Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Singer's Interview: Four Preparation Tips for Doing it Right




When singers interview with the media, they might want to bear in mind that today’s overly competitive entertainment market makes both what you say and the way you present yourself important. One simple miscalculated communication can have a lifelong affect on a singer’s career. An entertainer better have a strategy and at least some kind of plan before taking on the mass media.

So, you might ask yourself, how does one prepare for a singer's interview? The answer is simple: decide what you want to accomplish during this interview and then practice until you get it right. If possible, spend time working with a professional media coach; a good one is well worth the money. If a media coach is not an option, there are four tips below that you can do on your own to prepare for media interviews of all types: print, radio, and television.

1. Plan carefully so you are certain to cover all the bases that are important to you during your interview. If you have a new single or album coming out or are going on tour, tell your host that you want to share the story behind the song, the album, or something that happened once when you were on tour. Use your imagination, be creative, plan these stories out, write them out in advance and practice telling them.

Ask if you can provide your interviewer with talking points or give your host producer a list of topics you wish to discuss, but don’t believe for a minute the list will actually be followed. You never know when the host may have their own agenda.

2. If you are adept at improvisation, scan the local newspaper or local news stations of their city for a current or recent event that will help foster a dialog between you and your host. Your interview will be more engaging if you plan ahead and tell tried-and-true compelling stories, paint vivid pictures, make self-deprecating jokes. Practice in front of a video camera by getting a friend to help you do mock interviews. Prepare for the interview as you would any other performance -- because it is.

3. Know your vulnerabilities and plan your escape from difficult questions. Don't be surprised if that day you skipped class in third grade comes back around to haunt you, so make a record of everything you may not want to discuss. Write out your answers and rehearse them.

Keep practicing your responses until they become a believable part of who you are. When a model-thin friend of mine is asked about her weight, her response is always the same, “My father always told me that any woman who would tell the truth about her weight would lie about anything.” By the time the interviewer has digested that paraprosdokian (occurs when latter part of the sentence is unexpected), the door has closed on the subject.

But, if you do get sandbagged by an embarrassing question, either maintain control and confront the issue or simply say, “I think that’s one question I won’t be answering today.” And I cannot emphasize enough, that you should never say anything “off the record.” There is no “off the record.

4. Rehearsing with your video camera will help you become aware of your body language so you can make corrections if necessary. Monitor your practice videos for unnecessary movement such as licking your lips, blinking your eyes excessively, or swinging your legs. Practice being fluid with your movements as you communicate, but be on guard for any tics that make you look nervous. If you look nervous people assume you are hiding something.

Practice makes perfect, so the more you work in front of a camera, the more confident you will feel and the better you will present yourself.




Nashville vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams reveals the trade secrets that have already helped hundreds of aspiring singers become celebrities: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...

Like me on Facebook at or follow me on Twitter @MyVoiceCoach. My blog can be found at MyVoiceCoachBlog.com.

Go to CyberVoiceStudio.com and sign up to receive my free weekly Video Voice Lessons.

For help preparing to interview with the media go to MyVoiceCoach.com or call 615.244.3280 to schedule a private voice session in person, by telephone or by Skype.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine Songwriting Contest
Winners
TaDa! We have a WINNER!
In fact, we have two winners.
The judges were tied and wouldn’t budge an inch. The leading contenders were so different and both managed to use our required words to great effect that we called the top two a winning tie.

Each will receive a free lesson from Renee.

And, the Winners are:

Carleigh Cook for turning in a well-written traditional song of love and romance, “Valentines Day.”

Michelle Woodhouse examines the dark side of love with a unique approach to Valentine’s Day, “Frozen.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vaXGrEQyCs

Friday, February 10, 2012

Want to Have a Career in Singing?




A career in singing demands fierce and focused dedication from those who dare aspire to succeed. The average person has absolutely no idea how much hard work it takes to build an enduring career as a major artist. Yes, talent and looks are important, but they are only part of the equation. There are singers who have had successful singing careers in spite of modest talent or average looks.

So what does it really take to start a singing career? In the real estate business it is said there are only three important words: Location. Location. Location. In the music business those words are: Preparation. Preparation. Preparation.

First and foremost, you must begin the life-long task of defining yourself, largely through self-exploration. Who are you, really? Who do you want to be? We're talking about branding here: getting your outside persona to match your inside persona. This will be reflected in everything about you, from your haircut to your shoes (or boots).

When it comes to choice of music, don’t try to be everything to everybody. Develop your personal musical/vocal thumb print. If you are lucky enough to find your unique niche in music, cling to it with both hands. Best to be an "inch wide and a mile deep," than an "inch deep and a mile wide."

Then you must prepare your voice. Although popular music -- country, rock, pop and alternative -- does not demand the same kind of vocal mastery required in some other fields of music like opera and classical, you must be able to breathe well and support your voice so that you:

            Sing in tune and in time
            Sing with flexibility and ease
            Sing without damage to your voice
            Sound real and believable

Don't just sling a bunch of loud notes at your audience. Forget about LOUD for a while; concentrate instead on how to make it real. Most popular music is lyric-driven -- especially country music. It must be clear and honest.

That's why I feel vocal technique should be word-based rather than voice-based. Think of singing as speaking on organized, rather than random, pitches. You must speak to your audience from your heart. It's your job to make the audience connect with every word.

When you record in the studio you must be in control of your voice, and able to make immediate adjustments. There’s more than one way to sing a phrase and your producer may have ideas about how to improve your performance that may never have occurred to you. You make their job a pleasure when you are responsive to change. But don't hesitate to take a stand and express your opinions when you need to.

If you're looking for a career in singing you should seek out the counsel of others who have been working successfully in the music business for a long time. That does not mean you need lose your identity or your integrity as a singer; just have an open mind to what others have to say. Ultimately, the decisions you make will define you.



Taylor Swift's former personal manager Rick Barker discusses
career choices and social networking. Grant-Williams, Celebrity Voice
Coach, offers free video lessons at: www.CyberVoiceStudio.com



Nashville vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams reveals the trade secrets that have already helped hundreds of aspiring singers become celebrities: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...

Like me on Facebook at or follow me on Twitter @MyVoiceCoach. My blog can be found at MyVoiceCoachBlog.com.

Go to CyberVoiceStudio.com and sign up to receive my free weekly Video Voice Lessons.

For more information go to MyVoiceCoach.com or call 615.244.3280 to schedule a private voice session in person, by telephone or by Skype.