GMA Week Injury

Last weekend was a big week in the CCM industry - they call it GMA Week, and it's basically the annual trade convention. There are plenty of mixed feelings about the whole week - I heard someone say that it represents everything that's wrong and everything that's right in the industry. Many view their few days roaming the halls of the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville as their once chance at "making it big", so they pull out all the stops: all indicators showed that the faux hawk was still alive and well (the undisputed hairdo of GMA 2005) and black was definitely the color of choice. CCM Magazine reports that between last week and the end of December there will be 40 new bands launched within the industry - this is an incredibly large number of new acts... we will have to see whether the industry can support such a large influx of new material.

However, I digress... I personally love the week as it's a time when all our our friends from the road come to "our house" for a week. We spend the year traveling across the country and back seeing old friends and making new ones, and then for one week they all come to our place. I lovingly refer to the week as "shallow conversation week". Between tv/radio/print interviews, showcases, and other meetings and goings-on, there is no way to really have a good conversation with someone you bump into in the hall - but it's great to catch up quickly, reconnect, and get something on the books for after GMA Week. I had a new experience this year, though - this has given me a new respect for politicians. I am a strong believer in the value of a warm, firm handshake - and so my week was filled with firm handshakes. Well, come Tuesday night after we played a showcase, I found myself once again out in the hallway shaking hands... and wincing! It was not that I had found someone with a stronger handshake than mine - as I looked down at my right hand in disbelief I discovered that I had shaken so many hands that the skin between my thumb and index finger had been rubbed raw and was bleeding! I had drawn blood simply from shaking too many hands. It made me start to wonder what the hands of politicians look like - next time I meet one I'm going to check and see if he/she's got a callous build up on that oh-so-vulnerable spot.

Thankfully, a week later I've nearly healed up... so for the next week or two if you see me, be gentle on the handshake! (Or I may just go for the hug and avoid the shake all together...)

Comments

[Dalton Holloway]

Nothing is worse than a weak handshake. If I wanted to wag a dead fish around, I would do it on my own time. I commend your efforts to make your first impression a firm one!

[Rick Starr]

All I can say is I don't think I caused it. Every time I saw Jeremy, we hugged man-style.

[kathryn]

heh heh. . a handshake blister!! love it!

[Rich Kirkpatrick]

I tried the faux hawk--my head is wierd...however, you might look smashing in one!

[Jeffrey]

one word for this entry:
special.

also. 40 NEW BANDS?!
wow.
who pays these people?

jef.