February 7, 2014 - It was the day after my 22nd birthday and Jim Brickman was coming to my hometown to perform as part of his Love Tour. My parents-more so my mother-are huge fans and bought tickets for the entire family. At the time, I was working for my local radio station, which also happened to air Jim's syndicated weekend radio show "Your Weekend with Jim Brickman." So Jim Brickman was coming to the station for an interview the morning of the concert. I was going to try and be at the station regardless, but the morning show host asked me if I could come in and cover the news that day. I accepted and showed up that morning with all of my mom's Jim Brickman CDs in hand just in case Jim would be kind enough to sign one of them (he signed all 10 of them). Anyway, that morning I began talking to Jim about going to school in Cleveland and wanting to move back to the area. Ironically enough, his tour manager went to the same college as I did and he asked if I could come help merchandise at the show and meet her. I agreed, we exchanged contact information, took some photos, and both went on our way. Little did I know that after that one encounter my life would be changed.
At the concert I met Wendy, Jim Brickman's tour manager, and sold merchandise before, during intermission, and after the show. Wendy was extremely nice and said we'd be seeing each other very soon. I didn't think much of it but my parents certainly did and were over the moon about where this could go. Well over the course of the next month I traveled out to Cleveland 2 or 3 times to meet the rest of Jim's team and discuss some career opportunities. However in March, I received an email that they didn't have a place for me, but if something opened up I would be their first call. Honestly I thought, "It was fun while it lasted, but it's the end of the road." Again, I was wrong. In May I received a text from Jim asking me what I was up to and wanting to catch up. We chatted on the phone later that month and caughtup on what we were both working on. I had accepted a temporary full time position at the radio station that ended in August and it sounded like Jim was pitching me a possible job opportunity to start at the end of the summer/early fall. I mulled over what we discussed and basically told him I thought working for him whether it be traveling on tour, selling merchandise, or doing something with his radio show would be an amazing opportunity.
A few weeks later - around the middle of June - I received an email from Wendy offering me a full time position starting in September. I couldn't believe it and even now there are some days I still can't. I've been working for Jim for a little over a month and every day is a new adventure. Currently I'm the producer of his nationally syndicated radio show "Your Weekend with Jim Brickman" and will be traveling on tour with him this holiday season for his On A Winter's Night holiday tour. This job definitely keeps me busy and on my toes but I wouldn't have it any other way. Plus I'm loving what I'm doing, which makes the work not really seem like work. Some days I have to pinch myself and think back to February 7th and the one meeting that changed the course of my life. Sometimes all it takes is one really good first impression.
Jim and I at the Media One Group radio stations
Working the Merchandise Table
xoxo,
B.
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