Professor Pooch

I don’t understand why so many people have to put up walls around themselves, never letting you really get to know them. What are they afraid of?

True Artists, as well as anyone who is confident in themselves, in effect, say: "What you see is Me. I do hope you like me, but, for better or worse this is who and what I am. Take me or leave me."

Successful artists are those, who when performing, open themselves up and give their all - they give themselves totally to their audience, that is, they’re not afraid to appear vulnerable.

A fact of life – most venues don’t often care how good an Artist/Band is! They mostly care how many people you can bring in.

But, if you want to keep the potential fans that come out to hear you, and you want them to spread the word, you better be Really Good -and put on a Great Show! A Show that will make people spread the word about You…

…And, there’s No Better Promo than “Word of Mouth.” Because, it has the most integrity!

One of my Pet Peeves: Singers who try to show all the tricks they can do with their voice... .. instead of letting it out from their heart where they’re real and are communicating the Song with feeling...

Tonight Tuesday, 7PM-8PM Eastern Time (and Every Tuesday)!

An Artist’s Image basically revolves around the Music you play, the way you play it, the way you come across to your "audience"/fans, and the way you look and act. That is, the way you are “perceived.”

Be Real! Don't try to be what you ain't! You can't fool your audience!

Everything that you say and do affects your Image and affects the Public's perception of who you are and what you are about. You are a walking PR (PR = Public Relations) machine in action. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression!

When it comes down to placing 1 or 2 songs with an “Music Library,” etc., where nowadays they want an ongoing 50% to License your Song, plus also get 50% of the Recording income, it all basically comes down to: How important is that Song(s) to You?

Then there’s always that voice in the back of my head from My main Music Biz Mentor, Artist/Songwriter/Producer Eugene McDaniels, (Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight, Phyllis Hyman, etc.), when he wanted to give one of my songs to Roberta Flack when I was a young Artist who wanted to keep that Song for myself. He said to me: “Pooch, so You write another Song...”

A Big No-No with Me: If a Musician tries out for me either for studio work or to play in a Group, and they start playing to a song while they’re hearing it for the first time – that’s a minus to me!

A real Musician will listen to most of the song at least once all the way through, including both the words and music, plus get “the feel of the song” as a whole, first.

There is a major item of concern I’ve encountered quite often regarding those who have taken vocal lessons. It seems that too many “voice teachers” train the Singer to focus on thinking about how they sing. It could be thinking about breathing, thinking about the tone, thinking about the volume, and/or thinking about the control. That’s fine, and may be very helpful, IF the teachers solve “the problems” and get the Singers to make the “solutions” a habit. And then, Set Them Loose!

It’s a shame, but in too many cases it’s actually much easier for me to get a person to feel and communicate the songs, if they didn’t have vocal lessons.

I’m sorry, but it is impossible to think and feel at the same time! And I gotta Feel You Talking to Me!

Singers: I’m known for often going on and on and on about “feeling” vs. “thinking,” when performing at a gig or in the studio, trying to explain it in every direction I can come up with. However, this is the key difference between being a local Bar Singer and being able to achieve National or International status!

Simply put: It’s got to come from your Heart – not just your Head, if you expect your audience to feel You!

Have a Great, Happy Holiday, But, Please Stay Safe Out There!!!

Songwriters: It is important for you to understand that when you sign a Songwriter’s Agreement, you are turning ownership of your Song(s) over to a Publisher, in exchange for possible royalties and perhaps a small amount of up-front cash. This means that they will have exclusive rights, that is, control of your songs.

Now, please don’t get “Paranoid” - that’s just as dangerous. Just be “Cautious” … Check them out!

By the way, that's a good reason to form your own Publishing Company and sign to your own company, giving yourself a fair Songwriters Contract! Then work it from there, even if you have to give away a “piece of the Publishing,” on a particular Song or Songs, to get things done...