We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joe Reed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joe below.
Joe, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?
In the early 1990s, I played for the legendary Merle Haggard. It was incredible to play for him. One of the stranger stories I can remember was in Idaho. We found a restaurant and pull the buses into the parking lot. A lady caught me on the way into the restaurant and asked me who was on the buses. I said it’s Merle Haggard. She.gasped and said, “ I’ve got to meet him!” I told her if he came off at the bus that he was very personable and would be happy to sign anything for her. She said., “No, you don’t understand… I’m his biggest fan.”
I said, I’ll tell you what… If you have something to sign, I’ll take it on his bus and if he’s there, I’ll get him to sign it for you. So I checked on the bus and didn’t see him anywhere. One of the band members asked me what I was doing and I said that I was looking for Merle. He said that Merle was sleeping on the bus.
So, I went to the lady and said, “ I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do, he’s sleeping on the bus. She said, “ I will pay you $100 to let me go watch him sleep.” I replied., “ I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
I told Merl the story the next day. To demonstrate his sense of humor, he asked.,” Why didn’t you take the money and split it with me?” I said, “Next time I’ll know!”
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have been a musician for most of life. In 1990 I started playing with Merle Haggard. My first gig with him was on the legends tour that included George Jones and Conway Twitty. I left Merle to tour manage his son Noel in 1995. I went to work for Sony ATV, Tree, played publishing, demos in Nashville, and master recordings. my recording credits include Merle Haggard, Randy, Travis and Keb’ Mo’. I also worked in the entertainment coach industry.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Just showing up and doing a good job is a major portion of it. Keeping in contact with your fan base and building upon it is equal equally as port.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I started in 1990 with Merle playing on the legends tour with George Jones and Conway Twitty. I left Merle to Tour Manager his son, Noel when he. (Noel) got a record deal in Nashville. That would’ve been 1995. Noel’s record wasn’t released immediately so I took a job as the archivist at Sony ATV Tree publishing company. I was able to make many contacts in the industry that I wouldn’t have otherwise as only a Musician.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeflyer743?igsh=MWU3cXJxZ3h1OHd5ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.reed.777?mibextid=JRoKGi
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/joe-reed-b5823319
- Twitter: @joeflyer743
Image Credits
Lee Roy Parnell & Joe Reed.