. In true singing school style, he got everyone on their feet to sing Because He Lives, Something Beautiful, and He Touched Me. What a great sound! When he was finished, we left to go back to the booth, when the next group, The Dove Brothers, started to sing the Speer classic "Rain". Well of course, they pulled up Ben for the lead. It was awesome! He just nailed it, and the Doves sounded great, the crowd went nuts, and three encores later, Ben finally left the stage.
At 9:30, we all wandered over to the SGMRadio.com booth for a 'surprise' birthday party for Rob Patz. I say 'surprise' because he clearly knew about everything, but with a bit of singing and some great chocolate cake, it was a nice little party.
The rest of the night was socializing, networking, sharing CDs with radio people, and just trying to spend time with as many friends as possible. At midnight, we all wandered over to the Executive Suites for the midnight breakfast buffet. (I was actually a little overloaded on heavy foods, so I chose a midnight salad instead.) Tara, Gerald, and I shared a table with Judy Nelon and Sue Dodge, who were great ladies, and since Sue sang with the Speers, it was nice to hear some of her history as well.
And that, of course, is why I'm writing at this crazy night-time hour. My friends are singing in a showcase tomorrow morning, and I really want to see them, so I must go sleep for a few hours, and then start all over again. Now that I've sung my showcase, I don't care if I don't sleep til Sunday night!
Shot of the Day: Me and Tara in our first joint interview!
I woke up feeling very relaxed, until I realized that this was Showcase and Single Release Day. Ugh - nervous knot in my stomach! Gerald made the espresso while I started the day with vocal warm-ups. (Yes, we brought our espresso maker to Louisville!) I went over to sign up for the showcase and have showcase orientation. My showcase today was the Regional Artist Showcase, which is basically the first level of showcases. They go up from here in prestige, the number of songs you can sing, etc. I think anyone with a booth gets to sing in this one, but frankly, I was just excited for the opportunity. It's organized by the Artist Initiative Committee, who were all present to welcome us this morning. Part of our showcase overlapped with the Gaither/Signature Sound showcase over in Freedom Hall, so the committee was also there to assure us that whether our crowd was five or five thousand, they were happy we were there and please have a great time. Phil Cross, songwriter extraordinaire and committee member, reminded us that "God will not bless you to be somebody else". Love that! After a quick chat from the sound guy, I headed back to the hotel for more rehearsal.
I really wanted to see the Gaither showcase, but I figured I had to give my own rehearsal priority. Gerald took me through a vocal warm-up (so nice to have a husband who sings), and we did some final rehearsing of the song. We then loaded up the car with all the Single Release stuff, and headed over.
I got to the showcase in time to hear about an hour's worth of other performers. The Hoppers did a song, and Kim and Dean also did a duet. I would love to tell you the names of some of the other regional artists, but to be honest, I was too nervous to keep track of the names. I'm fine if I have a whole show to do, but sometimes, it's just harder to sing one song. In a concert, you can warm up into it (not a good practice, but it happens sometimes), but with a single song, you have to be 'on' from that first note and make an impact in just a few minutes. I was the last on the program, which actually made me kind of happy. The Gaithers were over by that time, so we had a pretty good crowd of several hundred people. The moment I hit the stage, all my nerves disappeared and I just had a great time. I sang "Do You Wanna Be My Neighbour in Gloryland", and the crowd really seemed to like it. There was lots of clapping and smiles, and that just felt great.
Mark Bishop closed the showcase with two of his songs, and I'm always a fan of his. After the showcase, I got lots of great feedback, which felt wonderful, but the most powerful moment was from the man who told me he was blessed by the song. It's all worth it just for that...
Tara finally arrived in Louisville today, so after the showcase, we gathered at the booth to prepare for the Single Release Party. While getting ready, several people from Ontario stopped by to visit, so that was very cool. At 5:30, we got the party started. We played "Neighbour" and Tara's new single, "God's Got a Word", from my laptop. We passed out mini-chocolate bars, and stapled on each one was a slip of paper asking people to request our songs from their local radio stations. Because we were building on the "neighbour" theme, we also took prayer requests for neighbours. People could write down their requests on an index card and place it in a box, and we're going to pray for them tomorrow. And as a special "neighbour" gift for DJs, I had these neat little slate signs with "Welcome" or "Home" carved in them. All in all, I think the party was a great success! Again, we were up against the Gaither autograph session, but we had a good number of people come through and talk to us, make prayers requests, and eat our chocolate. Tara and I also got a joint interview out of it. A DJ from Ohio came by, and after chatting with us, asked if he could interview us together. We talked about our songs and about the Christian DIVAs, so it was all very cool!
After that, Tara and I decided we would try touring the aisles and visiting the different booths. Unfortunately/fortunately, we kept running into friends, so we never got very far. We did get over to America's Home Spun Gospel to record some liners, so that was cool.
At 8:32, however, I made sure I was in Freedom Hall for the one performer I've seen all week - Ben! He had a ten minute spot where he lead the whole audience in singing Gaither favourites. In true singing school style, he got everyone on their feet to sing Because He Lives, Something Beautiful, and He Touched Me. What a great sound! When he was finished, we left to go back to the booth, when the next group, The Dove Brothers, started to sing the Speer classic "Rain". Well of course, they pulled up Ben for the lead. It was awesome! He just nailed it, and the Doves sounded great, the crowd went nuts, and three encores later, Ben finally left the stage.
At 9:30, we all wandered over to the SGMRadio.com booth for a 'surprise' birthday party for Rob Patz. I say 'surprise' because he clearly knew about everything, but with a bit of singing and some great chocolate cake, it was a nice little party.
The rest of the night was socializing, networking, sharing CDs with radio people, and just trying to spend time with as many friends as possible. At midnight, we all wandered over to the Executive Suites for the midnight breakfast buffet. (I was actually a little overloaded on heavy foods, so I chose a midnight salad instead.) Tara, Gerald, and I shared a table with Judy Nelon and Sue Dodge, who were great ladies, and since Sue sang with the Speers, it was nice to hear some of her history as well.
And that, of course, is why I'm writing at this crazy night-time hour. My friends are singing in a showcase tomorrow morning, and I really want to see them, so I must go sleep for a few hours, and then start all over again. Now that I've sung my showcase, I don't care if I don't sleep til Sunday night!
Shot of the Day: Me and Tara in our first joint interview!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
NQC - Day Three
So, we actually did leave early tonight! Tomorrow is going to be a long day that includes both my showcase and my Single Release Party, so a good night's sleep is pretty crucial.
Today was a great day. We spent the morning doing final preparations for tomorrow's party, and after a few phone calls to ask Tara to bring more supplies, I think we're in good shape.
