This week’s Community Corner spotlight features Porter’s Call!
In this episode, Brother Love speaks with Beth Barcus and Chad Karger, Co-Executive Directors and Porters at Porter’s Call. Beth speaks of her experience of getting her Undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Psychology. She realized that she did not like the rules baring her from her clients. This drove her to Porter’s Call where she felt that she could help clients in a way that was tailored to their needs without a transactional exchange. Chad was a minister, a counselor for leaders in the community, and a counselor for leaders in business before being asked to join Porter’s Call.
Porter’s Call is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2001. Their name comes from a tradition in the early Benedictine monasteries of the 5th century where there would be a porter in charge of hospitality. The porter would call out a welcome blessing, invite in travelers, and be tasked with getting the visitors what they needed. This idea is what inspires Porter’s Call as they aim to guide artists when they walk through their doors.
Located at 228 2nd Ave, Franklin, TN, Porter’s Call offers advocacy, guidance, and support free of charge to touring and recording artists along with their significant others. The porters approach their work by creating trusting relationships and friendships with artists to offer them a safe place. Porter’s Call understands that there are unique challenges that come with touring as well as recording music. As an artist’s story becomes a product, there can be struggles that they face on top of the struggles that come from the human condition. The porters listen to these artists’ stories and help them to reframe and reclaim their stories in a way that allows them to move forward in their lives.
Additionally, artists can use Porter’s Call as a resource for as long as they need. With some artists coming for ten, fifteen, or even twenty years, the porters are there to walk them through the different seasons of life. If an artist is seeking a resource that is more specific like treatment for addiction or an eating disorder, Porter’s Call has vetted resources that they know work well with artists to direct them to. They will often provide grants to help artists pay for these resources. Porter’s Call also partners with Music Health Alliance, MusiCares, Sweet Relief, and other organizations to help provide those grants.
Porter’s call is open to any recording or touring artist whether they are independent or signed. Any level of artist (or their significant other), as long as they are actively touring or recording, is eligible for Porter’s Call. If you are interested in learning more about whether or not you might be eligible for Porter’s Call’s services, you can call (615) 591-6622 or email [email protected].
The services at Porter’s Call are completely free to allow access to all levels of musicians while also creating a space that allows artists to freely create and take what they need. Services are free because of donations done by labels and music enjoyers alike. If you would like to donate to Porter’s Call, you can donate by calling (615) 591-6622 or emailing [email protected]
The sixteenth year of “An Evening of Stories,” will be held September 16th, 2025 at the Fisher Center at Belmont University. This event is the primary funding engine for Porter’s Call and gathers people from all facets of the music industry to support artists’ mental health. The event will feature several artists who will sing and share their stories, along with two storytellers unrelated to music, who tell stories to remind everyone of their shared humanity. To find out more information about “An Evening of Stories” or Porter’s Call in general, you can visit their website.
You can also learn more about Porter’s Call by listening below!
