Page 45 of See Her

After looking between each other, we nod for him to continue.

"So for the time period a musical act is in that beginning stage, we enter into short–term contracts to get the ball rolling, like recording one song and putting it out on the radio. If it does well, we will take the next step and put them on the road as an opening act for a contracted band for a portion of their tour. Ifthatgoes well, they can go on to the next leg. Do you see where this is going?"

“Yeah,” I pipe up. “That actually makes a lot of sense. It’s a logical way to do things.”

Ron nods his appreciation before continuing. "So while there is still a risk we take when signing bands with the Silver division, it's not as big of a blow to ECHO’s bank account like the hits the other labels take. Now, let's get into what brings you guys into this."

Yes, finally. I've been dying over here on this couch. I can tell the rest of us have too, especially when I look over to see Chris and Josh taking sharp inhales and leaning in farther.

"At ECHO, we do have a staff delegated for patrolling sites like YouTube and Spotify and all the rest, looking for artists that are trending, and you guys have been making a lot of noise on YouTube and social media. You ended up on my desk, so I came out here to check you out." He pauses and looks around at all of us.

"Well, what did you think? Did you listen to the demo?" Chris pipes up, unable to control his yearning to find out why we're here. He's always been the hyper one, which is partly why he does drums and is damn good at it. It's the perfect channel for his energy, and gives him a sense of control.

"Of course I listened to the demo," Ron says, trying to pacify Chris. "I liked what I heard, and after conferencing with a couple of producers at ECHO, we want to buy See Her."

We all collapse in a variety of emotions. Josh drops his head onto the back of the couch he and Chris are sitting on, while Chris's mouth drops open. Matt puts his face in his hands, and I run my hand through my hair.

"Are you serious?" I ask, unable to believe what I just heard.

"Dead serious," Ron says, shrugging like this shouldn't be a surprise. "We want to get it on the airwaves and see what kind of response we get. That's step one. And like I said, if it gets a good response, we will go to the next step. If not, then no hard feelings, you go back to your lives, and who knows, maybe down the road there will be a 'next time'. So what do you guys think of making a real, professional recording of See Her?”This time, Chris and Josh both erupt.

"YES! Yes! We have to! Right, guys? We're doing this, right?" Chris is getting hyped again, and Josh puts a hand on his shoulder, actually holding him down as he starts flailing in his seat. Matt and I look at each other, both laughing in disbelief.

"Assuming everything is fair in a contract and whatnot, it's a go for me," Matt grins, turning back to Ron.

"Yeah, me too,” I say, nodding, unable to wipe the smile off my face. "Thank you, Ron, for this chance."

"Yeah, man," agrees Josh. "We've been at this a long time, and it means the world, you giving us this shot."

"No need to thank me," Ron answers with a shake of his head, his expression neutral. "You have the talent; you've been doing the work. Now it’s time to get into some details.” He uncrosses his legs and scooches forward in this seat.“One thing we don’t have to waste is time, so hold onto your butts and try not to get whiplash, because we’re jumping right in with this.”

Ron jumps into what to expect from this process in the coming week, starting with us flying out to New York on Monday and staying through Tuesday to record See Her. It will be a long non-stop day, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s how all the new acts do it; showing what they’re up for. The song will then be released the second Friday following the recording.

“Now the last thing to address today is a video to go with the song. I doubt I have to tell you that it helps the fans connect with who the band really is, what they look like, how they play, who’s who etc. We already have a concept in mind at a fairly decent budget.”

“I don’t mean to sound skeptical,” Josh says, tilting his head, “but I’m just curious how you got as far as a video concept when you just met us Thursday.”I stiffen, worried that Ron will think we’re looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I’m curious too.

“I’ll be frank with you; it’s sort of a generalized video concept we’ve had in our back pocket for the next band that came along.It fits the genre you guys play.Over the weekend, we corresponded and tailored it to what we think will fit your band persona. It will be pretty straightforward for the most part, showing you guys playing the song in a couple of different locations. The focus will be showcasing the talent, the emotion behind it, and enhancing the edge you guys have.”

“So far it sounds great, straightforward,” I say. “At this point, it’s important just to get some attention on the song, and I like how you’ve kept the concept simple.”

“Yeah,” agrees Matt. “I think it’s better to give prospective fans atrue idea of who we are if we don’t do anything too crazy or dramatic straight out of the gate.”

“Perfect.” Ron claps his hands together. “I just want to include one more component. See Her is unmistakably about a woman, and I think it would be good to feature a female character. Not to overpower the video, but to make noticeable appearances throughout it so that it really brings the lyrics home, reminding listeners what the song is about. Now, I have a few contacts in mind that I’m sure would love to audition…”

“It’s gotta be Mayzie,” I blurt out. Oh shit, I just cut him off. This guy is opening a huge door for us, so I feel like I should be minding my p’s and q’s.I shut up and look down at the floor, resting my chin on my hands.

“Mayzie? Who’s that?” Ron asks, looking around at the others.

“Mayzie is his… girlfriend,” Matt says, trying to tread lightly. I nod, still saying nothing. I’m a little embarrassed. I just took the wheel out of this guy’s hands,but Mayzie is the essence of this song, and if he wants people to realize what it’s truly about, then we need her in the video.

“Okay,” Ron acknowledges, “tell me why she should be in the video.”

I sit up straighter. “She inspired the lyrics, all of them. Plus, she’s one hell of a dancer.”

Ron’s eyebrows go up at that. “I hadn’t considered a dancer, but that can certainly add some artistry to the video.” He nods to himself, considering it for a minute before saying, “I’d have to meet her, see her dance.”

I mentally flip through Mayzie’s schedule before I say, “Have you heard of Dance It Out?It’s a studio in midtown.If you can come by tomorrow morning, I’ll make sure she’s there.”

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