Music News – Christmas

Lots of games on TV tonight and I’m doing my best to watch most of them.

-Detroit loses at home to Atlanta, 2-0.  Boy, did Atlanta look good.  Detroit put 40 shots on goal and Ondrej Pavelec stopped them all.  Ron Hainsey plays 20 minutes, is +1, and made some fine defensive plays throughout the game.

-Montreal travels to Pittsburgh and loses, 3-1.  They did not look like the team that ran past Columbus last night.  They were tired and never got going.

-I’ve been watching the Nashville at Colorado game until now.  The Predators jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first, Colorado went up 3-2 in the second, but Shea Weber ties it with a minute to go in the second.  Adam Foote is still out.

-The game of the night is Chicago at San Jose, which just started.  Marian Hossa makes his debut tonight. Both teams are hot, 8-1-1 in their last ten games.

-I heard that Ken Hitchcock had the Jackets working on chipping the puck today for the entire practice.  Hitch’s idea of a perfect game would have the Jackets chipping the puck about 150 feet down the ice, just enough to avoid an icing call.  My idea of a perfect game would have the Jackets scoring more goals than their opponent.

Well, I can’t say that I am surprised to read this:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) will speak at the first-ever National Tea Party Convention this upcoming February.

The announcement of plans for the conservative lawmaker to attend the Tennessee event came from Tea Party organizer Sherry Phillips via Twitter Tuesday.

Bachmann, who has emerged as a champion of the Tea Party movement, will join ex-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin at the convention for the “purpose of networking and supporting the movements’ multiple organizations principle goals.” Palin will be the “special keynote speaker” at the event, which is taking place at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Press will be allowed in a designated section of the lobby of the convention only and will not be allowed inside the convention,” reports the Nashville Post. “There will be no media allowed for the banquet with Sarah Palin.”

You can read the full Huff Po article here. Or, if you prefer your crazy full-on, maximum strength and utterly undiluted by reason, you can check out the superawesome teabaggerific site here. I want everyone to take a moment and let this sink in: The teabagger national convention is taking place in NASHVILLE. As in, Tennessee.  As in, WHERE I LIVE. Oh sweet science – does this mean we have to flee the state? Or does this mean we have to attend the event? Wait…

…I actually kind of want to go. Who wouldn’t like to experience a “media-free” Palin banquet? But then I read that tickets are $549. SERIOUSLY? What the FUCK people? You want to bitch about “those” people getting a penny of your money, but you are flush enough to fork over five hundred and forty-nine fucking dollars to watch a circle jerk of a clown car train wreck greed-fueled beauty pageant clusterfuck of a vortex of evil suck all that is good and smart and kind out of life?

HOLY SHIT my head just exploded.

So, here is my proposal. If you, good people of the interwebs, would like me, your southern female lawyer friend, to go and witness this shitacular event, I will add a PayPal donation function to this blog – and if I get $549 in donations, I will GO TO THE TEABAGGERAMA. For real. And I will blog the hell out of it. Pictures and all. And, I will have a sign contest and you all can design a sign for me to tote around. Comment and let me know if you want this to happen.

Good Ol' Choaking

It’s raining and cold.  The mountains on either side of my car make me feel like I’m trapped in a Lord of the Rings novel.  Ominous and sure that Frodo will fuck something up soon.  The guy in my passenger seat has fallen asleep momentarily, while my windshield wipers can’t find a happy medium between being too dry—creating one of the worst sounds I’ve ever heard—and not on a high enough speed—causing a drunken effect from the rain on the windshield.  I have two hours left.  Shoot me.

I’m en route to Nashville.  Music City.  Where everyone goes to make it big.  Other than New York.  Or Los Angeles.

It’s the UGA/Vanderbilt weekend and I’m coming up here to play a show at 3^rd and Lindsley.  I’m pretty sure I’m saying/spelling that wrong.  Their website tells me otherwise.  LindsLey.  Definitely an L in there.

We get to Nashville at the perfect time.  5 o’clock.  Nothing says, “welcome to our town” like a street packed with cars.  Welcome, indeed.

It’s Friday night and our hostess is determined to show us as much of Nashville as possible, so we’re going to a “Vanderbilt bar.”  It’s more of a college scene and less of the honky-tonk and cowboy phenomenon that seems to have taken over most of downtown Nashville.