I spent the afternoon at the SoGospelNews Showcase, which was off-site at one of the hotel ballrooms. I heard a trio called Calvary's Voice who were really good, but mostly I went to see friends. My friends Chad and Phillip sang and played in a quartet called Victorious, and they were great. And my buddy Brandon Andrews blew the roof off the place with his three songs. Such a great voice!
Our first guest at the booth today was a DJ from Ontario! I was happy to offer him some 'Canadian content', and he was one of the few people there who appreciated the MAPL symbol on the back of "Real Big Fan".
I did a lot of booth visiting today also. I visited my friend Darlene Chapman at the Paradigm booth, and got to meet a lot of people there. They gave me tickets to their invite-only showcase on Friday, so I'm excited about that. I gave my CD to the XM people, so that would be a cool place to hear my songs. Gerald and I also had great conversations with several people, including people with the Billy Graham Library. I would just love to visit there some day.
I also had a great chat with Ron from the Klondyke Gospel Music Center in Ozark, Alabama. I did a concert there this spring, and today he booked me again for a concert next March. Yay! If I can get a few more bookings this week, I'll be a very happy camper.
It's interesting talking to the different artists here and just trying to learn as much as we can about how this industry works. For all our time in the music industry in Canada, we're still newcomers to the world of Southern Gospel. We're taking lots of notes on things we like (and things we don't like). I'm happy with the way this week is progressing, and I know we'll be in even better shape for next year.
Gerald and I just did a quick rehearsal for tomorrow, and I know we'll take another crack at things in the morning. Time for that good night's sleep...
Today was a great day. We spent the morning doing final preparations for tomorrow's party, and after a few phone calls to ask Tara to bring more supplies, I think we're in good shape.
I spent the afternoon at the SoGospelNews Showcase, which was off-site at one of the hotel ballrooms. I heard a trio called Calvary's Voice who were really good, but mostly I went to see friends. My friends Chad and Phillip sang and played in a quartet called Victorious, and they were great. And my buddy Brandon Andrews blew the roof off the place with his three songs. Such a great voice!
Our first guest at the booth today was a DJ from Ontario! I was happy to offer him some 'Canadian content', and he was one of the few people there who appreciated the MAPL symbol on the back of "Real Big Fan".
I did a lot of booth visiting today also. I visited my friend Darlene Chapman at the Paradigm booth, and got to meet a lot of people there. They gave me tickets to their invite-only showcase on Friday, so I'm excited about that. I gave my CD to the XM people, so that would be a cool place to hear my songs. Gerald and I also had great conversations with several people, including people with the Billy Graham Library. I would just love to visit there some day.
I also had a great chat with Ron from the Klondyke Gospel Music Center in Ozark, Alabama. I did a concert there this spring, and today he booked me again for a concert next March. Yay! If I can get a few more bookings this week, I'll be a very happy camper.
It's interesting talking to the different artists here and just trying to learn as much as we can about how this industry works. For all our time in the music industry in Canada, we're still newcomers to the world of Southern Gospel. We're taking lots of notes on things we like (and things we don't like). I'm happy with the way this week is progressing, and I know we'll be in even better shape for next year.
Gerald and I just did a quick rehearsal for tomorrow, and I know we'll take another crack at things in the morning. Time for that good night's sleep...
NQC - Day Two
Like most bloggers this week, I'm adjusting the time on my posts so it keeps it on the appropriate date. Suffice to say: it is currently much later than the time on this post suggests.
You see, I had this wonderful idea tonight. "Let's leave a little early so we can get back to the hotel and do all the final prep work for Thursday's Single Release Party." Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, it was good, til we got back to the room and I realized I'd left my laptop back in the exhibit hall. PANIC!! I was that guy from the commercials. "I checked my notebook!" Gerald was already in his pajamas when I realized it, so he changed back into regular clothes (bless his heart!) and we raced back to the Expo Center. Gerald found a security guard who let him back in - it was well after midnight at this point, so the only people around were security and cleaners. We got back to the hotel close to one a.m. So much for my "early night"...
Despite the ending, we had wonderful day! We got there early enough to catch the Regional Artist Showcase. There were some great groups, and the featured group was the Dixie Echoes. They are just one of my favourite groups to see live. I've never seen a full show, but their's were some of my favourite performances of last year's NQC. Their mic choreography is dynamic without being slick, and I just love watching them.
Today was a big socializing day for me. I had a great visit with my friend, Susan Adams, who's husband Wess is a solo artist. They're also Stamps-Baxter friends, which are always some of my favourite people. Susan and Wess are with Song Garden, so I got to meet a number of their artists as well.
I ran into lots of familiar faces today, like Young Harmony, songwriter Sue Smith, and more Stamps-Baxter people. I introduced myself to Jim and Melissa Brady and got to thank him for the interview, and I also met some more artists that I'd like to interview.
We're across the aisle from a wonderful trio from Florida called Great Day. At one point today, they were talking to Gerald about his songwriting, and they quipped, "Why don't you write a song for us?" Well, they didn't realize who they were talking to. Within the hour, Gerald had a verse and chorus, lyric and melody, for them. (It's really beautiful too.) They jokingly shouted over to us, "Got our song yet?", and I loved the looks on their faces when he said "Yes". I see him write so quickly so often, and it always amazes me, but it was really cool to see their faces when the song started to come together before their eyes. Can't wait for him to finish it!
We also had a really cool visit today. A man walked up and said, "Hi, I'm a 'real big fan'." He's a DJ from Indiana, and his favourite song on my album is "Real Big Fan"! (which, of course, Gerald wrote!) He'd written and told me that recently, so it was really cool to meet him in person today. He actually told us that he plays the song every week! Whoo-hoo! Time to tour in Indiana...
You see, I had this wonderful idea tonight. "Let's leave a little early so we can get back to the hotel and do all the final prep work for Thursday's Single Release Party." Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, it was good, til we got back to the room and I realized I'd left my laptop back in the exhibit hall. PANIC!! I was that guy from the commercials. "I checked my notebook!" Gerald was already in his pajamas when I realized it, so he changed back into regular clothes (bless his heart!) and we raced back to the Expo Center. Gerald found a security guard who let him back in - it was well after midnight at this point, so the only people around were security and cleaners. We got back to the hotel close to one a.m. So much for my "early night"...
Despite the ending, we had wonderful day! We got there early enough to catch the Regional Artist Showcase. There were some great groups, and the featured group was the Dixie Echoes. They are just one of my favourite groups to see live. I've never seen a full show, but their's were some of my favourite performances of last year's NQC. Their mic choreography is dynamic without being slick, and I just love watching them.
Today was a big socializing day for me. I had a great visit with my friend, Susan Adams, who's husband Wess is a solo artist. They're also Stamps-Baxter friends, which are always some of my favourite people. Susan and Wess are with Song Garden, so I got to meet a number of their artists as well.
