Three Phone Calls and a SNEAK PEEK

After Bob Liberman asked me to help him with his memoir of his long tenure as Jimmy Buffett’s Tour Manager, friend, and confidante, I had several questions for the infamous “Lip Balm,” as you might imagine.

In a series of messages through Facebook, my questions went something like this:

Chris: “Do you have an agent?”

Bob: “No.”

Chris: “Do you have a publisher?”

Bob: “No, not yet.”

Chris: “Do you have an outline.”

Bob: “No, but I have a lot of great stories about my times with Jimmy.”

Chris: “How do you see me helping you?”

Bob: “I’m a good storyteller and I have a bunch to share. When it comes to writing them, not nearly as good. I’ve seen your posts. I like your writing style. I think it makes sense to have a fan of Jimmy’s ghostwrite my book.”

Chris: “WOW! Great! Thank you! I’ll do the best I can, but I have never written a book, nor been a ghostwriter. I would LOVE to hear your stories – it would be an honor to write them for you…”

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Since I knew nothing about ghostwriting, I looked for info on the internet. I found a company that specializes in providing ghostwriters and other author support, mostly intended for public figures who want their story told for political or business gain. These companies charge big bucks to have someone write their story.

That wasn’t applicable to Bob, so I knew it was out of the question to expect him to dig deep into his pocket. Or even suggest upfront compensation. I decided I would take on this huge project for several reasons, including the opportunity to draft my first book.

Besides that, I really wanted to hear Bob’s stories about Jimmy right from him, unfiltered. Though there would be no financial guarantees, I would hopefully be compensated up front via a publisher’s advance, on the back end via royalties, or if book sales go well, both.

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I reached out to Seamus McGraw, a friend from high school who has written several books after a long career as an award-winning journalist. His non-fiction books tend to be issue-oriented and supported by traditional publishers.

For more on Seamus: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00420K5AO/about

He has also served as ghostwriter for several books. If anyone I knew could provide some guidance, it would be Seamus.

I hadn’t spoken with him since graduation. Seamus and I weren’t the best of buddies, nor rivals, in high school. We simply endured those four years in different circles. I was focused on sports, while Seamus was more involved with band and the drama club, often the lead in our school’s theatrical productions.

We reconnected through the Magic of Facebook a few years ago, but nearly all our direct communication was randomly commenting on each other’s post. I messaged Seamus, described what I was getting myself into, and asked if he would he be willing to chat with me.

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PHONE CALL #1

 I was pleased Seamus accepted my request for a phone call. Right off the bat, Seamus told me, “Jimmy Buffett was a cultural phenomenon. You should be able to get your books published…”

Seamus also told me when he serves as a ghostwriter, he is completely invisible in the finished book, which is why ghostwriters command a significant fee, and typically, royalties based on sales. However, there is no recognition as the ghostwriter’s words become the subject’s – no one in the public knows a ghostwriter drafted them.

Seamus suggested I could be a “co-author” with Bob for his memoir, but that would suggest Bob wrote certain chapters and I wrote certain chapters.

I explained that Bob wanted to tell me his stories and have me write them, with enhancements or embellishments, as needed. Also, since I was working on my own memoir, I hoped my role in Bob’s book might help me in finding a publisher, or even better, the same publisher that understood the synergies of two books on the same subject.

Seamus then suggested Bob’s memoir could be “By Bob Liberman with Chris Lauber,” or “…as told to Chris Lauber.”

That seemed to be a good solution. Seamus offered additional assistance if I needed it. I thanked him for a much better understanding of how my role with Bob would evolve and how I would benefit after a ton of hard work.

FUN WORK, but still, work is work.

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PHONE CALL #2

I reported back to Bob on the role I would like to play in telling his story, not as a ghostwriter, nor co-author, but credited as “Bob Liberman with Chris Lauber.”

I told Bob that I would like to schedule a Zoom call and shoot video of the screen with my GoPro camera. That way, I wouldn’t need to take notes and, more importantly, I could then replay the video. Using the Dictate mode in a Word document, I could have our entire conversation transcribed.

