Live From Nashville...

Wow. This is the first time I have been able to sit down and even look at my laptop. Thanks to all of those who sent me well wishes and are keeping track of me. Every time I have a free moment to think, you all always cross my mind.

Where should I begin?

Well, let my just start by saying that there is nothing I have found that I do not like about this place. (Except for my family not being here) It is truly amazing going from California to a place like this. It is greener, brighter, the skies are clearer (you can actually see the buildings in the horizon instead of just their outline), the smells are better, there is not traffic, I could really go on and on. Most of you that know me know how much of a communicator I am and I always end up talking for such a long time with checkers and other attendants because everyone here is so nice.

My first day here was rough though. I got sick on the plane and had to stay the night at the Ramada (ugh), although it was a pretty nice hotel. My first day of work was pretty good but then I had to find a place to stay. If it weren’t for Matt Price, I would be staying in a studio for fifty dollars a night in a bad part of town. (Thanks for finding it for me though, Mom.) So I decided to rent a car but all of the car places were closed at six so I had to take a shuttle back to the airport and then rent a car there. I paid $10 extra a day for the car and then 25% tax! So I finally got home and just crashed.

So about my job: amazing. I walk into work this morning and the first thing I got to do was reorganize guitar cases. Not that fun, I know but when I went to the bathroom I just so happened to run into the lead singer for Lady Antebellum.

“How’s it goin’?” I said, trying to be nonchalant.
“Pretty good. What’s going on buddy?” he replies back at my over his blackberry in his palm. Not something that happens to be everyday, but at Soundcheck, it does. Yesterday I got to see Vince Gill’s 600-guitar collection that Soundcheck stores for him. (Soundcheck stores stuff for almost every act in Nashville.) Later on in the day I passed Pam Tillis in the hall. This morning as I passed the lounge area I saw Lonestar sitting around one of the booths with their managers going over little ins and outs of the rehearsal.

This is my third day, folks.

All day long I just learn more and more about music equipment and the music business. Recent lessons: How to change a drumhead and what the difference is between heads. How to work a B3 and a Leslie 122 and 143. And how to change out the keys on an electric keyboard. Other than that I get to do stuff like organize drums, move around large road cases and try out every guitar and amp in the rental room just to make sure it works before it goes out on a rental. Not too shabby of a gig, huh?

This place is amazing but it’s going to get crazy for Fanfair. I will keep you all updated on how it goes.
Thanks for the prayers and the thoughts and for reading this long entry.

Matt and I are going to Red Robin for dinner now. Matt is amazing, by the way, a great friend to have around.

Updates

Hello everyone.
I hope this post finds you all well: healthy both physically and spiritually.

I wanted to take this opportunity to update you all on some of the things that are going on in my life.

Grandparents:
My grandfather (papa) is doing so much better. His heart is working very well thanks to this "miracle heart drug" that he is taking. We are exercising every other day and he is getting much stronger in his legs although he still needs help in and out of bed.
My grandma (nana) is still recovering from surgery. They had to remove alot of skin and tissue in her left arm due to this infection. It is going to be a long road to recovery but the good news is that she is herself again. :)

Nashville:
As some of you may know, I am leaving for Nashville on Monday the 26th of May for two weeks. The trip is going to be a way for me to prove myself for a position that I am pursuing. The company is called Soundcheck and you can check out their website here. They have a lot to do with many of the tours that take place in the country. For this trip I will be helping out with Fan Fair 2008 (website here), perhaps the largest country music festival in the United States. This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime and it just goes to show you that if you are faithful and patient, then God always delivers. "DO WORK SON!" (Get it? like son of God? Anywaays) If I do well then I will get the job and have to move out there immediately. Pray that I will just be myself and be a diligent, hard and genuine worker.

Website:
I have been working on a new website that will have all of my music and other stuff including a new blog. The website name will probably be something corny like ajsoldo.com or something. Any suggestions for a cool domain name are appreciated. :)
This website will also be a way for friends and family to keep track of me while I pursue my dream of being in the music business.

Love:
No I haven't found it. At least not mutually, but I have learned this: It is a lot harder to find love than most people think. The perfect ingredient for love is not lust or passion or butterflies, although those are all good things. The key ingredient is when the love is reciprocated and given back as much as you have given. It is a formula that is seldom found but worth waiting for.

God Bless you all,

age