JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum MAB Marc Alan Barnette

This may be unnecessary and unwanted but doing the wrong thing never stopped me before.

MAB aka Marc Alan Barnette aka (in some circles) as Nashville's Networking Guru was sort of criticized in a post on here recently. I've seen it happen before and just thought I'd offer some observations. Hey, I have no where else to offer them today!

I welcome Marc's involvement here. He doesn't say much I haven't heard him say before but what he says is important and every week there are people who never heard it before. I know he has a consulting/mentoring/teaching service he offers and I've never taken advantage in it but it sounds like a positive thing to me. I haven't taken advantage because of (1) money, (2) stubborness, (3) ego, (4) lack of ambition, and (5) I spent five years in Nashville and know enough (for me). But I think it is a very beneficial service he offers.

One reason Marc may seem like he "discourages" people about moving to Nashville is because he knows how many come there thinking they have what it takes. You don't know unless you've been there. Of course, I went there and was able to make a living in the music biz for a couple of years but most can't. I was only able to do it because of the existence of the Nashville Network. They aren't there anymore.

It shocked me the first time I went to a publisher's office and saw what I had always heard of: tapes sent in from outside Nashville stacked from floor to ceiling. Within two days of being in Nashville, I learned my neighbor was a singer who appeared on Ralph Emery's early morning show, my landlord was a man who had backed John Hartford (wrote Gentle On My Mind) on the Today Show, my first boss outside TNN was a singer and guitarist on a 20 year quest for fame and fortune that never came. So when Marc talks about the abundance of people seeking success, he ain't lying or kidding. And, chances are, though we might be great, you, me, and even Marc, aren't gonna get a hit record. We might write a hit song but that that's just part of the battle.

I don't always agree with everything Marc says or the way he says it but most of it is right on. He seems like a perky person to me and I'm a curmudgeonly type person so there's a natural disconnect there. But I remember a post where Marc talked about getting "down" a lot too. Us creative old folks do get down a lot.

So I just wanted to sort of give a shout out in praise of Marc. It just seemed like a good thing to do.

Ah geez Sausage, have you been read'n the couch link ???

Or have you been imbibing ?

You bet, the boy does just fine.

When he screams my ass down in a studio, ( one day ) I might just listen. When I do the same, he might also listen.

cheers, niteshift

I'm sure Marc knows that most people value his opinion (I certainly do and am an avid reader of his posts) - but please let's not have a sycophantic 'in praise of Marc' thread. Does anybody really want that? I'm sure the man himself doesn't. Besides, I thought we had one a couple of weeks ago, let's at least wait until April before the next one

Sorry for disobeying your suggestion, Nige, but I can't help myself... MAB is a fantastic resource, and anyone who flirts with the idea of pitching to Nashville really ought to take a long read of his posts before they pull any triggers. I learned more about Nashville from his posts than from any other resource...and people who have spent years IN Nashville trying desperately to make a go of it have told me the same thing.

MAB is a welcome resource for all of us. I don't agree with him 100% on everything he says but I respect his experience, ideas and local knowledge a great deal. Most of all, I like him 'cause he never puts on aires or tries to BS his way around the farmyard. He's the genuine, A-1 real deal... what you see is what you get! Friends who have worked with him swear by his advice. That's good enough for me.

Dave

In a nutshell that's it. Like it or not.
Marc is the real deal.

From my own perspective the lesson I learned after I moved here is I ain't good enough. I think I could have been if I would have started younger but I didn't. Water under the old bridge.
I'm just glad it wasn't the only reason I made the move.
I was tired of freezin' my butt off.

Marc has one problem that causes him to stir up anger, bitter disagreement and resentment...he tells the truth.

...and the truth hurts!

My My My! First the Couch Grouch thread and now this! I guess I have arrived with my own THREAD! YOU LIKE ME, YOU REALLY LIKE ME!!!!!! I'd like to thank the academy!!!

Well, thanks guys, I appreciate the words and thoughts. And yes, as Nigel succiently surmised, I don't care for anything on me. There are far more interesting things to talk about. But thank you.

I often think of myself here as the sportscaster color anchor, a Howard Cosell, if you will, a bit verbose at times,but usually there with some information not everyone has looked at. I do my best to be honest, informative and as Niteshift so aptly illustrates, a bit long winded at times,but as all things I do, it is for a reason.

I am here for one reason. Because I did a LOT of workshops all over the country aside from Nashville,and JPF members kept coming up to me and asking why I didn't contribute more to JPF. I even did a workshop at the Orange County California JPF workshop in 2006, Don't worry Brian, it was a freebie. I didn't charge. The coordinator at the time, his name escapes me, was a member of the NSAI group as well and I was out there for a few weeks and had a night free. So I got together with about 20 of them. Was a lot of fun.

I try to provide some very specific information and do it as detailed as I can. I have been told over and over that many people print things I say out so they can have a handbook of sorts. And you are right, there are new people coming here ALL the TIME. I am presently on a membership push for all three of the regular threads I do and JPF is a very good site to advertise for. The more educated writers and artists are,the better the decisions they make.

Actually Sausage, I am very happy when people move to town. I actually will show them around. That is what my 'tours" are. But I like people to be educated first. I like them to make a few trips first and learn themselves, and the town. We love new citizens here. i love this town and the people in it. I love and respect the dreamer at any level, whether it is in some local pub in Dublin, a Karaoke night in Columbus, or starting an open mic or writer's night in Oklahoma City. I just like writers to do what they do best and hit as few snags as they can. And they represent us all. We represent each other and I hope I will always hold up my end of that bargain.

