1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk Nashville. Hi, this is Sarah Harrelson, your 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: host of Taking a Walk Nashville, and I just want 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: to start off by saying thank you to our listeners 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: who have been tuning in. We just hit number five 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: on the Apple Podcast Top Shows chart in the music category, 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: which is amazing, So thank you. Give us a follow 7 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: or a review if you like what you're hearing. But 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: today I am here in Franklin with Jared Farley. We 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: are at the Porter's Call office. Jared is the program 10 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: manager at Porter's Call. It's an organization and place where 11 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: artists can find support and encouragement with services provided at 12 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 1: no charge to them. So Jared, thank you so much 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: for being on Taking a Walk Nashville today. Can you 14 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: give our listeners a little background on how Porter's Call 15 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: was started and what this organization does for. 16 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: Our Absolutely i'd love to, so thanks again for coming 17 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: all the way down to Franklin. I know it's a 18 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: little bit of a hike. We at Porter's Call. We 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: really love story and so I find the best way 20 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: to give some of that description of how do we start, 21 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 2: what do we do, how do we do it is 22 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 2: kind of just by telling a little bit of the 23 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: porter's call story, and so we really started with the 24 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 2: one man named Al Andrews in two thousand and one 25 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: who saw that though he was a trained therapist and 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,639 Speaker 2: clinician in town, which meant that when you're a therapist 27 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: in Nashville, at least part of who you're going to 28 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: see or artists, he found that there was no shortage 29 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 2: of reason why they would need help, encouragement support because 30 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: of the lifestyle that they lead, the specific challenges that 31 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: come with being an artist, the way that he was 32 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: able to provide that within a clinical setting. He just 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: felt there was a big gap, There was a big 34 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: ask to try to get artists to come and adopt 35 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: that model, and so he had the idea of trying 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 2: to end the support from the industry. He got the 37 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: buy in from some labels in town, and he wanted 38 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: to try to fill in the gap. He wanted to 39 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 2: care for artists emotionally, mentally, even spiritually if they wanted 40 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 2: or needed that, because the lifestyle that they lead, how 41 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 2: nomadic it is, the isolation having to deal with fame 42 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: and shame, the financial volatility, the normalization and access of 43 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: addictive substances and processes, it's just his rife with reasons 44 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: why people would struggle with anxiety and depression and all 45 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 2: these types of diagnostic disorders. But he wanted to take 46 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 2: a little bit of a more kind of comprehensive approach 47 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 2: to it and not just work through kind of a 48 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: diagnostic lens. And so he set out to do that, 49 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: and it is almost next sure will be our twenty 50 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: fifth year in doing this, and so one of the 51 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 2: most foundational things I wanted to do. Though, he noticed 52 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 2: when working with artists in particular in the industry, not 53 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 2: just people in music, but specifically artists. When you're an artist, 54 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: it's really easy to be in really transactional spaces with 55 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 2: people because a lot of them you employ, and then 56 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 2: there's a lot of people that want to there's kind 57 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: of always angles that people can take in social relationships 58 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 2: around artists, and so al wanted to provide this service 59 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 2: for free, and that did two things. One, it meant 60 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: people that otherwise couldn't get access to the help that 61 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 2: he would provide could because there was no cost barrier 62 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: to entry. But more importantly than that, it directly dealt 63 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: with that transactional nature of these artists. For some of 64 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,679 Speaker 2: them finding the first time in their story where where 65 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 2: they didn't have to give something back to al they 66 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: just got to come and receive. And we've been doing 67 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: this now for, like I said, almost twenty five years. 