I suggested that I would pursue this as if I were a journalist in terms of uncovering stories, jogging memories, and researching facts, when available. Also, that anything he tells me will be “on the record” unless he tells me otherwise. Of course, he could always delete or change anything I drafted.

Finally, “Bob’s story! Bob’s book! Bob’s decisions.”

Bob agreed to everything I wrote.

We scheduled our phone call. Bob had written the Foreword to Scott Atwell’s book “Buffett Backstories” so to prepare, I re-read that opening chapter.

Then, for the first time in 40+ years, since a one-sentence comment during a concert in Boston – “You’ve got the best job in the world” - I was talking directly to Bob Liberman.

After we exchanged pleasantries, I mentioned to Bob that I had read his Foreward in Buffett Backstories and his story of getting hired by Jimmy.

I explained that I thought that true tale would be a GREAT hook to draw people in. I added that back in college, a professor in advertising told us to always remember AIDA:

• Grab your audience’s ATTENTION!

• Get them INTERESTED!

• Give them something to DESIRE!

• Tell them how to ACT!

I said the Phone Call Story would be an AWESOME first chapter that we could tell briefly and grab the reader’s attention. Hopefully, the reader will want to know why Bob is being by called by Jimmy out of the blue, and how that phone call came to be.

I asked Bob if he had a background in music or was he always just a music lover that brought him to a career with Jimmy Buffett.

“Yes, always a music-lover. But, nope, it was actually a series of mishaps, missteps, and miscalculations that I somehow not only survived, but prospered.”

Bob then shared with me his incredible back story, which includes cross-country hitchhiking, his trip at Woodstock, his first-time meeting Jimmy, touring with Bob Dylan, and all sorts of other stories leading to his role as Jimmy’s Tour Manager.

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Friends, I can’t wait to finish writing Bob’s memoir to share his incredible journey, which ultimately brought Bob to this memorable day:

For now, Phone Call #3, a SNEAK PEEK

Please let us know what you think, especially on the AIDA lesson by my college professor so many years ago.

• Does this first chapter grab your ATTENTION?

• Did it increase your INTEREST in Bob’s story?

• Did it give you a DESIRE to read more?

• If you read this in a book, would you be inclined to ACT - to turn the page?

Thanks in advance for reading and for any feedback.

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“I HAD To Be There - I was Jimmy Buffett’s Tour Manager”

By Bob Liberman with Chris Lauber

Section 1, Chapter 1: THE Phone Call, February, 1977

The phone call that changed my life came on a day that started out pretty normal for me.
At the time, I was 26 years old and I had dropped out of the University of Florida the previous Spring.

I was living with my Mom in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, driving an old Ford Fairlane cab while I tried to figure out my life.

It was a gorgeous February morning in south Florida with the sun shining brightly, low humidity, and just a few puffy clouds in the sky.

I was sitting at the corner of Las Olas and A1A, waiting for my next fare. I could see the Atlantic Ocean beyond the sandy beach, my windows were rolled down, my transistor radio was playing, and beautiful girls were walking by in skimpy bikinis. I could smell the coconut oil wafting through the air.

Suddenly, the dispatcher came on the radio, interrupted my sight-seeing, and barked, “Driver Liberman!”

“Yes,” I responded, “this is Driver Liberman.”

“Your Mom called... she said it was important...call her back.”

I was mortified that my fellow drivers heard this message. I was the new kid in the garage and knew they’d give me a hard time about being called at work by “Mom.”

I was also worried that it could be an emergency - she had never called me while I was working. Of course, there were no cell phones in the ‘70’s. I drove to the nearest Mini-Mart to find a pay phone and call my Mom.

It went something like this:

“Ma, are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Yes, Bobby, I’m okay, I’m fine...”

“You embarrassed me in front of all the drivers on the radio. What's up?”

“Oh, I'm sorry, honey...”

“What is it?”

“Well, you got a phone call - he said it was important - I wanted to let you know...”

“Ma, you’ve never called me at work. Who couldn’t wait until after work?”

“Jimmy Buffett - he said to call him back right away...”

“Yeah, Mom, you’re right. That IS important.”

“I thought so. He gave me his number for you to call. He is at area code 404...”

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