We are back with Building the Community Series and the spotlight shines on Tracie Moore who runs Magic Hills Artists. She describes it as "a songwriter's night and we now have started a full band showcase. Overall, I think it has been going very well. We put these rounds and shows on to try and help people meet each other and find others to write with." Tracie is well connected in Nashville and has done an amazing job amplifying songwriters and giving them a place to get started and connect with others. I sat down with Tracie and talked about moving from Alabama, how she started Magic Hills Artists and some cool things she's working on for the future.
Get To Know Tracie
"I'm from Alabama and have lived there all of my life. I was a substitute teacher for the last 10 years and loved it. My daughter is a musician but didn't want to move up here. I brought her up here for 4 or 5 years to work with Precious Harris. She graduated, my son was already out of school and I told them "I'm moving to Nashville y'all". I was married at the time, so I packed up and left. I love it here and I'm hoping one day to have my daughter in Nashville with me. When I first moved to Nashville, I helped a lot of people find other people to write with. Then I started the round at Live Oak, which has been happening for over three years now. I absolutely love to put those on. I loved helping my daughter meet new people, but when she didn't want to move, I still wanted to be able to help people in Nashville. At one point I thought I wanted to be a manager, but I don't think I want to do that anymore."
Q & A With Tracie Moore
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Magic Hills Artists and how did this journey start for you?
"I really wanted songwriters to have a place to meet each other. A lot of people move to Nashville and don't know anyone and it's a lot different for them in Nashville than it is back at home. Just because you aren't a hit songwriter doesn't mean that your music shouldn't be heard."
Q: Most memorable moment so far with Magic Hills Artists?
"I think the most memorable was my first full band showcase. It was amazing and packed. It was one of the most fun things we have ever done. I probably won't do another one until fall. I want it to be exciting and something that people look forward to. Everyone comes together that night and the people playing all support each other. That's one of the things I love. All the guys and girls involved come and support each other. You don't always find that here in Nashville or anywhere.
Something that I'm really excited for hasn't happened yet. Magic Hills is doing takeovers at two venues at the Key West Songwriters Festival. We are hosting some full bands and songwriters."
Q:What is your vision for Magic Hills Artists?
"I might end up doing an acoustic band set at a venue somewhere. And I've heard that at the Country Music Hall of Fame, they have kids write songs or poems. Then they have musicians come in and make a song out of it and sing the song. I want to get a coffee shop and get the kids and their parents and the people singing these songs and have a writer's night for kids. Like I said, I've started to work on booking writer's retreats and think that could be a big thing. I'll see how it goes. I really want to keep writers working together because I feel that a lot of the time, everyone in Nashville is in competition with each other. By doing these retreats, you put the writers together and let them get to know one another and allow them an opportunity to become friends."
Q: What advice do you have for anyone who's trying to become an entrepreneur and start their own podcast, business, service, etc.?
"One thing is to get out and meet as many people as you can. By doing that you can figure out who you want to work with. Also, never give up. That's one of the worst things people do; they give up and don't give their project enough time. I've had issues with parents who bring their kid to town and think their performer is going to get famous immediately, simply because they were so good in their hometown. It doesn't work like that. You have to work for it. I always have an extra job. I probably won't make enough money off of the Magic Hills thing, so I have a full-time job. Sticking with it, being a good person and being honest goes a long way. I had a guy message me because he saw I was hosting a songwriters night. I told him “you can help me”, he asked me about pay and I told him "there is no pay right now". I haven't heard another word from him or seen him around. Those are the kinds of people I don't want to work with."