Ready To Create Magic? Performance is, or should be, an experience for your audience so powerful they lose themselves in it. If you add a little magic to your performance, you can really take the audience for a ride. I call it the ‘illusion of almost losing control’. Notice I say ‘ALMOST’ losing control. Think… Read More » about Performance Magic: The Power of Almost Losing Control
Live Performance
Stance Secrets to Singing With Guitar
Practicing my new stance Singing with guitar can be helped or sabotaged by some subtle stance choices. I’ve been having to up my game due to my upcoming band showcase – I play guitar on a couple of our songs. I was having trouble with buzzing strings, cramped hands and back, hurting shoulder and a tendency… Read More » about Stance Secrets to Singing With Guitar
Singing And Playing Guitar… Breath Issues
Singers who play guitar sometimes have breath issues. Most of the time, especially if the singer has been playing for a while, they typically sing better with the instrument than without. However, sometimes it’s the opposite. Singers are all so interestingly unique! I just got a great email inquiry about this: Andrea wrote… I had… Read More » about Singing And Playing Guitar… Breath Issues
Getting To Effortlessness in the Performing Arts
Dancer taking a load off at rehearsal for Swan Lake Tribute to Elaine Thomas, Nashville, Tn I went to a rehearsal for the Swan Lake Tribute to the 75th birthday of the amazing ballerina Elaine Thomas. The Dance Theater of Tennessee, where Elaine teaches now, hosts the event at Harpeth Hall Auditorium, Nashville. I… Read More » about Getting To Effortlessness in the Performing Arts
How You Know If Your Performance Works
Fred Knoblock performing at JAM Pro Round, pic by Thom King There’s lots of us critics critiquing artists’ performances these days. From American Idol and other talent show judges and audiences, choir directors, school teachers, industry insiders, family and friends, TV talking heads, radio DJ’s, bloggers, mag news reporters and other media mavens as… Read More » about How You Know If Your Performance Works
My Latest Performance Mistake
I did a recent performance for a SallyCat show benefit for The Dance Theatre of Tennessee. (I love these people so much… Sally and Cat are fantastic personally and professionally, and the new DTT is a magical company exploring, nurturing and performing the art of dance. I thank them for uploading the video they took!)… Read More » about My Latest Performance Mistake
When Drummers Sing
Got a great question from Phil Smith: Do you have any tricks to get me, a drummer, to make it easier to play and sing ,,and remember lyrics?? Here are some thoughts for you drummers that sing: 1. write the lyrics out a few times longhand… a great memory tool. 2. Make sure your mic… Read More » about When Drummers Sing
Last Minute Vocal Performance? How To Get Ready
I got a call yesterday to do fill in for a last minute vocal performance on a TV show (Nashville Late Night with Chris Golden). I’d had to travel out of town on the weekend and had given two vocal seminars yesterday… had been up since 5:30am. For me, usually all that would leave me… Read More » about Last Minute Vocal Performance? How To Get Ready
Performance Power Is In The Draw- Not The Push
We all want our performances to be powerful. But just what does that mean? It should mean that you powerfully connect with — and emotionally impact — the heart of your audience. And we do it best when we employ the power of the vocal magnet, not the blowhard! Top mistakes which sabotage your performance… Read More » about Performance Power Is In The Draw- Not The Push
My Performance Preparation Routine
I have a gig this weekend… Just 4 song, but I want every performance to be full of magic musical moments where my audience is carted away to where each songs take place. I must do more performance preparation than when I used to perform regularly.. and I thought you might it helpful. A few… Read More » about My Performance Preparation Routine