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Listen Up! Wanna Talk?

Have you ever answered the ice breaker, “If you could talk to anyone for an hour, who would it be?” It’s not easy to answer quickly, but I’ve come up with a few people I can use as my standard answer:

  • Jesus: I’d like to ask why the world was created, what he was thinking on the cross, how to live life (and what comes after)
  • Hitler: I want to see what the motivation was behind his actions (or, what the !@%$#%@ he was thinking!)
  • Walt Disney: How did he learn to think outside the box, and what inspired Mickey Mouse (are the rumors true?)

If you’ve ever answered the question, you probably thought in terms of well known personalities. But, in my experience, you don’t have to listen to someone famous to get a lot out of a short visit!

Basketball star Kobe Bryant’s manager says Kobe isn’t a star by accident. He says “it’s because of the time and effort and the knowledge that [Kobe] gains and his willingness to listen to people.”

It’s important to listen up if you want to learn.

Years ago, I met Robert Smith. He has been best-selling author Andy Andrew’s manager for the last few decades. My visits with Robert have been more than a learning experience – they changed the way I think. Robert has encouraged and inspired me! Recently he published 20,000 Days and Counting (which I highly recommend). I’m glad I’ve listened to Robert, because he taught me that success is built on inconvenience – it it were convenient, everyone would be doing it.

Of course, you need to listen to the advice of people who are: (1) giving advice to help you more than they want to help themselves, and (2) are successful in the things you want to succeed in doing, too.

I fell in love with music at a young age and pursued a career in music right out of high school. Along the way, I had many people give me advice on how to be a success in the music business. I read books, attended workshops, met with others in the music industry, and talked with other musicians who were pursuing the same dream. I don’t know if I’ve heard everything under the sun, but I’ve heard a lot! I had to decide who to listen to and see what made sense for me in my life.

Over the years, I’ve applied the things I’ve learned from others and I continue to use those things I’ve seen work over and over for artists onstage. I continue to learn as the industry goes through changes. And I try to keep the “willingness to listen” an active motto in my life and my work.

I’d like to share my knowledge with you.

Now, maybe I’m not on your list of “people I want to talk to” – or maybe I am. Either way, if you’d like to talk to me on the phone in a few weeks, I’m open to the idea.

We’re running our monthly contest on Facebook right now, and 3 winners will be given a 1-hour conference call with me. I’ll answer any questions you have about the music industry, about your show, about making a living doing music… whatever you want to talk about!

To enter the contest there are a couple of things we need you to do in the comments below:

1) “Like” us on Facebook (so you won’t miss out on any of our monthly contests!); then return to this page
2) In the comments below, tell us your name, genre, and how many live concerts you do each year
3) Include a link to your website or main social networking page
4) Then in 300 words or less, answer these questions:
“If Tom Jackson called you, what’s the first thing you’d say to him?”
“At the end of your conversation, what would you hope had been accomplished?”

I’ll read through all the entries and pick 3 winners next week – so post your entry in the comments below before midnight on Monday, March 18!

Looking forward to talking – and listening.

 

Tom Jackson

Tom is uniquely talented and skilled at transforming an artist's live show into a magical experience for the audience; helping artists at every level create a live show that is engaging and memorable, teaching them to exceed their audiences' expectations and to create fans for life. Tom has taught indie and major artists of every genre. He has worked with Taylor Swift, Le Crae, Home Free, The Tenors, Shawn Mendes, The Band Perry, Francesca Battistelli, Jars of Clay, & many more. Tom also teaches at colleges, conferences and events worldwide.

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Greenroom Comments

  1. Finger style instrumental – repertoire pretty eclectic, ranging from worship to pop to spanish to original

    30-50 shows a year.

    My main website is http://www.shanecammell.com, though my YouTube channel gives a better view of why I need Tom’s help.

    The first thing I’d say? nothing clever, just thanks for the opportunity and that I won’t take it for granted!!

    I want to ask Tom how does one turn oneself from a technician/player into a performer. I’ve studied various world famous instrumentalists and found there is no one way to do it – some just sit and play and are highly successful, others rev up the room and are also highly successful.