It’s a typical venue.  The doormen look like they could be straight off of the set of Gangs of New York.  I’m 22 and still scared to give them my ID.  They let me in.  I hold my breath as I walk past them.  Goons, they’re a crazy breed.

Inside and downstairs is a bar with four sides.  Meaning it’s a square.  It goes all the way around.  You get it.  It’s a big bar.  The drinks are served in plastic cups that are too small and spill most of your $6 drink the instant you pick it up.  I settle into a corner that happens to have an ATM in it; ironically in trying to stay out of the way, I pick the one spot in the bar that probably has the most traffic going through it.  I move after apologizing to the seventh person for being in their way.

Upstairs—I find out there’s an upstairs when I suddenly realize that I know no one around me and start exploring—is a stage and a smaller, cash only, bar.  Conveniently, the cash only bar is situated at the polar opposite corner of the bar from the ATM.  Typical.

The band playing is a cover band and they seem to have a pretty decent following, judging from the cluster of drunk college kids swaying back and forth in front of the stage.  I see two people with their hands waving in the air.  OutKast, LL Cool J, Snoop, Dr. Dre, S Club 7, thank you for enlightening our generation unto this universal sign of coolness.  They mostly play rock covers.  Nirvana, Black Crowes, every now and then the mysterious lead guitarist throws in a couple rap verses.  This causes a girl that could possibly be his girlfriend/wife/sister to yell loudly.  It’s a family affair, this concert.

It’s even colder outside now.  I’m standing next to a space heater and I’m still shaking.  The crowd in the bar is definitely a college crowd.  Mostly button downs and khakis.  My sweater and jeans feel outnumbered in a thrift-store-meets-j-crew kind of way.  There’s no hostility here.  We are all cold, no matter what our bank statements say.

The cab ride back to the house I’m staying at is $17.  The fact that the driver can tell me that and keep a straight face makes me hate him even more.  Welcome, indeed.

It’s Saturday morning; we all ride down to Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field.  I think it’s their fall break or something, because no one’s here.  Traffic is nonexistent.  Tents stretch for only a couple blocks in any direction from the stadium.  It’s depressing.  And cold.  My triple layer of clothing is not helping.  We run into a friend that graduated in May; his brother went to Vanderbilt.  At game time we make our way to our seats, but we know it’s going to be an uninteresting game.

I’m right.  The game is boring and slow.  I’m in the player’s parent’s section.  It’s cool seeing it from this angle, remembering what it was like to play sports in high school and the support system the parents make around you.  It makes the comments from the upper crowds a little awkward, however.  Small jeers and jests about someone’s son’s performance on the field always find their way down to the parents.  I’m waiting for one of them to snap and do a Kimbo Slice impression on a drunken over-red bulled college kid.  They never do.

I’m still cold.

We leave at halftime and go back to the house.

When it’s time to head down to 3^rd and Lindsley, we pack into a couple cars and head towards downtown.  As we make our way, I’m pretty sure we’ve passed it.  We’re blocks from downtown, on 3^rd street, passing buildings that look less than inviting.  We need to turn around.  The street is ending.  We must have passed it.

Of course, there it is.

On the corner of 3^rd Ave and Lindsley Ave, a well-lit establishment with ample parking comes into view.  I get out and walk inside.  The door guy asks for a cover, and after explaining to him that I’m supposed to be playing in… 11 minutes, he tells me to go check in with the sound guy.  The layout is intriguing.  Downstairs is a kitchen and bar.  Tables sit scattered throughout the room, most of them on the side with the stage.  The band I’m opening up for, Webb Wilder, is already set up.  Their equipment takes up a good bit of the stage, but it’s only me and a guitar so I’m not too worried about being cramped.

After sound check I grab a beer.  The bartender is nice and flirtatious—the way they all should be—and tells me she’s looking forward to my set; she’s done this before.

I’m halfway through my beer when it’s time to start.  I walk on stage and begin my normal routine.  “Hello, I’m…” “I’m from…” “Thanks for being here…”  It’s not exactly Hemingway but it gets the point across.

