Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Lead Singers and the Stage
Anyone that thinks being a great lead singer is easy does not understand the skill. Sure, anyone can stand up in front of a band and pose as a lead singer and vocalize in some manner, but that is not what makes them great. Mastering the skill takes developing charisma, timing, having a solid understanding of the material being presented, delivery of the material, and a voice that fits the genre. We have all seen lead singers we have loved and hated. It's a rough business.
How many of us have looked at and listened to a band and evaluated the singer to a higher standard? I think we all have; it is instinctive. Why? I think many people, especially non-musician types, do not recognize being a lead vocalist as a real instrument; like drums, guitars or keyboards. Being the lead vocalist is perhaps the hardest instrument to master! A band can have all great musicians, but if the singer sucks, the overall opinion of the band suffers.
Sure there have been lot's of bands who have made it in the music industry without the luxury of a serious or strong lead vocalist. Some last only a short time and have lineup changes. Other bands, adapt the music around the singers voice and make it work. I won't site specific examples because my opinion may differ from someone else's what is good and what is bad. However, I can think of great punk bands and rock bands that made the music work around the abilities of the singer.
When I evaluate a lead singers talents, I first decide how his or her look fits with the band. Let me give you an example. If you are watching a heavy metal band and the singer is dressed like he is in a surf music band, in Hawaiian shirt, shorts and flip flops, I might wonder what is going on. I would be distracted by that personal presentation because it does not fit the genre. I don't care how good the singer is, he or she is a fish out of water. A singer has to look the part depending on the music being played.
I want to know if the lead vocalist can really sing and/or is singing on key. Granted, different genre's have different ways of "singing" the lyrics. I get that, but the important part is how he or she will manage that vocal ability throughout the show. Is he or she going to lose power with their voice or lose it entirely. Singing death metal and pop music are two completely different styles and presenting the vocals is very different. Some would argue that yelling vocals and screaming are not singing. It is expression and singing is just that; expression. Some singing is just more melodic than other styles.
I grade hard on what the lead vocalist is doing with themselves while performing or while the band is playing and they are anticipating the next line. Is the posture good and appropriate for the tune being performed? Certainly you would not want to see a vocalist presenting an aggressive posture while doing a soft ballad! Turning your back on the crowd is a big no-no in my book. Back away and go get your sip of water, tambourine or whatever you need to do. How much does the singer interact and look at the crowd; not just the people up front, but the sides, the middle and the back of the venue? Using the entire venue is critical.
Being a lead singer is definitely not easy. It is very much a skill. Mastering that skill takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Many will fail a bunch of times before he or she finds the right fit and can consistently perform the craft. In many ways becoming a professional lead singer is a survival of the fittest activity. The music industry, especially for a lead vocalist is a rough business. The strong will survive unless he or she has self sabotaging behaviors. That's a topic for another blog. Happy singing!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Indie Artists Do's and Don'ts
I have been writing songs and or performing for the last 35 years as an
indie artist. I know a little about the music business; maybe more than you,
maybe less. That is not really that important to the theme of my blog. Hope
something I say sparks your interest and gets you going.
Do's and dont's are what I am going to write about. Yes, there will be some things I will say that others have said already and other comments might surprise and enlighten you. These are different times you know. Wishful thinking will get you know where! Be proactive in some way every day in every way. Remember the 3 R's. Reflect, regroup and relentless pursuit of your dreams are the key ingredients to your happiness and success.
What is an indie artist? I keep it simple and call it independent; not signed by any major label. You can add your own definition to mine if you so desire. Independent is what it is. That can be a good thing. Most people or bands today want to be independent. I mean, if you could sell 500,000 CD's or downloads on your own, that might be a beautiful thing because you keep the profits. Get my point?
We have all heard of horror stories of major labels or big management "jacking" the artist. Creedence Clearwater Revival in the 1960's was victimized by bad management and record deals in their career. Collective Soul, in the modern era, from the great state of Georgia, started their own label once they were able to get away from their contract. I don't know of any issues they specifically had, but artistic freedom is everything to us indie folk. The list goes on. I am not telling you to avoid signing with a major record label. If you get that opportunity, I recommend getting an entertainment attorney to help you. Otherwise, the odds are you will get out smarted because you, the artist, will be up on the ceiling full of yourself if you are in the producers office. I guarantee it! You will get out foxed; not because you’re stupid, but because that is not your specific craft. Don't try and play hardball; get the attorney to do that for you. You concentrate on perfecting your music.
