Keeping The Customer Satisfied

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville

Potty-Gate! See the story this week about the Rascal Flatts show with a porta-potty crisis? Washington Redskins training campaign outside Richmond, Virginia ... Saturday night crowd of 4,500-plus ... 16 Porta-Pottys. I'm told that is the number on the chart for that many people, but that is a huge under number for a Saturday night concert with a lot of Country music fans. Beer you only rent, remember?

According to CBS 6 in Richmond people were peeing on the hills, the fences and trespassing into state property to go off in the woods. It sounded bad ... many left and some wanted refunds. Not a great customer service experience! And not the bands' fault .

Concerts never seem to have enough places to pee. Football games either. It doesn't stop people from going to something but it is something you dread. Since the festival and other outdoor concerts like The Farm Tour are ever-popular, someone needs a greater customer-friendly convenience ... not to mention diseases spread by unsanitary conditions.

It is something no one wants to talk about, but the bosses better think of everything possible to get people to part with their dear money. No one does a worse job than the movie business with their food sales. The higher and higher price of movie tickets is a growing problem. People are staying home and watching Netflix.

The concert business can not be substituted. There is no Netflix. It's unique but with people sticking their iPads in your face all night, blocking your view, it is a growing Wild West experience. Don't to mention puking on your shoes!

Keep the customer happy. Don't rip them off; make them want to come back. I can't speak for all the promoters but Live Nation places I have been to were much improved over the years. The newcomers wanting a quick buck hurt everyone.

Music Row is becoming condo and non-Music Row by the hour. Vanderbilt is spreading in every direction. I don't think that will change. Music Row may soon be a footnote. An historical place of "once upon a time." Berry Hill has more Music than Music Row, it seems now. Does it matter? Probably not. Look at the Los Angeles music scene of the '60s and look now. Capitol remains, but what else?

We at least need a few historical markers like on McGavock Street, where Elvis recorded "Heartbreak Hotel" and "I Was The One." 1525 McGavock ... now a parking lot ... my, my...

Watching the continued success of Blake Shelton is fun. His new CD will likely debut at #1. Fantastic. It has to be a crazy place where he is right now, with so much TV exposure. Hope he is okay. Hollywood makes you crazy. Oh yeah, Blake was already crazy ... Whew! Congratulations to everyone on his team. Great job.

What a great month for new music after a LONGGGGG drought. From Paisley to McGraw to Chesney, Lady A and Blake ... nice variety and mostly low BRO! Can't wait to see what the King of Bros is coming out with and his fellow wingmen.

The "Gentle on My Mind" version from The Band Perry is great! And how great would it be if that flavor of Country could mix back in for some needed variety.

October is a great month ... World Series ... Great football of all kinds ... cooler weather ... beautiful Fall colors ... better movies ... original TV is back from rerun season ... oo many good things to list. Now if we can get the news to be more pleasant.

Ebola, ISIS, White House fence jumpers, beheadings ... way too much to worry about. Great music is needed now more than ever. Hope someone picks up on the mood of the country.