Page 101 of Freeing the Wild
“You can’t go unrepresented though, not now.You’re a moving machine in this industry.You need people—” He’s interrupted by a knock on the front door.
“Hold that thought,” I tell him as I stand to answer it.
“Sorry I’m late.There was an accident on Highway 40,” Fiona says as I usher her inside.“You look great.”She smiles at me warmly.
“Thank you,” I reply.
“Fiona Teller.”She extends a hand to Tom as he stands to greet her.
She rushed here for me after a two-hour-long phone callthe other day.The phone call that started with her asking me how I was: how my therapy was going, how I was sleeping, etc.All things Dax would never dream of bringing up with me.If it doesn’t pertain to him earning money from me, it doesn’t get asked.
We discussed the standard things she does as a manager for Evan and the other artists she represents.Her approach felt foreign to me after sticking it out with Dax for the last two years.
For example, Fiona only manages three to four clients at once.She only books Evan the showshewants, and never makes cold calls to prebook without his knowledge.She makes sure the other artists he plays with vibe with his style of music and, in turn, help grow his popularity.Her clients have healthy meals when they’re on the road and she makes sure to factor downtime into their schedules.Realdowntime.Plus, she charges five percent less commission than Dax.I’ve never made an easier choice.I’ve wanted to talk to Haden about this more than anything, but I knew I had to do this all on my own, with no outside influences.
Now, after introductions have been made, Fiona, Tom and I sit down around the table.
“I’d like to hire Ms.Teller to represent me as my music publisher with her firm Harper-Colburn.As far as I know, Dax is on a yearly managerial contract with a guaranteed commitment of two years.Those two years expired in February, and we haven’t renewed that contract.”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Tom notes, flipping through his pages.“I had a note here to follow up with you both in May if I hadn’t heard from you and ninety days had elapsed outside the contract.”
Thank you, universe, for timing.
“We’ll have to vet you, and your firm, to make sure there are no conflicts of interest of course,” Tom says to Fiona.
“Absolutely.I will act as Cassie’s music publisher but, givenher established career, my firm is interested in bringing her on with the advance and proposed terms I just forwarded to your email,” Fiona says.“I’ll also have my assistant forward you any documentation you need for vetting and, just so we’re clear, I want an open-ended contract with you, Cassie.I don’t need a time commitment.I want you to stay with me and Harper-Colburn because you’re happy with the work we’re doing for you, not because you have to.”
She faces Tom and continues.“If Cassie’s happy with it, I’d like to add an open clause in there that states that if for any reason she is unsatisfied or feels like this isn’t working out, we can go our separate ways after her initial commitment.It protects us both.Her advance laid out there is for five songs.I’ve already listened to Cassie’s rough recordings of them and am pleased to say that we have artists interested in licensing a few of them.”Fiona turns to smile at me.“Cassie will be in charge of her own workload after those five songs.But my guess is that they’re all going to be hits when they find a home with whichever artist wants to sing the hell out of them.”
I beam back at her.“I sure hope so.”
The rest of the meeting is spent discussing terms and conditions and, when everything has been finalized, and Tom stands to leave, I feel like I can finally breathe again.Fiona and I say our goodbyes to Tom, who promises to keep us posted.When he leaves, my new manager wraps an arm around me.
“I can’t wait to be the one to bring your dreams to fruition.The sky is the limit now, Cassie.Thank you for trusting me with this.”She checks her watch.“Now, I don’t have anywhere else to be for the rest of the night.Drinks and dinner?Let’s celebrate.”
I let this feeling of freedom engulf me.“Love to.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Cassie
Fiona and I spend the rest of the night at a trendy Nashville pub, talking about the artists she has relationships with and those she thinks would be the best fit for me to work with.She gushes over the music I’ve sent her and the songs I want to focus on licensing.Over the course of the evening, we drink.A lot, and by the time I get back to my apartment, I’m feeling rather tipsy and almost giddy with anticipation for the future.
The moment I get to my door, I see a note and a bag leaning against it.“Just add ice cream.H.”It sits beside a bag of caramel corn and my favorite hot sauce.I don’t even hesitate.I snap a photo of myself with it and send it to Haden.
You might be an angel.
I open the bag and devour a handful of the sweet corn before heading inside to the shower.I think about Haden the entire time.It’s only been a few weeks since I left, but it feels so much longer.And being on the road so much again feels so different since my stay at Silver Pines.Like I’m floating, barely staying at home.
I’m just getting out of the shower and pulling on my panties and the hotel robe when my phone lights up on the bedside table.
COWBOY
Gonna get yourself some ice cream?
You know it.
COWBOY