    I’ve watched Tommy Emmanuel do his thing but he’s got 20 years on me, so I dont’ feel so bad 🙂 but I also don’t wish to become his clone. A colleague of his, Martin Taylor simply sits there and can also hold the audience. So there’s no one answer!

    A lot of what i’ve seen with Tom pertains towards music lead by a singer. As an instrumentalist, I want to know how to reach the audience in a similar manner if possible – how to create those connection moments. Without lyrics, how does one hold the attention of the listener, so that the player doesn’t become simply a glorified jukebox.

    I’ve been playing professionally for a long time but it’s time to take this whole thing up a few notches. I have much technique and some beautiful material to share. I want to put together a sublime show that moves and connects.

    I sure hope Tom’s willing to work with me! Sure would be grateful.

    • Sorry – didn’t include my YouTube link, though it’s on my website home page …

      http://www.youtube.com/shanecammell

      • Shane, Tom would have loved to visit with you by phone, but of course he couldn’t pick everyone! There are a couple of things Tom will always tell instrumentalists: 1) Your songs don’t sound the same, so they shouldn’t look the same. Use your onstage tools & fundamentals to help visually connect with the audience. 2) If you are a solo performer, you are also a “front man” – so get your verbal skills up to the level they need to be! Storytelling, for instance, will be huge for your onstage performance. And without lyrics, that will be particularly true. Tom highly recommends you join us Backstage and get some more detailed answers from his team.
        Also, Shane, you play for so many people – have you considered looking into our Artist Tour Support program? I think it would be great for you!

  2. Hi!
    My name is Gianna Salvato. I’m 16 years old, and i sing r&b/pop/soul mix. I do around 30 dates a year.
    So, to answer the question, “If Tom Jackson called you, what’s the first thing you’d say to him?” I would probably thank him a million times just because of the fact that he picked me, AND the fact that he will be helping me. I’ve been reading his articles and keeping up with him for a long time now, and have worked with the wonderful Amy Wolter in the past, so it would be such a great experience to speak with him.
    At the end of the conversation, i want to have one specific idea accomplished and spoken about. And that is what to say in between songs. How to keep the audience interested. You can have an amazing voice, BUT that is only part of it when it comes to live shows. You need to captivate the audience. The question is: HOW? I have tried some different techniques to no avail, and it would amazing if Tom would give me some ideas/inspirations to help me between my songs. I want my show to be entertaining and fun, but also have those special moments in between. I am at the piano a lot of the time, since i play and sing, and I want the show to have a great flow. I want to invite them into my life, but at the same time, i don’t want the whole show to be all serious. So, i hope that by the end of the conversation, i figure out how to achieve balance, also.

    Thank you SO much!
    Gianna

    • Hey Gianna – Good to hear from you on the site! I know you’ve been busy performing lots. It looks like you are really asking 2 questions; How do I captivate the audience? And, what do I say between songs?

      Your audience will be engaged when your show has moments created, like what we worked on when you were in Nashville. Check out my webinar on creating moments for some specifics on that; http://tinyurl.com/c7fmbte You need to have several different TYPES of moments in your set so there’s some variety…fun moments, touching moments, musical moments, etc.

      As far as what to say between songs, keep in mind first of all that you shouldn’t talk between every song. That’s too much. Some songs should be able to speak for themselves. You may be telling the story behind a song that you wrote to really grab people and ‘create the scene’ so they can put themselves in it.

      Another time you might be teaching the audience part of a song so they can sing along. Another time you will be introducing your band or thanking the promoter or venue for having you there. Sometimes you may just want to tell a funny road story that gives people a glimpse of what your everyday life is.
      Make sense? Hope this helps Gianna!

  3. Hi Tom! Probably the first thing I would say to you is, “Hi Tom!” 🙂 The second thing would be that I’ve seen you teach and share at a couple conferences I’ve attended over the years, and your methods are just amazing. Thanks for using your gifts and experience to help so many people.

    My genre is pop/rock with acoustic leanings. My website is http://www.bethchampionmason.com and my Facebook music page is Facebook.com/bethchampionmasonmusic. At one point I was doing around 100 live shows a year… After taking it slower for a couple years (while my son was small), doing maybe only 20-25 a year, I’m beginning to build the ministry back up again, probably will be closer to 40 this year.

