Yesterday was my Birthday--well--not really. I received Vince Gill concert tickets for my Birthday in December but the concert wasn’t scheduled until April. Then, as an extra bonus, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia contacted me and asked if I would like to meet Vince Gill. Well--yeah!
Vince Gill is not only an incredible singer, instrumentalist, performer, comedian, but he’s also a great human being. During the performance he took the time to explain the meaning behind most songs he performed. It was fascinating to hear the tributes to his dad, brother, wife or someone he admired, like Merle Haggard or Ray Charles. He changed instruments seventeen times--yes, I counted--and played twenty-eight songs. He even played Pretty Little Adriana as requested from someone who’d just named their newborn after his famous tune.
After the show a handful of people were given stickers and escorted through security. What an experience. His genuine smile, easy going manner, and his ability to poke fun at himself made him very approachable. Amazing since in 2007 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, has sold more than 26 million albums, earned more than 18 CMA awards and 19 Grammy awards-the most of any male Country artist. The first few minutes of the meet-and-greet he chatted about his new glasses; the necessity of them and his love, hate relationship with having to wear them. Then he proceeded to approach individuals to meet them, take pictures and provide autographs.
When I got my turn to approach him, I asked him the one question that had been on my mind lately. “When you are starting out as an artist, how do you keep going when the feedback is negative and the compliments are few?” The following is a paraphrase of his answer:
When you're starting out, you need to listen. Not all of my work was good--every writer has a drawer full of songs that never made it, but people will remember the good ones. Achieving your goal doesn’t happen overnight. Look at the Beatles or Garth Brooks; they didn’t have success right away. Sometimes you almost have to get to the point where you’re hungry. It has to be in you, no matter what the circumstances, or you won’t be able to keep going. You have to absolutely believe in yourself and know it's the right thing for you. I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do.
Vince Gill is not only an incredible singer, instrumentalist, performer, comedian, but he’s also a great human being. During the performance he took the time to explain the meaning behind most songs he performed. It was fascinating to hear the tributes to his dad, brother, wife or someone he admired, like Merle Haggard or Ray Charles. He changed instruments seventeen times--yes, I counted--and played twenty-eight songs. He even played Pretty Little Adriana as requested from someone who’d just named their newborn after his famous tune.
After the show a handful of people were given stickers and escorted through security. What an experience. His genuine smile, easy going manner, and his ability to poke fun at himself made him very approachable. Amazing since in 2007 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, has sold more than 26 million albums, earned more than 18 CMA awards and 19 Grammy awards-the most of any male Country artist. The first few minutes of the meet-and-greet he chatted about his new glasses; the necessity of them and his love, hate relationship with having to wear them. Then he proceeded to approach individuals to meet them, take pictures and provide autographs.
When I got my turn to approach him, I asked him the one question that had been on my mind lately. “When you are starting out as an artist, how do you keep going when the feedback is negative and the compliments are few?” The following is a paraphrase of his answer:
When you're starting out, you need to listen. Not all of my work was good--every writer has a drawer full of songs that never made it, but people will remember the good ones. Achieving your goal doesn’t happen overnight. Look at the Beatles or Garth Brooks; they didn’t have success right away. Sometimes you almost have to get to the point where you’re hungry. It has to be in you, no matter what the circumstances, or you won’t be able to keep going. You have to absolutely believe in yourself and know it's the right thing for you. I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do.
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