Ah, sweet summertime. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and school's out. But, for country music fans, summer does not start until CMA Music Festival. Four days are dedicated to concerts with the most well-known country artists in the world. People either travel far and wide or right down the road to attend this great festival in Nashville, Tennessee. I like to think there are five different categories of people that you will see at CMA Fest. Below are the characteristics of each group to make it easier for you to spot them.
1. The Local Nashvillian
Nashvillians are the people that actually belong in Nashville. They are locals and know what they are doing. They did not go buy a pair of boots for CMA Fest because they have owned a pair their whole life. Nashvillians are easy to spot. They will not have a map to get from place to place because they know the streets of downtown Nashville like the back of their hand. They will probably have a look of disappointment on their faces from all the people pretending to be country.
2. The Northerner
Ah, the Northerner. If their accent does not give them away, their use of words and actions sure will. You'll probably have a hard time understanding what they mean. "May I have a pop?" and "What's sweet tea?" are some questions you will overhear them asking the waiter in a restaurant. They also may come off blunt or rude when you accidentally bump into them in a crowd.
3. The Person Who Won't Remember Anything
This person may or may not be a country music fan. They are probably at CMA Fest just by chance, looking to have a good time with their buds. They are the ones who will not turn down a drink and yell obnoxiously, while you're trying to see Luke Bryan shake it for you.
4. The Intense Fangirl
From Blake Shelton to Carrie Underwood, this girl knows her stuff. She will sing every song at the top of her lungs. She will probably have two or three signs with her that say "Shake it for me Luke" or "Marry Me Sam Hunt". She will also be prepared with a portable phone charger to make sure she won't miss recording a single moment of Florida Georgia Line's new song.
5. The Overall Normal Country Music Lovin' Fan
These wonderful people make up over half of the crowd at CMA Fest. They don't try to be something they aren't. They know the local "slang" terms. They can navigate pretty well through Nashville They won't have so many drinks that they forget where they are. They will know all of the songs by the artists and have a great smile on their face throughout the whole entire weekend.
So, if you're thinking of attending CMA Music Festival next year, be on the lookout for these five types of people.Trust me, it will not be hard to see each type of person multiple times throughout the weekend.
