Once a month NSAI(Nashville Songwriters Association International) has a pitch-to-publisher night. Having been a member in the 80's, (when they put the cassettes in a fishbowl
and only played the few pulled out) I phoned ahead to make sure
the song would be played. When they told me that only the first verse and chorus would be played, I had second thoughts about going.

But I needed an excuse to go to Nashville, so I said "what the hell." I knew it was a bad omen when tornado warnings started happening as soon as I checked into the Best Western Music Row(anyone going to Nashville I suggest that you stay here).

Although I have lived in Nashville twice, I had forgotten how confusing the streets are around Music Row. To make sure I would be on time, I went for a practice run to make sure I knew where I was going. It was a dark and stormy night (and rush hour) in Nashville. The street I was looking for was one-way.
However, I was always going the wrong way. I ended up going back to the hotel and calling a cab.

Already feeling stupid, I arrived on time to the standing room only event, and was greeted by God. Or she thought she was. Anyone that has ever lived on a farm, just imagine what it was like when sending cows to market. There was not a happy looking face in the bunch.

God took my CD and tossed it in the out-of-town plastic basket.
Just as I decided to take it back and leave, a sweet little voice
said "I see two seats in the back, so let's go get em." This ray of sunshine was named Rachale.

God introduced the publisher(all I can remember is that she represented Cherry Street) and told her and, the crowd, how things were to be. The publisher (I think her name was Jennifer)seemed to be surprised that only a verse and chorus were to be played.

Most of the writers that I heard seemed to be on a first name basis with God. Bad sign. I listened to around 50 songs which
49 were GREAT. No kidding the songs were radio ready, and were much better than songs on the radio. Granted the majority were about Hay, broken hearts, and drinking too much, but they were good. By the time RISE was played, I knew this was no place for
a message song. Everyone applauded (but they did for everyone) and the publisher said "very nice."

The publisher seemed to be impressed with all the songs, but she let everyone know from the start that she had writers working for her, and would not be taking anything.

Because my butt was numb, I needed a drink and a cigarette, and the person behind me needed a tic-tac, I decided to say good-by
to this talented group. God handed me a CD, and I left. It was not until later that I realized that the CD was not mine.

Now here is the real depressing part. I went back to the hotel
with the intentions of calling Mark and Tom, but went into the lounge to have a drink. The four people (one of them was with the singer) in the lounge were listening to a male duo with a huge tip bucket sitting in front of them. I was floored when I recognized the singer. It was Craig Martin who wrote Tim McGraws
"Don't Take The Girl." He is from my hometown. I looked around the empty room, and I felt really bad for him. I didn't even say
hello. Instead, I went to lower Broadway to visit Layla at Bluegrass Inn, but she wasn't there, so I took my depression back to the room.

Do I think this trip to Nashville was a bust? Not really. Do I wish that I had sent the $150 membership fee to join NSAI to JPF
instead? Yes! Only because part of that money pays God who is rude and never smiles. You would think a rep of this organization would have a personality unlike that of a throw rug.

As far as the future of RISE, well I'll be like Joan Jett was with "I LOVE ROCK'n'ROLL." She was turned down by twenty-two record companies before it was recorded. If you believe in a song then rejection is not that difficult.

redwing