Spence Smith

I’m a fairly patriotic guy. I love my country and everything that makes it unique. I love our heartland and all the things that make America a melting pot of a wide variety of cultures. I’m thankful this country was founded on principles of freedom. I love the word liberty and I love the colors red, white and blue.

But there’s nothing I love more than our flag and what it stands for…

Michael W. Smith plays a song in his show called There She Stands. It’s a song about the American flag. The short version of why this song was written is this.

Six weeks after 9/11. Michael was sitting in the Oval Office having a conversation with Former President George W. Bush. (Michael’s relationship to the Bush family starts with his longtime relationship with Bush 41. President George H.W. Bush)

As Michael tells it, he and the President, George W. Bush, were talking about the events of 9/11. As the President talked he looked up at Michael and said “W… You should write a song about the flag.” So… six months later, Michael wrote There She Stands. Why is this important?

Every night, Michael plays this song with the video (you can watch it below). Without fail, half way through the song, the audience stands in honor and respect followed by a roaring applause at the end of the song. I get goose bumps every time I see it happen.

This past week, I witnessed this all happen again only this time, as I was standing at the back of the auditorium, I watched people stand… One by one… Those that stood first were all over 60 and they stood proud. Some even stood with their hand over their heart. As I watched this all unfold I cried… and any time I cry in a situation like this it’s over how much I truly love America and the freedom we have to be who we are.

Consequently, I cry during the Star Spangled Banner as well. It just freaking moves me.

So I ask you… What does the flag mean to you? I asked last week what the heartland of America means to you… but now I want to know what does the flag mean to you? If you’re not from America, what does your flag mean to you?

P.S. here’s the video…

Over the past few years there has been a significant decline of concert tickets sold in the Christian music industry. Some would say it’s the economy… gas prices… etc… and while I would typically agree with that reasoning, I would say it’s because some Christian music ticket buyers aren’t getting what they paid for.

Some artists who used to sell out big venues are having a harder and harder time filling those same seats. They are having to re-structure how they tour, who they tour with and who assumes the liability for those tours.

Touring budgets for sound, lights and road crew have been slashed to the bare minimum while on some level, ticket prices have stayed the same… or have gone up.

Add a little more fuel to the fire… (this is the key part of this post…) These same artists just show up and play their songs without giving much thought of giving the ticket buyer the experience they paid for.

There’s a bit of thinking that says… they (ticket buyers) came to hear my (artist) songs. While that is true, they also came to experience those songs… not just hear those songs.

In the mainstream concert world (mainstream artists usually have a bit more in their budgets) the audience generally walks away having experienced something that wow’d them. Something in that show that says… It was worth the price I paid.. $35, $50.. $150… Most times, these artists walk in with one thing on their mind… These people are paying me to give them the greatest night of music I can give them and walk away with the kind of experience that makes them an even bigger fan. The kind of fan that will tell their friends… You have to see this show!!! It’s worth every dollar!!!

My thought is, if an artist is going to charge a high ticket price – what I’m paying for is not the millions of CD’s they sold or the number of radio hits – actually, all of those things have ALREADY been paid for by you and me. What I’m paying for is an experience. An experience I’m not going to get anywhere else from that artist. An experience that makes me realize… the price of this show was worth it!!

The audience is smart. In Christian music there are a couple of tours that sell $10 tickets for a multiple artist show. The majority of artists on these tours play only 5 or 6 songs tops. And because there are multiple artists, the ticket buyer usually isn’t coming to see ALL of the artists in the show. They usually are there for 1 or 2 artists and might like the other artists enough to tolerate them.

The point being… it’s worth $10 to see their favorite artist, only play a few songs… and these two tours are very successful selling tickets if not selling out most venues they play in.

Counter that with a tour like Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, The 2 Friends Tour, where the tickets (most nights) ranged from $50 – $75. Those are higher ticket prices than normal for them, BUT they sold out almost every show. Why? Because when else are you going to see these two play in this setting together? Plus… they created a show that gives the ticket buyer some sweet, precious moments that showcased why these two have been friends and worked together for over 20 years. Between the older hits they played together and the stories they told together, Michael and Amy gave their fans exactly what the audience wanted. At the end of the night… The ticket buyer walks away with a real experience that was worth the investment of the evening… They walk away WOW’d!

For those of you artists or marketing people trying to create something of value.

Remember this quote from Michael Hyatt in his post The How of Wow… You must exceed the customer’s current expectations.

When I buy a ticket to a concert, I’m expecting to see something greater than just the artist’s songs… I want to be Wow’d. With low budget production, great experiences can happen with a great story… the back story of a song OR musically… the way one song has been re-arranged to lead you into the heart of a moment that might be a bigger hit live than on the CD. With the Michael W. Smith / Amy Grant tour… the musicians playing for these two is worth the price to see. The stage oozed with talent that wow’d me.

So my question for you is this.

What value do you find in the experience? A movie? A concert? A book? A CD?

What are you really willing to pay for?

I paid $150 to see U2 on their last tour. It was my 5^th time to see them. I’m a fan, but the concert experience is worth the money. It’s worth going back 5 times.

For creatives..

What steps do you take in order to exceed someone’s expectations and give them the experience they paid for?

Thoughts?

