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This Nashville based entity claims to have procured me a few gigs. After I make a deposit on the equipment of course. Any JPFers have any experience with this particular group?

Also, not a hint about the gigs either.

Haven't heard of this group, but the MO is very familiar. You send in money to be included on their web site, and of course you'll be "pitched" to venues owners, managers, blah blah blah. Especially if they are talking about gigs in THIS TOWN. That ain't gonna happen.

Get them to tell you where you will be performing, the money, details, etc. Ask specifics and it all usually takes care of itself. offer to let them have 15% of any gigs they book you if THEY put up the fees. That should make for some enjoyable emails. Where did you find these people?

MAB

They found me, and I wasn't looking. His name is Art Wasam. I wish I had time to mess with them

Rick,

Actually I know Art Wasam. he is a very good guy, very knowledgable, but I don't know the company. I don't really know what he is doing now, have not seen him for a while. I am just always suspicious of things that happen only via the Internet. And like everything, there are different things do in business, so it could be something he is a partner in, something other people are using his name, etc. I just don't know.

The methods would always be the same. You would find out how they found out about you. You would ask what kind of DETAILS they are using, what gigs they are talking about. You would asked to have references and contact people they work with.

I do know Art, and he has been around for a long time in this town and is pretty respected. At least I respect him, for what that is worth. He gave me one of my favorite quotes in the music industry, "Those who want a royalty check,must first get a REALITY check." I love that.

We all have different elements of our careers. I am known as a singer/songwriter and entertainer, but my main thing is teaching and working with other people, on THEIR songs, performances, journey,etc. When you are paid for anything, there is a natural tendency to have people be suspicious. It is healthy. I am never afraid to offer references or contacts with people who have worked with me.

I believe Art would do the same thing. Let me know if you need any help.

MAB

I can vouch for Marc. He gave me one of my most memorable quotes:

"You're a victim of your own coolness." - MAB after seeing me play my song Falling In at a songwriter's event in So Cal.

That's pretty funny Jody. I didn't remember saying that about you. Someone said that to me one time when I first came up to Nashville. I use it from time to time. Just a funny. Wish I could remember who I got that from, but we all get them used on us from time to time.

MAB

I am actually comfortable in my nook. We keep pretty busy around here north of Buffalo. To travel any distance would have to be lucrative and probably logistically impossible with the crew I have. Bunch of geezers having fun.

Oh yeah! I'm a victim of a basin shaped pelvis, that's the real origin of the beerbelly. Anyone blaming beer is a miscreant and should not be trusted.

Rick,

That's actually a very good thing. "Touring" or playing outside any area besides your home area come with risks. If you are unknown, without a label or some major political clout behind you, some concerted radio or social networking, it is very hard to have an audience.
One of the worst feelings in the world is to drive long, hard hours and miles, get to the gig and there's only TABLES AND CHAIRS. Most venues in this day and age, no longer guarantee money, so you find yourself in the hole, And the wear and tear on you, especially if you are over thirty, have a job, family, etc. it can be very depressing.

In my own life, for many years I did random touring and one off dates over the years. Some were very good, some sucked. I generally stayed fairly close to the area I was in. Most, of them I booked myself when people contacted me through some other gig I did. I did colleges for a while, and sometimes had booking agents, which you have to in that genre.
One of them was like the company you are describing. It always took a lot of things to put together and it was difficult with a single to justify paying agent commissions due to the smaller amounts of money that singles or duos get.

It helped a lot when I hooked up with members of NSAI, with chapter workshops all over the US in multiple states, cities, and some provinces in Canada. But I was teaching workshops, doing private instruction as well as the shows. So there were a lot of people involved to make it work.

To be honest. I am somewhat surprised you would be contacted by Art Wassem, since his company usually works with younger singers, who are on the road to getting record or publishing deals. He has been very good at helping those up and coming artists get some experience, and for many years (as I said, he and I haven't had a real sit down dialogue in a while) he was involved with the new people that were in record company development deals but not quite "signed on the dotted line."

So I don't know what the deal is that he came across you. You might be very popular in your area and the reputation got to him or it could be some computer algorhytmn that has your name popping up on a list. I really don't know.

No matter what, I'd try to find out some details on anything I did with anybody. I can vouch for Art as a person, I don't know what this business venture would be about.

MAB

I thought I had already responded to this, so I forgot what I said. I just turned 65 over the weekend and had gigs everyday. The best way to celebrate. I'm bushed. Our season is winding down. That's a good thing.

I appreciate the info Marc, I'll play the cards I'm dealt, as far as this bidness goes, when I get them.

Gosh Rick-you are really really old fella-I dont turn 65 until Sept 28th-lol......

Happy Birthday!

Tom

Thanks Tom! and to you too.

Hey Rick,

Here is something that came up on my Facebook feed. The guy you were asking about, Art Wassem, has been around a while. I don't really even know that much about him, although we have been friends for years. At one point, he was on an episode of the Jerry Springer Show. LOL! He looks JUST LIKE JERRY here, which I think was the subject of the show. Thought you'd like to see the people you are talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U8bbg8veOo&feature=youtu.be

That was great. He seems to be a good sport. I hope he's the father.