The Morgan Grand National is at the top of that list for me. It will be my first time sharing organist responsibilities with Nancy Roberts so I will be excited to meet her. This is the most prestigious show of the year for the Morgan breed and I am excited to be joining my friends, Mark Farrar, Bill Whitley, Howie Schatzberg and others for this world class show. Thank you Fred Nava!

I kicked off my horse show season at the SASHA Horse Show in San Antonio with managers, Megan Beasom and Lisa Mountain who set the bar higher and higher every year. I have to say, their Friday Night party is amazing. I love good food, and the Scenic View Cafe, located at the show grounds truly delivers every time.

I’m still playing organ at Christ Church but now I’m also singing in the choir every other week. I feel like I’m in college again because I’m learning so much. I absolutely love it. This music program is unmatched. I have been privileged to work with great musicians before, but this is a whole new level. This group challenges me to be better not just in music, but in every area of my life.

In other news, Amanda and I are working on a new venture together which will be an extension of our Awaken home accents business. We will be offering authentic farmhouse tables we’ve made from reclaimed wood available for rent to anyone who’d prefer something besides those white plastic things with metal legs we’ve all seen everywhere from church fellowship halls to Wal-Mart parking lot peddlers. (no offense to our beloved fellowship halls)

In Amanda’s original design, the solid wood legs fold up for simple transport and lock into place to give a tasteful, organic feel to any event planner who doesn’t happen to want to keep a dozen or so farmhouse tables sitting around in their garage. More about this later.

Our sweet daughter, Bentley, is walking, talking, and keeping us entertained even if we are a bit exhausted from chasing her around, building tables, and continuing to remodel “Mimosa Ranch.”

See you down the road!

The Friday night party hosted by the Shiflets left no one disappointed. They even had the cops come to tell them to tone it down! That’s how good it was.

This week we head out to Conyers, GA for a new American Saddlebred show on my schedule. I hope to meet the famed, long time Organist, Dale Stone while I’m there.

Then it’s ASHAV, in Lexington, VA, Alabama Charity, in Decatur, a yet unconfirmed Walking Horse Show at the end of October is a possibility, then Kansas City Here We Come!!! The American Royal is definitely one of my favorite performing opportunities. Sharing the musical podium with the Missouri Brass Quintet is such an honor, and it gives a unique, stepped up feeling to that prestigious show.

I look forward to seeing you all down the road! This is prime time to get your Church or Business Christmas party entertainment booked. I still have a few dates left in December if you’d like to have me at your event.

Sweet little Bentley Jane

So far this year, Bentley, our five month old daughter attended her first horse show, I’ve learned a lot about plumbing, and the horse shows keep on coming!

Even though it is one of the most exhausting times I can recall, I am in creative overdrive! I have so many talented friends around me, I’m constantly challenged to keep stepping it up. I’m incorperating more songs, experimenting with new sound effects, and doing my best to stay on top of the insane amount of technology that is so available.

You tube has taken a huge place as a source of information in my life! I may be the last one on earth to discover this, but there are instructional videos on EVERY thing you can imagine there. (that’s where I learned plumbing, among many other things) The work of sifting out the bad from the good is already done for you.  Just type in a topic, for instance “how to install a new on off valve,” see how many thumbs up’s a particular video has received; and go with the one people agree on. So simple!

Then there’s Pandora. For any body who likes commercial free music around the clock, seriously, any variety you can imagine, it’s there. It is fantastic.  Again, I know  I may be behind, but that’s all relative.  There’s a free version and one for about $40 a year that excludes commercials.  I think it is the best $40 bucks any music lover could spend.

Amanda and I have attended Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, I’ve recently finished reading Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin (the best book about finance and philosophy I have ever read) and we survived the major tornado outbreak in Alabama.If what doesn’t kill you really makes you stronger, I hope those things get factored in when I finally muster up the courage to go back to my Crossfit gym.

I’m heading out with my good buddy Mark Farrar to the Bonnie Blue Horse Show soon and I’m just trying to keep it real.

ps. I have taken a long hiatus from my blog, and I apologize if anyone has missed it.  I’m considering consolidating this site with my http:/stacybeam@blogspot.com blog, but I need help! If anyone has info about how to switch over my twenty something sweet and wonderful followers to a different blog, I’d appreciate some input!

