Last Friday, with about 10 minutes notice I had to step in for my boss and friend Robin Crow to address 3 consecutive classes of High School Junior and Senior Guitar and Media students regarding their careers and Dark Horse Institute. Of course, when he came up to me in the kitchen, and said “Jeff, Jeff, Jeff…buddy ole’ pal”, I knew I was in trouble. I was also sporting a weeks worth of beard, and not such nice clothes. But, luckily I keep extra clothes here at Dark Horse and was able to spruce up and get out the door in about 15 minutes. These type of situations always make you wonder…who am I speaking to today? Are they going to be receptive? Are they going to ask questions? Each class had anywhere from 30-60 people in it, and I knew the best I could hope for was a few, truly engaged, sharp students. But WHO…WHICH ones?
Anyway, in the front row of the second class, was a guy who was a bit short in height, but a bit long in the wisecrack department. We developed a nice relationship though once he told me what his knick-name was in front of the class, and I made sure to use it each and every time he made a crack. But here’s the interesting part.
A few days later I was showing some folks around the honky tonks in downtown Nashville, doing the tourist thing….when a few blocks away, up walks this wise-crack from the guitar class several days before. Guitar slung over his back. The school at which I had spoken in front of him, was an hour outside of town so I was a little surprised. I was even more surprised when I poked my head into Tootsies, the MOST famous of all the bars on Lower Broad to see who was just shredding, playing amazing guitar leads with this band. Since there is so much good music in Nashville, it takes a lot to get my attention, but this music sounded so good!
Up on stage….there he was. The wisecrack from the front row. Tearing it up and making the much older guys on stage with him a bit envious I would venture. He was doing what you are supposed to in this town of dreams. He was going for it, rather than goofing off at the mall with his buddies. He found his voice, and that takes courage. Peace.
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