I have 45 minutes to play.  I play entirely originals.  All of the songs I have recorded on my demo—which I, of course, forgot to bring any copies of—get belted out over the quality sound system 3^rd and Lindsley runs.

The crowd is a group of regulars.  People that know that bartender’s and waitress’ names.  They’re nice and welcoming to the new sound—I’ve never played in here before, or Nashville for that matter.  They clap after each song.  I even get a beer bought for me when they notice mine is running low.

I love this place.

I get done with my set after about 7 songs.  I get down off the stage and walk over to the bar.  A middle-aged couple immediately commends me as I sit down beside them to order another drink.  The bartender does the same.  I guess it went all right.

I start to look around for the group of friends I came here with.  I hear someone call my name.  I look up.  There they are.

There’s an upstairs to the room that I didn’t even notice until now.  The group of people that came with me is perched up there, taking an aerial approach to my show.  Each one gives me the standard, friendly, “good job!”

The waitress that I’m told I should talk to if I need anything tells me that if I want any food, it’s on the house.  This place is like heaven, only smokier.  I thank her and tell her that if I need anything I’ll let her know

Sadly, my friends are getting restless and want to eat downtown.  We finish our drinks and get ready for the night of touristic pleasures ahead.  As I leave a woman approaches me and asks if I brought any copies of my CD with me.  I feel like an idiot.

We eat at a TexMex place that has good burritos and tacos.  My chicken and steak burritos are satisfying and moderately priced.  The meat is flavorful and the tortillas don’t fall apart as I eat it.  This pleases me.  After we all finish our bucket(s) of beer, we start to decide what over-the-top bar we should visit first.

We walk outside and immediately see Coyote Ugly.  There’s a $5 cover for guys and a list of things that one should expect when entering the bar.  Included: water is not free; you might lose your tie; you might lose your bra; don’t touch the girls on the bar even if she is your girlfriend; if you’re easily offended this is not the place for you.  We pass after we see some of the crowd that’s filling up the bar.

We decide on a bar that doesn’t have a cover charge.  Big Shotz.  Aptly named because their shots literally look like a drink.  As we all get our first drinks and sit down at a table, the house band starts playing.

This band, I will say, was impressive.  They played for roughly 5 straight hours.  Other than a few small breaks, our experience was filled up with Creed, The Fray, Radiohead, Eve 6, and any other song you could ever imagine being on a Now Volume 1-39 album.  Their expansive song list was incredible.

The bassist was a little creepy, resembling someone rolling their face off on ecstasy, he was obviously feeling the music.  Perhaps a little too much.

As the night got longer and the shot count got higher, people started falling out.  Portions of our group would go and try to find other bars, only to return later conveying that they had been kicked out as soon as they walked in, or that the cover charges were ridiculous.  It was a fun night of drinking with friends and enjoying whatever song the live jukebox wanted to play next.

Cab ride home: $18 dollars.  I want to cry.

Sunday was a frustrating mix of trying to get the hell out of Music City but running into every possible Road Closed sign imaginable.  An entire side of the interstate was closed.  The detour was closed.  My GPS is telling me I’m literally in the middle of a lake.

Finally, we get out onto I-24 E towards the Georgia border.  We start back through the mountains that look like a Tolkein novel and make our way back to Athens.  Welcome, indeed.

“Want to convince people they absolutely, positively have to move to Tennessee,” writes Jim Ridley in the Nashville Scene. “Find a way to lock their TV in to NPT-Channel 8…” for BEAUTIFUL TENNESSEE: PARKS & PRESERVATION on Sunday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Ridley goes on to call the doc “gorgeous” and “filled with wide-angle views of some of the state’s most staggering natural attractions.”

BEAUTIFUL TENNESSEE: PARKS & PRESERVATION, the third installment in Nashville Public Television’s Beautiful Tennessee series, explores the majesty of Tennessee’s parks, from sacred sites revered by ancient cultures for their beauty and mystery; to battlefields sanctified by those who fell fighting for their beliefs; to more recent additions facing the challenges of preservation in the new millennium. The documentary, written, directed and produced by NPT’s Ed Jones (Tennessee Crossroads)

For more about the documentary, watch the above preview, read the official release on our press room and visit the Beautiful Tennessee home page.

