NESP Forum

Here's my thoughts all I want from Taylor is music,music it's a bennie
that I get to see him in concert more than I've ever seen anyone or cared to see anyone before that is the bottom line for ME.
HOWEVER and I can not express this enough it is a HUGE problem
I have with when someone says they will do something and they
DON'T...........if you say you got to take a shit DO IT don't come to me 2 minutes,next day,month whatever later saying the same thing if you didn't DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.My rant is over I don't give
a damn about anything except that he succeeds,he's happy,healthy,
and makes music but only the music I LIKE.

Well - I would just like to see mine...

And I'll be happy. From the sounds of things, I promise to not have any expectations.

I let this sit for a while just like I used to on GC - - and I find I still want to push Post so - - -


While I'm rambling around in my insomniac state and ticking people off I may as well tackle this issue too.  

Not to put too fine a point on it, but since this is a public section of a public site that can be read by anyone on the internet - - it is now "out there "

I've had this conversation a couple times already so JMHO blended with the thoughts and opinions of others - - mostly generalizations that may or may not fit all the different sites equally

Basic premise - - every community changes and evolves - online ones are no different  
Some things that seem to be contributing to changes -

One is sheer exhaustion on the part of people who have spent 20+ months online following every move Taylor makes.  While some are frustrated by his lack of visibility,  others were saying they were going to welcome it especially at a time of year when they need to pay attention to their own lives.  The few sites that closed cited exhaustion and/or the demands of their own lives - - not loss of interest in Taylor.
I think a lot of us who are still active are stretched too.  When c2what posted there would be a break until the first of the year I actually yelped  Yes !, thank you  ! ! - I really enjoy that site and need some time to catch up.  Now if Maven would just go back to football for a while I might find time to even sleep more  

The critical element in the fan base does have something to do with some of those who appear to have drifted away. But I am with those who think it is more to do with fans who got sick of the attitude of entitlement some people have and the continuous complaints that invaded nearly every place at one point.  Many still lurk - they just don't post much.  There have been many times when I have thought about doing the same - I don't mind calmly defending Taylor on places like TMZ, etc. but I'm tired of being diplomatic with fans who have been singing the same out of tune songs for over a year..  And then there's  the "supposed fans" factor that never completely goes away. Some complaints are made with the sole intent of "poisoning the well." and unfortunately if they aren't too obvious it still works.

Some that appear to have left are still fans they just stick to what they came for in the first place - the music - the rest never really mattered to them anyway.

Some still read and post when they actually have something to say - or communicate in PMs - but don't spend time online in casual conversations when there is nothing to really talk about.

And there are others who clearly stated they are deliberately leveling out their lives, spending more time with their families and friends, going to the more "normal" level of fan participation that they may have with other artists. As one person told me shortly after GC shut down - - I'm still a fan but I'm going to start caring less what Taylor is doing and more about what my family is doing. 

There are a couple new blog sites that are very pro-Taylor - - there is a fair amount of relatively new activity on other music sites about Taylor - - Blues Historian and Uncleshag you all know about - I have found occasional mentions on other blogs that inter-link too and on non-music blogs as well - - there are some very busy folks seeding video sites and their own myspace pages with music.  There are new people checking out Taylor's myspace site and there is exciting new activity creditied to the Asian bounce.  

There are still more active fansites for Taylor than anyone else - - and there are pros and cons to that.  But that's a whole other conversation.
All in all with the trickle of new information, the pressures of the holidays, and the lack of concerts to generate conversation - - the online community seems to be chugging along pretty well.



