It was a month ago today, June 7th, 2009, while having a conversation with Warren Silvers (host of tonight’s SMA Benefit) that the wheels began turning in my head. He had asked me only the week before to be a part of his benefit and I’d agreed to talk with him about it at his house. That day he was holding a BBQ for a lot of local songwriters and friends, and as I was discussing his event, others began discussing their events and the benefits they had either been a part of, or would like to have.
Last year I had the honor of hosting a benefit for the Red Cross called “The Supercell of Giving Benefit Concert” (named after the supercell storms that came through Tennessee, bringing dozens of tornadoes, and thousands of broken lives). We had a grand total of 3 weeks to spread the word of the benefit and, if I were being honest, spreading the word of that show didn’t go so well. In fact, it hardly went at all. The newspapers, dailies, weeklies, radio, and TV were all alerted. Numerous press releases went out all over the state. Our benefit (which had some huge names in country music attached, along with some other very caring artists from as far away as West Virginia and Pennsylvania) only received scant attention. In fact, the ad we paid for was the only ‘coverage’ we received in the press. And as for TV news showing their support, only one station bothered to even send a crew – WSMV Channel 4 (for which I’ll always be grateful).
While at Warren’s BBQ, listening to all these various benefits taking place all around town that I’d never heard of, I began to think – these people are having just as hard a time getting their message out as we did. The truth is, unless you’re familiar with someone involved in the event, or you happen to catch a mention of it on accident, chances are you’d never even know it took place. Benefits are a ‘friend to friend’ event. You tell me and hope I show. I tell someone else and hope they do as well. And so on. There was no ‘one place’ where everyone in town could come for information about all the benefits taking place. It’s that way in every city and every town.
I came home from the BBQ early that evening and seven or so grueling hours later I had Nashville Benefits – the site (including making the logo from complete scratch) – coded and up and running. At 3:59 am on June 8th I posted the first event – Warren’s SMA Benefit. Over the next 15 hours I had registered Gmail, Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for social networking (Shoutlife and Digital Rodeo would come later) . Over several more days I had created a complete network of similar sites in cities all over the country called My City Benefits (coming soon!).
There have been a total this month of 26 benefit post in Nashville and thousands upon thousands of page views from all over the city. This is only the beginning and there is plenty of hard work left to do – but I am up to the challenge.
Thank You for giving Nashville Benefits such a warm reception. From those holding the benefits, to those reading and attending – and to our sponsor The National Neighborhood Watch Institute (who through their belief, encouragement, and sponsorship dollars truly made this month happen) - I sincerely appreciate your support and promise to work hard for all of you.
