Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor

I'm Robin, the front woman singer/songstress for the band RUBY RED. I have been reading your tips for years and wanted to thank you for all your great info and guidance.

I remember the first year playing in this band and thinking how slow it was going. Then, the next thing I know, I'm taking your advice and walking around downtown Vancouver determined to find something -- ANYTHING -- to make this thing GO.

So I'm standing in this little wine shop waiting to speak to the woman at the counter to ask about coming in to do some acoustic stuff. I overhear her talking to another woman about a big concert she's promoting.

She leaves and I ask the counter woman who she was, and she gives me her name and number off the card she left. So I call and she says, "I'm so glad you called. We are looking for an original local band to open both days for this festival." And the headliners? Eddie Money the first day and Eric Burdon & The Animals the second!

We had to audition for it and they came to see us at a small club the next week. We rocked their socks off and they hired us on the spot. Then a company called FanBoy Pictures found out we were opening and came to see us. They loved us and asked if they could do a five-camera video shoot of the event.

Then came the concert -- a huge event with a giant stage and a board bigger than I had ever imagined. The newspapers were writing all about it. FanBoy shot two songs during sound check. The videos turned out great -- you can see them at www.rubyredmusic.com.

Eddie Money loved us so much, he wanted to have a picture taken with us! He asked for a CD. We were thrilled. We played a stellar show both days, and it was the launching point for so many things we have done since.

I just wanted you to see that you really DO help people OUT THERE -- in more ways than you could ever know! I probably never would have walked out that door that day and gone into that wine shop if it hadn't been for YOU!

Thanks for the awesome email and for sharing your story. You made my day!

I'm flattered that you credit me with motivating you to act on your passion for music -- but make no mistake, it was YOU who took the action. And for that, and all that's come because of that first step, you should be proud.