I love listening to muscian war stories. Well, just as long as the drama isn't happening to me, I'm up for a good story.

I'm in the entertainment business and I am always being entertained in one way or another. Musicians talk about agents and agents talk about musicians. I've been both. Therefore, I see both sides. I hear the dirt on certain band members as they go from band to band. The things I hear would make your toes curl. I never repeat them. At least not with a name attached. But some are too hilarious to keep to myself.

For instance, many years ago I booked a band in eastern Oregon. I got a call from the club owner saying one of the band members had an incident that I should probably be aware of. What happened?" I asked. The band was great but one band member had a little too much to drink. Okay, so what's unusual? Well, I guess after the job on Saturday night someone dared this band member to take the cash register out of the bar, run down to the end of the street with it and bring it back. There was a $100 bet on it. Who'd be the wiser? He was coming right back - right? Well, he took the bet. Unfortunately, there was a police car parked at the end of the street. He saw the musician running with the register. You can guess the rest of the story. Believe it or not, the club owner wasn't that angry. Heck, he got the cash register back. My gut tells me the club owner was drinking that night and was probably the one who made that bet.

As I sit back, I smile to myself. I have been in a business over the last 25 years that has given me so much pleasure. Sure there are moments I'd rather forget, but not too many. You weed out the problems and are grateful for the people that have now become friends.

Most Musicians (and agents), that are still alive, don't drink as much as they used to - if at all. That's a good thing. Everything catches up with you. There are good musicians and not so good musicians. The same is true of agents.

I'm surrounded by good people. I was lucky to work with a really good agent when I first started out. His name was Tom Stinnette. It still is. He's 87 years old and still works booking bands. He's a wonderful man. Years ago he said he wanted to slow down a little, so he unselfishly gave me all my contacts and I started my business. Times have changed since then. The club scene slowed and tribute bands seem to be growing in popularity. I jumped on board. But some things never change. I remember when Tom used to tell me war stories about his early booking days. As I think back, the stories all share familiar themes - the faces just seem to be getting younger.