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Owning It!

We’ve all had people in our lives probably, telling us to ‘own up’ to something or other.  Or to ‘own’ something – meaning, ‘make it yours!’ Grab on to it and TAKE it.

I’m often telling artists while rehearsing that they need to really own it. After we make changes and map out a song arrangement and walk through what the song should look like, they then need to make it theirs and perform the song with confidence. 

This basically comes with more rehearsal and getting totally comfortable with what they are doing.

Some young artists I’ve worked with have a tough time with this, simply because they are too self-conscious and/or immature to have the freedom they need onstage.

I love this paragraph from the book ‘Life’ by Stones guitarist Keith Richards, where he talks about performing live.  Keith says, “And from the earliest I always felt good on stage.  You get nervous before you go up there before a lot of people, but to me the feeling was, let the tiger out the cage.  Maybe that’s just another version of butterflies. It could be.   But I’ve always felt very comfortable on stage, even if I screw up.  It always felt like a dog, this is my turf…. While I’m here, nothing else can happen.  All I can do is screw up.  Otherwise, have a good time.”

Great mindset.  The stage IS your turf when you are booked to play there.  People EXPECT you to bring confidence and authority when you step onstage.  Anything less is cheating the audience!  Kinda freeing isn’t it??

Think about it. When you’re at a concert and you see the artist come out on stage in a big and confident way, you don’t think they are arrogant…it’s more likely that you feel excited, because they appear in control of what they are doing, and you don’t have to worry or be nervous for them.

Think about that next time YOU step onstage. Own your role up there as an artist and performer, and allow the audience to relax and enjoy the show!

Amy Wolter

As a trained Live Music Producer for Tom Jackson Productions, Amy Wolter brings her years onstage as a lead singer & keyboardist - along with her experience as a producer, arranger, and songwriter - to singers and bands who won’t settle for ‘good enough’. She’s worked with artists at all levels, and genres ranging from Rock to Celtic, empowering them to have confidence and authority onstage, and put on memorable live shows, a few of whom have been on two of the largest US tours in recent history. Some of her clients include Grammy award winners The Band Perry & Lacrae, CMA and ACM –winning country acts, Gloriana & Thompson Square, 2016 The Voice contestant Mary Sarah, CCMA (Canada) winners High Valley, Jess Moskaluke & Chad Brownlee, and Winter Jam Tour veterans Sidewalk Prophets & Love and The Outcome.

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Greenroom Comments

  1. “All I can do is screw up.” Love it!

  2. Thanks Amy! Great advice, and timely for those Christmas performances.

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