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Thanksgiving Eve  (Wed., Nov. 25, 2009)

5:00 – 7:00 pm – Ollie O’Shea Solo!Green Mill

4802 N. Broadway/ Chicago/773-878-5552

Ollie O’Shea is well educated in the field of American country music. He has been playing guitar and singing most of his life and has worked with some of the best country musicians Nashville  has to offer.

Ollie has been recently signed as a songwriter to “Good Bit Music,” a publishing company owned by one of Nashville’s most successful songwriters, Jim Lauderdale. Ollie has played fiddle with such artists as Hank Williams III, Garry Allan, George Ducas, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale.

Email: ollie@ollieoshea.com

Ollie center stage!

Ollie’s latest CD!

So I went back to review the history of the cupcake (pls see below..you’re welcome) really wanting to understand if the Mini.  My first thought was some skinny person decided they would create the Mini to limit themselves – shorely they haven’t had a Naticake, downtown Franklin, TN.. today I discovered the Mini Nati. 

NOW WAS THE TIME –  I HAD to figure this Mini out…drum roll please….the Mini was created so you can have a selection of MANY cupcakes all at once!  NOW THATS GENIUS..now you aren’t limited to 1 cupcake or the cupcake split (I will neva understand this one) the Mini allows everyone to have many cupcakes and nobody has to share!  YIPPPPIEEEEEEE!!

Eat on my little cupcake friends! 

A Little CupCakE HiStOry!

The term ‘cupcake’ is first mentioned in E. Leslie’s ‘Receipts’ of 1828. Breaking with tradition of weighing ingredients at this time they ingredients began to be measured in cups. According to “Baking in America” by Greg Patent, this was revolutionary because of the tremendous time it saved in the kitchen. “The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.” explains that the cup name had a double meaning because of the practice of baking in small containers — including tea cups.

Cups were convenient because hearth ovens took a long time to bake large cakes. Gem pans, early muffin tins, were common in households around the turn of the 20th Century and cupcakes were baked directly in these. Throughout the 1900’s cupcakes became popular kids treats partly due to their ease in baking. In the early 1900’s Hostess introduced the snack cupcake, but it didn’t become the Hostess Cupcake we know today until the 1950’s.

Many people associate cupcakes with the popularity of homemaking of the 1950’s and 60’s although this is an myth. Cupcakes were no more popular during that time period then they are today. More likely is that adults associate cupcakes with memories from their childhood. What is different today is that cupcakes have gone crazy. Traditionally they have been made for children in basic flavors. Today the cupcake has gone gourmet and is playful, hip and glamorous.  This craze is here to stay.

"Good Hearts" EP Cover

Well, I am more than excited to announce that Veritas Artist Collective member Seth Phipott (one of my favorite people on the planet) released his new EP today on iTunes. The EP reflects Philpott’s musical styles and range with a touch of Van Morrison and Harry Connick Jr. to the modern folk rock of his Nashville peers. So do us a favor and download a copy and come out to our Christmas party where Seth will be performing with Ryan Edgar on Dec 12th in Dallas. You can find Seth at these electronic places.
Myspace Facebook Twitter Virb iLike

Seth Philpott

Editor’s Note: “Underground Nashville” covers artists, authors, musicians, poets, political figures, and other compelling people and happenings not typically covered by the mainstream Nashville media. It also presents reflections and commentary from an underground/indie perspective. As I told ‘The Tennessean’ in 2008, “since moving to Nashville twenty-five years ago, I have met people whose lives do not remotely reflect the caricature of what many outside our city presume to be a Nashvillian” or the Nashville experience. “Underground Nashville” thus explores the soul of the city, not its surface—offering “thoughts from the shadows of a great American city.”

Dave Carew

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As we head into Thanksgiving week, please do not forget those less fortunate than you. The Nashville Rescue Mission just released a statement declaring “about 5,000 people will find their way here on Thanksgiving Day alone.” To make sure they receive love, friendship, and a comforting meal, please call (615) 255-2475 or visit Nashvillerescuemission.org.  Thank you.

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The “Grow Your Following” Series
for Singer/Songwriters and Bands

Part 1:  Getting the Media to Cover You

by Dave Carew

Let’s face it: If you’re an “indie novelist” like me—or an indie singer-songwriter like you or one of your friends—it’s not easy getting the media to cover you.

