You Learned What from Who?

Ever read the comic strip Tiger? In one of those strips years ago, the little boy Tiger and his kid brother are discussing their dog. The little brother claimed he’d taught the dog to whistle.

Peering at the dog for a moment, Tiger declares, “I don’t hear him whistling.” To which the brother exclaims, “I said I taught him… I didn’t say he learned it!”

Author Seth Godin recently wrote a blog, “Oh sure, I studied with him at Harvard” about misconceptions we have regarding learning. As Seth asks, “What level of exposure counts as actually knowing?” Here’s the answer.

A study done by the National Training Board showed people who read or hear information retain about 5% of it. If they watch a demonstration, they retain 30%, or if actively in discussion about it, they retain 50%. That’s pretty good, right? But even better, is this percentage: When active learning (i.e. doing) is part of the process, you’ll retain 75-90%!

I can’t tell you how many times I hear something like this after I teach performance techniques and my Live Music Method for an hour or two at a conference: “That was great! I’ve got it!” And afterward I get emails about how applying all I taught made such a difference in their show.

I’m flattered of course. But I’m also disappointed. Because I know they only got 5% of what I shared. And I only talked and demonstrated my Method for an hour or two. To show them everything would take months!

I’ve mentioned this before – but learning my Method is a process. Just like learning to sing or play your instrument was a process. Just like learning how to use social media, promote your music, make a recording, create an image, or build a website… all of these things that are part of your music business will help you succeed in what you do, but they all take time, energy, and money to learn, apply, and perfect.

Now if having a career in music is a goal of yours and/or you simply want to connect and move an audience every time you’re onstage, please “learn” this Method. If there was something else out there I could recommend, I would – I want you to be awesome onstage! And I know my Method works… but it takes work.

So at the risk of being pushy, please hire one of my Live Music Producers to help you 1-on-1 with your show. And for some of you, you need to come to our Nashville Bootcamp to immerse yourself in my teaching first.

Either way, don’t just say “I heard him speak” about how to capture and engage an audience. Let’s get you the tools you need to start doing it!

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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