Let me get to the meat of this article. Do find someone to make your work sound good. It doesn't always have to be Pro Tools HD, (but it sure helps) that a studio is using. Sound quality is important. With the emergence of SoundCloud and Reverbnation, JANGO, with some pretty basic software, you can upload your quality demo. I wouldn't expect miracles from your low budget work, but there still are objective people in the industry that can see the idea and potential of your song (s). Have some fun. Post your stuff on the Internet. Tell your friends and family to listen and build a fan base. Fan bases can come in very handy down the road.
If you are like that young male pop artist from Canada that made Youtube videos and got lucky a few years ago; awesome! Do it. J.B. had something the A & R people were looking for and he had amazing timing for that sort of avenue to get discovered. Absolutely shoot videos of you performing. Make sure it's decent though. If you do get a look or a listen, you definitely want to look and sound your best. Video also will boost the acceptance of your song if it's good and put you in a whole new ballgame. Most of the people of the world today are audio visual seekers.
Do everything you can to market your work. Be diversified. Follow vocational school and college radio stations; ask for people to write a review on your material. Good or bad, you will learn or should learn what to do better. Enter song contests that don't cost you a bunch of money. Some might send you back a "Finalist", "Runner-up" or "Honorable Mention." Make a sticker that says that and slap it on your web site or CD cover to attract attention.
Other contests, like Youbloom, http://www.youbloom.com/ is free to you. They have an Artist and Repertoire (A&R) department that are committed to listening to every song entered. If your song is "special" as the industry likes to say, then good things might happen for you. Get your fan bases to vote for your song and work your way up to the finals. You might just win 10 GRAND or some other real nice prizes. At the very least people from all over the world will hear your music. Now that's pretty cool; wouldn't you agree? I’d be in the ongoing contest for just that alone! Be heard. Have some fun and share your work.
Do it all! Leave no rock unturned, expect silence and rejection. I always say, "I will be a fool 9 times if on the 10th I am successful, then all the hard knocks go away." Pay your dues. No instant gratification or overnight successes happen and if it does, expect a short life artistically. Seek out people who are better than you to work with or ask for help. Don't think you are so good that someone couldn't give you a new or better idea.
Lastly, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" Like a baby at the beginning of life, you roll over, you learn to crawl, stand up, fall down, walk, and eventually run. Some days you go nowhere. But be ready when the opportunity presents itself for you to showcase your craft. RUN!!! Be courteous, grateful and thankful. If you need to hear someone tell you they believe in you, and it can be very lonely trying to make it as an indie artist, then come closer to the screen...psst, I BELIEVE IN YOU! Now get busy and go write and/or play one of your best songs for the mirror or a million people. The world awaits you my friend. Be heard. Good luck. MGM
Do's and dont's are what I am going to write about. Yes, there will be some things I will say that others have said already and other comments might surprise and enlighten you. These are different times you know. Wishful thinking will get you know where! Be proactive in some way every day in every way. Remember the 3 R's. Reflect, regroup and relentless pursuit of your dreams are the key ingredients to your happiness and success.
What is an indie artist? I keep it simple and call it independent; not signed by any major label. You can add your own definition to mine if you so desire. Independent is what it is. That can be a good thing. Most people or bands today want to be independent. I mean, if you could sell 500,000 CD's or downloads on your own, that might be a beautiful thing because you keep the profits. Get my point?
We have all heard of horror stories of major labels or big management "jacking" the artist. Creedence Clearwater Revival in the 1960's was victimized by bad management and record deals in their career. Collective Soul, in the modern era, from the great state of Georgia, started their own label once they were able to get away from their contract. I don't know of any issues they specifically had, but artistic freedom is everything to us indie folk. The list goes on. I am not telling you to avoid signing with a major record label. If you get that opportunity, I recommend getting an entertainment attorney to help you. Otherwise, the odds are you will get out smarted because you, the artist, will be up on the ceiling full of yourself if you are in the producers office. I guarantee it! You will get out foxed; not because you’re stupid, but because that is not your specific craft. Don't try and play hardball; get the attorney to do that for you. You concentrate on perfecting your music.
Let me get to the meat of this article. Do find someone to make your work sound good. It doesn't always have to be Pro Tools HD, (but it sure helps) that a studio is using. Sound quality is important. With the emergence of SoundCloud and Reverbnation, JANGO, with some pretty basic software, you can upload your quality demo. I wouldn't expect miracles from your low budget work, but there still are objective people in the industry that can see the idea and potential of your song (s). Have some fun. Post your stuff on the Internet. Tell your friends and family to listen and build a fan base. Fan bases can come in very handy down the road.