    What I would hope to accomplish by the end of the conversation would be to brainstorm some ideas for new “moments” in my concerts, and also ways to keep it fresh onstage when it’s just a single person onstage. I do some gigs with a full band, but often it’s just me, and I find it a lot easier to create variety when I’ve got the whole band…but I really need to do it when I’m solo too!

    Thanks again for all you do! Have a great day!
    Beth

  4. Jason Ferris
    Christian/Rock/Pop
    Around 100 dates a year
    Was signed with a Christian rock band and toured for the last 2 1/2 years with them. Just resigned in January (a day before my 21st birthday) due to moral reasons. It was a tough decision, as the band could’ve been looked at as “a guaranteed success”. My girlfriend left her Christian rock band for many of the same reasons. It took a lot to standup and not act like everyone else in the world. Now, we’re trying to make it as independent hired musicians.

    My first thing I’d say would be – It’s an honor to be able to speak with you. I attended your boot camp at Camp Electric in 2010 and I fell in love with your concepts! I took tons of notes when I was there and even bought your DVDs. Since then, I am all about putting on a great live show. You were a great inspiration to me.

    I would like to share with you what mine and my girlfriend’s plans are for our future in music and I’d hope to get your wisdom in helping us put it all together. When I stop touring one day, I’d like to be a live performance producer like yourself

  5. I sing contemporary country and christian music. We used to do 50-100 shows a year, now we’ve scaled way back due to cutting out club and bar gigs.

    If Tom called me I would ask, how do you find your own fun in your shows when you are so focused on trying to make them right for your audience? When we were done talking I hope I would find some inspiration to want to perform again and maybe even find enjoyment in what seems to be the only readily available gigs in our area…….bars and clubs.

  6. Hi Tom, we met briefly in Nashville back in 09 at the Indieheaven music summit. I am a meteorologist full time, but music might as well be the other full time work. I do about 45 concerts/year and lead worship another 40-50 times/year ranging from solo acoustic to full band.
    http://www.mikewestendorf.com
    http://www.facebook.com/mikewestendorf1
    genre: CCM/Worship/Public Speaking

    I’d like to affirm so much of what you are teaching when it comes to communication. In fact, it is not limited to bands, but everywhere speaking/performing is done in front of an audience. The biggest quotes that we keep coming back to over and over again “If every song doesn’t sound the same, why do they all look the same” and “communication is 15% content, 30% voice/inflection, 55% what people see”. From the DVD’s and other information you’ve put out, the art of “communication” is something that has really helped me connect authentically with people and has honestly changed me as a person.

    I would hope that by the end of the conversation, you could help me find the best use of my public speaking abilities. I’d like credible/personal reasons why NOT to share part of the story behind a song or how to get to the point a bit quicker. For many, those stories are much appreciated, but I know I can and need to do them better and in some cases, just let the song speak for itself. We get high marks for our live concerts and the passion that we bring, but I feel that I talk too much and would like to sharpen up that part of my work while identifying transitions to focus my talking. At the end of the conversation, I would have better structure and permission.
    Thanks for your work!

  7. My name is Frances Drost.
    I do around 40 live shows per year and work part time as worship leader at my church.
    My website is http://www.francesdrost.com
    Genre: CCM/Inspirational

    My first words to Tom….after I have recovered from actually getting to talk to you would be something like: thank you so much for stepping up and following your dream of working with artists. What you teach has changed my life and my ministry on so many levels.

    What I would hope to accomplish: I have a vision for an annual Christmas show in my home town using most of my own material and a few cover songs. I have a theme idea in mind and would like to discuss how to implement that idea AND still use the moment chart you suggest.

    It would be an honor to have an hour with you Tom!

