Occasionally I get to see it…the finale…the end result…the ‘frosted cake’ if you will. But not very often.

Most times I work for days with an artist on their set for an upcoming event or showcase; but typically Read more…

I recently worked with an artist who was going to be playing a few big gigs over the next couple months. I flew out and we started to push through the material.

Song after song, note after note…I realized we were looking at a cover act show. Why? They had great material on their new indie CD release. The songs and stories were relevant. But they were doing mostly covers for their live shows!

I asked them, “do you want to be an artist? Or do you want to play cover songs in a bar the rest of your life?” The answer was, “of course we want to be an artist!”

So why were they doing the covers? Read more…

I’ve said in the past, Tom Jackson and I go back a ways in touring together. I learned so much during that time, about being on stage, creating moments, connecting to the audience by zone communication, and the list goes on.

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How many of us have quoted those famous words, only to say them again three months later with NOTHING having been done in between?

I’m definitely pointing right back at myself on this one! Lest you think we highly trained experts on the philosophy and practice of onstage performance somehow rise above the plight of mere mortal men… Read more…

I was sitting at home one afternoon and the phone rang. It was a great vocal coach and good friend, Brett Manning. He said “I’ve got someone sitting here that you should talk to.”

I said “Put her on.” She said, “Hi, this is Taylor.” “Taylor?”

“Yeah, Brett tells me you’re the guy I’m looking for. For the last two years I’ve told my manager I want help on my show. They’ve sent me dance instructors, drama dudes, and choreographers. Every time I worked with them, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted someone to Read more…

It’s a bizarre thing sometimes when I see what an artist looks like and then watch them perform. Sometimes the two just don’t go together, and I waste half the show trying to get over the ‘huh?’ factor instead of listening to the music!

When I first go to your website, the photos you have there are my first impression of you, and obviously that first impression is important! So find a photographer that knows something about imaging and your style of music. Read more…

It occurred to me while mowing the lawn (it seems I think a little clearer while doing mundane tasks); I wanted to write a little blog about song rearranging.

When either Tom or one of his live music producers work with an artist, one of the first things we do is rearrange the song. We sort of pull it apart and rebuild it with the live show in mind.

So why do we do it?

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So the question from last week (Red Pill or Blue Pill) was “I saw you work with that artist, but what should I do?” Thanks for weighing in on what you think artists are really asking!

There were some great comments:
“We can’t stop learning…I’ve been to several of your conferences…I think the biggest thing I have learned is to go into a gig with a plan.”
“I go to that music school in Texas, and actually recognized one of those pictures as my ensemble’s set list!” Read more…

In Australia a few years ago, an artist walked offstage to 18,000 cheering fans. She came backstage and asked if I’d seen the show. I had. “What did you think?” she asked.

Red pill, blue pill – which one do you want? In the Matrix, when Neo is about to take the reality-giving red pill, Morpheus warns him, “I’m offering the truth…nothing more.”

I’m hoping (since you’re reading this) that YOU want the red pill, even though it might be a little painful sometimes.

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Whether it’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Pimp My Ride, or What Not to Wear, we all enjoy seeing a transformation. We like to see the dramatic “before” and “after” that gives a great look to whatever is being made over.

Not long ago, I was asked about my “live music makeovers.” Whether I’m working with a singer, a band, a vocal group, a singer/songwriter…every artist’s songs need a makeover so that they work for the live show. Read more…

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