So when I last posted here, anxiety was at the forefront of my emotions, regarding SXSW....(Will I be able to get into the REALLY cool shows and parties without the ETERNALLY elusive music badge...?) My emotion/mood had shifted to EXTREME exhaustion and severe sleep deprivation..... Although, I am ok now....

Here's why:

I "friended" this dude through FB (who shall remain nameless) who seemed to be COMPLETELY "plugged in" to the Austin music/party scene. I ran into him (sheer coincidence) while picking up a wristband for some party I had RSVP'd to on Sunday afternoon. We briefly spoke and swapped numbers and I didn't think any more of it. But later in the afternoon, as I started to think...."What are the chances.....REALLY, of running into this dude in a crowded downtown Austin city street, with 1000's of "tourists", running around, causing COMPLETE chaos..... that are lost, hungry, and/or hung over.... SUPER INCREDIBLY slim (at best). Then started thinking that this was no ACCIDENT.... that this had happened for a reason. As I was looking thru my contact list in my phone, to call him and find out what he was up to, my phone started ringing.... it was him. He connected me on a conference call with a local producer who was working with some LA DJ and wanted us to meet. We all chatted, boasted about our MANY accomplishments/accolades (lol) and then promised we would all hook up later at a trendy bar that night for drinks. This of course did NOT happen. I tried, but to no avail.... (I will leave it that ...lol)

So Monday night comes. I'm still trying to work my contacts to get into the Jay Z show, without much luck. I decide to head downtown anyway, battle the traffic, pay $20 for a parking spot and start walking towards a bar that is streaming the concert, "LIVE" on the side of a building.... Just as I start to sip on my "pocket flask" of Jameson, the phone rings.... "Jake, get ur ass down here to the Moody Theater now, I got u a ticket for Jay Z!!!" And just like that, I was one of 2,874 people (of the more than 60,000+ that were trying to get a ticket....) that witnessed history! First off, u needed a music badge and an American Express Card (I had neither) and had to link ur AmEx card to ur twitter and post something, or the other.... Keep in mind, u could not buy these tickets, they were given away in a lottery to those that qualified/registered (I was neither).

I met my "well connected" dude at the side of the theater and we walked in and up the stairs, to an area reserved for SRO (standing room only), which was fine with me since it was scheduled to be a short set, 45-60mins, and I was gonna be groovin' most of the concert....lol! The place had all this energy. It was electric. Once his set started.... IT WAS ON!! The guy (Jay Z) knows how to entertain and work the crowd. For an artist that is used to playing in front of 20,000-30,000 fans, this intimate setting sounded great, looked great, and made u feel GREAT!! Afterward, still "abuzz", my buddy was like, "We gotta head straight to the Belmont, Ghostland Observatory is performing there tonight!!!" "Wait.... who....?"

The place had a line around the block with 20-something, tatooed, mohawked, pierced, cigarette-smoking kids, along with a small scattering of 40-something men, dressed in sport coats and orange music badges. We went right to the front of the line and the doorman let us in. FREE drinks, I order a Jameson rocks. We meet up with some of his really cool friends in from LA.... time for tequila shots. lol!

Apparently, I seemed to have caught the attention of one of the ladies in the clique. We made small talk, she followed me to the bar, where I ordered a Jameson rocks. I tried to ignore her, but she just followed me around.... so I bought her a drink, Apple Martini....lol! Show started..... and then ended, it was very cool, although not REALLY my thing, but I appreciated it for its "uniqueness".

After the show, and after party at some dingy club, we drank Lone Star Beer... yuck!.... I invited a few people (6, to be exact....including my new "stalker"...lol) back to my house. We had another drink, Speyburn Scotch. They crashed on my couches and floor and my head hit the pillow at 345am..... I have a 730am alarm set and drank waaaaayyy more than I should have.... Oh well, what u gonna do... :(

Tuesday morning, I wake up, wake up my guests, they follow me out..... I make it to work, very tired, groggy...LONG day. I tell some of my friends of last night's adventure, they get excited and want to hang out that night. I tell them I need a loooooong nap and maybe.... I get off at 6pm, drive home, start to take a nap, and then my phone starts ringing at 7pm..... "So Jake, where we hangin out tonight?" I tell them I got a buddy in from Minneapolis playing a gig @ Darwin's Pub at 930, let's go there. I drive to my buddy's house, he has a Buchanan Scotch waiting for me..... "No... I can't.... I...." "Just drink it, u p*ssy...." Well, I drank the Scotch on the rocks....lol!

