Stacia's Nashville Bound

Two weeks and counting. . .

2010-01-18T19:18:00.000-08:00

So, I've been in Nashville for two weeks and so far, so good. I'm still job hunting but have signed on with a personnel office until I can find something more permanent...I thank God for that.

Let me just say that living in Nashville can be very overwhelming. From the interstate system, to conquering downtown, to trying to stand out amongst all the talent, I start to very kind of overwhelmed and my anxiety starts to kick in. Then I have to tell myself to calm down and that I've been here only two weeks. I truly believe that this is where God intends for me to be.

First, I met this lovely couple (because the lady found my checkbook at Walmart...I still don't know how I dropped it) who then invited me and Ashley to church. We attended Bellevue Baptist Church on Sunday and it was really nice. It's a very traditional church but we still enjoyed it. I was even introduced to the music minister who encouraged me sign up for choir. And while being introduced, the nice lady was telling him the story of how we met...blah, blah, blah and while telling him the story she called out my checkbook balance which I actually thought was kind of funny because she totally didn't mean it.

Second, the next thing I did when I got into town was drop my cd off at the Billy Block Show. Billy Block is local radio dj, music guru, entrepreneur, who is the man to go to in order to get your music out. Every Sunday he hosts the Locals Only Show on 103.3 WKDF live from Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and while doing this he encourages local artists to come by, introduce themselves, and give the "nashville handshake." And after listening to your cd, he may get your music on the air as early as the next weekend. Well while there, he asked me if I could stay to do a short interview. I was so excited and it went well.

He also hosts a show every Tuesday from 12th and Porter for unsigned artists. It's a many showcase of sorts. It's broadcasts live on TV, the web, and over the radio. Ashley and I trekked up there where we met some great people, including a songwriter from Canda and ran into some old friends from 4-H and college. Brandi Thornton, a fellow 4-Her, was on the roaster...so it was tons of fun. Also, his family played and they are AMAZING! They can all play and sing. I was so impressed.

I know this is a long story...but it's almost over...its leading up to great surprise. You're at the edge of your seats aren't you? :)

Well before church on Sunday I received an e-mail on my trusty "crackberry" from Billy inviting me to do an interview on the radio show and he would play my song! Can you imagine my excitment? MY SONG!

That night we were told to park at the Ryman and while there I introduced myself to the guard, Bill, who was so super nice. He told me the story of how the Opry stars would go through the backdoor of Tootsie's and I gave him a CD. He's now a friend...I hope! :)

Tootsie's was packed and we watched the show up until it was time for me to go on. SO HERE COMES THE BIG NEWS...when Billy introduced that I was next he announced that I was the Best Buy Music Instruments/Napster.com Artist of the Week! WooHoo! He was very supportive of my music! So...hopefully I'll continue to have more good news. I'm just going to keep trusting in God and His plan for me. I've listed some websites for you to visit and some pictures from last night. Enjoy! Love to all and God Bless!

www.billyblock.com
www.brandithornton.com
www.derrickdove.com

NASHVILLE - THE FIRST WEEK

2010-01-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

In the first week since I've been a "Nashvillian," I've been a job hunter, a music scoper, a karaoke singer, a trivia queen, and cold...very, very cold. Doesn't the weather know that I'm from South Georgia and not at all used to these shenanigans? Just for example on the 2nd day it started snowing and has been on and off since. Now, in all honesty, I'm a little excited about the snow. Mainly because it doesn't snow on the FL line, so for someone who doesn't ever get to see it, it makes my heart happy...that is until I step outside and another toe falls off. For your viewing pleasure, I've posted a picture of my car below.

Other than the weather, everything is going fine. Just trying to get the plan set into motion. I've been checking for open mic nights for singer/songwriters and trying to find a guitar player which I've hopefully found. I've also applied for an internship at a music company so hopefully that'll pan out. I have to remind myself that I've not been here even a week, so I have to keep my anxiety in check.

I'll keep checking in. Please pray that the job hunt will work out for me and my best friend Ashley, and that the music plans will come to fruition. I know God has great things in store. I just need to pray for patience.

Much love to all! Have a great weekend!

Twenty-Ten presents challenges and new adventures. . .Am I up to it?

