Goodbye, I say Hello

Goodbye...This is the last blogpost I'll be making to this blog. :<

Hello... You are invited to subscribe to my next blog at http://www.judyrodman.com/blog.htm ! :)

I have mixed emotions... I've learned so much in developing this particular blog, and I've invested so much time in posting to it, I almost hate to leave it! BUT.. it's only because I'm moving to a better place...my second blog, which will be at my new website! By the way, please take a moment to check out the new website www.judyrodman.com and give me your feedback!

I hope you will continue with me by subscribing to my next blog... where I will continue to ply you with free vocal lessons and other "All things vocal" information!

AND... please note that this blog will remain up. You can always refer back to articles that will be archived here, or read posts you haven't read.

I'm so honored that you have joined me in subscribing here. I know your time is limited, that's why I've always tried to write things you really would want to read.

Hope to see ya round my next blog!
Blessings, Judy

Music career info, news

Hi everyone...

Here is a very interesting website if you are looking into music careers: http://musicians.about.com/.

I left a comment after one of the articles on Internet radio residuals. I think Internet radio should pay something for the rights to play people's music, but people can get too greedy. There's got to be a balance! They also bring up the web-neutral concept (not allowing people to buy webpage ranking.) I think it's important to keep the web as independent as possible; keep the playing field level and allowing small business (including indie music) to effectively compete against the majors.

There's all kinds of other useful information on this site... check the sidebars for titles of articles.

If you have sources of info you'd like to share with the community here, please leave a comment on any post. I feel very strongly that it is important to share our journeys with each other. Not just a touchy-feely sentiment, I know from experience that no one makes it alone and sharing successes and setbacks makes the struggles worthwhile.

As for me... I'm busy in the studio this summer with students and clients working on new projects. The latest one was my 15 year old Mississippi girl Jordyn Mallory. We put some awesome vocals on her unusually seasoned voice (for such a puppy). She's got a major Nashville music attorney interested in her. It's only a matter of time.

I'm also working on the big revision of our play "Runaway Home". New script, new songs... and there are some fantastic plans for it. I'll tell ya when it's time...

Happy father's day for all you singing dads out there. I'm going to Mississippi to be with mine. He wants me to play piano and sing the soprano version of "The Lord's Prayer" in his little country church. I told him I will, but that it will undermine all my country credentials :) He said a little high brow was good for them! Coming from my dad, a traditional bluegrass mandolin player, I had to smile. Wish me luck, that sucker gets high and I've never been much of a morning person. You can bet I'll be using PPP techniques!

The Voice of Hank Williams Sr

I had an interesting gig last Thursday. I booked veteran studio vocalist friends Margie Cates and Michael Black to drive out to Hartford, Tn with me and sing on Jet Williams' new album. She is the daughter of Hank Williams, senior. This was contested for quite a while by her brother Hank, but it was adjudicated that she is indeed his half-sister. It was a blast. Bobby Bradley was the engineer who hired us. Bobby is the nephew of the great Owen Bradley, who produced among others Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Buddy Holly.

I was raised listening to my father play Hank Williams songs at our kitchen table to relax after his job as an air traffic controller. It gave me a rush to watch Jet pull out her father 's old acoustic guitar upon which he recorded "Your Cheating Heart". She smiled as I touched the strings. When I turned it over, I could see the worn wood where Hank had held it against him, and there was a scratched place on the front near the bridge where many pick strokes had scraped wood.

She also played us a part of an old radio show that her father sang and did a comedy bit on. This audio ended up in a dumpster at one time. It and many other audio shows were rescued, remastered and will be included in an upcoming Hank Williams Sr. release you will be hearing about in a few months.

This chance meeting with the past reminded me of the first time I ever played the Grand Ole Opry and stood on that worn wood circle they kept at the mic, saved from the original floor. Also the first time I played the Tonight Show and stood behind the curtain waiting to go on, in a spot where so many had waited their own turn in the past.