We head to the bar, catch half my "homie's" set and then more of my friends show up. We hang there, drinking Jameson and Stellas. Go to another bar, more GREAT music, drink more Stella.... I get a text from some of the people from the night before.... they say they wanna meet up.... They don't show up.....

I finally leave the bar at around 130am, home by 2am, bed by 201am.....

Wednesday morning, up at 730am..... work, done at 6pm. I manage to get thru the day. Get home decide to take a few hour nap, so turn OFF my phone, thinking I can still get up by 10pm to see some of my Austin cats @ District 301 and then catch the Doomtree set @ The Scoot Inn at 1145pm.... I woke up at midnight... disappointed, I turned over and went back to sleep....

I am writing this at 9am on Thursday, March 15th, well rested and still deciding if I'm gonna see Lil Wayne @Austin Music Hall, or T.I. and B.o.B @ La Zona Rosa tonight. I have tickets to neither, no music badge, no RSVP and no real plan on how I will make this happen..... Just like I like it!!!

Here's to cool music, warm nights and GREAT BOOZE!

Jake

SXSW... 5 Days Away And Counting....

Being still relatively new to Austin, Texas has its advantages. For example, it excuses me when I'm late for a meeting or an appointment ("Sorry I'm late, I got lost, u know I'm new to Austin.... and by the way, this traffic SUCKS!"). It also has its perks with my music friends here. I explain that I spent the last 20+ years in Minneapolis and knew "everybody who is anybody" in the music scene there, and that coming here is like starting ALL over to make professional connection. So when trying to get into an EXCLUSIVE party, concert, VIP situation, it usually garners a "I feel ya, Jake.... come on with me, I gotcha..."

With SXSW just around the corner, I am somewhat anxious. I could pay $700-$900 for a Gold Music Badge that allows "All Access" (although it does NOT guarantee admission to the "coolest of the cool" parties, concerts, and events). But u still gotta stand in line with the rest of the folks, that ALSO have Gold Music Badges, for hours upon hours, upon hours....

At last year's SXSW, I REALLY wanted to attend The BET Music Matters showcase at "Kiss N Fly" (meeting Marsha Ambrosiuos, with that lovely face and voice, was high on my priority list during SXSW), but I had no Music Badge, RSVP was full, and had very little chance of getting in. But I went to the venue early in the afternoon, the day of the event, and just walked right into the club like I owned it. I asked a guy on the other side of the bar if there was someone I could talk to about the guest list for tonight's performance. He informed me it was FULL... NO EXCEPTIONS! As I looked around, I saw a guy walking in the door who was carrying in some boxes. I helped hold the door open for him and I introduced myself. I asked if he worked here. He said, "Yes, I'm the doorman. Why, what's up?". I informed him of my predicament and my desire to attend that evening's event and asked him what he suggested I do. "Well what time will u be here tonight?" he asked. "Well, I'm not gonna come down here if I can't get in..." I assured him. "Here, take my name and number and call me 30 minutes before u get down here and I'll get u in..." I called his number right then and there, he locked me in his phone. I thanked him and just to seal the deal, I cupped a $50 bill in the handshake.

I called him that night, while I was on the way down, he got me in.

Needless to say, I saw/met Marsha and J Cole that night and had a GREAT time! But I'm sure for every "success" story like this, there are 100's that are not so lucky. But I consider myself to be VERY resourceful, can scope out a scene and plan my strategy very quickly/efficiently.

So with SXSW approaching, I kinda like the "anxious" feeling of not knowing how it will all turn out, especially with the high profile shows this year that I plan on attending (50cent/Eminem, Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen). But I will do what I do best; network, sell, and close the deal!!

Here's to cool music, warm nights and GREAT BOOZE, CHEERS!

Jake B Nimble