  8. Hi Tom
    The first question would be How do I convince my fellow part-time Musicians to let go of the cheat sheets and scores and leave the music stand in the practice room(not the Rehearsal Studio). Even people who have seen your video or read your book fall into this trap daily, how can we fix it?
    By the end of the conversation i would like to have an insight into getting a couple of friends and musicians into the mood to at least watch the first video without having their arms crossed and cinicism shield up.
    Thanks for the opportunity and hopefully you’ll address these points some more for us all
    Bill

    • I almost forgot We are trying to put together a Travelling Road Show in Wetaskiwn Alberta not far from Edmonton International Airport in late June. The mere thought has kept me awake and twitchy for months. I know from the videos and my Backstage ass that this chance for western Canadians would be a great boon as well as most unusuall

  9. JUAN CARLOS SABBIONE says:

    Gianni Sabbione, Pop-Rock, 20 shows/year.

    I am in a latin-rock band from Argentina. The first thing I´d like to say to Tom is “We have gone thru the videos and book and learned a LOT… Thank you Tom, we wish you can come some day to our country and eat our “asado”, our local world-class barbecue. That is what we do with FRIENDS, and, with your permission, we already feel like if you were a FRIEND of us! (BTW, you are not vegetarian, are you? :-)”

    We are in the middle of a style change with the band. Formerly, we were more hard-rock, but felt our style and sound were stuck in the 80’s. Now we are moving to a 2013-sounding pop-rock. We really like that, but sometimes we get disoriented (misdirected?) because of that. Also add the fact that going thru the Live Music Method book opened up our minds in a way that we are so excited that the members of the band are (kindly) arguing making a list of questions that aroused rearranging the songs. At the end of our conversation, we would expect Tom to clarify some of them (we promise the list will be short!).

    Best wishes!
    Machaca

    http://www.facebook.com/machacarock
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSLrRZJxJyQ

  10. I know the industry is phenomenally competitive, but I’m starting to realize (with your help) that it’s more about who we are than what we do. Decomposing In Paris’ fan-base is expanding rapidly, increasing by 66% in 2013. We sound a little like Bjork, Kate Bush & Regina Spektor… but we are totally DIY, truly original, and very difficult to classify. Our material and live performances (having followed your approach) received rave reviews in blogs, national magazines, and the BBC. We do our best to use our position to help combat Human Trafficking. The slave trade didn’t end with Lincoln, in fact it is more active than at any point in history…. we even had a No.1 hit…. but none of that really matters when it comes to something like this.

    If Tom called me I’d probably be a little overwhelmed. It’s been obvious that God has had His hand upon this band. Opportunities we would never have dreamed of, but also jealousy, and even some racist discrimination. The first thing I’d probably say though is “do you realize you’re calling Northern Ireland? Skype is free!”

    What I’d really want is assurance that I’ve talked this over with a master. We perform with self-recorded tracks because of our inability to play two instruments at once, and we can’t always afford an orchestra. This isn’t something that’s done in our part of the world, unless you’re a MASSIVE band on tour. We’re good though; sometimes people even think we’re miming. We haven’t gigged yet in 2013; we’ve been woodshedding before playing festivals around Ireland & touring the USA in August/September. I’d want to talk about the experience of the audience, and how we can really help them to have a great night, whilst still challenging them with our message.

    Thanks.

    • LOL! We love Skype at Onstage Success as well, Garvin! You obviously have a great outlook on life and your music – I admire your giving spirit. Although Tom couldn’t talk with you this time, I’d like to set you up with a phone call (or Skype 🙂 with someone who might help you with support for your US tour. Could you email me at info@tomjacksonproductions.com and I’ll get you connected.

  11. Hi Tom! My name is Dez Childs and the genre of music I am in is Contemporary Christian (acoustic rock). I perform 30 some shows a year The first thing I would say to you is that your work has been an answer to prayer. When I was 18 I prayed to God for about an hour to help make me a better performer. I unfortunately stepped away from music for a while but God didn’t want me to give up just yet. About four years later that prayer was answered when I searched for help on performing through YouTube. I found you and also found that you were a Christian. My mind was blown. So I would say thank you for doing the work God has called you to do and to continue in it. At the end of our conversation I hope that I come away understanding more of what Gods will is concerning the show. I want to be the best I can be for Him I want to understand moments better and how to create them. How do I communicate to the crowd effectively through speech and music so they leave changed?! God has used music so powerfully in my life and I want to be involved in that work as well . Thank you so much for all you’re doing. – Dez

  12. KIRK SCHIEFELBEIN says:

    Facebook/ Kirk Schiefelbein

    1. First thing I would say to him—
    “Is this really Tom jackson?’
    2.What would you hope had been accomplished—
    “The realization that the goal I had of one day getting to talk one on one to Tom Jackson had been accomplished.

