If you want to build a house, what’s the first step to getting it done? “Lay the foundation!” Ehhhhnnnn… (the best spelling I can come up with for a buzzer sound) — wrong answer. I ask this question every time I teach my Live Music Method class. And inevitably the artists in the crowd get […]
5 Good Reasons to Plan Your Show
by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 3 Comments
I’ve talked about vision and planning for the live show so much that some of you don’t even pay any attention to it anymore. “Besides,” most of you are thinking, “I don’t want to plan — I want to be spontaneous.” Creative people often fight the idea of planning. But let’s look at what I’m […]
Songwriting Sisters: Diamond Dixie
by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: Leave a Comment
Diamond Dixie is Gabriela (17) and Bianca (15) LeDuc. A country music duo from Central Florida, these sisters got started in music at a very early age. It all started when their Dad played guitar to them at night as a bedtime routine instead of reading. And it wasn’t long before the girls were playing […]
What Does Tom Jackson Know and Why Do I Need His Help?
by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 1 Comment
I got an email from a friend the other day. She sent me a link to an online review of country star Sam Hunt’s live show. She said, “I kept thinking ‘he needs to meet Tom’ the whole time I was reading this article!” At the risk of sounding arrogant, my friend knows that what I […]
Your Music, Your Business
by Backstage: Making it Your Own Greenroom: Leave a Comment
Music is emotional. It’s creative. What you write, what you perform — you do it with passion and sensitivity. You have the desire and drive to share your music with others. And the minute you decide that’s what you want to do for a career (what you need to do), that’s when your music must […]
How to Play Like a Team
by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 3 Comments
If you watched last Sunday’s Super Bowl, you may be a football fan, a Katy Perry fan, or a “particularly-expensive-commercial” fan. I’m a football fan. My team didn’t get to the championships this year — (it’ll happen again soon, Chargers!) — but I still enjoy a good game, no matter who is playing. This football […]
2 More Mistakes Most Musicians Make
by Backstage: Making it Your Own Greenroom: Leave a Comment
I’m not trying to be alliterative… just a habit, I guess… but it is true that many musicians make major mistakes. Not the “messed up the words” “played the wrong chord” “forgot who was taking the solo in this song” kinds of mistakes. The mistakes I’m talking about are foundational ones that can make your […]
Romantic Punk and More: Spotlight on France de Griessen
by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: Leave a Comment
Singer-songwriter France de Griessen is a multidisciplinary artist. Her most recent album, Saint Sebastien, intricately combines indie-rock, romantic punk, blues and folk. Toronto’s Bruce LaBruce (filmmaker, writer, photographer) calls it “a lyrical, mellifluous album full of songs of joy and sadness.” Her life experiences and influences have created one of the most unique artist friends […]
Changed Lives: Spotlight on Zach & Rodney
by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: 2 Comments
Red Hen Records artists Zach & Rodney have had the most impactful year of their history — two back-to-back Dove award nominations, working with award winning writers, and even having a major country singer featured on their latest album. And just this week, the band found out they’ve been nominated for Breakthrough Artist by Absolutely […]
Martin Luther King Jr., Justice, and You
by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 2 Comments
“That’s not fair,” I said to my mom. “He got more than I did.” How many times have you said it… heard it… thought it? The truth is, you were probably right. It wasn’t fair. But in this world we live in, many things are not fair. Rather than worrying about the smaller portion of […]
Green Room Comments - Pass Required
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'!...