So don't think of me as discouraging.Think of me as pulling back on the reins a bit, showing where some of the holes are and trying to keep you from breaking your legs by falling in them. (Or your wallets.)

We only have us. Songwriters, poets, artists, authors, inventors, etc. all people in the creative arts, have only ourselves to help each other. We need to write the best songs we can, present them as best we can and get them to as many people as we can. From there it is out of our hands.

We are dealing with a totally new ballgame in the music industry. We are all making it up as we go along. hey, you can look at it one way now. Even the majors are having a lot of trouble so we are all kind of playing on the same field. Trying to get attention.

My particular take is that the more you can deal with people who do what you can't, be it an artist, a co-writer, manager, producer, publisher, record entity, the more direct and closer you can get to the source, the better off you are. and that is best done face to face in our respective home towns and villages.

So just crown me the village idiot, the cheerleader and the destroyer of dreams. Take your pick.

I very much enjoy making communicating with you all a big part of my day. Forgive me my long winded rants and hit me back if you need anything. I am generally around.

Thanks for the thread. I do enjoy it.

MAB

I don't remember anybody saying they LIKED you

Ha!
I'll see you Monday if I can make it.

Sally Field Oscar reference. Get with the obscure culture there William. I KNOW people don't like me. It's called "Irony!" LOL!

Hope to see you at Doak's on Sunday and the workshop on Monday. Get on out of the house you old codger!!!

MAB

Marc, Marc, Marc ..... The truth is the truth.

Tom

And it shall make your music FREE!!!!!!

Hell, haven't you heard, the music is already Free. That's what has everyone so worried.
Doak's is probably not doable this time Marc. I have folks in from Chicago for the weekend.

Well, there you go Sausage, you gave Mr Motormouth the stage, the microphone, the PA, the volume control and the keys to the building.

Well done. Now we'll never shut him up !

*bangs head on desk and opens another beer*

cheers, niteshift

One of the "Truths" of this age is that there's more talent than seats in the liferaft. The other "Truth" is there is more wishful,hopeful, maybeso's than can fit in the Nashville phone booth, along with the fact that Art,Talent,Creativity is worth less than what ever the current addiction(Iphone,WiFI,Fashion,etc) we all fall into, But...
We are blessed/cursed to be in the "Arts" and that's what we love, whether we are good, great or terrible at it.
2 cent with change, Wyndham

Yep, definitely lockdown time--move along, nothing to see here...

Marc is the first person I'll look up, when I go to Nashville. Unfortunately I want music to finance the trip, so it's not very likely anytime soon :-) I also have to get rid of that "songwriter" label, before I go. Otherwise I'll start playing them bars, and get hollered out of town, the country quack I am!

No risk of me moving there either, I want them to keep being a happy, lively bunch, I can visit for a good time. I thrive more up in cold snowy mountains anyway, like some odd overseas hillbilly (well, that'll be northern gentleman in my case, even though I'm not very gentleman's like).

Anyway, Marc makes it possible to talk a lot about ourselves. I love that! People are crazy :-)

I'll delete my post and then everybody else can delete theirs and he'll be there by himself looking like a fool!

Lookin' like a fool with his pants on the ground... LOL!

Marc's on the money
And often he's quite funny
He doesn't always paint a Nashville sky that's sunny
Though he sends some in a tizz
He just tells it like it is
And though sometimes not pretty, he simply shares the biz!

Thanks Marc!!

Marc is THE REAL DEAL...like it or not! I met him in person a couple of times, and couldn't love him more. The man is GENUINE and eats, breathes and LIVES MUSIC! I read his words like gospel. There are times I disagreed with him (still believe in Glyn's "Step to the Side" song) but the man is right on the money! Anyone who actually cares about succeeding in this business of music needs to at least listen to what he has to say, and I've always been astounded and extremely grateful that he takes the time to post such valuable information HERE FOR FREE when this man does this for a living. That's because he's passionate about music and helping people to get better at it on whatever level. He knows he can't make everyone a star, but he also knows he can help make people better at what they do. IMO, the man is a GODSEND! THANK YOU, MAB, FOR BEING HERE!!!

You're welcome Polly. You deserve me.

MAB

I hear music. I think it sounds like Marc's ego expanding. Polly, you have to be more careful.
Ott

I think it's just the voices inside your head. My Ego was removed in a bizarre gardening accident 30 years ago.

M

I like the voices in my head. Regarding your bizarre accident, I'm sure that nobody ever promised you a rose garden. Except for Polly's post previous.
Ott

Now Ott, don't be all jealous cuz Marc's THE BOSS! Regarding voices...yes, I hear them all the time...didn't know everyone else could! Now I'm REALLY paranoid!

Back in my day they didn't have roses. There were just rocks. But we were thankful to have those rocks. Eating a steady diet of rocks will toughen your constitution.

M

Since I've yet to be in a position to shed my Day Job, I've yet to visit The Guy & use His Services. BUT I thank Brian for luring him here, & I am SO Glad we have Marc here to take the "Kill-The-Messenger" Bullets (from the Ill-Informed) and for his tell-it-like-it-IS Honesty.

I've learned LOTS about "The Nashville Scene" just by reading his responses, some of which is Very Inspiring, some of which makes me glad I've yet to give up my Day Job. I've been to The Ville often-enough to know you NEED Someone-Like-Marc unless you already HAVE those "Right Connections" to make it a Successful-Enough Visit.

And, even With Connections, ya better KNOW what you're doin' Craft-wise..OR prepare for some Disappointment.

Time to munch a few more rocks...

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan