Auditions and More                      

Looking to Audition for a Singing gig? TV Show?, Movie?

Although I'm not personally a fan of the reality shows, X Factor, American Idol and the others because I feel they abuse so much talent and subject them to degrading experiences so much that some talented individuals actually walk away from a love that might have developed into a successful career and their more interested in selling commercials than actually helping talent but I do understand how some are attracted to the experience and I'm happy to help those that are interested.

LOCAL PERFORMANCES....
We're currently working on setting up some performances for my students to perform at some retirement villages and nursing homes. Not only is this great experience for the students but what better way of giving back to the community and others. I've done a lot of this in my career and you'll never find a more appreciative audience.
 
 
A few recent examples and comments.....
Recently, helped a young lady (a student at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa,OK) prepare her vocal performance for an audition for the Popular TV Show "Glee", they gave her a group of songs to choose from, after hearing her perform here in the studio, we went through the list and selected a song based on her strengths...
 
Another student, a graduate student from KU with a video audition for a Hollywood movie, this was very interesting as she was working with me on improving her vocal performance at the time when she got the opportunity and we actually filmed the audition here in the studio with yours truly reading her setup lines....(I had to read a female part....lol)

Another student had to prepare for an audition for a Broadway style show and again, she had to pick from a director's selection of songs, we chose one to suit her strengths and helped her deliver the song with a different arrangement and she got the part...

A local singer contacted us and wanted to audition for a local rock group. We worked for a few weeks and he auditioned and he got the job. Have to admit, he just needed a little boost in confidence though..... 

Another was a singer applying for a summer position singing at "Worlds of Fun" and they passed the audition....

I could go on and on as I've helped so many singers and musicians prepare and audition through the years....

All performers need confidence which is something I work hard at to instill and help them have. A performer has to get "into character" when performing, believe in their abilities and deliever to the audience, whether it be some judges or a friendly crowd rooting for you. It's not easy and it's called learning to be a professional. This is a tough business and one of the reasons only a few succeed is that only a few are tough enough to "stick it out" through the rough times and roll smoothly with the good times. There's always going to be both! The "high's" are great but there's always going to be those dreaded "lows"....it's just part of the gig and sometimes it's our expectations....

There's another important factor that most leave out..."how does one handle the audience?" I actually work with you putting a mic in your hand and have you deliver the song and teach you the tricks of how to interact with the audience, the importance of thanking the audience, where do you with your eyes, how do you stand and what in the world do I do with hands....?? We'll have fun and get you comfortable up there....

So many times, I think I get more excited than my students do. I got so excited about one of my students auditions a few weeks ago, I could hardly contain myself and I was probably irratating her as I kept texting as to how it was going. Maybe I need to learn how to "get into character" myself.....hmmmmmm

On the songwriting side of things, a lady recently asked me to rewrite a song for her daughter's upcoming 18th birthday, such a special occasion. They had a favorite song as she grew up, I changed the title to her name, and rewrote all the lyrics to mimic special events that had occured as her daughter grew from childhood to this magic moment. I also produced a full production arrangement and recorded it all here. This turned out so well that when I first played it for the mother, I had to get a box of tissues as her tears just kept flowing. She was so happy!!! When she played it for her daughter, they both cried. And yes, I got teary too....
 
These are the types of things that make this business so worthwhile and meaningful.
 
We as entertainers, songwriters and producers receive a gratification from our audience that money can't buy!

These days for me personally, I get it from the eye's of my students and clients when they have that "look in their eyes of self satisfaction that they realized they can do it"!