I ran into lots of familiar faces today, like Young Harmony, songwriter Sue Smith, and more Stamps-Baxter people. I introduced myself to Jim and Melissa Brady and got to thank him for the interview, and I also met some more artists that I'd like to interview.
We're across the aisle from a wonderful trio from Florida called Great Day. At one point today, they were talking to Gerald about his songwriting, and they quipped, "Why don't you write a song for us?" Well, they didn't realize who they were talking to. Within the hour, Gerald had a verse and chorus, lyric and melody, for them. (It's really beautiful too.) They jokingly shouted over to us, "Got our song yet?", and I loved the looks on their faces when he said "Yes". I see him write so quickly so often, and it always amazes me, but it was really cool to see their faces when the song started to come together before their eyes. Can't wait for him to finish it!
We also had a really cool visit today. A man walked up and said, "Hi, I'm a 'real big fan'." He's a DJ from Indiana, and his favourite song on my album is "Real Big Fan"! (which, of course, Gerald wrote!) He'd written and told me that recently, so it was really cool to meet him in person today. He actually told us that he plays the song every week! Whoo-hoo! Time to tour in Indiana...
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
NQC Morning Update
Here's the "Rob TV" I did yesterday. To read the Jim Brady article that he talks about, just visit here.
NQC - Day One
Sooooooo excited. Tired, but excited!
I got my good night's sleep last night, which was a real blessing. After an easy morning, we went over to the Kentucky Expo Center to load in our stuff. When we had everything moved into our booth space, I left Gerald there so I could take the car back to the parking area. Well, I got caught in the long twisty-turny one-way road that drives round and round the expo grounds. It reminded me of that scene in European Vacation where the Griswolds get caught in a British driving circle and Clark keeps saying "Big Ben ... Parliament".
Back to the booth: It took a bit to figure out how to balance the two banners plus the table plus all our other stuff, but in the end, I think it looks great! We had a bit of time before the hall opened, so after a snack (ribbon fries!), we wandered out to hear a bit of the afternoon showcase. We didn't get to hear many of the regional singers, but we did catch the performance of the King's Herald's which was great.
The exhibit hall is open from 4-11:30pm each night, which went quickly today. There are lots of Stamps-Baxter people here, so there were mini-reunions all day. My friends, John and Mary, are working for a radio station, so I did a radio interview with them. We had several DJs drop by, so we were able to pass on our music to them. I also did a "Rob TV" - a four-minute video interview with Rob Patz of SGM Radio.com. I'll post a link when it's posted online.
The rest of the day was just spent visiting and chatting with people. I didn't get to see any of the mainstage performances tonight, so I'm going to try and see a few groups tomorrow night. I'm so happy to be here this week. I'm proud of the music and message we're promoting, and let's face it - I just love being around anything Southern Gospel!
Shot of the Day - Fabulous Booth 448!
I got my good night's sleep last night, which was a real blessing. After an easy morning, we went over to the Kentucky Expo Center to load in our stuff. When we had everything moved into our booth space, I left Gerald there so I could take the car back to the parking area. Well, I got caught in the long twisty-turny one-way road that drives round and round the expo grounds. It reminded me of that scene in European Vacation where the Griswolds get caught in a British driving circle and Clark keeps saying "Big Ben ... Parliament".
Back to the booth: It took a bit to figure out how to balance the two banners plus the table plus all our other stuff, but in the end, I think it looks great! We had a bit of time before the hall opened, so after a snack (ribbon fries!), we wandered out to hear a bit of the afternoon showcase. We didn't get to hear many of the regional singers, but we did catch the performance of the King's Herald's which was great.
The exhibit hall is open from 4-11:30pm each night, which went quickly today. There are lots of Stamps-Baxter people here, so there were mini-reunions all day. My friends, John and Mary, are working for a radio station, so I did a radio interview with them. We had several DJs drop by, so we were able to pass on our music to them. I also did a "Rob TV" - a four-minute video interview with Rob Patz of SGM Radio.com. I'll post a link when it's posted online.
The rest of the day was just spent visiting and chatting with people. I didn't get to see any of the mainstage performances tonight, so I'm going to try and see a few groups tomorrow night. I'm so happy to be here this week. I'm proud of the music and message we're promoting, and let's face it - I just love being around anything Southern Gospel!
Shot of the Day - Fabulous Booth 448!
Monday, September 08, 2008
NQC ... about to begin!
I'm writing tonight from Louisville, Kentucky! We're all checked into our hotel, a plan is in place for the week, and all that's left for tonight is to get a good night's sleep...
We got back to Nashville late last Tuesday night after a long but uneventful drive from Toronto ("uneventful" being the best kind of drive home). Wednesday should have been a rest day, but there was far too much to do before coming to Louisville today. Wednesday was spent cleaning, unpacking, laundry ... all that glamourous musician stuff.
I worked for Ben on Thursday and Friday, so that added lots of busyness into the week. It was great to reconnect with my Stamps-Baxter buddies, and to work on school stuff.
Full work days meant just the nights for NQC prep. I have new business cards to match my banner (I'm all about branding these days), and they became a full drama themselves, almost worthy of matching the banner drama. There were lots of go-arounds on design, and then the plan was to get them printed and sent overnight. Well, numerous complications arose, and we finally ended up having a short run made locally.
The banner arrived Friday, and when I got home, Gerald had it set up at the end of the hallway so it was the first thing I saw when I got home. It's sooooo pretty! Really truly beautiful! I can't wait to have it on display. It's soooooo pretty! Yay, Brian for awesome photos and Lyndsay for an incredible design!!!!!!
Saturday was supposed to be my day to get all the last minute things done - printing press kits, buying groceries for the hotel, putting together business supplies, packing - but my body decided it was time to get sick. I couldn't do a thing! I felt awful, but my greatest challenge was not freaking out about all the things I couldn't get done. Lots of deep breathing, sipping tea, and spending time reading "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" (awesome!!!!!!).
That left lots of things to do today, but it was most important for me to go to church this morning. This kind of week can be so draining emotionally and spiritually. There's a real danger of letting self-promotion and stage-time distract from the real reason why we make all this music. It was my first time back at Redeemer for a month. It was so grounding to see friends, sing great songs, be still and know that God is God.
The afternoon was the madhouse we knew it would be, and now we're here. When I think back at last year's NQC, it's amazing to think how much has changed for me this year. It's going to be a crazy/busy/wonderful week. Can't wait to get started...
We got back to Nashville late last Tuesday night after a long but uneventful drive from Toronto ("uneventful" being the best kind of drive home). Wednesday should have been a rest day, but there was far too much to do before coming to Louisville today. Wednesday was spent cleaning, unpacking, laundry ... all that glamourous musician stuff.
