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Fiddling Around – 5 Things Violin Players Can Do to Tune Up Their Performance

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Since most violin players are – as far as I know – classically trained, it takes some re-programming to ‘de-class’ you. You’ll still be classy of course…I just want to take away the formality if you’re playing anything other than classical music. First of all, experiment with the way you hold onto your fiddle and […]

Three Things Keyboard Players Can Do

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills, Sneak Peek, Teaching Video Blogs Greenroom: 2 Comments

As you know, the visual aspects of a performance are important, and we work on making songs look different from each other.  This is easy for guitar players and singers, but I get approached all the time, by keyboard players asking, ‘What do I do?  I’m stuck behind a piano or a keyboard set-up!’  It’s […]

First Things First – The Best Way to Plan & Rehearse Your Show

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills, Sneak Peek Greenroom: 4 Comments

We all know by this time in our lives, the importance of doing things in the right order…whether we DO that or not is another issue! Skipping a step or jumping ahead while baking a cake or putting together a piece of furniture will have a sad outcome, and won’t end up looking like the […]

Upping Your on Screen Show

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills, Sneak Peek Greenroom: Leave a Comment

I was just watching a replay of MTV’s inaugural show on its 40th anniversary, and chuckling at their choice for first video out of the shoot being the song ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’.  I immediately thought about today’s music world, where at one point I wondered if we’d be singing, ‘Video Killed the Live […]

Your Audience – at Ease or on Edge?

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills, Sneak Peek Greenroom: 18 Comments

Recently, I was part of a private audience at a magic show in a relative’s home. You know…card tricks, disappearing doves, guy-in-a-tux. Fun, right?  Should have been, but turns out it was basically a front-row seat to a train wreck. The magician – whom I’ll re-name ‘Hocus’ –  got off to a rough start by […]

Winning the Crowd – What YOU can learn from Nashville’s Honky Tonks

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills, Sneak Peek Greenroom: 8 Comments

Nashville is unique in many ways and is home to many types of venues, artists and genres. We have larger concert venues for international touring artists, smaller rooms showcasing both signed and indie artists, smaller ‘listening’ rooms that cater to songwriters, and everything in-between.  Then, there’s a six block area – downtown on Broadway and up […]

Making Peace with the Headset Mic

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 2 Comments

Yeah, yeah, yeah….we know what you’re thinking.  I can hear you screaming now, “Using a headset mic will make me look like Britney or Garth or Justin!  I’m not THAT kind of artist”.   Well, we doubt if you’re making the same judgement when you see someone playing a certain kind of guitar…ie: “Oh, she’s […]

Unleashing Your Lead Player (Help, I’m Strapped Part II)

by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 6 Comments

In my previous blog geared toward guitar players, I wrote about what you can do to be more interesting on stage.  I covered some excuses you may have for not moving, then gave you some solutions for that, plus gave you some basics in regards to movement.  Check out the article here. Here in Part […]

Help, I’m Strapped! [Setting Guitar Players Free]

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 10 Comments

I want to talk to you guitar players out there who are in a band, but not singing lead.  You might be wondering what YOU’RE supposed to do to be interesting onstage. [Part 2 will focus on some additional things more applicable to lead players.] We’ve found that a typical rehearsal involving guitar players usually […]

Three Ps = A Great Live Show

by Backstage: Making it Your Own, Sneak Peek, The Foundation Greenroom: 4 Comments

In watching and working with artists over the years, I’ve learned a lot – and unlearned what I thought I knew.  I think most people would assume it’s talent that leads to success.  And they would be partly right. In some cases, talent alone can get you ‘discovered’, signed, famous…but if that’s ALL there is, […]