Frank Zappa once said that “Most rock journalism is people who can’t write, interviewing people who can’t talk, for people who can’t read.” Not sure if that was the drugs or bitterness talking, but I had a great time during my official debut as a freelance music journalist at the Creation festival in the middle of somewhere Pennsylvania.
I prepared as well as I could after learning that I had press access for the week to dozens of musicians playing for over 100K attendees. As with any new venture I hoped to climb over the learning curve as quickly as possible.
Within a few minutes of arriving and checking in at the press trailer I realized that my week hadn’t been set up as I hoped and that I basically had no access to anyone.
Oops. So I gave up and went to sulk in my tent.
Not a bad spot eh?
Ha! You know how I roll. Like I say, most good things in life happen between plans B-Z, so after a couple hours I found the press managers who got me plugged in for the first full day. I also met up with a great guy and radio pro named Jim who had his own press trailer right in the main compound area. We were meant to meet and had a great time chatting with just about every performer of the week.
After one interview I discovered that Mark Johnson (of one of my fave bands The Letter Black) and I are fellow alum of the same college. Pretty cool. Those short conversations were fun all week, especially given the diverse talent roaming around. I talked to everyone from pop and rap artists to worship singers and metal bands.
The photo pit was another fun discovery. Getting to take pics a few feet from the performers rocked! After all the live music I’ve seen in my lifetime that perspective made the experience even better. I’m totally interested in a nice camera now too and have until Black Friday to do my homework.
In some ways I’ve been covering music most of my life but never like this. As a kid I used to watch my favorite bands rock and dream of being around them. Autographs were such prized possessions then. During my 20s a bunch of my friends played in popular local bands, and I wrote about them sporadically.
Then I returned this year as one of the people between the fans and the stage. I smiled while watching some young guys standing in the same field that I once nervously roamed. Back then I was a skinny kid under a backwards baseball hat calculating a way to meet someone for an autograph or guitar pick.
After one show a guitarist threw a pick towards the crowd, but the memento missed and fell in front of me. I snatched it up in stride and grinned as dozens of kids screamed “PLEASE! Me! Me! Pick ME!” I laughed as a young girl accepted the green triangle from me. “Thank you thankyouthankyou!” she said.
Another evening I met a young guy named Jared, a.k.a. myself from nearly 18 years ago. Nice kid. The next day I was getting ready to interview one of the bands and saw him hovering in that same “don’t be too obvious but there’s awesome rock star people right there!” way.
“Hey Jared, what’s up?”
He couldn’t even make eye contact with me, not with awesome people around. “I can’t believe they’re just standing here.”
I laughed. “Yup, you want to meet them?”
His head whipped towards me. Deer in headlights except this deer was really excited and not about to die. Um, metaphor fail.
Few things made me happier than introducing him to one of the coolest guys he’s ever met. Well, I’m happiest that the artists at Creation are real people, nice too. They don’t hang around to act cool and blow kids off. They want to meet them and let them know that they’re special. High marks for that in my book.
So I had a great week indeed, even though I ran hard for 4 days. I’m now 2/3rds of the way through my goal of world domination.
Step 1–Go to events.
Step 2–Become part of events.
Step 3–Become the event (as a speaker 
).
Hey, I’m no rock star but do believe in goals and I’ve gotten as close to those large stages as you can get without being on them. And when I make it all the way I’ll look out into that field and smile at myself from all those years ago.
~*~*~*~
Facebook me if you’d like to see many more pictures that I’ve uploaded.
Right on! Loved the video! It’s easy to forget that rockstars are just nerds like me who can shred the guitar. Or drums. Or whatever.
Great post!
Thanks Jess! They were fun to hang with.
I agree that the folks who make it a priority to spend some time with their fans are the ones who get high marks.
Great stuff, and I’m glad you got the opportunity!
That time is huge and honestly not the easiest to keep up once success happens.
That is awesome! And you are awesome.
Thanks Leigh
Wow Clay! What a great experience you’ve had. Worked in the music business back in my wild youth, and there is nothing like that rush being so close to the stage. You described it perfectly. Keep it up, its not that hard to get connected into the music network, you seem like a perfect fit. I’m holding the lighter up for you.
All worlds get much smaller once you enter them. The music world is a fun one to be around for sure.
Glad you have such a great opportunity, Clay! Long live Rock!
Thanks Kathy!
I don’t know what to say….awesome! Totally rad. Love it. You rock, my friend.
You rock too Annie!
wow.. that sounds like tons of fun!
I get caught up in the glamor of the “rock star” whenever I go see a show. It’s cool when writers like yourself remind us that they are just regular people… rock on!
Darlene
Thanks Darlene! So glad you stopped by
Your childhood was my childhood. Except for the skinny part I was just like you. This would have been a dream for me. Great stuff.
Very cool Rob. You know where I’m coming from.
How very cool. Sounds like you had a lot of fun, and it sounds like an experience you could use in your fiction. And, yeah, I envy you getting meeting musicians (whose music you love).
Thanks Catie, I had a blast!
“Deer in headlights except this deer was really excited and not about to die.”
Hee hee. So NOT metaphor fail. It’s great. And you were great to share the love. That’s so completely Clay. I love how you are willing to share it all: the pick, the interview, the limelight. You will be the show, Professor Speaker. One day, you will be the main event.
Thanks Renee! You’re very kind.
Sounds like an awesome time Clay….by the way Frank Zappa didnt do drugs, in fact he called people on them “A**holes in Action” just a fun little fact
Thanks bro. I just made up the drug part but kind of took it for granted just based on what he named his kids. Interesting! Especially if he was sober.
Is this like a new career for you, covering music? And so cool that you made that girl ( the pick) and the guy ( introductions) day. They will remember you as well.
I don’t know if I can handle a fourth career. I’m hoping to occasionally incorporate these events into my writing career though.
I’d be your friendless loser anyday! Nevermind, just something I recently posted…but you, my man are a sincere claysation! Keep keepin’ it real.
Beth
Well thank ya kindly! I liked your post a great deal.
Dot ca =
I love how you’re simultaneously grounded and reaching, much like the guys you introduced Jared to.
I knew you’d appreciate the Canadian nod. The guy in the background at one point, from the band Hawk Nelson, is from Canada.
I like people who, once they’ve stepped onto the next rung in the ladder of success (whatever success means in their book) will turn around and help others up with them = you. Very cool you helped Jared meet some rockstars.
And that video was a lot of fun!!
Thanks Ellster. I can still remember how nervous and goofy I was when I had a chance to meet some of those musicians years ago. So funny to see kids that way now!
There are days when I truly envy your life.
Clay,this was such an awesome event for you to have a bird’s eye view of. You truly do use anything as a platform to witness & bless! (Jared)
Can I say that those ahead of you are impressed by and respect your tenacity and method of climbing; those with you are proud to walk side by side with you,and those behind you aspire to follow and grow with the same purpose and strength as you. Eh? ;-D
I loved the pics but even more,all the little behind the scenes stories! Fun reading!
~ Jessie
Thanks Jess, you are super kind. I’m definitely a blessed dude.
Very cool, Clay. World domination is at your finger tips!
Let’s do this!
Fun video!
Thanks!