What A Song Can Do

Lady A was right! It is crazy what a song can do...a few Nashville trips and a handful of shows worked later- let's catch up on this music business dream and figure out how declaring "The Driver" as the song of my 20s is becoming true. 

A decent amount of progress has been made on my Nashville dream since my music business series. Within those three posts, I talked about how I started to introduce myself into the industry. Spoiler alert if you have not read them: just insert yourself. I began really getting into the industry and making connections by interviewing industry officials. All you need is one connection then it is a domino effect. If you're interested in the music industry and don't know how to get connected- people's names are everywhere. For instance, look at the back of a record. Whether you want to be a manager, producer, writer, or even an artist- they are more times than not all credited somewhere on a record. My first connection was from me DMing one of my favorite country singers on Instagram and she gave me her manager's email. By the end of the day, we had a meeting set. Honestly, sliding into DMs is how I got most of my industry connections. No shame in utilizing being a gen z. 

Once you have kicked off finding people in the industry- ask how you can help and where you can help. Talk to anyone about everything. Ask questions (my favorite part) and find people who encourage questions. This advice may seem broad but use that to then filter and find a point of connection with people. Once you have that connection, run with it. If you're making these connections at a show rather than through social media- people are more than likely in a rush. You will get used to introducing yourself in a quick 15 second synopsis. (i.e.- Hi, I'm Marisa and I want to be an artist's manager. I have experience in different pockets of the industry and I am interested in expanding that. I want to help). It is a personal exordium. In addition to this, continue contact. That may be one of my biggest pieces of advice! Even for someone like me who would probably rather communicate by pigeon than a text or email, maintaining a connection will go a long way. 

From the initial interview with the music manager whose artist I DM'd, I went to Nashville the following year (July 2021) for a show. It was the artist he was promoting at the time and it was her debut headlining show (proud Brooke fan moment!). We ended up getting invited to hangout backstage after the show and that one introduction led to meeting other industry officials after the show. I believe the statistic I heard was that the audience was around 85% industry officials at minimum. I had some business cards handy and I just wanted to meet anyone and everyone I could that night. It is a core memory and a pivotal moment. Genuinely loving music and wanting to support an artist led to creating connections. Passion driven purpose. 

That week had started by me traveling to Nash with just the concert and one other meeting/interview on the agenda. That trip ended up having about 4 meetings and being filled with live music. This has turned into a pattern when I travel to Nashville and it solidifies that this is the industry I belong in. 

Now, let's talk about how that pertains to today!

In a non-music business post last year, I mentioned how change can be good. Unexpectedly, I lost my job and I was pretty upset for a bit. I had also taken some time off from actively pursuing my music business goals. I still had a love for the industry, obviously, I just needed to prioritize my focus temporarily. In the midst of this season of change, some members at my gym had told me about a local show happening in Williamsburg. For reference- cool things don't happen in my town. Live music is typically an hour drive away- not in my little colonial town where people dress up like George Washington for fun. Within minutes of hearing about this show, I did my PI work and found the promoter. (I already spilled my secret on looking at record credits for points of contact... I am going to unapologetically gate-keep how to find other contacts.) Again, by the end of the day- I DM'd him as well and we got on the phone immediately. He also connected me to his business partner and I am forever grateful to them. The two of them welcomed me in and also helped connect me to multiple people in the area who work shows. The promoter hosting the Williamsburg show holds the motto of wanting to do cool shit with cool people and this scenario was the epitome of that for me. 

The show was Rodney Atkins and that was my first full production show that I worked (June 2022). I was the runner, which means you drive the artist and their crew wherever they need to go. Again, the tagline/quick introduction I mentioned earlier was definitely put to use and on our car rides together, we exchanged information, knowledge, and experience. This night, again, was very pivotal. 

The promoters mentioned my name to other people and from one Instagram DM, I gained experience as both a runner and a stagehand (you help with set changes and taking up/down the stage). People want to help people and I am so thankful to have been in contact with genuine mentors.  

A few weeks and a few shows later, I was starting to get down again- missing my job, missing my friends, and feeling like my purpose was kind of a facade/imposter. I distinctly remember feeling hopeless. Dramatic, I know, but it ain't always sunshine and rainbows. Then suddenly, I got a call asking to work a show in Richmond for Brothers Osborne. I love this band and I enthusiastically said yes. Again, I was a runner. I got to hangout backstage and talk to people about different fields of the industry. I felt like a kid in a candy shop. All I want to do is learn about music and listen to music and help people experience music. 

While working this show, I met so many people. There was a tent filled with event sponsors and I went in. Again- inserting myself (with the help of others this time). One conversation led to another and I started working for the radio station. I go to shows and help with social media and basic promotions. I have started shadowing in the studio and it is cool to see how various parts of the industry intertwine. I thoroughly enjoy picking people's brain and the mentorship this job has provided. You can never learn too much.

While working in the radio industry and going through bodybuilding prep, I still wanted to expand connections in the music industry. To backtrack a little, I wrote a blog post last year on women in country. I sent it out to various managers and artist's team members, and someone ended up finding it who works for a different management label. One day at work, I got an email asking to do a Zoom call. I remember feeling honored in this situation that people in Nashville had taken the time to read my website and that my website was doing what I had always hoped for it to do. Manager's get sent so many things a day, I genuinely felt blessed that my article had stood out. 

