Where were you on October 1st, 2017 at about 10pm PST? Most of us were probably in bed, especially those on the east coast. The evening news had all but wrapped up for most of the country with the left coast news about ready to hit the airwaves, if not already on. Me, I was in bed. The quiet confines of my house in a relatively quiet little city. My phone chimed with a news alert. Not typically inclined to go down the rabbit hole of news at this time of night, I quickly looked at the headline and nearly put down my phone. Then another news notification. I again, looked at the headline. My interest was piqued. I went and read a story. I then hopped over to Twitter to see what was being said. No sooner did I see one post, there was another...and another...and another...with videos. In my moments of trying to go to sleep I was lying there, shocked by the videos and twitter posts. I was watching and reading of another moment in my life I will never forget where I was. I was going to bed the night the lives of thousands at a concert in Las Vegas had changed forever. A music festival was now the sight of terror, filled with horror and mass chaos. Wow! I had now words.
I woke this morning immediately checking my phone for the latest news. More videos, more stories and more questions. I got to work, opened my computer, and watched the news for just a few minutes. The words to describe what I saw and heard are many, and yet not enough. My shock and disbelief turned to anger. I was enraged that someone could be so heartless. Angry that a single person held so much hate in their hearts. I found myself in a pretty bad spot. The spot between shock and anger with hints of hate. That wasn't me. So I turned my thoughts to the artists, the stagehands, the roadies, first responders and officers. That is me. I'm a member of this industry. My wife is a first responder. My son has dreams to play baseball and do music. My daughter has dreams to be a photographer, which she hopes places her at these types of events. In short, this is my family now and in the future! Now how do I respond?
What are my friends who perform nightly thinking now? Every single night they get on stage, entertain people, sing their hearts out for those in attendance and then stay well after they're off stage talking to anyone wanting an autograph/picture/t-shirt. These are the nicest people you'll ever meet. They sacrifice family time phone calls, dinners and sleep just to make someones day special. But now...now what will they do? Will they stay late? Will they be afraid to step on stage?
I'm a promoter with promoter friends. They do this all the time. They open the doors to venues so people can attend a concert with their favorite artists. From before set up to well after the bands load up and move on the the next show, your promoter works nonstop to make sure those in attendance are safe, relaxed and having fun. They work to ensure the artists are well hydrated, fed and filled with coffee/energy drink/water, and relaxed so they can entertain every one that walks through the door that night. This great group of folks will walk the facility to make sure doors are closed that should be, artist only areas are roped off as needed, security is in place, merch people are ready to sell, and so on. Every last detail falls on their shoulders and not a single thing goes on without their permission. There will be glitches on the night of the show, unhappy people attending a concert their favorite artist had to back out of at the last minute, people mad because there was not enough pop at the concession stand or something; but these folks - promoters know that with a little compassion, understanding and quick thinking, the unhappy and disappointed will soon be thankful for attending the event. Your promoter is a friend to all. But now...how do they move on to the next concert? Could the concert they promote be the next Las Vegas?
Over the years I've worked with some great managers. They work for the artist and the best interest of the team. They attend weddings, graduations, a child's 1st birthday party, album release parties and more. When bands first start out and can't pay a manager, these people will still work because they want to see the reward they know their band/artist will get with performing for fans. Large or small, they don't care about the popularity or pay (though the pay can be wonderful), they too get excited to see the fans singing along at concerts even though they may be at home while the concert is hundreds of miles away. They know the heartbreak their artists go through when away from home, how hard it is to miss a child's birthday, an anniversary date or the daughters first softball game. But, they also get to experience the sound of relief/ecitement from their artist when family homes are spared during a tornado, their mom beats breast cancer and their sibling gets married. But now...how do they assure their artist the summer festival tour will be safe? That the arena will have adequate security? More importantly, how do they prepare their artist to safely leave a stage when something goes wrong?
I certainly don't have the answers to the questions I've asked. My heart hurts for those who lost loved ones. I know people that live in Las Vegas that are asking these very questions and more. I am pretty sure I knew someone that knew someone in attendance Sunday night. A friend from years gone by was suppose to be working the concert but circumstances kept him home. My heart is in pain for the survivors. I asked my wife, if in attendance, would she have been running back into harms way to save others. I knew the answer, but I had to hear it from her. "Yes!" And I was thankful to hear that from her. But at the same time, it scares me. Scares me to know that at any given moment, that here in Cheyenne, a concert that my friends and I are promoting or attending could be the next spot this happens. I could be on vacation attending a festival, just like those in Las Vegas, and I could be helping my wife help others escape terror. But fear is not something I will let win.
My family, friends and partners in the music industry can't see fear as winning. If I can be a person of hope for them, then I'm ready. As Paul wrote in Philippians 3 regarding him having no confidence in the flesh, I too strive to have confidence in Christ instead of flesh. Then, in Philippians 4 he tells us to rejoice! Wait a second! I can't rejoice in this terror. True, I'm not, but I am rejoicing in seeing neighbor helping neighbor. I rejoice that stranger has helped stranger, celebrity musicians pulling people to safety, a school teacher helping the elderly and so on. That is something that no race, creed or affiliation can deny - people helping people. I'm choosing to not be anxious about this. I'm choosing to follow Paul's plea in Philippians 4:8 and dwell on the pure, noble, lovely and admirable. I know it won't be easy. I know that Las Vegas will change the way the music industry practices many things. But...
Fear, you suck. Terror, you're horrible. Cowards, you have no place in this world. As I type this, the tears are running. In my world, my partners and I choose to tell these three things, "Screw you!" We will continue to offer hope to a lost world. We will continue to support our friends as they travel across the world sharing hope. We will provide a place for artists to come, turn up the volume and rock our world. Why? Because, that's what we are called to do. That's what the scared child in all of us is begging us to do. It's what the world needs us to do. It's what God has asked us to do. It may cost us a ton, including everything (again, more words from Paul), but I know I'm not alone in this. Thankfully, I have a pretty large music industry family that has my back all while I have theirs.
From me, and on behalf of my friends and family in the industry, I bid fear, terror, regret and anxiousness a fond farewell. We are better because of these last few days. We are stronger because of you. And most importantly, we know you will never win because we know the God who is kicking you square in the teeth and taking your name.