68 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: Alice now retired, but we've got two of our other 69 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: longtime folks who have met with artists. We call ourselves porters, 70 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 2: which is really not a very commonly used term these days, 71 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: but it really speaks back to this old tradition where 72 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: a weary traveler could come to a monastery and they 73 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: could find safety, shelter and provision free of charge, and 74 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: they didn't have to be a person of faith. They 75 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: just needed somebody to care for them. And there was 76 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: a man who would be stationed along the road and 77 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 2: his title was a porter, and it was his role 78 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: to just meet the needs of the weird traveler however 79 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: he could. And when now heard that description of a 80 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: porter from his wife Nita, he was like, that's exactly 81 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: what I do for people who are not just kind 82 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 2: of metaphorically on the road of life, but who are 83 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: quite literally sometimes pulling up to our office out of 84 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: a van because they've just been on the road. So 85 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: we have a really unique approach because we serve a 86 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: really unique kind of demographic of people. 87 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: So yeah, and who is that demographic? Is it just 88 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: touring artists and signed or independent that are eligible for 89 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: these services. 90 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, So we honestly, if it were up to us, 91 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 2: I don't think we would have any limitations on who 92 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: we could see because we recognize that the entire industry 93 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: needs help and care. It can be really brutal. So 94 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 2: anybody's listening that is wondering if they feel crazy for 95 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: the industry being brutal, it is brutal. Yeah, So we 96 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: do recognize there's so currently there's five five of us 97 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: that porter full time, so those people actually sit behind 98 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 2: closed doors and work with artists. I'm right now, I'm 99 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: sitting with you. I have spent an entire day just 100 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 2: behind closed doors with artists, helping navigate their struggle. They're 101 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 2: paying their story. Because there's only five of us, and 102 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: only two of us are behind closed doors full time 103 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: with artists, that just means we just can't see everybody. 104 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: And so we do have some eligibility requirements because we 105 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: find that when you are an artist that is recording 106 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: and producing and then having to then tour your own music, 107 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: the stakes are really high when it's your music and 108 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: when you're really giving it a go. If it's not 109 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 2: a side project but it's your full time, that's always 110 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: going to almost always going to require travel, touring, all that, 111 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: and so that also comes with unique struggles. And that's 112 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 2: really who we've worked with really closely for the last 113 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: kind of two decades. And so the eligibility parameters are 114 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: just kind of in a nutshell, and these are laid 115 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: out with more detail on our website, But twenty shows 116 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: in the calendar year, so twenty public performances of your 117 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,799 Speaker 2: own materials, so not you covering somebody else's, but music 118 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: where you've invested kind of your heart, your story into. 119 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think off the top of my head 120 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: if there are any other parameters around that. And then 121 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 2: we also recognize not if you're not the artist, but 122 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: if you're if you're the partner of an artist, if 123 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: you are a romantic partner and you're really committed, that 124 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 2: comes with unique struggles as well. When your significant other 125 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 2: is a way for you know, one hundred and hundred 126 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 2: and fifty two hundred show days a year, you can 127 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 2: be kind of almost in like bachelor bachelorette mode or 128 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: single parent mode, and so we recognize that comes with 129 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: unique struggles as well, and so our eligibility has always 130 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 2: extended to the artist and to the artist's significant other partner. 131 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: You don't have to be signed. You can be independent 132 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: as long as you're doing at least twenty shows each year. 133 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: So yeah, I think that's great, and I think it's 134 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: great for artists to know that there are services with 135 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: no strings attached for them. They don't have to recoup 136 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: of balance. And there's so many artists nowadays that are 137 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: road warriors because you know, that's where you make the 138 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: majority of your income, and a streaming world is you know, 139 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: we're all human and we face sickness and challenges. So 140 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: if something comes up, especially health wise, you're missing out 141 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: on show dates, you're missing out on income, and. 142 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 2: You don't have a PTO bank to fall back on, 143 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 2: you don't have maternity leave, paternity leave, bereavement, all that 144 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: kind of stuff. And that's also where we love to 145 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: partner with existing organizations like Music Cares, Music Health Alliance 146 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 2: because we recognize, well we do kind of fit a 147 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: very kind of small niche of care for artists that's 148 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: really tailored and specific to their struggles. Also