  13. Robbin Kapsalis says:

    Robbin Kapsalis
    **Blues

    I’m new to performing, however, the last year, I’ve performed as a special guest with a number of bands totaling 26 live concerts.

    http://www.facebook.com/RobbinKapsalis

    If Tom Jackson called me, I would thank him for the information he makes available to new and seasoned musicians and more importantly, a huge thank you for not glossing it over. I enjoy reading the articles, and watching the videos; finally, I have a backstage pass and it only gets better from there. As a newcomer to the music business, I’m hungry for information, and whenever I meet a seasoned musician, if possible, I ask questions. Unfortunately not everyone is going to be straight with you – it is a very competitive business – but you do run across a rare few who keep it real with you. From reading Tom’s articles, I gain insight, aha moments and a new perspective about what I’m doing on stage and how I can do it better. I was fortunate to find Tom Jackson Productions during research, and I’ve been hooked every since. I hope at the end of my conversation, I would have a plan on developing myself as a blues artist. I truly love performing, and anything I can take away from a conversation with Tom, that would strengthen my live performance would be awesome!

    • Megan Marcum says:

      Hey Robbin,
      So happy to hear that Onstage Success has been very helpful to you. I love how there are so many different types of performers, all with a wide range of experience and are able to benefit from the same methods. Tom’s Bootcamp is a great place for performers (new & seasoned) to strengthen their shows. You should consider joining us for the weekend in September in Nashville, TN.

  14. Hello Tom,

    Long time no see…. you still look mahvelous……..

    Well, I released my second album after years of working on it. I don’t perform much when I am writing because I also work as a hairdresser and my time is split between music and beauty.

    The first thing I want to talk to you about is the importance of doing live performances in cafes and events in contrast with making videos and posting them on youtube.

    The last thing I hope we accomplish at the end of our one hour conversation is for me to be so inspired that my head spins with ideas and although I have told everyone I know about you…. I will share the love even more.

  15. I might start babbling if I had a chance to talk to Tom so I’d have to plan it in advance a bit… I’d tell him that I devoured his book and marked up all the pages and was so grateful to read a book about real performing! I am a classical bassoonist who used to play 150 concerts per year as part of the Montreal Symphony and other groups and left orchestra life to play about 20 solo shows (alone, with piano or with orchestra) per year. I would ask him how to take my instrument into many places and play many more concerts with artists of other genres who I admire (there is a list). I would also ask him if he would come to one of my shows (a girl can dream) and I would hope for the truly practical, upbeat yet somehow surprising wisdom that prevails in his book. I would expect that talking to him would remind me that the world is an open door if we have the gumption to walk up through it.

  16. Jonathan Wright says:

    I perform lot’s of children’s music (mostly preK) and some senior citizen oldies gigs. Between 50 and 75 shows a year total. http://Www.johnnyonlymusic.com

    First thing I’d say to Tom is how much I love his “All Roads Lead to the Stage DVD set.”

    I’d ask about my kids shows. I use an acoustic guitar and a headset mic – both wireless, so that I can walk among the children while sing. I also juggle and use different puppets, props and lots of hand motions. 25% of my kids songs are the acoustic guitar and voice only – but the other 75% of my songs are backing tracks and voice. I feel so locked in when I use backing tracks, but I need them for the different sounds and to free up my hands to do puppets, juggling, and lots of hand/body motions for the kids to follow while I’m singing. My question would be about how to make backing tracks more interesting and improvisional.

    I’d also ask a question for my senior citizen gigs. In that one, I use a mic stand with mic and guitar on a cord to cut down on equipment I bring. Those gigs are always tough access for bringing in equipment and low money. I don’t use backing tracks at all, both to cut down on equipment and because the seniors seem to appreciate a more genuine approach of a real guitar. Talk about feeling tied to one place?! How do I make it visually interesting when I’m tied to the mic stand for the whole time?