I worked for Ben on Thursday and Friday, so that added lots of busyness into the week. It was great to reconnect with my Stamps-Baxter buddies, and to work on school stuff.
Full work days meant just the nights for NQC prep. I have new business cards to match my banner (I'm all about branding these days), and they became a full drama themselves, almost worthy of matching the banner drama. There were lots of go-arounds on design, and then the plan was to get them printed and sent overnight. Well, numerous complications arose, and we finally ended up having a short run made locally.
The banner arrived Friday, and when I got home, Gerald had it set up at the end of the hallway so it was the first thing I saw when I got home. It's sooooo pretty! Really truly beautiful! I can't wait to have it on display. It's soooooo pretty! Yay, Brian for awesome photos and Lyndsay for an incredible design!!!!!!
Saturday was supposed to be my day to get all the last minute things done - printing press kits, buying groceries for the hotel, putting together business supplies, packing - but my body decided it was time to get sick. I couldn't do a thing! I felt awful, but my greatest challenge was not freaking out about all the things I couldn't get done. Lots of deep breathing, sipping tea, and spending time reading "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" (awesome!!!!!!).
That left lots of things to do today, but it was most important for me to go to church this morning. This kind of week can be so draining emotionally and spiritually. There's a real danger of letting self-promotion and stage-time distract from the real reason why we make all this music. It was my first time back at Redeemer for a month. It was so grounding to see friends, sing great songs, be still and know that God is God.
The afternoon was the madhouse we knew it would be, and now we're here. When I think back at last year's NQC, it's amazing to think how much has changed for me this year. It's going to be a crazy/busy/wonderful week. Can't wait to get started...
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The Banner - Part Deux
Gerald and I had an awesome start to the day doing something we haven't done for ages: we had voice lessons! Our wonderful teacher, Sue, just refuses to follow us to Nashville, so it's always great to meet up with her while we're here for a 'tune-up'. We've both been singing a lot, so it was good to hear that things are all in the right place. Sue was also able to give us those little tweaks to make things smoother, easier, and more beautiful. Every day should start with a voice lesson!
And then, it was mad NQC planning all day! I found a warehouse that sells display racks, and I was able to purchase a CD rack for my product table for half the price I found online. Score!
I returned home to find a beautiful proof for my banner in my inbox. One small tweak later, and it was ready to approve and send to the manufacturer. Being a freelancer, I'm rarely aware of holidays and their affect on business - meaning, of course, that I forgot we'd be losing a day next week to Monday's holiday. That meant that everything for the banner had to be done, finalized, and put in the manufacturer's hands today. There were many phone calls back and forth from Toronto to Nashville (yay, free long distance), but just as my father-in-law was taking the ribs off the BBQ, the last thread was tied in place. Right now, the design is done and in the right hands. What a relief! There's been a lot of stress this week - trying to get the banner done while also balancing the thousand other things that seem to have popped up - and it's a great weight off my shoulders to have this in place.
I've been studying 'branding' this year, so the designer is now taking the banner design and turning it into a business card for me. Over the weekend, I need to confirm my hotel booking, do some shopping for the Single Release Party, and put together some press kits. Oh, the glamour of it all!
And then, it was mad NQC planning all day! I found a warehouse that sells display racks, and I was able to purchase a CD rack for my product table for half the price I found online. Score!
I returned home to find a beautiful proof for my banner in my inbox. One small tweak later, and it was ready to approve and send to the manufacturer. Being a freelancer, I'm rarely aware of holidays and their affect on business - meaning, of course, that I forgot we'd be losing a day next week to Monday's holiday. That meant that everything for the banner had to be done, finalized, and put in the manufacturer's hands today. There were many phone calls back and forth from Toronto to Nashville (yay, free long distance), but just as my father-in-law was taking the ribs off the BBQ, the last thread was tied in place. Right now, the design is done and in the right hands. What a relief! There's been a lot of stress this week - trying to get the banner done while also balancing the thousand other things that seem to have popped up - and it's a great weight off my shoulders to have this in place.
I've been studying 'branding' this year, so the designer is now taking the banner design and turning it into a business card for me. Over the weekend, I need to confirm my hotel booking, do some shopping for the Single Release Party, and put together some press kits. Oh, the glamour of it all!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Saga of the Banner
So last week, in the midst of singing and visiting and trying to find some quiet time, I started to kick into NQC planning mode. It's been so busy lately that I've had very little time to think about it, so I'm now forced to do lots of last minute preparation. Not my favourite way to work, but one of the gifts of working in theatre and film is learning to be creative, open, and organized with very little time or resources.
I know my booth number (448 - come visit me!), but not my showcase time (reminder to self: email for that info). Tara and I are sharing a booth, so that eases some of the planning, but I still need to find a hotel room.
I'm planning a Single Release Party for the Thursday of NQC, and that's going to be a big deal. We have a lot of the details narrowed down, but we're still trying to find a time that won't conflict with any of the other radio events happening that day.
And I'm getting a banner! Originally, I didn't think we'd be able to afford one right now, but God had a different plan, and now we're getting a banner. And I don't mind saying: This whole process has stressed me out!
When we were doing the packaging for Real Big Fan, I knew exactly what I wanted things to look like. I knew what photos I wanted and where I wanted each photo placed. Unfortunately, I'm lacking this clarity of vision for my banner!
(Let's remember that a banner isn't cheap, so I want to choose my photo well!)
On the weekend, I visited and revisited all my Real Big Fan photos, and finally narrowed it down to five. I then sent the photos to a few trusted friends to get their opinions. They all came back with different favourites.
Then I narrowed it down to three. Tara (bless her heart!) has been my liaison in Nashville, so she sent the three to the graphics designer to do some rough mock-ups of the banner design. Meanwhile, I sent the three photos back around to the trusted friends. Again, no consistent answer! Dad took each of the photos and loaded them into a projector so we could blow them up to banner size and view them on the wall. That helped, but still no absolute clarity.
Last night, I received the three mock-ups, and sent them around again. And yes, everyone still has a different favourite. Dad took the mock-ups and projected them onto the wall again. I can't recommend this technique enough! Photos look so different when you see them this size, and it really helped all of us envision the banner in a church or convention or whatever.
Well, this is where things got all messed around. Mom and Dad and Gerald had all chosen photo number 3, but after seeing the photos on the wall, they all changed to photo number 1! (the numbers are arbitrary, but you get my point) Even I started to fall in love with photo 1 again. We were all surprised by our responses, which lead to a bit of a debate as to why we were reacting this way.
I've finally decided to sleep on it, and pray that I wake up with a clear answer. As it stands now, it's probably going to be photo 1, but you never know what's going to happen with this. I'm pretty sure I've aged through this whole process. Good thing I'll have a good looking photo for my booth!