recognize sometimes 149 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 2: like sometimes you just need dental work, you know what 150 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: I mean, Like I'm not gonna be able to help 151 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 2: with a root canal, but let me get you connected 152 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: with an organization that already has a team, a passion 153 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: funds to help supplement some of those things. So we 154 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: really see, like to care for any human just requires 155 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: there's a huge range of need that no one organization 156 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 2: entity are going to cover, and so we like to 157 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: see we are this kind of tailored mental, emotional, social 158 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: support that a lot of artists need. And then we 159 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 2: love to also kind of be in some ways the 160 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: gateway for them to also get with those organizations so 161 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,719 Speaker 2: that they can get additional. 162 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: Care that they want. Yeah. Yeah, And I love that 163 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: it's tailored to their needs because there's so many resources 164 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: out there, some that musicians may know about, maybe they 165 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: don't know about, but it can be overwhelming when there's 166 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: so many resources to dig through, you have to figure 167 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: out if you're eligible or not. It takes a lot 168 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: of time and research to figure out which resource is 169 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: the best for you. Yeah. 170 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 2: And one of the reasons that we feel really confident 171 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: about what we provide is because we've been doing it 172 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: for a really long time. This is not like we're 173 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 2: not a new thing. Like this is long before there 174 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: was ever even really conversation in the industry about mental 175 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: health emotional wellness. I mean this is two thousand and one, 176 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 2: you know, when when Al Andrews first started this, and 177 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 2: so we we have a long history that we get 178 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: to rely on and pull on, and we've got we're 179 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 2: lucky to have a good buy in from for even 180 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: a number of people in the industry. We've got label 181 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: execs that are on our board or have been on 182 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: our board, and we've we've got buy in from management 183 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 2: companies and booking agencies and all that because they recognize 184 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: when when artists are healthy, that also makes for good 185 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 2: business too, like it does actually aid them and what 186 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: they do. We really hone in on this idea of 187 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: you know, all of our artists are in somewhat shape 188 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 2: or form. Storytellers play music. We were talking just before 189 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 2: we went live that you know, you have a round 190 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: coming up even that you're going to play at and unfortunately, 191 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 2: a lot of times the environment that you're expected to 192 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 2: do that if you're going to make a living at 193 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 2: it really it kind of requires you in telling those 194 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: stories actually lose touch with your own story along the 195 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: way because of the cadence or the pace at what 196 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: you're expected to do this creative thing. So we like 197 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 2: to provide a space where people can come off the road, 198 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: come out of Music City, come on down to Franklin again. 199 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,479 Speaker 2: I know it's a hike, but provide a space where 200 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 2: they just get to be human again. 201 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that's so important, so they're not 202 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: stuck in what feels like a constant machine having to 203 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: go on the road, write songs, produce, make music. I 204 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: think so important. I was reading some of these stats. 205 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: I want to read some of these off that I 206 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: was seeing, because you do have a lot of sponsors 207 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: from labels organizations that provide the funding for these services. 208 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: And because of this, you have two hundred plus new 209 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: eligible clients reaching out per year. A million dollars have 210 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: been saved by artists and their partners and costs associated 211 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: with mental health support. It's so important. And seventy five 212 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: thousand dollars provided through your Artist Community Fund to cover 213 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: emergency situations through the ACM Lifting Lives. So that's amazing. 214 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 2: Well, and I think on there and even says that 215 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 2: there's a percentage of our of the artists that we 216 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 2: see that make significantly less than you know, aless artists. 217 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 2: Right They're they're making you know, between fifty and seventy 218 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 2: five thousand dollars a year and sometimes with a spouse 219 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 2: or with kids or family, just expensive just living in 220 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: Middle Tennessee these days, that is not a ton of money. 