Hank Williams died way too young, a victim of his substance abuse. But he left a legacy of music that lives on. May we always honor the ones who came before (in every genre), and may we seek to make the kind of music that is good enough to live on, blessing people way beyond our time. If my son remembered his mother's song, I'd say this would be the ultimate in vocal success.

Fyi... www.music-and-technology.com is a cool site I've found exploring the web for info you might need. According to their blurb, this site has "Resources for the Recording Musician", including Message Board, How To Guides, Required Reading Book List, Links/Directory, and more. Let me know if you find any good spots!

Originality of Voice

In this post I'm going on a stretch with my blog theme "All Things Vocal". I'm going to talk about vocal originality- in this case defined as "What Do I Have To Say That's Original?". I've been tagged by my blog mentors "The Blog Squad" http://www.buildabetterblog.com/2007/04/tagged_again_be.html who were in turn tagged by Mohit Singhania at Best Blog Basket to be part of his project called Be Original. We are asked to share several ways that we create original content for our blogs. So here is a list of how I come up with original content for this blog:

1. Insights from my ongoing coaching experiences. I seem to learn some new way to teach a vocal technique every week... sometimes every day!

2. Experiences from my own performances.
Many times I get a "light bulb" insight from noticing what works (or doesn't) for me when I'm singing vocals in the recording studio or on stage.

3. My opinions on controversial issues. Contests, major label vs indie label advantages and disadvantages, vocal techniques I hear about, even what makes a valid or successful vocal performance are some issues about which I like to argue my point.

4. Teachings from my own trademarked coaching method. "Power, Path & PerformanceTM" http://www.judyrodman.com/ is my offering to the body of effective vocal training, and is unique in its focus on the synergy between breath, open throat and communication.

5. Reporting, commentary and review of trends in the current music biz. I glean info from my contacts, media news and Internet sources.

6. News from my clients and students. I like to encourage a sense of community instead of rivalry among voices. I share news of TV shows, songs cut, contest tryouts and placements, awards, signings, live tours, events, recording projects and other news from people with whom I work. I encourage attending each other's performances. We celebrate each other's journey, whether we're up or down.

If any of you have a blog, please consider yourself "tagged"! If you'd like to join the challenge, see this link to learn the "rules" of adding your own list of ways to add original content to your posts: http://bestblogbasket.blogspot.com/2007/04/be-original.html

Now, dear readers of my blog, would you please take a moment, click on "comments" link below this post, and tell me what YOU'D like me to write about? After all, this blog is useless unless it is of use to YOU! Join the conversation and the community! Thank you very much...Judy

Music Videos... Do you really need a professional shoot?

Here's an interesting bit of info I came across for those of you needing to make a music video. This is pretty much a requirement these days for getting your music and your face out into the public awareness, but it's an expensive undertaking. You can and should definately shop around before settling on a video production team.

BUT... for those of you thinking about a do-it-yourself project and using it professionally, this guy sums it up: DON'T!

Why? Quality, Quality, Quality... oh, and INSURANCE!

Read more at:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Shooting-Your-Own-Music-Video&id=213044

Have you had experience with a good video team you'd like to recommend? Please click comment below and tell us who and where we can reach them. Do you think music can get before the public just fine without an accompanying video? Let us know what you think. Thanks!

Getting real with new artist development

Note from Judy:
There are scams and crooks in the music business. (Duh). You don’t have to be around it very long to know this. You need to check out ANYONE you work with before you trust them with your talent - or hand over a one of your red cents.

However, it is also true that there are people of the utmost integrity that work within our industry. If you are wise and fortunate enough to get these people on board your team, you may want to read these thoughts from David Pell. This is man who finds and develops new talent. He’s an honest professional- a good guy, and really cares about those he chooses to work with. As you’ll see, he’s dealt with some squirrelly folks, too. He tries to keep it real. Here is his guest post, and as always, we invite your comments!

Get real. You owe it to yourself and the rest of us.

When young people who come to me and say "I want to be on records / CD,s and be a recording artist / star". I'll ask, Why? Usual answers include money, I love music, etc...I'll listen to the would-be artist, and if I feel there is enough talent, desire and family support, I’ll go to the next level with this person and family.

