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idea of haven is a Scandinavian Designs store,” James replies, laughing.
    All along the walls there are pictures of Susan with many famous musicians, many of whom she managed before. We are taken to a conference room and told to wait there. Some minutes later, Susan walks in with an older gentleman by her side.
    “ Hello, I’m Susan Carmichael, nice meeting you all,” she says introducing herself. “This is George, he is our lawyer and he is here to handle the managing contract for us and to discuss any questions you may have about it. First, I would like to say I’m very excited to become the manager of this band. I really believe in your talent and your music. I haven’t been this impressed and this excited for a band in quite a while now. I really hope to take you guys to the top.”
    After all the pleasantries are exchanged we start the business part of the meeting pouring through all the details of the long, long contract. After an excruciating boring time we finally agree that we are in accord with all the clauses in the contract and proceed to the signing. At this moment George leaves the meeting as his job here is done and Susan’s assistant brings us champagne for a toast.
    “Okay, now that the boring part is out of the way let’s get to what matters,” says Susan. “I would like to get you guys into the studio as soon as possible. Since you’ve been playing only locally there is little awareness of your group outside of California. I want to record a single right away so we can hit the radios with it and create some buzz for the upcoming album.”
    “Sounds awesome,” I say. “We are ready.”
    “Okay. I’ll book the studio for later this week. I’ll let you know when we have a date. In the meantime, practice the songs and think about the set you want to include on the CD. We’ll go over them when you come back.”
    We agree, hardly being able to contain our excitement. It’s easy to see we are all feeling giddy. We are going to a real studio to record our first record. We can hardly believe this is really happening.
    “One more thing I would like to say,” Susan continues. “I’m very flexible as manager. When it comes to the band, I like to let you guys have total creative control musically and I don’t like to get in your way if I can help it. But I do have one rule and it is an important one to me. No relations between band members. I do not want the complications. There will be lots of money spent on taking this band, as it is now, to the top. We’re making a significant financial investment in your group and sexual or romantic relations usually only bring about the demise of a band. To make myself very clear on this point, so there is no misunderstanding, Lorelai is untouchable. If any of you guys have sex with her, I’ll kick you out of the band faster than I can snap my fingers. Do I make myself clear?” The guys just nod with their heads a look of shock stamped in their faces.
    She then steps out of the room to take a call and leaves us there stunned at her statement. Ted finally breaks the silence.
    “Is it just me or she is bit scary?”

Chapter 8
     
    Susan’s management company flew James and Ted down to LA again where we would be recording at the beautiful, “The Village” studio. A lot of famous musicians have recorded there and we are extremely excited. We have our set of the songs we think should make it onto the album and we are eager start.
    Instead of flying, Chris and I ended up driving to LA a couple of days early, as Chris wanted to stop by his parents first and he invited me to go along. The idea of not having to fly was appealing to me so I agreed. I have no problem flying, as long as it’s a big enough plane, but I can’t say I’m a fan. So, if at all avoidable, I always chose that route plus hanging with Chris didn’t sound so bad either.
    His parents, while very unhappy at first, were finally coming around to the whole full time band thing. They were