But here’s the deal: When my latest novel was published, I received positive media coverage in The Tennessean, The City Paper, The Vanderbilt Hustler, and Dish.com.

So how did I do it? More important: How can YOU?

Let me share a few publicity secrets I’ve learned over the years. First, don’t overlook what I call the “gimme’s.” This is the publicity you get when you’re automatically listed in the “club listings” of your local newspaper. Determine the e-mail address for submitting club listings (it’s often something self-evident, such as “listings@tennessean.com.”)  And make sure you e-mail a JPEG photo (at least 350 dots per inch) of yourself/ your band. You’ll “pop” in the club listings a lot more if your photo is there, next to your listing.

Next, move on to the next level of PR. Get the specific name, e-mail address, and phone number of every journalist in a given city who covers music. Then, at least 10 days before your gig, e-mail each journalist the essential information about your upcoming gig, starting with the “who, what, where,” but also sending interesting information about yourself or your band. In that information, try to quickly address the question” “What is unique about me or my band? Why would a music journalist and his or her readership find me/us interesting?”

Then, two days later, call each journalist, introduce yourself and say you’re briefly following up on the information you sent him or her. Specifically ask if he or she might like to write an article about you, in conjunction with your/your band’s upcoming performance. If the journalist says “no” this time, don’t give up. Implement the same PR strategy around your NEXT gig in your city, or when you travel to other cities.

The truth is, no one can predict how much publicity you’ll land thanks to any given PR effort. But using the strategy described above, I’ve helped artists land publicity in every single newspaper in Nashville, plus many others throughout the Southeast. Keep trying, and this activity will secure publicity for YOU, too.

David M. (Dave) Carew is editor of “Underground Nashville” and the author of the novels “Everything Means Nothing to Me: A Novel of Underground Nashville” and “Voice from the Gutter.” He also is a freelance publicist and copywriter.

The 2009 music award show season is drawing to a close.  The most recent event, the American Music Awards, started quite the conversation within industry circles and fans bases with everyone discussing the definition of entertainment and how far is too far.  Along with that, the traditional debate of the purpose of award shows still stands.  The business of producing a show like this has many levels and fronts.  You have the network that airs it, the advertising that is run during the show, and the crew that it requires to pull it all off just to name a few.  Not to mention the red carpet time and the publicity that will come from an artist appearing on the show as a presenter, performer, or award winning nominee.  Are award shows a pat on the backs of record label, musicians, and other industry professionals?  Or are these opportunities for the participants in the music industry to receive their “just deserts”*?

People are hard-wired to expect rewards for their efforts.  Starting back in kindergarten, you learned a good grade would warrant a scratch-n-sniff sticker from the teacher and a hug when you got home.  Even before that, children learned that good behavior pleases their parents and inappropriate behavior leads to bad consequences.  People are conditioned to show off the results of their hard labor in hopes of some sort of recognition, whether it be an external reward or internal gratification.  As we graduate from the educational system and move on from receiving report cards and stickers, we settle down in the workforce.  Now as an employee, the most basic of all rewards is your salary.  Add to that benefits and you have yourself the best scratch-n-sniff sticker.  We don’t stop there.  Some industries encourage perks, bonuses, and various awards to mark the outstanding efforts of the power players within their industry.

Recognition and awards reveal to their recipients what is important and what is valued by leaders  and decision makers of their industry in question.  An artist needs to know how their performance and music fits into the industry’s operation and what their impact is on the fans and buyers of the music.  Recognition builds self-esteem in an individual, reinforces desired behaviors, and helps to create an atmosphere of appreciation and trust.  Effective recognition contributes to satisfaction and pride in one’s work, promotes empowerment and involvement, and creates loyalty to the industry.  If an artist did not get nominated – it could spark them to try harder and push themselves to greater heights.  If they were , it reassured their efforts.  At the center of all award shows is the need for art and effort to be recognized and we learned that in elementary school.