(hahaha - seriously people, just kidding!) (I clearly need some sleep...)
I know my booth number (448 - come visit me!), but not my showcase time (reminder to self: email for that info). Tara and I are sharing a booth, so that eases some of the planning, but I still need to find a hotel room.
I'm planning a Single Release Party for the Thursday of NQC, and that's going to be a big deal. We have a lot of the details narrowed down, but we're still trying to find a time that won't conflict with any of the other radio events happening that day.
And I'm getting a banner! Originally, I didn't think we'd be able to afford one right now, but God had a different plan, and now we're getting a banner. And I don't mind saying: This whole process has stressed me out!
When we were doing the packaging for Real Big Fan, I knew exactly what I wanted things to look like. I knew what photos I wanted and where I wanted each photo placed. Unfortunately, I'm lacking this clarity of vision for my banner!
(Let's remember that a banner isn't cheap, so I want to choose my photo well!)
On the weekend, I visited and revisited all my Real Big Fan photos, and finally narrowed it down to five. I then sent the photos to a few trusted friends to get their opinions. They all came back with different favourites.
Then I narrowed it down to three. Tara (bless her heart!) has been my liaison in Nashville, so she sent the three to the graphics designer to do some rough mock-ups of the banner design. Meanwhile, I sent the three photos back around to the trusted friends. Again, no consistent answer! Dad took each of the photos and loaded them into a projector so we could blow them up to banner size and view them on the wall. That helped, but still no absolute clarity.
Last night, I received the three mock-ups, and sent them around again. And yes, everyone still has a different favourite. Dad took the mock-ups and projected them onto the wall again. I can't recommend this technique enough! Photos look so different when you see them this size, and it really helped all of us envision the banner in a church or convention or whatever.
Well, this is where things got all messed around. Mom and Dad and Gerald had all chosen photo number 3, but after seeing the photos on the wall, they all changed to photo number 1! (the numbers are arbitrary, but you get my point) Even I started to fall in love with photo 1 again. We were all surprised by our responses, which lead to a bit of a debate as to why we were reacting this way.
I've finally decided to sleep on it, and pray that I wake up with a clear answer. As it stands now, it's probably going to be photo 1, but you never know what's going to happen with this. I'm pretty sure I've aged through this whole process. Good thing I'll have a good looking photo for my booth!
(hahaha - seriously people, just kidding!) (I clearly need some sleep...)
Monday, August 25, 2008
St. John's West and all the rest...
What a weekend! Yes, I am oodles behind in my blog. When I was in Newfoundland a few weeks ago, I had zero internet access, so I started writing off-line. Unfortunately, it's taken me a while to get all that writing back online. Just one more thing for this week's "To Do" list...
This morning, we returned to St. John's West to lead the music. St. John's West is always a challenge in that we are usually responsible for all preludes, hymns, psalms, communion music, special music, postludes, and liturgical music. Today we had a visiting priest leading the service, so that cut out the psalm and the liturgical music. It was a wonderful service though! Great preaching and, as always, a great spirit.
We spent the afternoon relaxing in High Park with Mom and Dad. Next month, Mom and Dad will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary (Yay, M+D!). Since we won't be here to join in the celebrations, we had the party yesterday. For the better part of the afternoon and evening, 30 people gathered in the garden for food, song, and lots of laughter. Gerald and I pulled off a great little moment when we surprised Mom and Dad with an Elvis recording of "She Wears My Ring", the song from their first dance. I got this great photo of all the couples at the party dancing with their loved one in the garden. It was a wonderful day, and a great celebration of their first 40 years of a love well lived.
This morning, we returned to St. John's West to lead the music. St. John's West is always a challenge in that we are usually responsible for all preludes, hymns, psalms, communion music, special music, postludes, and liturgical music. Today we had a visiting priest leading the service, so that cut out the psalm and the liturgical music. It was a wonderful service though! Great preaching and, as always, a great spirit.
We spent the afternoon relaxing in High Park with Mom and Dad. Next month, Mom and Dad will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary (Yay, M+D!). Since we won't be here to join in the celebrations, we had the party yesterday. For the better part of the afternoon and evening, 30 people gathered in the garden for food, song, and lots of laughter. Gerald and I pulled off a great little moment when we surprised Mom and Dad with an Elvis recording of "She Wears My Ring", the song from their first dance. I got this great photo of all the couples at the party dancing with their loved one in the garden. It was a wonderful day, and a great celebration of their first 40 years of a love well lived.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Hymn-Singing Kind of Day...
I think today was our best seniors residence gig yet! The chapel was literally overflowing with people - standing room only and staff listening from the hallway. The audience started to sing along on the first song, and they didn't stop. They even sang along on our originals! When Gerald hit the final chorus of "A Church Song Broke Me Down", there were people in the audience who were singing along. Awesome! We also had a lot of church choir singers in the audience. You can always tell them - they sing harmony, and they always know verses 2, 3, and 4.
The chaplain for this residence booked us for another place last week, and she's very interested in having us back for their Christmas services. Yay! Already booking December!
We spent the afternoon in the Annex, enjoying patios and bookstores, and then joined our friend Deanna for a night of food and music in her new apartment. After an awesome meal and lots of tea, we pulled out our guitars and played til midnight. My favourite moment was playing "Wedding at Cana". I played and sang, Gerald played lead guitar, and Deanna strummed and sang harmony. Awesome! So good just to sit and play and enjoy...
The chaplain for this residence booked us for another place last week, and she's very interested in having us back for their Christmas services. Yay! Already booking December!
We spent the afternoon in the Annex, enjoying patios and bookstores, and then joined our friend Deanna for a night of food and music in her new apartment. After an awesome meal and lots of tea, we pulled out our guitars and played til midnight. My favourite moment was playing "Wedding at Cana". I played and sang, Gerald played lead guitar, and Deanna strummed and sang harmony. Awesome! So good just to sit and play and enjoy...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
St. John's York Mills "Homecoming"
Since coming back from Newfoundland on Monday, it's been non-stop gigging. We've hooked up with an agent who's booking us in the chapels of seniors' homes. We bring our guitars and do an hour of old hymns. Awesome!
Tonight was a real 'homecoming' for us. For the first time in almost two years, we did a concert in our former home church of St. John's York Mills. I've been trying to get back there for a while, but after a great email from their new rector this spring, we booked a full concert for tonight.
I will completely admit that I was a bit nervous going in. I think we always are when we return home. It's like a high school reunion. Don't we all want to return home richer, skinnier, taller, cooler? But my fears were quickly put at ease by a warm and generous welcome.
