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You Can Go from Good to Great!

by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 1 Comment

One of the “7 Deadly Sins of an Artist” I talk about is “being good.” Doesn’t sound like a bad thing, does it? But trust me, being good…is bad! There are a lot of artists out there that are good. Often, they don’t know they need help – they know they’re good. And when I […]

Trent Harmon: American Idol Winner / Live Music Makeover

by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 2 Comments

It’s been a year since the last CD Baby’s DIY Musician Conference event.  Last year I had the pleasure of conducting a Live Music Makeover workshop with American Idol winner, Trent Harmon and his band, along with my associate Live Music Producer, Amy Wolter. I’m very excited to be conducting two workshops again this year!  […]

How to Create a “Moment” in Your Live Show

by Backstage: Making it Your Own, Materials, Tools & Skills, The Foundation, Vision & Planning Greenroom: Leave a Comment

You’ve often heard me talk about creating “moments” in your live show!  Creating “moments” is key to having a successful live show and a successful career.  Many of you have asked: “How do I create “moments” in my live show?” or “How do I find the “moments” in my songs?”  I have to admit, it’s […]

7 Steps to Captivate Your Audience

by Backstage: Vision & Planning Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Understanding your relationship with your audience has EVERYTHING to do with how to construct your set list, especially when it comes to your Opening Moment! And in case you are wondering where you are in that relationship, most of you (unless your name is Sting, Adele, or Pink) are “dating your audience.” Most of your […]

Transitions: Don’t Let the Tail Wag the Dog!

by Backstage: Making it Your Own Greenroom: 4 Comments

In a rehearsal, transitions tend to get pushed to the back of the schedule; and in most cases, rightfully so.  But, it doesn’t mean they’re not important. Have you ever heard the saying about “the tail wagging the dog?”Sometimes transitions have a tendency to do that when putting a show together. I can’t tell you […]

5 Places to Talk in Your Show: Stage Banter

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

Working on the music, the visual, and most of the transitions for a show usually takes up most of a rehearsal time. So when I first started working with artists on their live show, and we’d get to places where the front man needed to introduce the band, tell a story, do a song intro […]

Finding Your Magic Onstage

by Backstage: Making it Your Own, Vision & Planning Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Before I was a Live Music Producer, I worked in a recording studio for six years.  Every kind of artist came into the studio.  Each of them was unique and intent on making a great, original record.  But, I noticed that conceptually, (and paradoxically), all great records were the same.  They had great songs, great […]

Onstage Challenges for Singer/Songwriters

by Backstage: Making it Your Own, Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 6 Comments

Singer/songwriters have their own set of challenges when it comes to their live show. They are usually stuck behind a microphone and an instrument, and if they’re not in a duo, they have no one to interact with onstage. If you’re a singer/songwriter, you know what I’m talking about. Despite these challenges, there are performance techniques […]

Taking Control of the Stage – Beginning with Confidence

by Backstage: The Foundation Greenroom: 4 Comments

This year I’ve been traveling all across the US and Canada and have talked with many artists.  Some of them invited me to see their shows, so when time allowed, I did. If these artists were confident, I’d be impressed.  Well-l-l… don’t get me wrong… they were all good!  But I didn’t see anyone take control […]

Would You Like Fries With That?

by Backstage: The Foundation Greenroom: 8 Comments

I really want you all to succeed!  I want to help you to the best of my ability.  As they say in the south, “I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.”….but, one thing I do have, it’s perspective on the live show.  I’ve worked with probably between three and four hundred artists during my […]