Award shows go wrong then they become business deals, when votes are bought, and it becomes more about the business of making money than recognizing true talent and effort.  There are always rumors of artists bribing fans to win their vote and offering free tickets and back stage passes.  The free swag that is given out to award show participants seems to push the nights over the top.  The Hollywood, money making glitz that accompanies any event pushes the envelope, yes.  But to say they are ego-centric self-congratulatory love fests would be to go too far.  Anyone of us would want to be on the stage being recognized for our talents and efforts.  Be slow to judge and quick to understand the broad picture; one day it could be you up there receiving your “just deserts”.

*The expression just desserts is a common misspelling of the actual idiom just deserts, which simply means to receive what one deserves. It is one of the more commonly misspelled idiomatic expressions, because it uses an archaic word most people are no longer familiar with. This type of spelling error based on a mishearing of a word, or misunderstanding of its context, is often referred to as an “eggcorn”.  full explanation (including word origin).

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to a retrospective of photographer Jim McGuire’s work at Imogene + Willie here in Nashville (more on them in a few weeks). If you’re not familiar, McGuire is an extremely talented photographer from Nashville best known for his portraits of country stars over the years.

Jim McGuire's work at Imogene + Willie

McGuire was extremely kind and a lot of fun to talk to. He even autographed my book.

Of course, in typical Imogene+Willie fashion, the party was spectacular. Their amazing backyard made a fantastic venue for two incredibly gifted young singer-songwriters: Holly Williams (daughter of Hank Jr.) and Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve).

Justin Townes Earle performing at Imogene + Willie

Anyone into classic country should check out McGuire’s work. If you’re into good clothes, Imogene + Willie has you covered.

The Nashville Portraits of Jim McGuire

Imogene + Willie

Holly Williams

Justin Townes Earle

As I have wanted to visit Nashville for some time now, going on a good four or five years, I have yet to actually finalize plans to do so. The lure of Chicago and New York have alwasy had the southern city playing second fiddle. Well, no more, I have decided. Finally establishing a connection there, too, has played a big part in making January my target month for getting there. Am I excited about possibly running into or merely seeing Jack White around town? Definitely. Country Music Hall of Fame? You better believe it. This morning, though. the icing on the cake came via instant message from my Nashville friend, notifying me of the “Malibu of Tennessee” and, among the lot of amazing bars and restaurants, F.M. Allen being there.

I’ve been a fan of the brand for quite sometime, hoping to strike it rich, preferably in oil, and being about to outfit myself in their goods. Though hitting pay dirt via the bubblin’ crude would be nice, perhaps gettin ginto the ivory trade would be more fitting, as Allen deals largely in Safari-themed items, whether it be zebra bow ties, hunting jackets, and/or deluxe travel bar sets. Having added this store to my list of “must sees,” I hope to have money leftover to patronize after hitting the distilleries, going on a ghost tour, and finding vintage music shops around town. Though my leftover money will probably only score me maybe half of one cufflink, it will be something to set foot in the shop. Now, how does one get into the ivory trade?

A writer can get a creative block so it holds that a photographer should be able to as well right? Here I am, surrounded by all sorts of beautiful farms, land, etc etc and yet another etc but, lately, I haven’t seem to have been able to find inspiration in any of my surroundings.

Perhaps it’s that it’s almost winter, the autumn leaves have mostly falllen from the trees, leaving those few, almost dead but very determined stragglers behind. Perhaps I need a jolt of some winter weather, beautiful snow, ice, the like; although here in Nashville, that only serves to wreak havoc and I end up locking myself in my house to hide. Perhaps it’s that I need a change of scenery to get some of my creative juices flowing and create new works. It could really be any number of reasons causing a creative block, and I’m sure I will soon get back to being productive, but, admittedly, it is frustrating, regardless of the reason.

That got me to thinking… what do others do to break the chains of creative block? Whether you’re an artist, writer, chef, jewelry maker, whatever your craft, what do you do to try to relieve yourself of the frustration of creative block? What is your muse or motivation that gets your creative juices flowing again?

"Gone, Not Forgotten"

Nashville artist Will Hoge performs his catchy ode to rock & roll music. As his calling in life with a passion that continues to grow, much life his fan base. Garnering buzz from new fans & industry insiders alike, Hoge is poised to break out with his latest album “The Wreckage”,  which was release on September 29th, 2009. “The Wreckage” was released  almost a year-to-the-day  after a severe scooter accident which required multiple surgeries, and put his music on hold. Hoge later returned, healthy & with a renewed drive and zest for music, which can be heard throughout his album with standout tracks such as: “Even if it Break Your Heart”, “Hard to Love”, & “Favorite Waste of Time.”

