Fan Fair Extraordinaire? Or Not!?

Just by the title of this article, I feel like Andy Rooney from 60 minutes. I grew up watching him with my Grandma, although he looks just the same as he did when I was 3. So last night, when I turned the on the TV and he was there, I thought I would watch him to bring my Grandmother closer to me. Low and behold, he began talking about the packaging and marketing of items, and how companies, even software companies, have more hype then product. And judging by Fan Fair, I would have to agree with him. This was my first Fan Fair, so maybe I should give it a few years, but I also got the pulse of the situation from other Fan Fair attendee's, the tried and true dedicated fans of Fan Fair. So let me start at the beginning. Being a novice Fan Fair attendee, I did all of the wrong things. I didn't make reservations, and I didn't purchase tickets ahead of time. When I arrived at the airport, there was a woman waiting for me with a sign that had my name on it. (One of the perks of being part of Fan Fair I guess, but trust me, one of the very few! And I am smiling at that!) I arrived at my dear friend's house and started to unpack. The next day would be a busy one with the baseball game and some interviews. When the next day arrived, Nashville was hit by a major thunder and lightening storm and when calling to rent a car, there were none available. My first lesson at Fan Fair, reserve a car! So I would be stuck hitching rides with friends or relying on taxi's that are very cost prohibitive! The problem was that we couldn't get to the baseball game. All the taxi's were taking forever and had to be called many times and they still did not show. The one person that was nice enough to come get us didn't want to head in that direction because of the storm. Okay, then I would head to the Indie fest that had already begun. When I arrived at the Indie Fest I met up with some friends from my last European tour and saw Jack Green and Ernie Ashworth, Grand Ole Opry Stars and true stars they are. You really should go check them out at the Grand Ole Opry whenever they are on! I already knew Ernie from touring last year. The Indies' played their hearts out, Sean O'Brien being one of the best I have seen in a long time. What a crooner, and someone else whose show you must check out if he plays in your town! You won't be disappointed! And women, he's a doll! BUT keep your lips for screaming when he sings only, because he is married to a very lovely and sweet wife. The Indies' were backed by some of Nashville's finest musicians; Bess Travers who played bass was awesome! "The Nashville Players" were there and incredible. Then I was told by someone at Indie fest who was working there, that the Grand Ole Opry Stars who were supposed to be playing at the Indie Fest, all 22 of them, were told they could not play there. I won't go into the reason's why, but when the crowd found out, they were disappointed! Stella Parton graced the Indie Fest stage as well as Bobby G. Rice. After the show, a bunch of us headed down to the famous restaurant, Houston's. While the prices were expensive, it was worth every single bite! The food was fabulous and I would recommend anyone visiting Nashville to give it a try! While we were waiting, I ran into Jamie O'Neil and Neil McCoy (a true cowboy at heart). Neil was very casual and friendly. I thought wow, this is the beginning of what I expected at Fan Fair, the fans, meeting the stars and Fan Fair hadn't really begun yet! After Houston's, we headed down to Broadway, and for those of you not familiar with Nashville, this is where you will find it all. The Ryman is less then a