We’re about halfway thru the latest Rock Your Net sessions. Wednesday night I was emphasizing the importance of community in any artist/songwriter/musicians’ marketing efforts. That’s when it hit me.
The generosity of community has been so vital to the success of Outside The Box Music and Rock Your Net. I hope you’ll indulge me and let me recognize some folks who have been so important in the arc of this project.
First & foremost my dear friend, Deanna Walker, Director of Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music’s Songwriting Program. She sat me down and told me I should align my future career plans with my natural skill set…Best.Advice.Ever. She also introduced me to the first of my partners, Michael Lovett (more on him later).
Next, Lydia Hutchinson of Performing Songwriter fame. Long before I knew her personally, her publication changed my life. It taught me that the only person who could empower my career was me. That was a gift in itself. But now that I count her as one of my dearest friends, she still inspires me with her wisdom and her courage. But most of all her joy…Lydia now helps small business holders navigate the social media and online world. Check it.
The pillars of our team – Alex Curtis of The Creators Freedom Project and Michael Lovett of Phat Magnet Media. My eternal thanks to Wayne Leeloy of Topspin (more on him later as well) for putting Alex & I in touch and Ariel Hyatt’s Nashville meetup for enabling our first face to face meeting. It was spooky how much our common goals for enabling creators to empower themselves lined up. I am so lucky to have Alex in my corner for important technical expertise, as well as, moral & logistics support.
If I am lucky to have Alex, I am downright out of this world fortunate to have Michael Lovett to count on. A fellow tech geek/songwriter/musician, Michael is a ninja/sage as far as the online world is concerned. Dude is a genius. I also have a feeling he can physically hurt me. I hope I never find out. He recently adopted the mantra, "Creativity, Quality, Community." I am stealing it…I hope he doesn’t hurt me…
Wayne Leeloy of Topspin Media was the first person with "juice" who really got excited about Rock Your Net and he has been an unwavering champion of the project. 
Topspin has also been an important supporter and sponsor.
Paul Schatzkin of Cohesion Arts for not only enabling this project to continue to thrive but for being a wealth of information and purposeful passion as well. As a pioneer in the whole digital music space with Songs.com, I’ve been able to mine his great insight and experience. His sponsorship has meant some folks who may not have been able to attend got to come to Rock Your Net.
Outside The Box Music’s amazing video production team Amber Wilkinson and Zach Reed.
Our client/friends Jen Foster, Ginger Sands and Keeley Valentino amongst others.
Nick Hardy, Infinity Cat’s Social Media Manager who is a bad ass. I steal his ideas all the time. Don’t tell him.
Doak Turner & The Nashville Muse for being our first and most enthusiastic media partner.
David Dufresne of Bandzoogle who saw the potential of this project and jumped right in to help. Thanks, David.
Rachel Barnhard, Dave Delaney, Craig Havighurst along with Wayne Leeloy & Paul Schaztkin – the original braintrust on which I bounced the Rock Your Net idea off of. Rachel even contributed the motto: "’Cause It’s Not New Media Anymore…"
David Hooper of Music Business Radio for his constant encouragement and cheerleading.
Bruce Houghton, Natalie Cheng and the good folks of HypeBot and Music Think Tank for picking up some of the blog posts and giving them some national attention. I am deeply grateful.
Derek Sivers for being the original "outside the box" thinker to inspire me onto a new path all those years ago. And also for introducing me to a rising star in the music business social media world named Ariel Hyatt, who has been kicking ass and taking names ever since.
Cameo Carlson from Borman Management for being a friend and a supporter.
Vinny Ribas of Indie Connect for giving me countless opportunities to speak at his events. He’s got one this weekend. Go!
Gavin Mikhail for sharing the marketing genius of his YouTube success. The series would have a serious deficit without his know how.
Nick Navatta for bringing his serious graphic recording skills to Rock Your Net. He continues to impress me not only with his impressive ability, but also with his gentle humility. Looking forward to working more with him.
David G Smith & Rick Beresford for spreading the word about what we do. And for being dear friends.
NSAI and ASCAP for allowing me to speak at their events. Such incredible opportunities.
Jason Lucas of Monsta Nash for being an awesome friend and an incredible artist/producer.
Mark Montgomery for being a mentor, cheerleader and friend. I can always count on his vision, insight and support. And for Joanna Stanfield Montgomery for her inspiration and fearlessness.
Pinky Gonzales for welcoming me into the Nashville tech community. For his great initial advice and direction. But most of all his easygoing accessibility.
David Beronja for featuring me on his Nashville Feed podcast and for his friendship. I felt like the coolest techie ever.
Marc Krejci for befriending me at Barcamp years ago and telling me about these things called Facebook and Twitter.
Lucas Parry – see Marc Krejci.
John Pisciotta and Innovation Nashville for providing a forum for, well, innovation.
Billy Block for being Billy Block. And for championing our series and our projects.
Heino Moeller and Scott Southworth of The Music Row Show for having me on to talk about Rock Your Net.
Distinguished Rock Your Net alumni Susan Anders; a phenomenal vocal coach and singer/songwriter, Meredith Blis; who now shepards her own performance coaching development series, artist manager & booking agent; Carol Buttenham, Sage Keffer; who is busy creating his own fan centric music festival and Tim Lorsch; string player extraordinaire.
And most of all my lovely wife, Wendy and my irrepressible daughter for simply believing.
Nothing happens alone. You need people around you to help you succeed. You need community.
I’m proud to be included with such an amazing group of people. Thanks Charles!
I am honored to know you, Sir. And proud to call you my friend.