Buyers tend to think in a slow market that they can take their time making their decision to pull the trigger once they have found the house they think is right for them.  They assume that “slow” means no one else is looking at the same house but that is not the case.

Often times the house that is “perfect” for the buyer is the best house currently on the market and it is also “perfect” for another buyer.  The people who are not ready to move quickly, often lose out.  When they finally do write an offer, some other buyer has beaten them to the punch and already has an offer on the table.

So how does a buyer best prepare to make a swift move?  First, talk to a lender and know exactly how much you can afford and are comfortable with spending.  Second, know exactly what you want before you start looking.  Make a list of 3 must haves and 5 wants.  If a house has all 3 needs and 3 out of the 5 wants, it’s a good candidate.  Third, have an agent who knows the process inside and out and can walk you through the offer and let you know how you are protected from making a bad decision.

Now you know, so when you find “that house” you can snag it.  No matter what kind of market it is, the best houses go fast.  Go get yours!

As a loan officer I have been called by clients and referral partners about buying or listing a Middle Tennessee Condominum.  To say the least it is challenging.  The rules keep changing.  The concern for the buyer or the listing agent has to be “What kind of financing is available for this unit?  Can it go FHA?  Can I get a confoming conventional loan?  Are there any non-conforming products available for a non-warrentable condominium? 

What does this mean?  Determine what kind of Financing is available for your UNIT.  (A cash offer is the exception.) 

Is it a Planned Unit Development? A PUD?  If so now worries as these are treated as a single family dwelling attached.  Normally a townhome style unit.

What is the ratio of investor to primary residence owned units?  If the ratio is above 51% investor owned you may have problems.

Has the HOA been in the control of the residents for more than one year?

Have at least 90% of the units been sold or pre-sold?

Does any single entity own more thatn 10% of the units? 

It is best to get with your loan officer early and see what financing options are for the unit you are interested in.  Please call Lee Barroll at 615-243-1301 or email lee.barroll@fcmhomeloans.com.

Odd, I can spend five hours lost in details:  just how big is a lard stand?  what’s the proper ratio of eggs to meal in cornbread?  what’s the difference between fried pies made with sweet dried winter fruit and summer fresh ones?

And in that time forget whether or not I remembered to have breakfast.  Concentration’s an amazing thing, if not FDA approved to substitute for meals, and time spent wandering around in a fog is not to be confused with exercise

Of course, any sane person would realize you can’t be thinking about biscuits with thick home cured bacon and blackberry jam, or fried pies oozing peaches without your growling stomach frightening the neighbor kids if you haven’t had at least a little something.  Evidently yogurt laced with honey has a lot of staying power

If not, I couldn’t even watch this film (caveat:  not one for those who like their cooks and kitchens on the pristine side)

Now that she’s a Mrs., I can post some shots from Paula’s bridal portrait session. After a nasty week of rain, we got a beautiful Sunday afternoon to shoot at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. It’s such a beautiful location. I could’ve spent all day there with miss Paula! Check out her wedding to Ken here.

An international crackdown on the use of woods from the world’s rain forests to make musical instruments bubbled over to Music City on Tuesday with a federal raid on Gibson Guitar ’s manufacturing plant, but no arrests.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Webb said the search warrant was obtained based on information in a sealed affidavit outlining the investigation.

Agents of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service made a midday appearance and served a search warrant on company officials at Gibson’s Massman Drive manufacturing plant, where it makes acoustic and electric guitars.

Some hardwoods traditionally used in making premium guitars, such as rosewood from the rain forests of Madagascar and Brazil, have been banned from commercial trade because of environmental concerns under a recently revised federal law.

Under the U.S. Lacey Act, trading in such banned woods is a federal offense, punishable by civil and criminal penalties or the seizure of property. Last year, the U.S. Congress amended a turn-of-the-century wildlife protection law (the Lacey Act) to extend its reach to endangered timber species and plants. See the next post Where Were You When Wood Became A Felony?