By this point I’ve had lessons with several hundred students. And I have noticed something odd: hardly anyone has an accurate self-image when it comes to their singing abilities. At least 3/4 of my students underestimate themselves. A much smaller fraction – maybe 5% – overestimate themselves, believing they are great singers when they have, […]
What do you believe you can’t do? Can you not write songs? Can you not play guitar? Can you not be the lead singer of a band? Can you not land a nightly house gig in Dubai? If you’ve been on my email list for a while, or you know me in person, hopefully […]
There are two kinds of silence on stage. Commanding silence, and embarrassing silence. I probably don’t even have to explain. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? You’ve experienced commanding silence. The singer is in control, but is choosing not to talk or sing. He may or may not make eye contact, but whatever […]
“Bop Skizzum? Why did THEY sign up for your bootcamp?” That’s what the mother of one of my students said. Bop Skizzum is a great 7-piece Denver funk band that’s been around for years, has released several albums and EPs, puts on a tight stage show, and has an incredibly dedicated fan following. […]
You probably did, but in case you didn’t already know: the old model for rockstar success is gone. As recently as 10 years ago, you could still hope to “get discovered” and “get signed” by a record label. This meant that if you showed enough promise and potential to look like a good investment, […]
A singer I know got some great feedback recently from a new band member. He told her that although she was an excellent performer, she was undermining herself between songs. Here’s how: While singing in this particular band, she takes on the persona of a rockstar-type diva. She’s high-energy and edgy. She takes risks, both […]
Call me dedicated, call me crazy… Often when I’m learning a new cover song that’s going to be in the repertoire for a while, I record myself singing it. Then I compare myself with the original singer, WORD FOR WORD. That means: play a second or two of the original recording, then play the same […]
This past weekend was a big gig for a lot of singers: it was a reunion gig of Guitar Villians Live Band Karaoke, with 31 singers vying for $800 in cash prizes. Each singer got to sing only one song. Can you imagine the pressure? Understandably, a lot of them were nervous. Some came to […]
There was a girl who wanted to be in a band. She had performed singing before, but never with a live band. And she had never used a microphone in her life! She answered a few Craigslist ads and ended up trying out for a band. But in the audition, hearing her voice through the […]
Most of my collaborations have been a direct or indirect result of going to music conferences. I’m at the Taxi rally again in LA this year. Just a few quick pieces of advice for anyone going to their first conference… or thinking about it: Try all sizes of conferences. Go to tiny ones such as […]