    At the end, I’d walk away with new ideas and a ton of homework. I’d be happy about the insights and excited about the amount of work they would take to implement.

  17. Brian Watts, Christian Rock, This is a new venture.

    http://www.brianwattsmusic.com

    Let’s mess with it ! !

    I would hope to have new insight on improving my live show.

  18. My name is Keith Andrew Grim. I am a Christian musician with a folk or folk/pop style with influences from country, classical and classic rock. I am an acoustic guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

    I have been playing 25 – 35 live gigs a year over the last few years.

    Official web site: http://www.keithandrewgrim.com

    The first thing I would say is “Hello”

    What I would hope would be accomplished is to get a better understanding of how to organize my concerts, how to work the angles better, and how to better present my concerts.

    I would also like a better understanding of how to engage an audience who isn’t necessarily there to hear music, but thinks of the music as more a background thing.

    I am just at the tip of the ice berg on presenting a concert by using Tom’s methods and although my concerts are getting better, I still have a lot to learn.

    I would also like to discuss ideas on how to present the Passion Play Guitar Cantata that I do as well as The Christmas Story Guitar Cantata.

    I would also like to thank Tom because I believe the best investment I have made in my career, other than working on bookings, is learning to do these methods.

    Then I would probably end the conversation with something like “good-Bye” or “Have a great day”!

    Bye!

  19. My name is Danielle Todd and I am a pop/singer songwriter artist. I am a solo artist and do cover music full time (5-7 gigs a week) but I also do original shows throughout the year. I have a ton of social networking pages – http://www.facebook.com/danielletodd http:/www.sonicbids.com/danielletodd http://www.youtube.com/danielletodd

    First of all, I’d like to ask Tom how his hair flows so nicely? Bahaha I’m kidding! I would really like to ask him a question about my original music. I do a lot of piano playing and guitar playing and since I’m a solo artist I feel stuck at the mic stand. I have tried some of your points that I remember from seeing you in a couple showcases (Canadian Music Week) and though these ideas totally work I feel like I don’t know enough and for the most part I’m stuck at the mic for my set. Are there any main techniques that you would suggest for the visual part of my show that capture an audiences attention even though it’s just little old me up there on stage?

    At the end of the conversation I know I would be satisfied because every time I have spoken with Tom, or seen his Live Music Methods “classes” I always feel like I have learned so much. It is such great experience each time. I only hope that at the end of the conversation I would walk away with a few new techniques to try to spice up my live concert.

    Thank you so much for the opportunity to have a chat with you! You are my favourite industry person to speak with because you really want to help the little guys. Good luck to everyone here.

    Danielle Todd

  20. Addendum!! oops: Country & Americana performing songwriter. 25-30 shows per year. See full comment below.

  21. First I would thank Tom for all his dedication and painfully acquired knowledge. Then, to asking: Tom, how do I get a standing ovation every time??!?

    Of course, you need a critical mass in a venue…it’s hard in a little cafe with 8 folks scattered around the room, but to me the standing O means that I have created one or more of those “moments” that Tom stresses. That leads to memorability, CD sales, happy venue owners who invite you back and spread the buzz, etc. It also means that my songs, crafted with great care and pain, have really gotten through…

    So I hope I’d come away from our conversation with a clear idea of how I can make it happen.

    Thanks!!

    • You’re right Jeep – when you’re creating powerful moments and taking people on a journey, you’re bound to get the standing O. It IS tough though in a little crowd at a coffeehouse, where people may be talking and not engaged, but it can happen if you are capturing their attention! Really brood over your songs and spend time thinking about what moves you about them and then picture how to bring the song alive for the audience with the right arrangement, etc.

      Thanks for writing in Jeep!