This past weekend Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant started The 2 Friends Tour. They haven’t toured together like this in twenty years. The show is everything a fan would want to experience from these two and nothing short of some very sweet moments. In fact, there are so many elements to the night, that I could probably write a week’s worth of posts just on the show itself.

Photo by Nathan Fawley

Anyway…

This past Saturday night in Phoenix I was talking to Amy. Just before the show was about to start, Michael walks up joins our conversation. Amy looked up at him and said this…

“Michael, Thank you…” Michael looked puzzled and asked “Why? What are you talking about?” Amy says… “This… this tour. I’m having so much fun and I love having you play on stage with me during my set. I just love the whole evening and love that we get to do this again… together. So… thank you.”

Michael responded back with a huge smile and talked about how much fun he was having too and thanked her for doing this tour with him. They both had the kind of smile on their faces that only friends who have walked together in life seem to have. Does that make sense?

It was a moment I will never forget. Two friends saying thanks in the most guiuine way possible. After all of these years. Writing songs together, watching each other raise their families and living life as true friends. Or as Amy says on stage… “it’s like playing a show with my brother.”

Michael and Amy really are a great duo to see live. Especially in this setting. Their friendship is one the plays out on stage in a huge way, but when I get to be around them, I’m constantly reminded how important longevity in friendship really is. It’s almost as if longevity in friendship transforms into.. “we’re family and we will always be there for each other. No matter what.”

This past weekend, I was reminded how much I need to continue to invest into the lives of those I’m closest to. Most of all… I need to always remember the value of saying thanks to my friends… is priceless.

Just like Randy Elrod wrote in his post on Why A Compliment Is Virtually Meaningless To Me-But Thanks Goes A Long Way… Thankfulness is a game changer and essential to a long lasting friendship.

Do you have relationships you would like to take to a deeper level? One that takes friendship to a new level of understanding?

How do you think longevity in friendship happens?

This month Michael W. Smith starts his tour across Europe for A New Hallelujah World Tour. Every time he goes over the pond he seems to hit a new country and forge new ground with another new audience.

I’ve been out for portions of every tour European tour Michael has done in the past 8 years and I can tell you it’s an incredible experience for all of us traveling together. Sure it’s great seeing different countries in Europe but the greatest experience is the audience that shows up night after night after night by the thousands. I’m continually amazed how Michael’s songs translate in the live setting, be it pop or worship, language is never a barrier. Well… unless of course when Michael is talking between songs. Then the interpreter must step in.

For Compassion, 10 of the shows will be in countries we can present Compassion’s ministry in hoping to get these audiences to sponsor kids. England, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain. What an incredible opportunity!

For me… I will get to be at the two dates in Spain and the two dates in Italy. So if you read my blog or follow me on twitter… Please… Come to the show and direct message me. I would love to meet you.

If you are in Europe and you want to come to one of the shows, CLICK HERE to find info on buying tickets.

Here are the dates…

MICHAEL W. SMITH – A NEW HALLELUJAH WORLD TOUR 2009

May 21      Tampere Finland
May 22     Jonkoping, Sweden
May 23     Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
May 24     Steyning, West Sussex, UK  Big Church Day Out Festival
May 26     Touon, France
May 27     Zurich, Switzerland
May 29     Riga, Latvia
May 30     Tallinn, Estonia
May 31     Tallinn, Estonia
Jun 01     Lemgo, Germany
Jun 04     Madrid, Spain
Jun 05     Barcelona, Spain
Jun 06     Bari Italy
Jun 07     Catania, Italy
Jun 09     Budapest, Hungary
Jun 11     Grand Sacconex, Switzerland
Jun 12     Arnhem, Netherlands
Jun 13     Arnhem, Netherlands – EO Youth Day
Jun 14     Paris, France

I’m out on the road today with this guy and this guy today. We’re up in Michigan for a show tonight. One of the things I love about coming on the road is hanging with the  friends I’ve made over the years who work for guys like Michael W. Smith. They are quality guys. They look out for the best interest for the artist they work for and always consider the circumstances around them. In essence. They are truly are professional and care about the people they work with.

I just got done having a great conversation about burning bridges in this industry and how some things will come back around to bite you when you least expect it and with that I want to say…burning bridges is not a good thing.

In Nashville, the music industry is so small. The guy you hire to sell merchandise on one tour could be managing the one of the biggest artist in the music industry a few years later. It’s such a weird world we live in. It can work the other way around too. You could be a big artist for the moment and find yourself selling merchandise for an artist who used to open for you. If this is the case, then something must have gone terribly wrong in the management of your career or…you might have burned a few bridges.

Relationships are incredibly important in every line of work…but especially in an industry where everyone knows each other. The guys who are easiest to work with and get along with people well usually get more work even if the job they do is just ok and the job gets done well. Those who are great at what they do and know they are great at it and come with a bit of arrogance don’t last long around here. It comes down to attitude, your ability to hang well on the road, and your ability to do your job well and have everyone around you love you for how you do the job you do. If you are difficult to work with, eventually you will be humbled.

The great thing about some people in the industry is they are always willing to sit down and show someone with promising talent the ropes and give advise on the do’s and dont’s.

So before you write that hasty email or come down hard on someone, think about the kind of decision you are about to make and check yourself. How could this effect things for you down the road? Is there away to address you issue without making anyone upset or angry? If so…go that route, you will be respected more for the way you handle things if no one hates you in the end.