Gerald and I did a 90 minute show with a few classic songs, but mostly originals. We really wanted to show people what we do in Nashville, so the middle of the show consisted of two 20-minute solo sets. First, Gerald did 20 minutes of what he would do at a Nashville songwriter night, complete with sitting on a stool and sharing song stories. Next, I did 20 minutes of songs from Real Big Fan, using tracks and testimony. It was great to sing "Movin' Up To Gloryland" and tell everyone that I first learned that song within the walls of that very sanctuary.
It was just great to sing there and see people and hug and be hugged. Can't wait to do it again!
Tonight was a real 'homecoming' for us. For the first time in almost two years, we did a concert in our former home church of St. John's York Mills. I've been trying to get back there for a while, but after a great email from their new rector this spring, we booked a full concert for tonight.
I will completely admit that I was a bit nervous going in. I think we always are when we return home. It's like a high school reunion. Don't we all want to return home richer, skinnier, taller, cooler? But my fears were quickly put at ease by a warm and generous welcome.
Gerald and I did a 90 minute show with a few classic songs, but mostly originals. We really wanted to show people what we do in Nashville, so the middle of the show consisted of two 20-minute solo sets. First, Gerald did 20 minutes of what he would do at a Nashville songwriter night, complete with sitting on a stool and sharing song stories. Next, I did 20 minutes of songs from Real Big Fan, using tracks and testimony. It was great to sing "Movin' Up To Gloryland" and tell everyone that I first learned that song within the walls of that very sanctuary.
It was just great to sing there and see people and hug and be hugged. Can't wait to do it again!
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Best Place on Earth.
“Bittersweet” was made for days like this.
I woke up to the news that an offer had been made and, assuming all the paperwork falls into place, the cabin has been sold. We couldn’t ask for better buyers - they’re nice people who are looking for a place that will be around for their children and their grandchildren. The wife graduated from the same nursing school as Mom, and they go to St. Thomas’, our home church in Newfoundland. But still, it’s hard to believe that this is our last day here, as “our” place.
Before coming this weekend, I prayed we would all find the closure we needed. I know for Mom and Dad, that had a lot to do with finding the right buyer and getting a price that satisfied their needs.
For me, closure was all about finding peace.
With all the selling out of the way, the day was left for us to enjoy.
We took a drive up to the visit the couple who bought our boat, and then drove out to Whitbourne for a fantastic meal of fresh cod followed by partridge berry cake with brown sugar sauce. (You never come to Newfoundland for the weather, but you can always count on the food!)
I’ve spent more than a few hours down by the pond with a line in the water, so this afternoon I decided that needed to be part of my closure. Even though the fish were jumping and biting, there was no getting them on the hook. After an early supper, the wind dropped and I decided to try again while the pond was calm. I’ve known my whole life that fishing is not always about catching fish. As I stood by the pond, watching my bobber with great anticipation, I was flooded with memories of quiet hours spent on that same spot, dreaming of my future, working out problems, or just listening to the sounds of the pond. I felt peace. The weather was good, so I decided I’d stay out 'til dark, fish or not. With that, the bobber when under, and I pulled in a small trout. Normally, I would have thrown that size back in, but I knew this was a gift from the pond - my last fish in Ocean Pond. Mom and Dad came down, we took a picture, and recognized the significance of the moment. I decided to stay out and keep the line wet a while longer. Soon, I had my second fish. I suddenly felt like I was on a mission to get a fish for each of us. It started to get dark and the flies got thicker. I couldn’t see my bobber on the water anymore. I thought, “After this worm, I’ll pack it in.”. No sooner was the thought out than the bobber went under one more time. Three pan-sized trout - one for each of us as our final meal in Ocean Pond.
I can’t think of a more perfect way to end an era.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in the last day or two trying to grab little keepsakes - a favourite plate, a rock from the shore, a stool from the living room. But in reality, I know that all these things will pale compared to the memories we have in Ocean Pond.
A few of my favourites, that will rise above the rest:
- The year I had a fishing contest with Bruce Evans. We kept a running total all summer long of who caught the most fish. In September, I won the five dollar prize.
- Shingling the roof with Dad.
- In Grade 10, I did a school exchange with Winnipeg, and we brought the two girls staying with us out to Ocean Pond on our one free day. After supper, we took them fishing and pulled in over twenty fish in less than an hour. (All the other visiting students went to the mall on their free day.)
- The time we went for a boat ride and left our dog, Rebel, on the shore. Rebel was so upset about not being invited that he jumped in the water and swam out to meet us. We then had to pull a sopping wet dog into the boat.
- Learning how to drive the boat.
- Picking pitcher plants in the bog and trying to feed them flies - with no success, of course.
- Building forts, lean-to’s, secret hideaways, and other such treasures.
- Countless meals of toutons, steaks, capelin and, of course, fresh trout from the pond, all best shared by the closest of friends.
- The year we brought four teenage friends up (that would be eight people in a two bedroom cabin) for a May 24th weekend and great silliness ensued.
- The thousands of times I did any of the following: built something, learned something, drew something, caught something, drove something, flew something, tasted something, smelled something, and best of all, loved something.
Ocean Pond has been, and will always be, the greatest place on Earth. I praise God for the time we’ve had here, and I pray that the Carters will have as many wonderful memories as we’ve had ... if not more.
I woke up to the news that an offer had been made and, assuming all the paperwork falls into place, the cabin has been sold. We couldn’t ask for better buyers - they’re nice people who are looking for a place that will be around for their children and their grandchildren. The wife graduated from the same nursing school as Mom, and they go to St. Thomas’, our home church in Newfoundland. But still, it’s hard to believe that this is our last day here, as “our” place.
Before coming this weekend, I prayed we would all find the closure we needed. I know for Mom and Dad, that had a lot to do with finding the right buyer and getting a price that satisfied their needs.
For me, closure was all about finding peace.
With all the selling out of the way, the day was left for us to enjoy.
We took a drive up to the visit the couple who bought our boat, and then drove out to Whitbourne for a fantastic meal of fresh cod followed by partridge berry cake with brown sugar sauce. (You never come to Newfoundland for the weather, but you can always count on the food!)
I’ve spent more than a few hours down by the pond with a line in the water, so this afternoon I decided that needed to be part of my closure. Even though the fish were jumping and biting, there was no getting them on the hook. After an early supper, the wind dropped and I decided to try again while the pond was calm. I’ve known my whole life that fishing is not always about catching fish. As I stood by the pond, watching my bobber with great anticipation, I was flooded with memories of quiet hours spent on that same spot, dreaming of my future, working out problems, or just listening to the sounds of the pond. I felt peace. The weather was good, so I decided I’d stay out 'til dark, fish or not. With that, the bobber when under, and I pulled in a small trout. Normally, I would have thrown that size back in, but I knew this was a gift from the pond - my last fish in Ocean Pond. Mom and Dad came down, we took a picture, and recognized the significance of the moment. I decided to stay out and keep the line wet a while longer. Soon, I had my second fish. I suddenly felt like I was on a mission to get a fish for each of us. It started to get dark and the flies got thicker. I couldn’t see my bobber on the water anymore. I thought, “After this worm, I’ll pack it in.”. No sooner was the thought out than the bobber went under one more time. Three pan-sized trout - one for each of us as our final meal in Ocean Pond.