Stacy Beam plays organ/keyboard all over the nation, entertaining at horse shows, churches and industrial events.  Twenty-eleven will mark his third year to play for the prestigious, hundred year-old American Royal Saddle Horse Show in Kansas City, where he leads the Missouri Brass Quintet for five action packed nights.

On Sunday mornings, he enjoys playing organ with the renowned Christ Church praise band and choir in Nashville when he isn’t touring. In addition, he’s played on the nationally syndicated Christian radio show, “Live From the Lambs,” broadcast from Times Square, and at many of the top piano and cabaret rooms in New York City.  He’s also been a regular featured singer/songwriter at the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville. His range of talent has allowed him to perform in shows at Dollywood, and as the pianist for the Curb recording artist, gospel vocal trio, No Other Name.

Stacy his wife, Amanda, daughter, Bentley, and dog, Ginny live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Follow Stacy on Twitter at @swbeam.

Sadly, we said goodbye to her great grandmother, my Mammaw, Nita Ann Bentley January 12th of this year.  She gave me the priceless gift of unconditional love and support; and, although we grieve her loss desperately, Amanda and I have her namesake who wakes up each morning with a smile to remind us of all that is worth living for.

It is a whole new world.

Show manager, Kent Moeller sets the bar way high for all the shows to follow.  This is only my second year there, but I already feel like an old friend.

So, I thought this would be the perfect place to try something new.  This year, everywhere I play, I am telling people about Holt International.  They are a Christian Aid Organization that offers care and support to endangered and needy children all over the world.

Basically, if you choose to do so, you can support a particular child for thirty dollars a month.  If you do, you will receive updates on that child’s progress, photos, and information about how they are being helped.

I really believe in what they do.  They’ve been doing it for over fifty years; and over eighty percent of every dollar you give goes toward helping a child receive food, shelter, medical attention, and attentive care.

You can talk to me at a show, email me from the contact page, or you can find out more about them here.

I am adding new shows all the time, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Basically, I played and sang a bit for the kids, shared some highlights of my career as a musician, and talked to them about what has and hasn’t worked for me in my efforts to make money in the competitive field of music.

I found the kids, for the most part, to be extremely attentive and receptive to everything I had to say.

I began with basic skills: things I believe you must do in order to work as a musician.

First, you must be efficient at your instrument… not necessarily great. By efficient I mean, play/sing in tune, in time, with musicality and dynamic range.

Then, you must get the gig/job. We talked about the many different jobs available in music.

The final must: a good reputation. Basically, don’t be a flake, look like you fit the part, and be friendly.

Those are the MUSTS… then we moved on to what I called keys to big success: Building great relationships, identifying your passion, getting real, and basically becoming a well rounded person.

I really enjoyed this and feel like the students went away with some solid information about making their dreams happen. If you are interested in having me come to your school, church, or other organization, please contact me.

I am far from the most successful, or highest paid among performers, but I am excited every time I get to share my music with an audience, and I am honored to get to do it often. This truly is a gift to me; and I hope to encourage as many others as I can to share the amazing and divine gift of music.

One of the new horse shows I added to my calendar this year is the Bonnie Blue National Horse Show May 6–9 at the Virginia Horse Center, in Lexington, VA. I know this will be a great time.

I’m also playing B3 organ often with the Christ Church Choir and Worship Band, directed by my good buddy, Christopher Phillips. It is an honor and a challenge to play with singers and musicians of their high caliber. You can see the Sunday Jan. 31 worship service that I was a part of here. In addition to that, I’ll be leading worship at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, AL on Sunday, April 11.

Many of you may have known me as a portrait painter of horses, which I continue to enjoy; but I’ve recently discovered a love for painting pooches too.

This is Molly

Start Somewhere, my blog, continues to evolve. Lately, “Fanny Friday” has been a popular addition to it. I am posting a new video of myself playing and singing a Fanny Crosby hymn from the Celebration Hymnal every Friday until I am through all of them.

“Awaken” is the home accents/furniture online shop where my wife, Amanda and I share treasures that we have painted, updated, or otherwise revived for sale.

Finally, I am totally excited to be partnering with Holt International. They help children all over the world receive the care and compassion they need to thrive.

Whew! It seems like a lot when you write it all down, right!? If you want to book me, or if you are interested in knowing more about any of the things I am doing, please contact me through the contact page!