On my continued tour of places I haven’t been to…I was in Fargo, North Dakota for a night (I saw the wood chipper!). Richard Marx was playing the Fargo theatre two blocks away, and I wound up on an elevator with him at the hotel. I didn’t even know he was in town—I never looked at the concert line-up.
As I was headed to the lobby bar that night, I realized I left my iPad upstairs in my hotel room. So, I was out in the lobby, turned back around, and then went to get on an elevator to go back up. At the same time, Richard and another man with him were in the lobby dealing with fans, and then they went to the elevator as well. They got on first, and I walked on without needing to stop, right in stride. But…to them…it probably looked like I saw him, turned around, and chased him.
It was just the three of us. About half way up, I realized I had one last “gregorsongs.com” business card in my wallet (I’m out of stock). Should I give it to him? I already look like a stalker. This probably won’t go well.
I stepped out on the 9th floor with them, which was not my floor (and not his floor, as they were doing the get-out-and-then-get-another-elevator-to-go-to-the-actual-room routine). I gave him a card. He was polite. But…clearly…this has happened before.
What Richard was thinking: “I knew we shouldn’t stay in the only three star+ hotel in downtown Fargo. This is what we get. Everyone knows where I’d have to stay. This guy lives here and he’s been waiting for this moment for months. This sucks.”
What I was thinking: “I just handed my card to a guy that’s sold 30M records, and is known in the industry as a songwriting guru. Did I just lose control of my stuff?” Sure I have copyright control of these things…but you can change lyrics and chords. Who knows what it triggers.
My hunch is….the card was tossed before he got to his actual floor. But…I regret it. I should’ve left him alone.