| OK, now that it's been a few day since I got
home, I've finally decided to sit down and take some time to update you
all with my GMA experience. First of all, it was AMAZING!!! I
definitely plan to go back next year. This year, being my first year,
was an incredible learning opportunity. I'll start with day one and
give you the details of my day by day experience as it unfolded.
Day 1: SUNDAY
I
left Dayton around 6:30am ET, and got to Estes Park, Colorado around
1:30pm CPT. The trip down was quite tiring, but I got there even if it
was with a headache. On the bus I met a few awesome people, like
Russell Burnett and Janard Cross. Once I got there, the first thing to
do was pick up my registration packet. After registration I had no
idea where I could go to put my bags up until housing time (which was
nearly an hour from my registration time). So, I wandered back up to
the administration building to wait. When I got up there, I noticed
Russell had gotten his guitar out to pass time. I decided hey I'll get
mine out and play along. It was really fun and people started coming
up and getting their guitars out. I got there alone, but in less than
an hour, I had made a lot of cool friends... Russ, Nick, Melanie,
Allison, Julianna, Victoria, and I could keep going (If you want me to
mention your name, let me know).
I think at one point we had, at
least, six guitars out. We played music for 2 hours straight. I was
awesome. After the housing line started to go down, we put up the
guitars and went to get set up. In line, I met Trevor, who was
ironically one of my roommates. So, I got set up down in my room, and
then headed up to the Longhouse for the first concert/worship service
of the week... Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and David Crowder. It was
great. Right after the concert, still with my headache and tiredness
from the trip, I headed to my room and went to bed. I didn't even meet
the rest of my roommates until Monday morning. That's next.
Day 2: MONDAY
Monday
morning I met two more of my four roommates... Jared and Keith (I
didn't meet Silas till later, cause he was always asleep). I went to
breakfast and then headed to the morning service. After the service we
had a meeting for the competition. Once the meeting was over, I headed
to the competition cabin to find out when I was performing. I had a
few hours, so it was all good. I went to my first seminar of the week,
which was a songwriting class taught by Chris and Louie. It was
amazing. After the seminar, I went and talked to Chris for a little
bit and then headed to lunch. The time between lunch an my competition
time was spent in preparation, of course. My competition went quite
well. I was definitely satisfied with the outcome. after my
competition I watched several other competitors, and they were really
good. I then went and checked out the Texas cabin, where the Roland
makeshift music store was. After browsing the deals that made me wish
I had more money and meeting John from the Afters doing the same thing
(except he has money), I went outside and called the folks. Then went
to eat again... I love that place! lol. Monday night's concert was
hosted by Geoff Moore. Danny Oertli (really cool guy), Kim Hill, the
Isaacs (amazing), the Afters, Bebo Norman performed. Geoff Moore also
performed and Steven Curtis Chapman made a early week suprise
appearance. After the concert, I went to Roland's Cafe Estes to see my
friend Nick perform as a judges pick from the competition. He's
awesome! Another really cool band that performed that night was Four
Shadows Fall. You should check 'em out.
The view from my window on Monday morning
Me and John Styll, the president of GMA
Day 3: TUESDAY
Tuesday I started off again with breakfast and morning service. I took another songwriting class from right after service.
I then went and snuck into the Longhouse while Kutless was doing their soundcheck. On my way out,
I ran into James Meade and Jon Micah Sumrall. I talked to Jon for a minute or so, and then went and hung out till lunch.
After lunch I went to a class by Tom Jackson with some friends, Melanie and Brett. Once that class was done, I headed to
another songwriting class, with some other friends, Victoria and Jared. Then we went and attempted to write a song together.
We didn't get one written, but it was fun. The evening concert was hosted by G.W. himself.  .
The artists included Marcus Cole, Detour 180, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Kirk Whalum,
Kutless, and Mary Mary. Again, I went to Cafe Estes after the concert and saw some great artists.
After that was over, I hung out with Cain, the guitar player from Detour 180.
Me and Kevin & Kirk Whalum
Day 4: WEDNESDAY
After the morning service on Wednesday I went to more songwriting classes. The first was taught by Dave Clark,
and the second was taught by Mark Harris from 4Him. He's really cool.
