I just had an incredible month! Sometimes my job is a combination of rewarding, fun, great music, great people, relationship building, and work! While a lot of my work is helping independent artists (which I love a lot) and teaching (I just finished seven workshops teaching to thousands of musicians over the last six weeks.), […]
Archives for 2015
Ed Sheeran Did What?
by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 15 Comments
In this week’s video blog, Amy Wolter discusses a recent performance by Ed Sheeran on Good Morning America. Ed performs with just an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal. However, there’s a lot more he could do to use the stage and connect with his audience. What two things did Ed do wrong in the […]
Video Blog #1 – Welcome & Movement
by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 8 Comments
We work with a lot of different artists, from country to rock to pop to psycho billy punk horror 🙂 . No matter the genre, the desire in your artistry is to be legitimate to the style you’re performing. You want to present cohesiveness to the audience so they understand who […]
Tom Jackson Here
by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: Leave a Comment
Tom Jackson here. Hope all is well! Last week, some of you may have seen that one of the artists I’ve worked with debuted at #1 on Billboard. As I reflected on it, I realized that 3 artists I’ve worked with have topped the Billboard charts this year. That number doesn’t include artists I’ve worked […]
Help! My Band Doesn’t Get It!
by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 3 Comments
It’s a tough thing when one member of a band is tuned in to the importance of actually ‘performing’ for an audience, but other members of the band aren’t. We invariably run into this a lot, typically because one member of a band, or the artists’ manager has seen what we can do to take […]
5 Do’s to Optimize Your Success
by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills, Sneak Peek Greenroom: 2 Comments
If you are a songwriter, you know… there are basic rules to follow when writing for radio. The normal structure goes intro/ verse/ chorus/ verse/ chorus/ bridge/ chorus. It’s important to have it the right length (about 3 1/2 minutes long), and be sure and get to the chorus within the first minute (sooner, if possible). And so […]
Meghna Mahambrey Song & Critique Review Video
by Backstage: Music Makeover Videos Greenroom: 1 Comment
Some songs aren’t necessarily meant for radio airplay… but that doesn’t mean they can’t (or shouldn’t) be a part of a great set! However, the way you perform them, musically, verbally, and visually, does need to be approached differently when it comes to your live performance of them. In this case, you’ll hear Tom explain one of the […]
Caravan of Thieves: Beauty & Danger of Love on KISS KISS
Gypsy folk troubadours Caravan of Thieves just released their new album, KISS KISS, and have started their spring tour across the US, sharing their passion for all things creative, colorful, and visionary! When Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovanni of Caravan of Thieves first met, there was an instant spark, an intimate connection and passion for life and […]
3 Parts of Communication: Are You Using them All?
by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 5 Comments
As an artist, you know your songs are all different. They have different themes, different rhythms, different tones. They really don’t sound the same at all! I’m guessing they probably have different lyrics, too. Some of them are about a love you lost. Some of them are about something that makes you happy. Some of […]
4 Requirements for a Great Lead Player
by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: Leave a Comment
You play lead… lead guitar, lead saxophone, lead mandolin… whatever instrument it is, you play most of the solos in the band. You’re not the main focal point throughout the performance (like the lead singer), but when it comes time for a solo, you’re the main dude! Being a musician, you know that solos are […]
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Amy Wolter on Three Things Keyboard Players Can Do
Glad to hear this Vee. Yes, it’s a process and takes some...Vee Patrick on Three Things Keyboard Players Can Do
I have seen both you guys work at extreme conference last year...Amy Wolter on How Soon Should You Work on Your Show?
So happy you had the foresight to prepare for the 'what IF's'!...