Dave Paulson | The Tennessean

Morgan Clark has a tip for her fellow Nashville singer-songwriters — especially those who perform in our town's hotel lobbies and lounges. Always give a gig your all, no matter how small the crowd.

You might find yourself with a $10,000 tip at the end of the night.

That's what Clark says happened to her Monday during a performance at the Holiday Inn Express on Broadway.

Clark was filling in for a friend that night. Her main gig is at the Hilton Garden Inn on Music Row, where she sings three nights a week.

"I always count my tips at the end of the night," Clark says. "And I saw this check upside down among my tips, and I thought, 'Oh, that's weird that someone wrote a check. No one ever writes a check.' I turned it over and saw it was a check for $10,000. I thought, 'This is not real. There's no way.' "

That's when Clark says the $10,000 tipper approached her and manager James Rea and told them "It's real."

"He just said that he believes in me ... and he said, 'Do me one favor. Don't ever lose your innocence.' I've had fans come up to me and (say they) love my voice and my music and stuff, but no one ever believed in me to do that."

He also asked to remain anonymous, Clark says. Instead of keeping the check, the three met at a bank on Tuesday morning to complete a wire transfer.

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The Tennessean was able to review a bank statement from Clark confirming a wire transfer of $10,000 was made on Tuesday.

Clark, a self-described "retro pop" artist, says the windfall was perfect timing as she's lining up showcases for publishers and labels.

She's been pursuing music in Nashville for five years this month, and has been a fixture at hotels for the last two.