If you are like that young male pop artist from Canada that made Youtube videos and got lucky a few years ago; awesome! Do it. J.B. had something the A & R people were looking for and he had amazing timing for that sort of avenue to get discovered. Absolutely shoot videos of you performing. Make sure it's decent though. If you do get a look or a listen, you definitely want to look and sound your best. Video also will boost the acceptance of your song if it's good and put you in a whole new ballgame. Most of the people of the world today are audio visual seekers.
Do everything you can to market your work. Be diversified. Follow vocational school and college radio stations; ask for people to write a review on your material. Good or bad, you will learn or should learn what to do better. Enter song contests that don't cost you a bunch of money. Some might send you back a "Finalist", "Runner-up" or "Honorable Mention." Make a sticker that says that and slap it on your web site or CD cover to attract attention.
Other contests, like Youbloom, http://www.youbloom.com/ is free to you. They have an Artist and Repertoire (A&R) department that are committed to listening to every song entered. If your song is "special" as the industry likes to say, then good things might happen for you. Get your fan bases to vote for your song and work your way up to the finals. You might just win 10 GRAND or some other real nice prizes. At the very least people from all over the world will hear your music. Now that's pretty cool; wouldn't you agree? I’d be in the ongoing contest for just that alone! Be heard. Have some fun and share your work.
Do it all! Leave no rock unturned, expect silence and rejection. I always say, "I will be a fool 9 times if on the 10th I am successful, then all the hard knocks go away." Pay your dues. No instant gratification or overnight successes happen and if it does, expect a short life artistically. Seek out people who are better than you to work with or ask for help. Don't think you are so good that someone couldn't give you a new or better idea.
Lastly, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" Like a baby at the beginning of life, you roll over, you learn to crawl, stand up, fall down, walk, and eventually run. Some days you go nowhere. But be ready when the opportunity presents itself for you to showcase your craft. RUN!!! Be courteous, grateful and thankful. If you need to hear someone tell you they believe in you, and it can be very lonely trying to make it as an indie artist, then come closer to the screen...psst, I BELIEVE IN YOU! Now get busy and go write and/or play one of your best songs for the mirror or a million people. The world awaits you my friend. Be heard. Good luck. MGM
Monday, January 23, 2012
Social Networking in Todays World for Indie Artists
Anyone that says social networking is worthless is an idiot! I have heard things like people are fanatics that work the Internet have a psychosis of some kind. Name calling, like megalomaniacs, loser or the person must suffer from a Fear of Missing Out (F.O.M.O.); so they write, post and promote and spend too much time on the Internet. Really.
I have news for you. In the 21st century, people will trust the word of a friend or of someone he or she has something in common with, a ton more than a network newscaster, newspaper or publication. Ask yourself, would I rather find out if a company is legit by just reading about them or by learning from someone who has already been there done that with his or her time? Granted, you would like to experience working with a company on your own to see for yourself, but that is not always practical or a good way to spend your time and money in the beginning.
Research is everything! I heard Mark Cuban, the billionaire HDNET licensing kingpin and Dallas Mavericks Basketball Club owner, in an interview once upon a time. He was asked, when he decides he wants to make an investment he will have a meeting to discuss the possibility. What is his preparation? Cuban's answer was "If you aren't the smartest person at the table, you better have a partner who is, or you shouldn't be there."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2004-09-19-advice-cuban_x.htm
Do you think he talked with people who were already, been there done that and experienced first hand? Absolutely he did! Along with analyzing every inch of available data available and doing market studies. Same goes for social networking. Learn everything you can and leave no rock unturned. (No pun intended) ;)
Keep trying different marketing and communication ideas. Stay current and as I always say, STAY RELENTLESS in your efforts.
If you are on the fence about social networking for whatever it is you are interested in or passionate about, then read a few statistics on the Internet for yourself. Companies spend millions of dollars determining the best way (s) to make a product go into high demand. Here's a link for a pdf of what Ford Motor Company was doing in 2010 to market one of their new models. www.usatoday.com/educate/college/highered/.../soc-media-mktng.pd...
My gosh man! If you want to attract potential listeners, fans to come see your shows, or buy your music are you going to put an add in the newspaper? Heck no! At least not for your only opportunity to get the word out. Why not? Limited audience for circulation, and a trust factor comes into play with publications AND you can think of or look up more reasons on your own. Get your stuff together, be multidimentional and get your social networking skills ramped up if you want success on a wide and far reaching scale.