Next, I’ll dish out some tough love. I'll tell them that they have to work harder than they've worked up to this point because all successful people, regardless if they are a recording artist, banker, ditch digger, etc,.. have had to work hard and smart to become successful. It didn't fall in their laps. In other words, you've done a good job at being ordinary, and you've come to me and the people I'll introduce to you to focus on the "extra" so you'll become extraordinary. This means hard work and dedication.I may tell them they need to change some of their thinking. I’ll explain that successful people have a different outlook and place value on items other than what the person may currently think matters.

• I see you bought Judy's CD package. Are you using it everyday?
• Have you written a thank you note to someone who has helped you?
• Who's your target audience?
• What style of music do you want to do?
• What musicians (kinds of instruments, etc) would you want on your CD? What do you want your image to be?
• What kind of role model do you want to be to your fans?
• What do you most long to do- Do you want to follow the music industry (work at a record / CD shop or be a fan ) or be a part of the music industry? ( artist, songwriter, stage or studio musician, producer, arranger, etc..)

I'll ask the person to draw up a list of long- and short- range goal(s) for themselves. For instance,

• What kind of training do you need to become excellent at what you want to do?
• What can and are you willing to commit to make it real?
• What are your expectations... what outcome of success would you consider good enough to commit yourself to these goals?
• What do you expect me to do to help them meet those goals?

Like George Harrison wrote in the song "Any Road":

"If you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there "

But before the person puts pencil to paper or keystroke to Word document, I tell them they have to talk to someone that has known them longer than I've known them about their list of goals to make sure it is correct. Who is that? Mother, Father, Grandparents, Pastor or some other trusted individual. Then I put my finger square on the middle of the want-to-be's forehead and say "You- You know if your musical aspirations are true to the heart or just a passing fancy." Get real with me, now.
After receiving the list of goals from you, I make a decision to, or not to, commit. Once I've made my commitment to your dream, from then on I consider you to be an artist- and I treat you as such. This means at times I'm not very nice when you don’t work smart or hard enough, don't follow directions or advice in areas that need to be addressed. etc.. I'm also your biggest supporter to make sure you are prepared for the day(s) that will make your dream come true. Everything is done with your success in mind. However, I will not blow smoke up your whoop-a-daisy. You already have family, friends and pets doing that.

IF YOU DECIDE TO QUIT:
Here's the really hard part. If you get into this and find that you are not willing to go the distance because it’s not worth it to you to commit this much of yourself, don't be afraid to tell your mentor, family, or team that this is not what you really want to do. Now, make sure that you really want to quit or you'll be living the David Wilcox lyric from "Eye Of The Hurricane"

"That when you lay your dream to rest You can get what's second best But it's hard to get enough"

If quitting is what you truly want to do, take the heat and stand your ground: "No, I don't want to do this." That's what responsible, ethical and successful professionals do. Tell the truth to all involved and be sure to say "Thank You" to each person who was helping you make your musical dream come true. You owe this to everybody.

Don't be surprised if some people of the team get angry. Remember, they made a commitment to / invest in you and your dream and now you want to abort ship. We who have committed to our musical dreams want to help young talented artist and provide opportunities that weren’t provided to others. So, it's hard to watch talent go down a path that leads to nowhere, knowing that talent will never be used to it's fullest potential. Trust me it's really hard on us.
If you quit for some bogus reason, then most likely the majority of your team will be highly upset. If you went to the trouble to surround yourself with legitimate people who know your real chances of success, listen to them before making your final decision.

Any who, when you conduct yourself in a professional manner on your way out, you've can leave on good terms. If you want to return to the pursuit of your musical goal then you may still have people who will help, although you'll have to work even harder to convince them that you won’t bail again.It's not easy getting in or out. It takes commitment and professionalism no matter how you slice it. Respect everyone you deal with by being honest, accountable and considerate of their time and energy.

Get real with yourself- and do it now, not later!
-David Pell- http://www.catsimagination.com/