Nashville City Guide - Business Etiquette

In a city used to seeing entertainment industry folk dressed down, the Nashville approach tends to be more casual than elsewhere in the USA. Some meetings will be conducted in jeans, although it is important for business visitors to gauge the situation correctly, as the city's financial and healthcare executives can be as formal as their musical counterparts are informal. Few restaurants or clubs require a jacket and tie and casual-smart will suit most places.

Business cards should always be exchanged. More formal colleagues will prefer a business lunch to dinner, while in the entertainment industry, a social drink after work, followed by some music, would not be out of the ordinary. Southern hospitality may often lead to an invitation to a host's home -an invitation sincerely meant and one that should be gratefully accepted.

Southern states tend to be more conservative than the north, so visitors should limit themselves to moderate social drinking until they know their hosts. Bad language tends to be frowned upon, although again, the music business has its own rules. Courtesies are all-important and ‘Sir' and ‘Ma'am' will be frequently heard. If a host appears to be unduly formal, it is very likely due to the courteous Southern upbringing. Southerners tend to stick together too and side with fellow Southerners, so visitors should avoid talking about politics until they know whom they are dealing with.

Business hours are generally Monday to Friday 0830-1700, although the entertainment businesses usually start and finish later.