Mart's ACM Story
(It all started in 1998!)
"Mart Sits next to
George Strait
for over TWO hours!"
As a talent escort for the ACM show,
I am assigned an entertainer to
accompany during his or her rehersals,
live radio remotes, and getting him or her
to the dressing room prior to the show.
I am also responsible for assuring that
the entertainer gets to his or her
assigned seat prior to the beginning of show.
In 1998, I escorted RAY BENSON - the lead singer
of the Western Swing Group
through out the full day of his
live radio remotes,
(and there were so many!)
All day long, I was surrounded by the
likes of Garth Brooks, Faith Hill,
Dick Clark, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride,
Buck Owens, Bryan White, Glen Campbell,
Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Dixie Chicks,
- Gosh! the list just goes on and on and on . . .
and the neat thing about it was, - they were all
wearing blue jeans and t-shirts! They are
just regular folks like you and me!
Along with escorting, I double as a
"Seat Filler" during the show's taping.
You may be wondering...
What exactly is a "Seat Filler"?
As a Seat Filler, during the show when an
entertainer gets up to present his/her award,
or if he/she needs to step into the restroom,
or otherwise leaves his or her seat,
the seat filler takes that entertainer's seat so
that when the camera pans the audience, it always
appears that there is a full house.
Well!, The show starts, and it isn't but about
thirty minutes into the show when Buck Owens
leaves his seat to be presented an award for
his night club here in Bakersfield -
- as the "Best Night Club of the Year"
I see an opportunity, and "I" (me - YES ME!)
sit down in his seat!
(Remember, as a seat filler,
you are able to remain there
until the entertainer
comes back or the end of the show.)
Well guess what? Buck never came back!!!! -
That's right! I ended up sitting there for
2 1/2 hours! There I was, sitting next to
George Strait himself!
It truly was a day
of fantasy for me!
(And continued in 1999!)
This Last Year, (1999)
The ACM Show was held on May 5th,
at 8:00 PM on CBS. If you watched,
you may have seen Me in the very
same seat that I was in last year!
I sat only two seats away from
GARTH BROOKS! - on the VERY FIRST ROW
or maybe sitting behind Charlie Daniels!
This last year, I escorted
on the day of the show, and the day prior to the day
of the show while he was
in rehersal. Billy spent alot of time chatting with
other entertainers and playing his new guitar.
Well! The show starts, and it isn't but about
thirty minutes into the show, and I have
already sat in two different seats.
I sat for two segments in Leanne Womack's seat,
right behind Leann Rhimes and
Tracy Lawrence. The next seat I sat in next
was behind Jane Seymour. I could tell that I
would be bouncing around alot tonight!
In 1998, I spent almost two and a half hours
sitting in Buck Owens's seat,
(which is on the THE FRONT ROW!)
so this time, when I saw Buck
getting up to go back stage,
I was there ready to take his seat!
OK, the show starts up again,
and it is then that I realize that I am
sitting just two seats away from Garth Brooks!
And wouldn't you know it - when my wife saw
that I was that close to Garth,
I knew I wouldn't be sitting here long!
Sure enough, during the next
commercial Vanessa came over
and said something to the effect
that she wanted me to "get up" - that the
seat I was in was HER seat! So, being the
kind, respecting husband that I am, I graciously
gave up Buck's (MY) seat for my lovely wife.
You'll just HAVE to read Vanessa's story!
Well, as the evening rolled on,
I sat in many different seats.
And we still had the
Now that you read My ACM Story, -
perhaps you would like to read