I got to spend some time with him after the class before I headed to lunch. After Eating again,
I headed to another Tom Jackson class. Then I went to a class by Buddy Green about melodies.
Then I went and heard Nichole Nordeman speak before dinner. The concert that evening included
Jimmy Needham, Worship Hymns, Mark Harris, Buddy Green, Nichole Nordeman, and Steven Curtis Chapman.
I went to some of Cafe Estes, and the rest of the time I was posting and adding people on here using my friend, Cody's comp.
Day 5: THURSDAY
Well, Thursday didn't exactly start out the way I had planned, but it was okay.
I woke up around five after ten... missing the morning service and seminars.
So, I went and found Brett and we got our guitars out and played some Third Day music till lunch.
Fun times. Again we went to Tom's class after eating. I then went to a class by Wayne Huirua
from the Parachute Band. The class was on worship, and was really good. After the class,
I stayed and chilled out with Shaun Groves and Holland Davis and the crew from Worship Leader Magazine.
We had fun looking at videos on Shauns Mac from YouTube. Thursday night's concert started
with the KIDS KAMP choir, which I unfortunately missed. Then they had the Parachute Band, Michael English,
Smokie Norful, Avalon, and a comedian named Anita Renfroe. After the concert I went to the last Cafe Estes
of the week and then went and hung out and played music, etc. till about 2:30 in the morning.
Day 6: FRIDAY
Friday I woke up around 8, went to breakfast, and then went up to the Longhouse for morning service,
which had I have checked my schedule, I would've known was not taking place. Yeah, I could've slept an extra hour
and missed breakfast, but that's okay. I was able to prepare for the "networking roundtable."
This was the time that I had the opportunity to hang out with some cool representatives from different aspects of the music industry.
I met some producers, managers, and even the vice-president of Brentwood Benson Publishing in Nashville. He was cool.
It was during the last round of our session that I got my first, and only, nosebleed of the trip.
That's an accomplishment! lol. After that, there was more free food, and then the last of Tom Jackson's classes.
After the class was over, I went to my room and slept till dinner. YAY! The Friday night concert was also the
competition finals, in which I got to see some awesome people perform. It was hosted by Rachel Lampa and Shaun Groves.
Amongst the finalists were a few really cool people, who I had the opportunity to chill with, like Elizabeth
winner of Song of 2006, 1st & 2nd in her song catergory, and runner-up for Contemporary Christian Vocal Solo II... Congrats again.
Also Crystal Stark, winner of the Walt Disney Best of Show award,
and winner of Contemporary Christian Vocal Solo II... Awesome job! It was an awesome time. Following the concert,
several of us met up at the flagpole to play worship songs and end the week on a great note.
I went to bed around 1:30.
Day 7: SATURDAY
Departure day... the most dreaded day of any amazing vacation or event. I woke up right at eight (the time I said I'd meet everyone at breakfast),
got ready as quick as possible, and headed to breakfast. I think some laughed... some cried... but we all had fun. My bus was scheduled for 9:30,
so I got my bag and guitar and headed to the bus stop. After the 2-hour bus trip back to Denver airport, several of us went our separate ways.
I found a couple familiar faces who had gotten out a guitar and started playing, so what was I to do?
Of course! I got my guitar out and we did a concert right in the middle of DIA. lol. it was fun. anyway,
I ran into a couple more people and had the chance to say "bye." Till next time.
Who's up for it next year! I can't wait. It was a blessed week.
In all the hype of the week I got so much. God is truly amazing. I'm thankful for everything He did this week.
I learned so much that I know will be a great benefit to my future career and ministry
in the music industry. There is so much inspiration and creativity in the Rockies, and it definitely showed this week.
It was incredible being around so many Christian artists and songwriters who just love God.
It's definitely an encouragement to know how God is moving in and through the music industry to so many people around the world.
I met people from all over the U.S. and Canada, and even people from
New Zealand. I know that God has a lot in store for me, and that 'my music matters.'
I pray that God will help me, and everyone who was there, to keep what He did in their lives through this week.
God Bless,
Kevin Fisher
P.S. This is my longest post ever!
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