National Quartet Convention 2004

After an afternoon concert in Harrodsburg, Kentucky on Sunday September 12, we drove on up to Louisville to set up our booth for the week.  We always look forward to Convention because it gives us a chance to meet and greet the fans.  It also gives us an opportunity to visit with the other artists and hear some great singing.  We look forward to these things in spite of the fact that we know the week will leave us physically and mentally exhausted, but I'll get back to that later.

Let me explain Quartet Convention to those of you who have never been.  It is a weeklong gathering held every September in Louisville at the Fair and Exposition Center.  It draws in anybody who has anything to do with Southern Gospel.  That includes singers, musicians, record producers, promoters, and of course, the fans.  There are nightly concerts in Freedom Hall that last up to six hours, plus many different showcases during the day.

While the concerts can last up to six hours, the exposition hall where the booths are set up opens two hours before the singing starts.  That's a lot of standing around and shaking hands!!!  So we're also happy when this tiring week is over.

Our first "appearance" of the week was Tuesday morning on Fox 41, the local Fox television affiliate in Louisville.  Since we were on their morning show, we had to be at the station at 7:00 a.m.  Before we go any further, let me establish a point; since I live in Bowling Green, my body is on Central time.  To be at the station at 7:00, we had to wake up at 6:00, which for me is really 5:00.  Now, some of you may be "morning people," but I certainly am not!  I don't like waking up when its dark!  Needless to say, when I got back to the bus it was nap time.

Wednesday night was our night to sing on the main stage.  We sang "His Marvelous Love," "Jesus Is Getting Us Ready," and "The Price Of Freedom."  I believe there is no greater thrill for a Southern Gospel singer than to be able to get up and sing on the Main Stage at Convention.  Trust me, Freedom Hall is a lot bigger when you are standing up there on stage.

Friday morning we had to get up early again (notice a theme) to sing at a promoter's breakfast.  That was a good chance for us to showcase our talents in front of some pretty influential people in the industry.  That performance was also followed up with a nap.

When we finally got packed up Saturday night at the close of convention, it was around midnight.  We still had to drive one and a half hours to Lexington to sing Sunday morning (who keeps scheduling this morning stuff?). 

We sang again Sunday afternoon and I drove back home to Bowling Green to reintroduce myself to my wife.  We're on the road to Washington, D.C. as I write this column on Monday.  We'll pretty much be gone the whole week again this week, so please pray that Brad doesn't drive us nuts. 

Be sure to check back again this week as I hope to have some pictures from our nation's capital and Capitol.

      Will

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