Here we are again. I just finished meeting with a band that has sold over 6 million records, have had several Gold albums, and numerous #1 hits. They have one of the most charismatic front men around, who’s also a great singer!

I wasn’t sure what to expect. This group is actually known for their live show; and they want me to help make it even better. I was so impressed with their desire to learn, grow and improve.

In fact, I told the lead singer Read more…

Some of you know I’m a big sports fan. A few years ago while I was in Atlanta working with an artist, we drove down to see a Braves game. As I walked up to the stadium, a scruffy looking guy came up to me and said “I’ve got a free pass to get in; do you want one?”

He must have had a reason to pick me out of the thousands of people there. I don’t know why. And I couldn’t believe it – It was an awesome seat behind home plate!

Some artists think they should get a pass, too. Read more…

This is a little outside the performance realm, but it deals specifically with the success of artists we come in contact with.

You see, I just got off the phone with someone in Florida asking for my assistant, Jodi. He’d sent an email to her two days earlier and hadn’t gotten a response yet. He was ready to get going with things! (I found it amusing, because my assistant is usually the one trying to track people down.)

With all the calls and emails we get, I can say that we basically deal with 2 kinds of people:

1. Those serious about their career, prioritizing their goals, and following through on them in a timely way; and

Read more…

One of my best friends in the music industry says “more than a manager, more than a record label, more than a hit on the radio…what an artist needs is great publicity.”

So he hires a publicist to write things about him and his music that sometimes (oftentimes?) stretch the truth. He can look good that way.

I submit to you that a great show can solve that problem WITHOUT having to stretch the truth! Read more…

You’re doing an audition song…you’ve got just one opportunity to capture the judges and your audience. What’s the best way to do it?

Well, it has to do with a “show” and “hide.” You need to show your strengths, and you need to hide the things that aren’t your strengths.

Here’s a brief overview of what you need to keep in mind when you’ve got only one song:

There is a method to doing this. For one thing, whether you are doing an audition for your school, a showcase for music industry people, or a special presentation for the Grammys, it’s important to not be thinking onstage!

You need to be comfortable and confident. Otherwise, we the judges (or the audience) are distracted from your main purpose: to emotionally connect with people. A distraction means no connection with anyone – judges or audience.

You may have a great voice, a great song; but if you’re not prepared correctly, you won’t get past the audition, or you won’t be able to impress those music industry people, or (in some cases) you’ll leave a bad impression at an awards show.

If you are a performer, chances are good that you’ll need to do at least one 1-song audition at some time in your career. Learning the best way to really shine in your audition is a process. To be completely prepared, check out my All Roads Lead to the Stage DVDs, especially Show Me the Show.

I’ll also be teaching you how to do this at my Young Performers Bootcamp coming up soon.

I recently received an email from Sally Quick of The Quicks. She was explaining how they had used my teaching DVDs to create a fun moment in their concert that has been getting YouTube play with churches all over the country!

Apparently The Quicks, who are a Southern Gospel group, do a song called “It’s a Sure Thing” which is anything but “Grandma’s traditional kind of song.” They had normally staged it as a Gladys Knight and the Pips thing. But one of their “Pips” left the band when their daughter married and became a teacher. They were left short a Pip. Read more…

So the question from last week (Red Pill or Blue Pill) was “I saw you work with that artist, but what should I do?” Thanks for weighing in on what you think artists are really asking!

There were some great comments:
“We can’t stop learning…I’ve been to several of your conferences…I think the biggest thing I have learned is to go into a gig with a plan.”
“I go to that music school in Texas, and actually recognized one of those pictures as my ensemble’s set list!” Read more…

In Australia a few years ago, an artist walked offstage to 18,000 cheering fans. She came backstage and asked if I’d seen the show. I had. “What did you think?” she asked.

Red pill, blue pill – which one do you want? In the Matrix, when Neo is about to take the reality-giving red pill, Morpheus warns him, “I’m offering the truth…nothing more.”

I’m hoping (since you’re reading this) that YOU want the red pill, even though it might be a little painful sometimes.

Read more…

I’ve been working with two bands the last couple of weeks. Both of them are potentially on the verge of breaking big. One’s a rock act; one is a country band. One’s been on MTV a lot; one just did the ACMs, opening for Lady Antebellum.

It still amazes me that acts like these are not using the technology available to make their show better! Read more…

Whether it’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Pimp My Ride, or What Not to Wear, we all enjoy seeing a transformation. We like to see the dramatic “before” and “after” that gives a great look to whatever is being made over.

Not long ago, I was asked about my “live music makeovers.” Whether I’m working with a singer, a band, a vocal group, a singer/songwriter…every artist’s songs need a makeover so that they work for the live show. Read more…

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