I can’t think of a more perfect way to end an era.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in the last day or two trying to grab little keepsakes - a favourite plate, a rock from the shore, a stool from the living room. But in reality, I know that all these things will pale compared to the memories we have in Ocean Pond.
A few of my favourites, that will rise above the rest:
- The year I had a fishing contest with Bruce Evans. We kept a running total all summer long of who caught the most fish. In September, I won the five dollar prize.
- Shingling the roof with Dad.
- In Grade 10, I did a school exchange with Winnipeg, and we brought the two girls staying with us out to Ocean Pond on our one free day. After supper, we took them fishing and pulled in over twenty fish in less than an hour. (All the other visiting students went to the mall on their free day.)
- The time we went for a boat ride and left our dog, Rebel, on the shore. Rebel was so upset about not being invited that he jumped in the water and swam out to meet us. We then had to pull a sopping wet dog into the boat.
- Learning how to drive the boat.
- Picking pitcher plants in the bog and trying to feed them flies - with no success, of course.
- Building forts, lean-to’s, secret hideaways, and other such treasures.
- Countless meals of toutons, steaks, capelin and, of course, fresh trout from the pond, all best shared by the closest of friends.
- The year we brought four teenage friends up (that would be eight people in a two bedroom cabin) for a May 24th weekend and great silliness ensued.
- The thousands of times I did any of the following: built something, learned something, drew something, caught something, drove something, flew something, tasted something, smelled something, and best of all, loved something.
Ocean Pond has been, and will always be, the greatest place on Earth. I praise God for the time we’ve had here, and I pray that the Carters will have as many wonderful memories as we’ve had ... if not more.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Newfoundland goodness...
Newfoundland is so good for me. It’s so deep in my soul, and I can feel parts of myself being stirred that haven’t been touched in years. It’s been far too long since my last visit. Gerald and I are talking about doing a tour here next year, and being here has really put the taste of that in my mouth.
Newfoundland highlights thus far:
- Divine fish and chips in St. Philip's! We sat out on their wrap-around balcony overlooking the water. Amazing food with a view of Bell Island, boats coming in for the night, and whales spraying in the distance.
- Seeing friends, family, cousins ...
- Brian and Serena had this week’s one afternoon of sunshine, just in time to have their wedding ceremony outdoors! I was a surprise guest, and they were both thrilled to see me. The wedding was perfect, and I got to catch up with a lot of people I haven’t see for years. I’ve known Brian for a lifetime and a half, so it just meant the world to me to be there for this awesome day.
- Awesome meal of cod tongues at Classic Cafe. (Yes, cod tongues. Trust me - they're much better than they sound!)
- Driving up Signal Hill (the best view of the city) both in the day and in the night. Truly gorgeous!
- Visiting Belbin’s grocery store - an old family business and Mom’s favourite grocery store in the world. When we were growing up the store had two aisles. They’ve now expanded to three. If I lived in St. John’s, I would absolutely shop there.
- Dropping into Black Creek Pottery, the studio and store of my Grade 6 teacher, Mrs. Harvey! She was huge influence on me, so I got to tell her about Nashville and thank her for always including creativity and art in her teaching. We did a 'cultural exchange' of a CD for pottery. Lovely!
We first drove to Ocean Pond Thursday afternoon to put up For Sale signs. (The buyer who made an offer backed out on things, so we’re back to square one.) The weather was sunny and gorgeous, and everything was breathtaking. The air even smelled sweet and beautiful. The idea of selling the place seemed utterly ridiculous. After all, it’s not that long a commute from Nashville to Newfoundland, is it? We came back again this morning, and it’s been non-stop with people coming down to check out the place. Mom joked that we should just put up a For Sale sign once a year and meet our neighbours. Uncle Ron, long-time family friend and Ocean Pond buddy, dropped by a for a visit. It was surreal - old memories and new realities came crashing together.
I’m glad Mom and Dad have a lot of interest in the place, but I hope things aren’t this busy tomorrow. This isn’t the quiet, peaceful weekend I had envisioned.
Newfoundland highlights thus far:
- Divine fish and chips in St. Philip's! We sat out on their wrap-around balcony overlooking the water. Amazing food with a view of Bell Island, boats coming in for the night, and whales spraying in the distance.
- Seeing friends, family, cousins ...
- Brian and Serena had this week’s one afternoon of sunshine, just in time to have their wedding ceremony outdoors! I was a surprise guest, and they were both thrilled to see me. The wedding was perfect, and I got to catch up with a lot of people I haven’t see for years. I’ve known Brian for a lifetime and a half, so it just meant the world to me to be there for this awesome day.
- Awesome meal of cod tongues at Classic Cafe. (Yes, cod tongues. Trust me - they're much better than they sound!)
- Driving up Signal Hill (the best view of the city) both in the day and in the night. Truly gorgeous!
- Visiting Belbin’s grocery store - an old family business and Mom’s favourite grocery store in the world. When we were growing up the store had two aisles. They’ve now expanded to three. If I lived in St. John’s, I would absolutely shop there.
- Dropping into Black Creek Pottery, the studio and store of my Grade 6 teacher, Mrs. Harvey! She was huge influence on me, so I got to tell her about Nashville and thank her for always including creativity and art in her teaching. We did a 'cultural exchange' of a CD for pottery. Lovely!
We first drove to Ocean Pond Thursday afternoon to put up For Sale signs. (The buyer who made an offer backed out on things, so we’re back to square one.) The weather was sunny and gorgeous, and everything was breathtaking. The air even smelled sweet and beautiful. The idea of selling the place seemed utterly ridiculous. After all, it’s not that long a commute from Nashville to Newfoundland, is it? We came back again this morning, and it’s been non-stop with people coming down to check out the place. Mom joked that we should just put up a For Sale sign once a year and meet our neighbours. Uncle Ron, long-time family friend and Ocean Pond buddy, dropped by a for a visit. It was surreal - old memories and new realities came crashing together.
I’m glad Mom and Dad have a lot of interest in the place, but I hope things aren’t this busy tomorrow. This isn’t the quiet, peaceful weekend I had envisioned.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
On my way home!
It’s 7:56 am and I’ve just finished breakfast in Pearson International Airport.
Gerald is staying with his parents for the next five days while I take a journey home to Newfoundland. I can’t remember the exact last time I went there. I think it was summer 2003? Or maybe that Christmas? I was still experiencing some of the effects of grief then, so memories are fluid and deceptive.