221 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,359 Speaker 2: And therapy can be really expensive. Treatment can be really expensive, 222 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: and there's all kinds of reasons why not to get help, 223 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 2: and we just never want money to be kind of 224 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: a determining factor that and so we rely heavily, not 225 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 2: heavily exclusively on the generosity of people in our community 226 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 2: that want that are kind of our mission with us, 227 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 2: that they don't want to live in a world where 228 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 2: you know, the beauty and art of music is lost. Yeah, 229 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 2: and so we want to make sure that the artists 230 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 2: that's helping to create that that they don't lose themselves 231 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: along the way to right. 232 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's definitely a lot of financial struggles with artists 233 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: who maybe just got signed that are trying to make it. 234 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: Publishing deals you get, you know, lower advances now, so 235 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: a lot of artists are going out on the road 236 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: to make their money, and so a lot of musicians 237 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: baddling not only financial struggles, but it even says on 238 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: here seventy three percent of independent artists reports struggling with 239 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: mental illness. So I think that definitely goes hand in hand. 240 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: Can you provide some examples of some artists who have 241 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: really benefited from the service as a porter's call? 242 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and these are all on our website. So this 243 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 2: is a you know, we we do. We do hold 244 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 2: a confidentiality so it's one of the things that we 245 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 2: we we kind of bring over from the clinical model, 246 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 2: which all of our porters are trained in. Like I 247 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 2: went to Treveca Go Trojans, so I was a licensed 248 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: manage of family therapist. But but there's test motives on 249 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: our website, so I know Hayley Williams from Paramore has 250 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 2: a quote on there. I think Hillary Scott looks like 251 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 2: Thomas Comic are, Yeah, and so there are that that's 252 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 2: a that's a big way too. While artists don't ever 253 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: give directly for anything they receive and if they come 254 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 2: in for We've had some artists coming in for ten 255 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 2: to fifteen years different stages of their career, different stages 256 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 2: of their life. They might not darken our doorstep for 257 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 2: a year and then something might happen and they kind 258 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 2: of circle back in, and so we kind of take 259 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 2: this longer, kind of longitudinal approach with artists, and sometimes 260 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 2: even though they have not given anything financially, they some 261 00:13:58,080 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 2: of them get to a point where they do want 262 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 2: to give financially as a donation, and so that's not 263 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 2: uncommon for that to happen, and that helps us keep 264 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 2: our doors open as well. But it doesn't matter if 265 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 2: you're busking on Broadway or selling out Bridgetone, Like, we 266 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: don't really have any any investment in your career other 267 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 2: than are you are you well doing it? We definitely 268 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 2: have had some of those larger artists come in, but 269 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 2: I would say probably the vast majority of artists that 270 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 2: at least I see and I know a lot of 271 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 2: the folks that come in here would would not be 272 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 2: ones that are going to be, you know, top Spotify streamers, 273 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 2: but they are. They're putting their heart and soul into 274 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: what they do and they need a place to come 275 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: and process what that's like when it goes well and 276 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 2: they accounter fame or success or whatever that might look like. 277 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 2: And when it doesn't go well, which is really often. 278 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I think that's very important. You mentioned about 279 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: a writer's round. There is a monthly writers round hosted 280 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: here in East Nashville. It's held on the third Tuesday 281 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: of every month at Prospect House. You can find it, 282 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: i believe, through event Bright tickets for it. It's a 283 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: house show. They charge I think a ten dollars cover, 284 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: which benefits Porter's call. I'm going to be playing at 285 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: the one on January twentieth. If people are in town 286 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: want to come out and support. I think it's great 287 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: that there's so many organizations around town supporting the cause. 