  22. The first thing I’d like to say to Tom is how much I’ve appreciated having his book, “LIVE MUSIC METHOD: All Roads Lead to the Stage.” (I bought it during the pre-release.) We’d watched the VHS series (yes, it was that long ago that we met Tom at Steve Hurst School of Music Ministry), which was great, but being able to mull the information over and over AND over again from the book pulled all the pieces together. Now, that doesn’t mean everything’s implemented, but at least we’re still listening and learning! What I’d like to ask Tom is when he’s going to be able to bring a Boot Camp to the midwest? And, if we came and were singing from a track and Tom identified this great “moment” in the song, how would he work his magic to identify the “moment” in the song and let us work on it during Boot Camp? (Unless I misunderstand the concept of Boot Camp, but it seems if we were working with live musicians, this would be an appropriate part of the program.) Working from tracks seems to complicate finding “moments” because we get “locked in” (and from what I understand, these “moments” are designed to set us — and our audience — free). Understanding the concept and being able to figure out how to do it in our context would be more than welcome!

  23. Tom, I love your passion and hearing you work with groups and solo artists! I have heard you at several of the GMA seminars, and purchased some of your videos, which were a great help. I strongly believe the information I learned from you, so far, has really made a difference in my life as well as my music ministry!
    I lead worship at a church every Sunday, so my band and I currently only do about 12 performances each year, but with more information from you……we could possibly do a lot more! I would love to learn more about the transition between being a worship band on Sunday and performing original and some secular music at other venues during the week. I also would love to learn more about how to encourage and inspire my band to develop the principals you offer in your videos.

    • Megan Marcum says:

      You should join us at the Tom Jackson Bootcamp! You could watch Tom work with both secular and faith based bands. Its quite spectacular how easy Tom can transition from working with one band to the other and how he can apply techniques to all performers.

  24. Rock/Pop

    10-20 shows per year.

    The first thing I would say to Mr. Jackson is probably a quick thank you and then compliment him on his level of engagement with the Onstage Success Facebook page. I’ve been following the page for a while and I think most of the statuses posted are meaningful to me and I enjoy seeing their updates on my news feed.

    I’ve read many if not all of the articles posted on this site and listened to several radio/podcast interviews with Tom and I would love to go more in depth about creating moments and tracking out a live show, i.e. bringing a setlist to life. My band plays all original music and we’re in the first steps of crafting a full, in-depth performance instead of simply going onstage and playing songs, even with lots of crowd interaction. I really want to hear about live moments that inspire him to suggest whatever ideas he suggests to the bands he works with. We want to take our shows to the next level so we can more deeply impact our fans and express ourselves as artists with greater clarity.

    By the end of the conversation I would hope to have gotten some fantastic new ideas, a new paradigm of how to approach live performance and hopefully to have made Tom’s day a little brighter. Thank you for reading!

  25. First, I’d tell Tom a major thank you. His concepts have helped me as a performer, which has also transferred over to life in general. I am very introverted and it is hard for me to “come out of my shell,”— which is sort of necessary for someone in entertainment! Tom’s toolkit has given me a real confidence to discover authentic and natural ways to engage an audience. And it has worked: I am one of the busiest and most popular jazz musicians on Charlotte, NC, performing over 100 shows last year, and getting featured in two magazines (one local, one national.)

    I would love to have a conversation with Tom to discuss how to transfer these principles to my bread-and-butter income gigs: the restaurant. Tom’s principles are created form the stage where there is a literal spotlight on the artist, but a lot of us are making a living in a different environment where there is no spotlight at all; and if there were a spotlight, we’d be sharing it with the steak dinner. Our audiences are changing all night long, so we have to introduce ourselves several times a night. So I have taken Tom’s graph and principles and tweaked them and I would like to see what he thinks and hear his specific insights. Thank you for the opportunity!

  26. The first thing I would say is thank you. The stuff Tom teaches has become a big part of what I do with a really large singing competition/artist development program for young people. We started it close to three years ago not far from Pittsburgh and it is growing so quickly. It has been extremely difficult to build up but the rewards in helping these people have been so worth it. I’m actually entering this more for them to get to talk to Tom than myself.

    At the end of the conversation…I would really hope the singers taking part in the call come away INSPIRED. We have a lot of young people working with us (ages 16 through 23) and the level of commitment for some of them is very high but most of the people around them don’t work hard enough and, sometimes, it brings down the singers in our program. So sometimes we need to give them a little pick-me-up. Something like a one hour call with Tom would be an awesome reward for their continued effort AND I know they would walk away learning a lot.

    Also…with Tom’s permission…I would LOVE to record the call and post it as part of a podcast series we just started!

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