Fans buzzing with excitement line up before Griffin Campbell (12). The atmosphere is filled with lively conversation and music playing somewhere in the distance. Behind Campbell is an array of various merchandise — t-shirts, posters and other memorabilia — neatly on display. Fans eagerly wait their turn to reach the front of the line to grab a tangible reminder of their experience, with Campbell being right there to assist them in preserving the memories of this musical event. This is a scene that Campbell became all too familiar with as he spent the summer manning the merch booth for country artist Wyatt Flores on his “Here There and Gone” tour.
“Just being there … a lot of it is impactful, and a lot of it is fun … being in that environment is just so great,” Campbell said.
Like many others, Campbell became more familiar with Flores’ music through the song “Please Don’t Go,” which gained popularity on TikTok because of its connection to the Aubreigh Wyatt case. Campbell, at this time, was unaware just how close he would get to the musician. Campbell’s brother had deep connections within the music world and a deeper connection to Flores’ career. Campbell’s brother was Flores’ manager, giving Campbell the rare chance to embark on the summer leg of Flores’ “Here There and Gone” tour. While excitement was Campbell’s dominating emotion prior to joining the tour, fear held its place. Worries of doing and saying the ‘right’ thing plagued his mind. Despite having done internships with his brother in the past, this experience on tour was his own; he needed to find his footing. Campbell found himself surrounded by people he held in such high regard, which made him nervous and careful. He thought that the best way to approach the tour was to sit back and absorb the knowledge and expertise around him; he needed to be a fly on the wall, not a voice in the room. However, he quickly realized that he needed to put himself out there and make connections. Campbell understood he needed to embrace his fear and step out of his comfort zone. He needed to go into the experience full force; he needed to do it afraid.
“I think I was especially scared there because a lot of what you do matters,” Campbell said. “ … but with that fear, you need to move, and you need to move fast, because if you let it conquer your whole life, you’ll stay stagnant.”
As someone who grew up surrounded by music, it was always abundantly clear to Campbell that it was more than a hobby. For the most part, he believed that he would follow in his brother’s footsteps in the music industry. While this set path would provide comfort to some, for Campbell, this became a worry. While he accepted and acknowledged the privilege of having a mentor who is a close family member, he aspired to forge his own path and make a name for himself within the music industry. This tour provided Campbell with a glimpse into his potential future. Even though his primary role on tour was assisting in running the merchandise booth, he learned many things about what it takes to be a part of the industry. He came to understand that every role, no matter how small, is crucial to a musical tour running as smoothly as possible. Campbell found solace in this newfound understanding, allowing him to feel more appreciative and comfortable in his role.
“When you feel like you have a place in music, I realized that’s like one of the most fulfilling things,” Campbell said.
Not only was he able to expand his knowledge in a professional capacity, but Campbell also returned from the tour a more well-rounded version of himself. The tour expanded his self-knowledge and enhanced the importance of making connections with those around him. Campbell’s experience on tour inspired him to prioritize what brings him joy and channel energy into pursuits that will fulfill him and support him in his journey of life. Campbell also returned home with a new outlook on relationships. Being on tour allowed him to step back and observe how similar people from different backgrounds are. He observed that many people seemed to be more scared than they let on and walked through life being careful not to make the wrong move, a feeling Campbell became familiar with during the tour. With these similarities in mind, Campbell believed that he needed to enhance and establish more connections with others through music. This year, Campbell started the Music Review Club with his close friend Maddox Stone (12) as a way to bring people from different backgrounds together through their love for music. He hoped to create a supportive space where people could step out of their fear, and allow themselves to make the most out of life’s experiences. Overall, for Campbell, his experience on tour amounted to much more than a summer job; it was an eye-opening experience that transformed his outlook on life and fortified his adoration for all things music.
“[The tour] changed the way I interacted with people,” Campbell said. “Like I started doing things that revolved around the things I love, like music … I started practicing my instruments more often … I just feel more out there and willing … I just want to help people and I want to spread the love of music and I want people to feel less alone …. ”