This is where I have to step back and do some deep breathing and wait a bit - -   Haven't felt the need to write one of these for a long time - since GC in fact  - - -

"their dedication" - oookay - -  - well I'd rather look at Taylor's dedication to giving his fans the best he can while getting the foundation of a career in place with no help and in fact the appearance of hindrance from TPTB who could have made things easier for him

We are talking about a young man who worked almost non-stop with only the most minimal of breaks for two years straight. Who never failed to call out to his fans - and still does - during and after performances.  Who did 60 Idol shows in 3 months carrying an extra burden for 18 of those those and performing with a lung infection for much of the first leg - - and then went immediately into a super push to record, edit and produce an album in roughly 5-6 weeks when others had the luxury of months because they did not have all the other commitments as the winner.  Then into a series of promos while learning how to pull together all the elements needed for a national tour including developing a line of merchandise and getting CDs pressed in a hurry - - oh yeah and holding auditions, selecting and then rehearsing with a new band. Hit the road in February for 100+ concerts - not counting private functions - in 8+ months.  But lets backtrack a minute because we forgot that during all this a book is getting written so that during the summer tour book signings can be worked in around the concert tour.  Playing in golf tournaments and for charity events that are invaluable in building a network in the entertainment industry. For example - one night performing at a wine gala - hopefully lucrative - - being on Dan Ackroyd's radar - priceless.
A thought just struck me - - Wonder if Taylor has any idea  how many interviews he did between June 2006 and now ? - am certain the figure would astonish us all. - - but of course those were never good enough or long enough or clever enough or whatever enough for some of the "fans" either - never mind he might have been tired, rushed, or known things about the interviewer we didn't - - so maybe we should just slip on by those.
Everyone should take a look at the detailed list of everything Taylor has done up to on either Whomp Swamp or Boogie - because I just hit some highlights.  And of course now he is juggling producing another CD while grabbing the chance to establish a base for an international presence - another learning curve to master - another set of skills to be learned.
Now about the fans - how does all that "stuff" do anything for the fans ?  Well - in a real simplistic nutshell - if you don't establish your companies, make connections in the industry, learn how to do things for yourself and pay attention to the business end of your career you won't have records or tours for your fans to buy and go to.  And boy do I see this coming - - well if he doesn't take care of his fans he won't need to - - was that close ? ?   Anyone who is in it for personal attention or feels that Taylor owes them something more than music because they voted for him or bought CDs or concert tickets run the risk of never being satisfied anyway.  Those who consider Taylor to be a talented musician who only owes them more good music via another CD and another tour may not be as vocal but they will be around.  But let's see how badly the fans have been abused -  
Any good music available to purchase ? - 3 CDs - check
Got anyplace they can get information? - 3 sites of his own plus a bunch of fan sites - check
Any other things for the fans ? - a book - that's cool not everyone has that, and the usual merchandise for sale at concerts - mostly neat stuff - so gets a check
Do a solo artist tour ? - 100 + shows over 8+ months - check
Talk to any fans? - M&G's and bus appearances at almost every show - check  
Last two items sometimes done when sick, exhausted, or both and any other artist would have at the very least cancelled the M&Gs.  And there are smaller items I could list like the playlists, the audio blogs, the written blogs, but they are all just more sources of complaints so why bother.  

Maybe it really is my age or the business mentality but when I sit back and look at what this young man has accomplished and the obstacles he has had to overcome I am damn impressed.  It seems to me that for someone living in a pressure cooker for two years, trying to absorb radical changes in his life and experiencing a learning curve of roughly straight up, he has made very few missteps with things that are actually within his control.  His is still a new and growing organization but people want to make comparisons to established companies or to indie artists who would probably rather have Taylors crazy schedule than have the time to write notes.  

Wouldn't it be something if people would look at things from the perspective of what he has accomplished and what he has given us.  Instead of what has he done for me lately.

If you support someone because you believe in them - all you need is to see them grow and succeed - that's the true payoff.

Hey AH time for a nap??????? Well said I agree.

Took one between 3:30 and 7:30
I always write everything at once - some go up , some simmer, some go to a Word file, some get trashed.  A lot used to get trashed on GC - was afraid if I kept them I'd eventually use them :

It's said to be good for the "SOUL" putting things down on paper or
in this case the computer.

