Getting On A Plane

It is something the music community does almost without thinking ... without thinking of the dangers involved in the music business. Rarely is it the stage that gets you it is the travel.

Commercial and private jets are flying dozens to Europe this week for big shows in London and Dublin. You know everyone on those planes were thinking about that lost Boeing 777 that has dominated the headlines this week. The US Air jet that blew a tire on take-off at the Philadelphia airport Thursday night and slid to a safe but frightening stop.

Patsy Cline, Otis Redding, John Denver and too many others have died in planes. For work or play, the dangers of just getting from one place to the next is a real challenge.

Lady Antebellum had a 5000-mile detour recently in Canada to avoid an avalanche!

Nothing is easy about traveling. Bus fires, wrecks ... hardly a traveling musician that hasn't faced the danger at one time or another.

All this comes up thinking about the lost plane. Accident or terrorism. I know we all want the answer.

County music in Europe is back in the news this weekend and for the next few weeks. Spring and Summer festivals are getting a taste of American Country. From Paisley and the Dixie Chicks in London to Chris Young, The Band Perry and too many to list. Dublin has Garth in July. By the way, we know nothing ... no leaks yet about the upcoming Garth world tour. He is the best at keeping secrets.

Dealing with the media is not the most pleasant thing artists do. Some do it better than others. Some are best to stay away altogether and keep that mysterious image a mystery. Some are bright and some dumb as a box of rocks. Either way it is part of getting to where you want to go.

The better you are, the better you usually do.

At some point, you don't need to media. You have accomplished your goals and you are where you want to be. That can be a dangerous place. You begin saying, "no ... no ... no" to all those you previously said "yes ... yes ... yes."

Beware of the No NO NOOOOO factor and media shut-off.. It can create a resentment. You saw it with Michael Jackson ... Bieber seems to have no media friends anymore. You need to keep a balance. Feed the monster on a regular basis so it doesn't get hungry and eat you.

There was a reason I just wrote the above. A few Country artists are listening too much to their N.Y./L.A.-based media people. Again. Very dangerous. Country still has a pretty normal DNA despite its new mega-wealth.

Just treat the radio/TV and other media the same way you did when you got your first bus. That might be the best advice you get all day.