How to Hold an Audience in the Palm of Your Hand
September 12th, 2010
Today’s Quote:
“Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.”
– John Fellows Akers
It takes practice before to captivate an audience. But that’s OK, the important thing is to start where you are.
The Gift of Gab
Always greet your audience. This puts people at ease, especially if you add some humor.(Just remember that humour isn’t for everyone so be sure that you are comfortable pulling it off). You can talk about something interesting you saw on the way to the gig, or some hot issue that is on the news right now.
Talk to me
Coming across naturally when talking to your audience can seem daunting when you first start to do this unless you are outgoing by nature. Your audience wants to hear what you have to say. Often people think performers just wing-it while talking on stage but many times this is not the case. Many performers practice what they will say to their audience before they ever set foot on stage. Read the rest of this entry »
3 Things Lady Gaga Wouldn’t Wear on Stage.
September 1st, 2010
Today’s Quote:
“It is not women’s fault if we are so tender. It is in the nature of the lives we live. And further, it would be a terrible catastrophe if men had to live men’s lives and women’s also. Which is precisely what has happened today – to women.” – Selma James
Lady Gaga (aka Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is the queen when it comes to fashion on stage. If you are a female singer or female musician, chances are you have checked out this celeb’s latest fashions. You may or may not be able to picture yourself wearing this type of wardrobe but there are some things you should never wear. Here is list of what I think this artist would never be caught in while performing.
What Lady Gaga Wouldn’t Wear on Stage:
Lady Gaga wouldn’t split over hairs. There’s just something about those tresses that really make the icing on the cake when it comes to your look on stage.
Artists spend thousands of dollars to have great hair. Stars are known to have a budget the size of Nasa’s, set aside just for the right “do”. You don’t necessarily need Edward Scissorhands as a hairstylist, but it doesn’t hurt to pay for a great stylist who can sculpt your coif into a masterpiece. The next time you need a cut, take a pic of your new look and bring it to a more affordable hairstylist. Read the rest of this entry »
So you still wanna get a record deal…really?
August 19th, 2010
Quote of the Day:
“There would be no new school without the old school.”" Vivian Scott, Epic Records
What does Madonna, Green Day, Limp Bizkit, MC Hammer, and Courtney Love have in common?
They are one of the many artists who have dumped their record companies and began selling their songs independently. Why, you ask? That’s a good question since many unsigned artists are under the impression that once you get signed the dough just keeps rolling in.
Do the math
Did you know that an artist gets a measly $1 dollar bill (and often less) for every CD that is sold. Imagine spending a huge part of your childhood, teenage years and adulthood developing your musical skills only to be rewarded $1 a CD once you became famous. How long would it take you to make all those millions you were dreaming about. With shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent, the media has been extremely successful in creating the illusion that signed artists are living the big life. Yes it is true, that some artists are very wealthy but the reality is that even if you get signed, it will be a long time before you see any real money. Read the rest of this entry »
Your Secret Weapon Against Music Bullies
July 28th, 2010
If you’ve never bumped into a bully as a female musician hang on to your banjo – at some point you most certainly will.
Music bullies are initially disguised as gregarious, entertainers but without too much provocation they quickly morph into divas or divos. These ego-maniac artists can wreck havoc on your career and can suck the confidence right out of you. They are usually very high maintenance and believe the universe revolves around them.
So who are these people and who gave them the right to rain on your musical parade? Read the rest of this entry »
How to be a Friendly Barracuda
June 7th, 2010
If you’ve ever wondered whether to be assertive or nice when gigging with men, you’re not alone.
As a female musician you may at times feel like you need to be an acrobat walking a tight rope between super-tough chick and super-nice barbie.
Today I’m going to talk about how to be assertive while still maintaining some form of friendliness.
Men respect women who are neither a pushover nor overly aggressive. Read the rest of this entry »
Talent Is All You Need… Or Is It?
May 27th, 2010
Are you one of those female musicians who believe that as long as you have great talent the world is your oyster?
Since American Idol has permeated the airwaves, there seems to be this attitude that if you are somewhat musically gifted a multitude of doors will swing wide open for you. (I actually think the best American Idol shows are the ones at the beginning of the season. You know the ones where Simon rolls his eyes and calls his poor victims the worst singer on the planet. The poor soul goes away pretty depressed. But hey – that’s TV for you!)
Obviously talent is essential for a career in music, but that is simply the proverbial “tip of the iceberg”. If you happen to be one of the lucky female musicians who reaches star status, hats off to you (you’re probably not reading this blog anyways – stats say it’s like winning the lottery twice). But for the rest of us mere mortals, things are a bit different.