AH - I spent a good portion of last night sitting with the "new reply" window open, wanting to compose a reply to the kit issue.  Obviously I didn't, and deleted a number of attempts.  But, your recent post has helped me pull my thoughts together a bit more.

Ladies, as AH said, it is all out there now, and unlike some other sites, I am not going to remove our fine public discourse.   I feel everyone has made very valid points, and expressed their feelings, and that is very important.  Am I concerned about Taylor, his people , or some of our "Guests" reading this "discussion" - absolutely not.  Because at the heart of every comment I have read is one thing - the love and appreciation of the man himself.

It has been nearly two years since I heard the voice that took my breath away, and 15 months since embarking on this crazy NESP ride! , and I am no less in love with the man and his talents.  AH just told everyone why - for what he has given, over and over and over to his fans.  Crazy tour schedules, multiple illnesses, competing demands for his time and attention, it didn't matter, he put it out there for us when he got on stage.  I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to have the Taylor Hicks experience 9 times this year.

In the many months since I have become what many describe as a "rabid" fan, I have only wanted one thing from him - his music.   In those months I have spent countless (and I don't want to count because it would be frightening) hours promoting Taylor, and I have asked for nothing in return from him.  I have had a single meet and greet, not specially arranged, but through an HQ ticket sale.  Would I like him to acknowledge my work personally.  Sure.  Am I going to whine about it and expect it.  Absolutely not.  Ya'll know me, that is not my style!  

What I want for him is maybe where my reaction to this package comes from. (Editorial note:  I have not yet received this package, and am only commenting based on details given me by my lovely friends here)  I want him to be handled and promoted in the most professional way by people who get him and his fanbase.  I truly don't see that exists - from how his website and HQ started out, to the type and quality of merchandise that has been available.  Everything that is put out there in his name becomes a reflection of him.  And it doesn't matter if it is going to an already committed fanbase.  You need to look at those "customers" in the same way you would look at "prospects," because keeping fans should be given just as much attention as recruiting new ones.  I didn't expect anything from the HQ besides info and a chance at early sale tickets, so yes, this member packet is a nice addition.  But, and this really is my point here , if you are going to make the effort to do something, know why you are doing it, for whom you are doing it, and most importantly do it well.

Perfect.
I think I already said that I don't personally want or expect anything, but I firmly believe that Taylor needs AND DESERVES the highest quality marketing presentation at all levels. I want nothing less for him. So anything that falls short makes me sad.

It gave me great joy today to read my daily "Taylor Hicks" Google Blog Alert and see all the excitement of the Asian fans about Taylor's arrival.

Tricia - it's all right there in that one comment.

A class act deserves a class act. Are we the only ones that truly see that? I guess we need to give CAA a chance...

LOL I knew my quick post would cause a stir. And to clarify, I do know that this is a public site. What I meant was I have not and will not post my thoughts on this subject on HQ or TH.com. My reason is that anyone new looking for information on Taylor Hicks should see positive vibes only on the official sites. Just my opinion. And if Taylor or his promoters come HERE and read this, well, fine. But come on. If you were someone new, just looking for information on Taylor Hicks and went to his own sites... what would you find? If I were to go to Taylorhicks.com and see the forlorn posts dated weeks ago, you'd think TH had fallen off the face of the Earth. Have you looked at it lately? I feel that is not fair to him to have such outdated info. Taylor, himself, said he wanted a jazzy site with lots of interaction and news. So it is not fair to blame the fans for being disappointed that they did not get that. It is not fair that fans who just want a little current info on what he is up to or a "hey there" don't get that.

Tricia, Margaux and others have put it much more eloquently than I ever could. I have been a fan of Taylor Hicks since day one and have and will continue to support him and admire him. But his marketers and promoters have not done well by him. Yes, he needs a break, yes, he has performed while ill and gone above and beyond for the fans, I do know all that and I appreciate it. And I do believe he is happiest while on that stage singing his heart out. I just want him to have that opportunity in the future.

OK.. I am not one to read and re-read before hitting post reply.. so here are my morning thoughts !