Wait? A 389% INCREASE!!!?!?!

James and I have been crunching numbers.... ALLL..... DAY.

And we're still not done. We're working on presentations for next year... ways to keep this Natalie Train ROLLING!!! I can't elaborate much more than that right now. But hopefully all this number crunching will lead to some AWESOMESAUCE.

Plus, it's fun to look back and see overviews of all the totals of things....

LIKE...

In 2008 we played 25 Colleges and 2 Military bases
TOTAL student population = 233,156
Total military base populations = 48,087

How's this for growth?

In 2009 we played 65 College Campuses and 15 Military Bases
Total Student population = 709,840
Total Military Base Population = 235,016

That's a 204% increase in student populations from year to year.
And a 389% increase in military populations.


The mileage to and from gigs in 2008 was 46,429
Mileage in 2009 was 63,661

That's a 37% increase in mileage.

I realize this is probably unbelievably boring to most of you. But we have spent hours and hours compiling all different kinds of data. And I am really amazed every time I look at how me we've grown from one year to the next. We've already got 45 Colleges on the calendar for next year and that doesn't even include the holds.... that's just so far... Tomorrow we have a whole other booking conference. It's SUCH a blessing to have so much work. but when I look at how much we have traveled and played this year, I understand why I am so worn out right now!!! (Yet I am so energized and pumped when I think about what is to come)

I am really looking forward to the "break". I have writing appointments booked like crazy. And we have SOOO much we are getting done for the new year. It's exciting. I've been getting butterflies a LOT when I think about next year. I want to harness all the good energy that is surrounding us and keep multiplying it!!!

But I guess if I was to put on a good showcase tomorrow and keep my band members' checks coming, I better get ready for bed. Gotta wash my hair so it can dry overnight ;) Girls... you understand. Saves me time in the morning. :)

NIGHT NIGHT!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Playing for the Troops and Families at Ft. Gordon!

Tonight was one of those nights....

... where I just keep thanking the Lord that I was given this gift and am able to do what I do.

... where I don't know what to say other than "THANK YOU".

... where I can't hear myself over the screams and cheers of the crowd.

... where the line at the merch table is 2 hours long.

I really don't think I will ever get used to soldiers telling ME thank you. It is the strangest and most humbling feeling. I just want to say SHUT-UP!!! YOU DON'T THANK ME. I THANK YOU.

You know? I mean, these families and young men and women sacrifice more than my brain can comprehend. My Daddy went overseas I was 8 years old and although I understood that it was dangerous and I knew it was a big deal... there's only so much an 8-year-old can really "get". And so even though I've experienced it to a degree, I still can't imagine what it is like... from an adult perspective.

I met and talked with quite a few wounded soldiers tonight. Hearing the stories of an entire wall falling on someone's chest. Standing there looking at his scares while he's alive and telling me about it - yeah. No words.

And can I just say that when soldiers are helping us load and unload our trailer... it goes faster than it EVER does?! And we have to lift less than we ever do. They take it OUT of my hands and carry it onstage FOR me. :)

Here's the whole crew that was helping us load and unload tonight:


It was my first "Chucks" signing :)


This soldier asked me to sign his phase pass AND his Bible. Never signed a Bible before. I was a bit taken aback by that request. Pretty amazing.


Ok. So I saw this lady during sound check because I noticed she was crocheting something. She had just begun a beautiful pink blanket... and by the time she got to the merch table, she had enough done for me to sign it!!! It turns out she's making it for a friend (who was at the show) and so she wanted me to sign it. Once it's done, it will be a king size blanket!!! :) THAT was a new one! Signing a blanket that was made DURING the show!


Not only was the stage LINED with soldiers right up front singing and dancing along with us, but it was also lined with kids!!! So many adorable faces in the crowd tonight. And they literally started a "train" during Orange Blossom. SO CUTE!






And then of course, the soldiers!!











What a rewarding night. There were burgers, hot dogs, drinks, and even a dippin dots truck. It was like a festival... only... we were the main event. Just unbelievable.

Peace. Love. Fiddle. and Fort Gordon.
~natalie

New Songs

We rehearsed new songs today!!!

Something about staying at Paul's :) It gives us a chance to work on new material. We rehearsed the song I wrote with Pat McLaughlin "Step By Step" and another new one that I wrote with Charlie Hutto "The Sound of Goodbye". Y'all already know how I feel about "Step By Step."

But "Sound of Goodbye"? I am SO excited. I have always wanted a song that sounds like this one. It gives me a chance to be a little more sassy... which I dig... a lot. So yeah. I am pumped to start playing these live. We'll see how the response is to them. But I have a really good feeling. As long as you guys like them, too, then I think we may have enough songs to book the next recording session!!! We're FINALLY gonna get to record a new album. I can't TELL you how good that feels.
People have been asking me about a new one since the day the first one was released. :)

The last few days have been packed. And I can't get over the response we had from the Josh Gracin show. My facebook and myspace pages have been overrun with pics and uploads from that show. I can barely keep up with responding to the comments and requests! (Which is a GOOD thing) I love it!!! Everything just seems to be on a new level lately. And it is so fun to see the progress we're making! :)

It sure makes watching the ACM's fun. :) James, Paul, and I were sitting in the floor putting together packages for military bases and colleges that requested them... It's a LOT of fun to work on booking gigs while I watch an awards show that I dream about being a part of. Makes me feel like I am physically doing everything I can to get there!

And CONGRATULATIONS to Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift, and Scott Borchetta for Album of the Year!!!! I can't believe one of my co-writers just won ALBUM OF THE FREAKIN YEAR! Amazing.

Tomorrow? I'm getting a nutella smoothie at The Wrap!

Peace. Love. Fiddle. YA'LL!
~natalie