FANtastic Love – Don’t Take It For Granted

Who is your favorite new indie artist or band? How did you hear about them? Odds are, it was a passionate fan who wanted to spread the love!

I recently came across a conversation between several friends on social media regarding the poor treatment of fans by a popular country music act. This particular case took place after a show where fans waited in anticipation of a meet ‘n greet with newly purchased merchandise for photos and autographs.  After some length of time, a representative of the artist appeared to announce the *fan-meet* would not be taking place (although they paid extra for it) and they were then dismissed without further explanation. Unfortunately, this has become an all too frequent occurrence. A story I have heard repeated too many times. 

As I was sloshing this conversation around in my brain, I was reminded of another tale I had heard, also involving a certain country music artist and his fans. The story of a singer who was ill with emphysema. Greatly weakened by the disease, he would leave right after the show just long enough to return with his oxygen tank. There, he would sit at the edge of the stage until every autograph was signed and every photo was snapped. 

There is much to be learned from the life and music legacy of Ernest Tubb. How to grow, honor, and protect your fan base is apparently one of those things. 

Ernest Dale Tubb 1914 – 1984 

Texas Troubadour, Nashvillepurist, Opry Legend, Loved by his fans