We immediately talked on the phone and had a well rounded conversation- all the way from education to experience to our "why" on being a music manager to internships to creating your own opportunities. I felt total alignment. This manager is the one who told me to find any and every job that I could do in the music industry just to get my name out there. His advice has been a cornerstone in acquiring experience. 

Throughout the year, we kept in contact and he got me in contact with the internship director at his company. My conversation transitioned to her to determine when I should come out to Nashville and shadow. Through various dates, we finally picked one. June 2023, I went to Nashville during the week of CMA Fest for 10 days. To paint the picture- CMA Fest takes over all of downtown Nashville. It fills the convention center with meet and greets. Floods the streets with about 15 stages. Packs the stadium with 60,000 fans. Congests the honky tonks with people there for one reason- the love of music. People from all over the world unite in Nashville to hear their favorite artists these four days of the year. 

If you're looking to do an internship- ask for temp ones! Most places are open to that and typically offer them. I did not know it was an option until they mentioned it. 

When I arrived in Nashville last month, not even 10 minutes out of baggage claim, I began seeing people whose shows I had worked/managers of those artists. This gave me the inkling of how special this trip was going to be. 

On my first day of the internship, I walk into the office of the manager who I was on a Zoom call with over a year ago. Hearing "Marisa! You're actually here! You worked your way up here from that call." honestly felt like the coolest thing to hear from someone I had never formally met before, who works in my dream city in my dream job. I feel a switch in me turn on when I arrive in Nashville each year. This first impression fueled the fire inside of me and that flip was not going to turn off. Again, alignment. 

That night, there was a private event happening downtown. Most shows in Nashville are mostly industry officials- same situation as the backstage story from 2021. I generously got put on the list. I went alone but met up with the people from the company. I definitely was in shock and my introvertedness was showing...believe it or not. After noticing, I told myself to snap out of it and I tried to be more conversational. The managers took me into the green room (the room where artists get ready/hangout pre and post show). I definitely did not feel like I deserved to be there and it felt like an honor to be with the big kids for the evening. I got to hangout with the artists and their teams, and they did not seem to question my presence. They were all so welcoming and everyone felt like a familiar stranger that night. At this event, people were great in showing me around and introducing me to others. One day in the office led to more connections and zoom calls and a private event memory. 

That week, I sat in on social media marketing meetings, did research for social media, sat in on more meetings with agents about routing and logistics, and I got to ask all the questions. I love questions and my mentors encouraging questions felt so relieving. Music is the field where I just want to learn anything about everything and I felt so blessed with my first office internship being so encouraging of expanding my knowledge. "I will be disappointed if you don't have any questions for me after this meeting" was music to my ears. If I could learn that much in one week, I am excited to see what a longer internship would lead to.

This trip ended on a high note. Meeting various people led to me knowing my next steps. I have been extremely blessed with the people I have met on this journey, specifically the last two years. A lot of life has happened in that time and music brings it all back to where it is meant to be. This website started as me just needing an outlet and finding a corner I belonged in and hoping something would connect. It has grown into so much more and this trip was the product of that. I appreciate and recognize my blog as a public, working resume. 

I am not a huge crier (...not applicable to puppies or Miranda Lambert songs), but I definitely shed a few tears leaving Nashville (to Charles Kelley's album, of course). I felt so aligned and purposeful leaving, even more so than usual. The trip started with running into people I had met before, and concluded with running into more industry people (like Carly Pearce) in the airport as I'm leaving. I also ran into about 15 people from Virginia on this trip and that was, you guessed it! alignment! A mix of people- artists, people I knew from school (I graduated with 10 other kids...the odds of finding someone from there in Nashville blew my mind), actors, all the way to people I had never met before but we found out we have mutuals. It was so comforting to see familiar faces in this city during the busiest week.  

I am already excited to work towards my degree but this trip was the motivation I did not know I needed. "Marisa, hurry up and finish your degree so you can move out here" was said to me multiple times by various managers. While that is my plan, it is reassuring to know that it is possible to work towards my dream while 10 hours away from it. I want to do everything in my power to create my foundation in Nashville so that when I move out there, I can hit the ground running. 

For anyone wondering- my degree is exercise science. It's a mouthful that has different parts to it but that is essentially what it is. I know what you're thinking: "how does that pertain to your career?" and "why not be a business major?". Well, I guess you will just have to read the next blog post. ;)

Everything can be combined if you believe it can be! I am determined to combine my two passions of music and exercise, and use them to help people. Plus, there are so many scientific components to music. Hence, my senior year thesis on the mental and physical impact of music. Dr. Masaru Emoto's studies have inspired me to combine these two passions.

As always, thank you for reading this and for being interested in my journey with music business! I wholeheartedly believe that music has an immense impact on people's life and wellbeing, so I am excited to share that passion with people (3rd line of the 2nd verse of "The Driver" by Charles Kelley). 

Songs of the trip:

What A Song Can Do - Lady A

The Driver - Charles Kelley

Leaving Nashville - Charles Kelley

Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band

Woke Up In Nashville - Seth Ennis

Automatic - Miranda Lambert

Let's get in contact!

Instagram: marisa.jillian

Email: mjillian.blog@gmail.com