2010-01-01T00:47:00.000-08:00

2009 has definitely had its ups. . .I was on CMT, was hired to sing demos for amazing and established songwriters, met and made wonderful friends, and my family has become stronger. . .its also had its down's. . .we lost a few family members and Grandma was diagnosed with colon cancer, but she's now in remission...praise God!

But, ultimately, it was a great year so I'm looking forward to 2010. With that said, I'm also nervous about this year. On January 5th I'll be embarking on a new adventure, one that I've been preparing for since I was in the womb kicking my mother's stomach when she turned the radio off. Poor woman, she should have known then...but I digress.

In four days, I'll pack my bags, say goodbye to my family and friends and join the other 18,000,000 (I'm exaggerating) people who are trying to "make it" in the music business. That's a scary feeling. They're all there for the same reason and I have to be the one who stands out. It's a real fear for me. Sure, I know I have talent, but am I unique enough? I hope so. I also know that if I don't make this trek then I'll regret it when I'm 50 years old and I don't want to live with that. I don't want to waste what God has given me.

Oh goodness...there's a lot in my head right now but the one thing I am sure about is the love, support, and encouragement I get from family and friends. I know a lot of people say this, but it truly astounds me when someone tells me that singing is what I should be doing, that they have that much faith in me always surprises me. I just need to have that same belief. All of your comments & support really does keep me going.

So, even though I'm moving to Tennessee, please keep in touch. I'll post more later when it's not so late...if I didn't know better, I would swear I just heard a rooster crow. . .for the love!

God Bless!

Got Milk?

2009-12-25T21:03:00.001-08:00

First, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus! I hope you and your family had a wonderful and blessed day.

While driving home today from Newnan, I saw a truck in front of me carrying one of my most favorite things in the world and I guess by the title you can guess what that is...MILK! That's right, I'm blogging about milk. And I'm ok with that.

As a kid I never could drink the stuff. It coated my throat and frankly, it just made me sick. But as an adult. . .well, I can't get enough. It's good in the morning, the afternoon, and at night with my dinner. If I had been able to do it, I would have stuck a straw in the tank of that milk truck and slurrped my way to Valdosta. Providing that it was fat free. ;) So for your viewing pleasure I have posted pics...and yes I know it's not safe to take pictures while driving 70 mph on the interstate but...oh well.

As promised. . .

2009-12-18T21:00:00.000-08:00

So, today I didn't have to do so much candy but I did help make the fudge in preparation. Pretty neat. . .I've never made fudge before. Today I just helped clean and I ran some errands. Mom and Sandy came into town to visit and tomorrow Christmas shopping will commence. I'm excited they're here. Hopefully I'll have some more news tomorrow. But, as promised, I have included some pictures of the candy. Don't try to eat your computer screen but enjoy! :)

The picture above shows just some of the desserts for tomorrow's night party. Mrs. Vickie has been a busy lady. Below are the chocolate ritz crackers I made. . .for the love of the good Lord. I still haven't eaten one and have no plans to do so. :)

Candy making is not for the faint of heart. . .

2009-12-17T23:18:00.000-08:00

I know that Christmas is a time for being with family and friends and baking...yada, yada, yada...but frankly candy making is for the birds! And I say that with love...

My best friend Ash's family is coming to her house this weekend along with my mom and Sandy, her best friend who's my 3rd mama, for the Christmas extravaganza. So, in preparation for the big night, the house must be cleaned, food made, stockings hung, Christmas lights on, and candy boxes made...which is where our little tale begins.

I love to help, esp. Mrs. Vickie who is always doing things for other...but let me tell you that after spending nearly 4 hours spreading peanut butter on 300 ritz crackers and then dipping them in chocolate, I can most definitely tell you two things...

1. If I never have to see, smell, or taste chocolate, ritz crackers, and peanut butter again, I just might be a happy camper. I mean, after washing continuously and vigorously, I still have that junk under my nails.

And....

2. For all of you people who may, in the near future, receive Christmas goodies from me...don't expect much...you'll probably just get a box of Chips A'Hoy with a bow on it.

Will post pics tomorrow.

Merry Christmas and Happy Baking!

And two more that are so amazing. . .

2009-12-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

Get ready. . .the video you are about to see will BLOW YOUR MIND! This guy super-imposed(?) himself singing all of the parts with the exception of Kurt Schiedner on the left doing the beats. Oh and did I mention Kurt arranged the music? Geez...more talent in their pinkies. . .well you get the drift!

