Our world is awash with influences, too many of them for our youth. So many artists seem to push our kids to emulate them, and in doing this, our kids change themselves into someone else. The world of music is no different. But there are influences for good too, and I witnessed one in action and still feel the good vibes some eight days later.
Last Friday afternoon, at my awesome job I got to have coffee with Hunter Hayes. Well ok ... maybe not actually HAVE coffee ... but I served java to the lucky girls who had coffee with this talented young man. Have you heard of those "pop-up restaurants"? Well, with help from Keurig the coffee people, Hunter Hayes' team transformed a corner of our concrete fortress arena into a comfy cozy Coffee House. In came the couches, tapestries went on the tables, and hot chocolate and Keurig coffee pods were provided with marshmallows too!
I've been lucky enough to watch a few meet 'n greets at work, and I've met a few musicians myself. What was different about Hunter was his genuine interest in all forty of those girls in the Coffee House. His replies to their questions were not rehearsed, nor were they hasty. He made sure all queries were answered, actually asking for just a few more minutes when urged to finish up. By this time, my duties were done so I just watched in wonderment from the back of the room as Hunter made sure to engage each and every one of those girls. That's a big deal for a young girl. I know this because I used to be one :-)
When it came time for the pictures, every girl's hand was shaken and every one's name was asked. It may become a blur to Hunter after so many hugs but for these girls, it seemed like he singled each one of them out and acknowledged their greatness. I cannot count how many girls passed me giggling and gushing ... feeling on top of the clouds for that one moment in time. Take that motivational speakers!!! You got nothin' on Hunter Hayes!
That brings me to Miss Jill. I call her this because she called me "Miss Dianna" while we worked. I think that's a 'southern thing' ... not sure though. I found it cute. Jill tours around with Hunter and leads the meet 'n greets and Coffee House experiences before each show. I'm now following Jill on twitter and I can see that they are a very busy team as she posts pics of each venue they play.
I'll be honest with you, Miss Jill had more of an influence on me than Hunter did. You may know people like Jill and her team. They're "make-it-happen" kind of people. The fact that they were late arriving that day, didn't seem to really bother Jill~ if it need, she didn't show it. I could feel and see a positivity in Jill that I admire and wish to emulate. Then I saw Jill post this:
"Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles." #attitudeofgratitude
The people who travel around with our artists are a special kind of trooper. Their ability to adapt--whether inherent or honed-- is a skill they all seem to possess. Being in the vicinity of and in contact with people like this inspires me, and makes me hope their attitudes are contagious.
Thank you Miss Jill .. mucho respect my friend.
Watch HERE and see just how talented Hunter Hayes really is. Betcha you'll be singin' it for hours!
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