The Joys and Follies of Contracting, Promoting, and Executing a Concert for a Major Christian Recording Artist
I’'m not sure how many of you out there read relevant magazine or frequent their website, but you should. Its fantastic. They provide critical insight into Christian and mainstream culture, as well as providing commentary on theology and current events. Even more, they seek to help prepare and inspire the next generation of Christ followers…as shown in their addition of two new magazines…Neue and Reject Apathy.
Last year I read an well written article on the merits of Mumford and Sons music, and the journalists impressions of how their lyrics affected people at the Bonnaroo Festival. If you are unfamiliar with the Bonnaroo Festival, it is a week of music, food, comedy…and drugs, sex, and alcohol. However, this writer found within the confines of such secularism, that Mumford and Sons music cut through the shallowness of such endeavors and brought about an experience that he found to be on par with worship. All be it this worship was probably unbeknownst to the audience, but to the journalist, it was a unique fusion of human fragility and the sort of corporate strength that can be found in a shared voice of pain, frustration, and hope for something greater than ourselves.The article moved me so much that I bought the album, and listened to it constantly. To those of you interested interested in listening to the group, you will not be disappointed, but please be aware of their use of some course language.
So, what’s the point of this story, and how did it lead me to the title of this blog? Well in my continued pursuit of Relevant’s analysis of bands such as Mumford, I stumbled upon their list of top 10 albums of 2010, whereby I soon found myself ensnared by the rustic melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and unpolished voice of one John Mark McMillan and his album The Medicine. He became my Christian Mumford and Sons, and more directly a prophet to my soul. He preached of longings my heart had long since desired but that my mouth had yet learned to express. I felt as though I had found a kindred spirit along my path to worship in Spirit and in Truth.
Several month later after I had long since extolled his album to all that would listen, I found myself in a Youth Council meeting where the parents of my ministry had decided it would be a great idea to have a concert in our sanctuary. Having previously promoted a day long concert of local bands to raise money for a mission trip, I felt I had the experience needed to try and handle a labeled act. After hours and days of phone calls, I finally found myself answering the phone to the sound of a booking agent gracing my ears with the one of the sweetest sentences I’ve ever heard…”oh, you could definitely afford John Mark.
Thus began my foray into tour production and promotion. Although that sentence is still sweet, it has not been without it’s bitter moments. Over the next few weeks I’ll chronicle my tale from start to finish, so that all interested can learn from my failures and successes.
I hope you enjoy the ride…and to all of you who read this before April 13th at 7PM head to Rush United Methodist Church, 6200 Rush Lima Rd, Rush, NY14543 to join in on a concert the likes you might never see again as John Mark McMillan’s Mighty Raucous Evening w/ All The Bright Lights rolls into town for an incredible night of worship.
Hope to see you there!
