GMA in Review
Tue., Apr. 19. 2005 3:41am EDT
Here's a report on Gospel Music Association (GMA) Week from ApologetiX lead guitarist and producer Karl Messner:
It was a crazy week.
Every year, many Christian bands, labels and media personalities converge on the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Nashville, TN for four days of seminars, press conferences and exhibits and once again, I was there with Kathleen, our publicist from L.A.
I don't go to participate in the seminars or to try out the new gear. I usually don't even get a chance to peek into that exhibit hall! I go because all the great radio, television, magazine, and website personalities are there, and I can book back-to-back interviews and make their life a lot easier, and we can get the word out about ApologetiX!
I had dozens and dozens of interviews with radio stations from every corner of the country and even several out of the country. We talked about the cool things we feel God is doing through ApologetiX, we talked about lives touched and about the great accolades we've received from the music industry. Several TV Shows filmed lengthy segments, and as they air, we'll let you know where you can tune in.
I got to have some catch-up talks with old and new friends in the Christian Music world like:
Jeni Varnadeau
Phil Joel from the Newsboys
Rick Cua
Krystal Meyer (wait until you hear her)
Everlife
Pivetplex
KJ-52 (who STILL swears to me that he's never heard an Eminem CD ;)
Kids in the Way
Joy Williams
Joey from Seventh Day Slumber
Paul Baloche (wrote "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" and keeps trying to get me to bring my guitar and jam with him)
Rachael Lampa
Sarah Kelly
and awesome three part sister harmony: Virtue
I also got to catch up with many of our great friends in Christian media like:
Timmy D from Satellite Radio
Samme Palermo from Rochester, NY
Kid Raider from Wisconsin
Mike Stankovic and Rev Jim,
Josh from the Fish in Cleveland,
John from John and Denny
Word Record's #1 sales rep and Apolo-alum Keith Harrold
and on and on.
Kathleen and I arranged a great dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse with all our radio friends. Afterwards, on the way out, I got to meet one of my all time heros in Christian Music. Rex Carroll and Scot Wenzel of WHITECROSS are re-forming, rerecording their first record and were enjoying spumoni not 2 tables away with Tim Gaines of Stryper. For a couple minutes, I turned into a starry-eyed fan!
Bill Hubauer is right: when we're on the road, there's a "Hubauer Principle of Hotels" When we have lots of time to sleep, we're in the most modest of accommodations, but when we get a really nice hotel, because some kind soul donated 5 Jacuzzi suites to the band (it's happened!), THOSE are the times we have 2 hours to crash, shower and meet in the lobby at 4am. The Renaissance complies fully with the Hubauer Principle. It's a 5 star luxury hotel with lots of amenities that I only got to crash in for a couple hours, then it was 5am drive time interviews after late night meetings.
Every interview and nearly every conversation, though, featured comments on the fierce loyalty of ApologetiX fans around the world and we all thank you guys for supporting us in this crazy ministry. As long as you pray for us, and have our back, we'll be able to continue this ministry and try to reach the lost and teach the rest.
Photos from Nashville
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