Want some more facts? Check this out: A recent study at a digital marketing firm, predicts that Facebook will reach one billion users (14% of the world’s population) in August 2012.
http://therealtimereport.com/2012/01/13/social-networking-stats-facebook-to-reach-one-billion-users-by-august-rltm-scoreboard/ Want more facts to back up the claims I make in this blog? Do your own research! Make it fun; like playing detective or being a student of the techniques and learn everything you need to know to get in the game and do it well. Think like a champion and go for it! As Mick and Keith said from the Rolling Stones said,"Time, waits for no one, and it won't wait for me." So true.
If you want to be successful in the 21st century, I don't care what you want to do or what you are looking for, get your act together and use social networking to the fullest advantage possible. Be a champion at what you want to have or what you want to know about. Use Mark Cuban's philosophy; know everything and use every tool available to win.
Don't be a poser or just a dreamer. Become a social networking kingpin and advance your hobby or career...unless of course you want to be an idiot. Which you know you are not. You are a highly creative, talented and motivated artist that yearns to be heard and deservedly recognized for your craft.Think like a champion so you can turn yourself into one. Social networking will help you arrive at your destination.
Mike G. Murphy
Indie Recording and Performing Artist/Social Networking Consultant and Talent Scout
I have news for you. In the 21st century, people will trust the word of a friend or of someone he or she has something in common with, a ton more than a network newscaster, newspaper or publication. Ask yourself, would I rather find out if a company is legit by just reading about them or by learning from someone who has already been there done that with his or her time? Granted, you would like to experience working with a company on your own to see for yourself, but that is not always practical or a good way to spend your time and money in the beginning.
Research is everything! I heard Mark Cuban, the billionaire HDNET licensing kingpin and Dallas Mavericks Basketball Club owner, in an interview once upon a time. He was asked, when he decides he wants to make an investment he will have a meeting to discuss the possibility. What is his preparation? Cuban's answer was "If you aren't the smartest person at the table, you better have a partner who is, or you shouldn't be there."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2004-09-19-advice-cuban_x.htm
Do you think he talked with people who were already, been there done that and experienced first hand? Absolutely he did! Along with analyzing every inch of available data available and doing market studies. Same goes for social networking. Learn everything you can and leave no rock unturned. (No pun intended) ;)
Keep trying different marketing and communication ideas. Stay current and as I always say, STAY RELENTLESS in your efforts.
If you are on the fence about social networking for whatever it is you are interested in or passionate about, then read a few statistics on the Internet for yourself. Companies spend millions of dollars determining the best way (s) to make a product go into high demand. Here's a link for a pdf of what Ford Motor Company was doing in 2010 to market one of their new models. www.usatoday.com/educate/college/highered/.../soc-media-mktng.pd...
My gosh man! If you want to attract potential listeners, fans to come see your shows, or buy your music are you going to put an add in the newspaper? Heck no! At least not for your only opportunity to get the word out. Why not? Limited audience for circulation, and a trust factor comes into play with publications AND you can think of or look up more reasons on your own. Get your stuff together, be multidimentional and get your social networking skills ramped up if you want success on a wide and far reaching scale.
Want some more facts? Check this out: A recent study at a digital marketing firm, predicts that Facebook will reach one billion users (14% of the world’s population) in August 2012.
http://therealtimereport.com/2012/01/13/social-networking-stats-facebook-to-reach-one-billion-users-by-august-rltm-scoreboard/ Want more facts to back up the claims I make in this blog? Do your own research! Make it fun; like playing detective or being a student of the techniques and learn everything you need to know to get in the game and do it well. Think like a champion and go for it! As Mick and Keith said from the Rolling Stones said,"Time, waits for no one, and it won't wait for me." So true.
If you want to be successful in the 21st century, I don't care what you want to do or what you are looking for, get your act together and use social networking to the fullest advantage possible. Be a champion at what you want to have or what you want to know about. Use Mark Cuban's philosophy; know everything and use every tool available to win.
Don't be a poser or just a dreamer. Become a social networking kingpin and advance your hobby or career...unless of course you want to be an idiot. Which you know you are not. You are a highly creative, talented and motivated artist that yearns to be heard and deservedly recognized for your craft.Think like a champion so you can turn yourself into one. Social networking will help you arrive at your destination.
Mike G. Murphy
Indie Recording and Performing Artist/Social Networking Consultant and Talent Scout
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