288 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 2: And what's beautiful about that too, is we never have 289 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 2: really taken the approach of promotion. We've always taken the 290 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 2: approach of attraction. Like how when he started, just kind 291 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 2: of leaning into almost a stubborn belief that the right 292 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 2: people will kind of come around, and that's shown to 293 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 2: be true for the last twenty something years. Is we've 294 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: never taken out ads or we all have billboards as 295 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 2: you're driving into town. In fact, I was a practitioner 296 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 2: in town. I was a musician in town. And for 297 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 2: over a time had lived here and had never even 298 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 2: heard of this place called Porter's Call until I got 299 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 2: a call one day where the founder had met with 300 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 2: the founder of another organization that was a part of 301 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 2: at the time, and basically they Porter's Call was trying 302 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 2: to I was about to retire and they were looking 303 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: for another porter and they had kind of gotten my name. 304 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 2: But it's just even in this town, I had never 305 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 2: heard of it, you know, And I know that there 306 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 2: are people that will probably listen to this who maybe 307 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 2: they've been in town for a long time or maybe 308 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 2: they were just getting into town, but would definitely benefit 309 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 2: from just just knowing that there are spaces here in Franklin. 310 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 2: But there's also spaces even in the industry where where 311 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 2: it's not always transactional, like they are places that you 312 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: can go to that they're less interested in anything you 313 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 2: do create or produce, they're more interested in who you are. 314 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I think it's great, a great resource resource 315 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: for artists. What about musicians, are they eligible for this 316 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: service or where would you recommend any touring musicians? 317 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, So it's a great question because when we get 318 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 2: often we also we we always hear where's where's the 319 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 2: porter's call for you know, songwriters, where's the porters call 320 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 2: for the higher guns or for the crew we we 321 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,479 Speaker 2: we don't like there there are services out there. Because 322 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 2: of our eligibility requirements, we aren't able to see anybody 323 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 2: that's not really like the the the artist or the 324 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 2: partner of an artist there. But there again, are tons 325 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 2: of organizations. There's uh, I know back Line is one. 326 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 2: There are again, I don't know. It's the end of 327 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 2: the day right now, so my my brain is fried, 328 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,479 Speaker 2: so I'm trying to think of other but there are 329 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 2: definitely resources and and if you don't know what those 330 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 2: are and you call in and you're wondering, am I eligible? 331 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 2: And uh, we have a hostility coordinator. Her name is Mara, 332 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 2: and she's incredible and she will she will help. If 333 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: we're not the spot, that's fine. We're not for everyone, 334 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,719 Speaker 2: but will know who to get you to to make 335 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: sure that you get the support that you need. So 336 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 2: that being said, if you are maybe a higher gun 337 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 2: or a studio musician, and maybe that's what you're doing 338 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 2: as you get your artistry built up, then that's a 339 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 2: different you know, that's a potentially different story. But yeah, 340 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 2: The reason for that is because one of the I 341 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 2: found one of the biggest stressors and unique stressors in 342 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 2: working with who we've worked with for so long is 343 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 2: the travel component. This kind of constant departure, re entry 344 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: from life, from family, from friends. That is one of 345 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 2: the things that most people that don't spend their entire 346 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 2: day with artists, it's kind of hard for them to 347 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 2: wrap their mind around what like that dynamic and what 348 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 2: that's like and how to navigate it and the pains 349 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 2: that come with that. And so really, when you find 350 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 2: you're an artist and you're you're having to go on 351 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 2: the road and that comes with those unique things, that's 352 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 2: really who we've worked with and specialized with. 353 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 1: For a long time. So yeah, and that makes sense. 354 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of hired musicians that go 355 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: on the road all the time, but when you're the 356 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 1: signed artist or sign van, you know, you have a 357 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: lot of commitments with your label and that's usually a 358 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: heavy touring schedule. You have a lot of money to 359 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: recoup what and if you're the hired musician, you're not 360 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: really attached to that contract like ye artist is. But 361 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: I think it's definitely important for hired musicians to have 362 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: these resources too. But I think the great thing about 363 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: Porter's Call is this organization provides community and awareness. So 364 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: if you're a hired player with an artist who has 365 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: been affiliated with Porter's Call and you're struggling, maybe you 366 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: have a conversation with them and they lead you to 367 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: an organization like Music Health Alliance. So I think it 368 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: can only bring awareness to anyone in the music industry 369 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: who needs help. 370 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, And it's what's funny because we've worked sometimes with 371 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 2: people that started out as a hired gun and then 372 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 2: became an artist themselves, or it was the other way around, 373 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 2: And this isn't maybe everybody's experience, but it's not all 374 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 2: that uncommon when I sit with somebody who is who 375 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 2: is in the hired gun spot, who is also an 376 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 2: artist over here, who says, oh, man, it's really nice 377 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 2: to just go on the road and to not have 378 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 2: to be an like I just get to show up 379 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 2: and do my thing, because there's it's it's not a 380 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 2: better or worse, it's just a different type of pressure. 381 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 2: It's a different type of it's a different experience. And 382 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 2: I think most people that are in the industry that 383 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 2: do it have to some degree felt that difference of 384 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 2: like when when you're an artist versus when you are 385 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:51,120 Speaker 2: on the road with an artist. Again, that's not everybody's experience, 386 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 2: but there's just it's just a different it's just a 387 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 2: different kind of of thing. And when we set out 388 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: to do this, it was it was it was it 389 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 2: was to make the biggest impact we could. And we 390 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 2: found when working with the person that is the artist, 391 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 2: that is a kind of the head, that the impact 392 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 2: that that can have on the entire team around them 393 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 2: can be really strong as well. 394 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely so if someone's listening and they want 395 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: to support Porter's Call, or maybe they're an artist themselves 396 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: and they are eligible for these services, they feel like 397 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 1: they need to talk uh to someone because they're struggling 398 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: where they Where can they go to find Poor's Call 399 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: and connect with you. 400 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, our website's going to be one of the 401 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 2: easiest we have. We have some stuff on socials as well. 402 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 2: I know, we have an Instagram page that you can 403 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 2: that you can find and right on there, there's there's 404 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 2: a link if you want to if you want to 405 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 2: get in on what we're doing and you want to 406 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 2: support it, there are all the ways to give right there. 407 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: Uh. 408 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 2: And most importantly I would say, if you're if you're 409 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 2: hearing this and you're in the struggle, you are, I 410 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: think exactly where you're supposed to be at hearing this 411 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 2: whenever you hear it, And so please just know the 412 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 2: hardest step that you can ever take is that first 413 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 2: one of reaching out, and if you do, you'll be 414 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 2: met with Mara, who is an absolute wizard at what 415 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 2: she does. You can call her office. You can also 416 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 2: see the eligibility stuff online and you can do all 417 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 2: of your internet sleuthing and check us out on our 418 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 2: website and see who's eligible, why do we do what 419 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 2: we do, and all that informations on there. 420 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: That's great, Jared, thank you so much for being on 421 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: taking a walk Nashville today. This is quiet in I 422 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: always ask my guest at the end, but since we're 423 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: on taking a walk Nashville, do you have a favorite 424 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: place to take a walk in Nashville or even Franklin? 425 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: Ooh gosh, Well, I like to think of myself as 426 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 2: kind of the walking porter because if it's not freezing 427 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 2: outside as not raining, I really like to walk with 428 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: my people. And there's a park right next door called 429 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 2: Pinkerton Park. That's really like, I really enjoy walking that. 430 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 2: But my answer would have to probably because where I 431 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 2: proposed to my wife will be Percy Warner Park. 432 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: Phil great answer. Yeah, that's my favorite part to go 433 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: to as well. 434 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 2: It's so beautiful, so yeah, it's got some good memories too. 435 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,120 Speaker 2: So if you're ever in town you need a great 436 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 2: place to walk, can't go wrong with Percy One. 437 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's always a popular answer on our show. Here 438 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: we Go, Jared, thank you so much again for being 439 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: on the show today, and I hope our listeners will 440 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: go and check Porter's call and support them. 441 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 2: Thanks. 442 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Taking a Walk Nashville with singer 443 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: songwriter Sarah Harrelson, and check out our other podcasts, Music 444 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: Save Me, Comedy Save Me, and Taking a Walk. Available 445 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 446 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: your podcasts.