Avetts works hard for success

During a panel session at the AMA conference in Nashville Friday, Avetts's manager Dolph Ramseur said, "This isn't rocket science. It's working hard and getting goals together."

Part of what helped the band is a heavy duty touring schedule. Paul Lohr, who books the group, said he passed on the Avetts the first time Ramseur called him, but he later changed his mind. He said in trying to book the group, he did not seek to oversell them because he would lose credibility with venues. "This is acompletely different project than having a million dollars for radio," Lohr said, referring to previous work he had done with the Dixie Chicks. He referred to it as building it "one brick at a time...I cut fair deals."

He said, for example, the first time the band was in Seattle, it drew 167 people. Six months later, the Avetts drew a full house and turned 100 people away. In April 2008, they are going to return and do 2 nights.

Several panelists suggested that the live show was what sold people on the Avetts. The group was able to obtain many reviews in national publications as well.

As for the awards, Leslie Rouffe of Songlines, which has helped promote the group, said she thought they will "definitely help. I think the buzz from the conference will help even more."

Of approximately 60 people in the room for the session, all but about 2 had seen the Avetts before.