Talent really amazes me. . .I'm in awe of it! And it doesn't have to be singing. . .it can be acting, the giving of yourself to others, art, creativity. . .everyone has a talent whether you've discovered it or not.

Enjoy the video. . .and did I mention that the arrangement is AMAZING?!?! UGH! I LOVE IT!

Also, if you're a GLEE lover like I am then you'll enjoy watching the same guy doing the Glee arrangement of DON'T STOP BELIEVEING which is one of my favorites! I love Journey!

Thanks Danielle

2009-12-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

I saw this video on a friends blog (My Rose Colored View of this World) and thought it was FAN-FREAKIN'-TASTIC! Enjoy!

OH. . .BY THE WAY. . .did I mention I was on CMT this past weekend?

2009-12-16T09:33:00.001-08:00

Ok. . .so some of you know that I was in the Top 32 of the CMT Music City Madness Competition hosted by CMT and Valory Music so. . .they had a special Top 20 Countdown featuring Music City Madness this past weekend and out of the 7 videos they showed, "I Believe" was one of them. Freakin' awesome! I was so excited! Click here to watch!

It's Official

2009-12-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

It's official folks! I'm moving to Nashville, TN January 4th. I'm nervous but I have somewhat of a plan. It's scary. There are so many people in "Nashvegas" trying to "make it" and you have really stand out. And everyone is so looks obssessed. Now I in no means think I'm ugly, but sometimes feel like they people can't see past the weight to the voice. . .but oh well, that's my demo to deal with.

I, originally, had planned to move in September when my bff Ash moved but after praying about and following my intuition, I decided not too. And I'm glad I didn't because my grandmother was then diagnosed with colon cancer about a week after I made my decision so I just truly believe that God was telling me to wait for my original plan of January.

I handed in my notice last week and I thought I would be sick to my stomach but I wasn't. I felt a calm, a peach. . .like I had made a good decision. And then the same day I booked a demo with a major songwriter in Nashville. . .talk about great timing and GOD'S GRACE!!! It went good and she said she'd be using me again. . .too freakin' excited! The song's called "It's My Turn Today" and was written by Karen Staley ("Keeper of the Stars" "Take Me As I Am" "Let's Go To Vegas," etc. . .) and Randall Strunk. It's a great song and you can hear it by visting www.staciawatkins.com and clicking DEMOS under the MUSIC tab. I pray for the song to do good.

So, with all that I definently thought those were good signs, sign from HIM!

So, with my moving. . .I'm going to try and blog at least twice a week. I would like to do more but I'm afraid that if I made that promise, I won't be able to keep it esp. since I'm so new at this!

God Bless!

Introducing. . .Stacia Watkins

2009-03-16T19:46:00.001-07:00

So, I'm definently new to the whole blogging thing but I really wanted to start one about my road to Nashville.

I thought that since it was my first blog, I would introduce myself. My name is Stacia Watkins and I am a singer/songwriter currently living in Atlanta, GA.

Bio from http://www.staciawatkins.com/

Welcome! Twenty-five year old singer/songwriter Stacia Watkins is a "little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll." A native of Valdosta, GA, this up and coming musical talent got her start singing in a local song and dance troupe, "The Baby Blues" at five years old. She's an alumni member of the Georgia 4-H Performing Arts group, Clovers and Company which has also spawned great talents such as Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland and award winning songwriter, Hillary Lindsey, a state vocal winner, traveled everywhere from Washington D.C. to Arkansas to New York City, and she has opened for JoDee Messina, Trent Wilmon, and the Lo Cash Cowboys!

She's also a 2008 CMT Music City Madness Singer/Songwriter finalist!

All of these opportunities has helped her to hone her performing and vocal skills. She puts on an electric stage show!She thanks her family and friends for their awesome support on this musical journey, but mostly she gives thanks to our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ for His many blessings and graciousness!She's currently searching for talented musicians to start The Stacia Watkins Band.

I want so bad to be in the Country Music Industry but I do have some things standing in my way.

Examples?

1. I have a bit of a weight issue but currently I am down 52 pounds.

2. I need to songwrite and perform more!

I really wanted to start writing about my experience in preparing to move to Nashville in hopes to make myself more accountable and to find encouragement from others.

If you read this please check out my new song at http://www.staciawatkins.com/