The next five days hold two adventures for me. On one of our trips home, Gerald and I persuaded a reluctant Brian to join us on a night out in downtown St. John’s. That night, he saw the beautiful Serena across a crowded room. Brian was shy that night, and I was the one who actually crossed the room to ask Serena and her friends to join us at our table. That night was the start of something wonderful, and tomorrow afternoon, they will start a new life together as husband and wife. This trip was a last minute decision, so when I spoke to Brian a month ago, Gerald and I expressed our regrets for not being able to attend. Apparently, no one has told him I’m coming. I’m a wedding surprise.
The other part of the journey is not so joyous. We’re saying good-bye to Ocean Pond. Our cabin in Ocean Pond is very small, but packed with 35 years of family memories. It’s reached a point where it’s just not practical for us to own a summer place halfway across the country, and a caring party is very interested in purchasing it. Perfect timing, I guess. I told Mom and Dad I really wanted to have one more visit before we said good-bye to the place. They’ve already been there for a week, so I’ll join on this last leg of their trip, and we'll walk the last part of the journey together.
I haven’t flown anywhere since our honeymoon. Funny to be back in an airport. You forget the intricacies of airport culture. Sterile air. Cool modern sculptures. (Toronto’s Terminal 1 is all new and sparkly.) The teams of pilots and airline attendants in matching outfits and luggage. The overpriced bottles of water. The over-tempting bookstores. And of course, the fabulous people watching!
I’m about to line up for a ginormous iced coffee thing. Waking up at 6 am will never be my thing...
Gerald is staying with his parents for the next five days while I take a journey home to Newfoundland. I can’t remember the exact last time I went there. I think it was summer 2003? Or maybe that Christmas? I was still experiencing some of the effects of grief then, so memories are fluid and deceptive.
The next five days hold two adventures for me. On one of our trips home, Gerald and I persuaded a reluctant Brian to join us on a night out in downtown St. John’s. That night, he saw the beautiful Serena across a crowded room. Brian was shy that night, and I was the one who actually crossed the room to ask Serena and her friends to join us at our table. That night was the start of something wonderful, and tomorrow afternoon, they will start a new life together as husband and wife. This trip was a last minute decision, so when I spoke to Brian a month ago, Gerald and I expressed our regrets for not being able to attend. Apparently, no one has told him I’m coming. I’m a wedding surprise.
The other part of the journey is not so joyous. We’re saying good-bye to Ocean Pond. Our cabin in Ocean Pond is very small, but packed with 35 years of family memories. It’s reached a point where it’s just not practical for us to own a summer place halfway across the country, and a caring party is very interested in purchasing it. Perfect timing, I guess. I told Mom and Dad I really wanted to have one more visit before we said good-bye to the place. They’ve already been there for a week, so I’ll join on this last leg of their trip, and we'll walk the last part of the journey together.
I haven’t flown anywhere since our honeymoon. Funny to be back in an airport. You forget the intricacies of airport culture. Sterile air. Cool modern sculptures. (Toronto’s Terminal 1 is all new and sparkly.) The teams of pilots and airline attendants in matching outfits and luggage. The overpriced bottles of water. The over-tempting bookstores. And of course, the fabulous people watching!
I’m about to line up for a ginormous iced coffee thing. Waking up at 6 am will never be my thing...
Monday, August 04, 2008
SoGospel Fan Fest Videos
The good folks at SoGospel News have posted videos of all the performances from last week's Fan Fest.
Just visit www.SoGospelNews.com and you'll see the videos on the right-hand side of the screen. I'm near the bottom, since I was on the Saturday night, so scroll down and you'll find my performance of "Shepherd of the Hills".
While you're there, check out my buddies Tara Jackson, Sunday Edition, and Johnny Minick and Friends (Johnny, Aaron Minick, Mike Allen, and Allison Durham Speer).
Just visit www.SoGospelNews.com and you'll see the videos on the right-hand side of the screen. I'm near the bottom, since I was on the Saturday night, so scroll down and you'll find my performance of "Shepherd of the Hills".
While you're there, check out my buddies Tara Jackson, Sunday Edition, and Johnny Minick and Friends (Johnny, Aaron Minick, Mike Allen, and Allison Durham Speer).
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Recovering from Stamps-Baxter - Prepping for Canada
I have been sick since last Sunday. I woke up Sunday morning with a sore throat and a headache. I attributed it to Stamps-Baxter fatigue (I worked over 165 hours during the 2 weeks of school!), but as the week wore on, I realized that things weren't getting any better. Long-messy-story-short, it's been a week of zinc lozenges, chicken noodle soup, and afternoon naps. We're leaving for the 12-hour drive to Canada on Tuesday, so my main concern right now is having the energy for that. More soup... more naps...
As a result of all that mess, very little has happened this week. I've been working on bookings for Ontario in August. I think right now we're up to seven, and I'm aiming for at least twelve. I haven't been able to stay online long enough to blog yet, so I'll be updating all my Stamps-Baxter blogs as tonight goes on.
I'm finally reading "The Shack" by William P. Young, and I'm really enjoying it. I tried not to read any reviews, etc, before reading it, which meant I had no expectations going it (except for Tara's constant pressure - "Read it!!!"). I think I thought it would be darker than it is. I can see how it would invite repeat readings and book clubs - lots to process!
My SGM Radio interview with Mike Allen has been posted and you can check it out here.
Finally, now that I'm free of Stamps-Baxter pressure, I'm starting to wrap my head around NQC. Tara Jackson and I are sharing a booth, which I think will be win-win for both of us. Our booth number is 448, which is near the middle of the hall. We're trying to think of creative ways to use our space and our time, and I'm just crazy excited about the whole thing!
But for tonight: blogging ... packing ... possible nap ...
As a result of all that mess, very little has happened this week. I've been working on bookings for Ontario in August. I think right now we're up to seven, and I'm aiming for at least twelve. I haven't been able to stay online long enough to blog yet, so I'll be updating all my Stamps-Baxter blogs as tonight goes on.
I'm finally reading "The Shack" by William P. Young, and I'm really enjoying it. I tried not to read any reviews, etc, before reading it, which meant I had no expectations going it (except for Tara's constant pressure - "Read it!!!"). I think I thought it would be darker than it is. I can see how it would invite repeat readings and book clubs - lots to process!
My SGM Radio interview with Mike Allen has been posted and you can check it out here.
Finally, now that I'm free of Stamps-Baxter pressure, I'm starting to wrap my head around NQC. Tara Jackson and I are sharing a booth, which I think will be win-win for both of us. Our booth number is 448, which is near the middle of the hall. We're trying to think of creative ways to use our space and our time, and I'm just crazy excited about the whole thing!
But for tonight: blogging ... packing ... possible nap ...
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