What's Wrong With That?

According to UCLA, while there are currently economic hardships in California's finance, construction and housing sectors, there is still no recession in the state or the U.S.

Even with gas prices at this level.

AFTRA and SAG have a terrific Jekyll and Hyde battle going.

Most of us are members of both unions, which leads me to believe I'm not really arguing with someone in my family as much as I'm simply fighting with myself.

Dunno how productive that is.

Gollum did it in "Lord of the Rings" and look what happened to him (may he rest in peace). I guess it was called "Mount Doom" for a reason...

So, as there is no recession and as we are swimming upstream and downstream with our union(s), where does that put we few, we singers...?

Pretty much the same place we've always been.

Unless you're a member of the Von Trapp Family or the Osmonds -- we're just like stand-up comics or actors...

We're singers...

And pretty much on our own.

That's why, for the most part, we have to create our own work by;

1. Pinching, Pimping, Prodding and Poking Producers -- Know a producer? Bake 'em a cake and tell 'em you'd like to sing for them. What's wrong with that?;
2. Auditioning and creating/building relationships based on our talent - There are actually people out there who WANT TO SEE what's in your toolkit. They even put out notices through the internet, breakdown services and actor publications to get you into the room. Why not show 'em what you got. What's wrong with that?;
3. Writing and Recording -- It's healthy to write. Write a lot. It's healthy to record. Record a lot. What's wrong with that?;
4. Church gigs -- paid/unpaid -- we get stage time and a pretty good message to begin the week with. What's wrong with that?

Hey. What's wrong with that?

You already knew the answer, didn't you?

Legit Chicks

Okay, aside from the bridesmaid dresses, "wheres-the-blowdryer?" hairdos and wild-eyed looks, here's an interesting example of "legit" (legitimate) singing from a variety of gals.

Any female who has studied with me should recognize the "home position" of the mouth(s). Big bite, tension in sides of mouth, jaw pressed down, lips pushed away from teeth, strength and flex in the major muscle groups, teeth on top and bottom showing...

Wagner (pronounced "VAHG-ner") is the Heavyweight Division of legit singing. Demanding, Big, Dark, Extreme, Dramatic....it takes everything you got.

It also takes a lot of years to get the false vocal cords to create big, fat tones like this. On the other hand, the female belt for Broadway and Pop -- using the true vocal cords -- comes very quickly.

Interesting.

Oh, hey, and if you make it all the way to the eight-minute mark, Brunhilde arrives looking like an operatic Liza Minelli.

Trippy!

Musical Theatre Prescription

One of my favorite people told me last night that she was considering going back to college to get her degree in Musical Theatre....

Uh...okay, "yipes!"

I mean, don't get me wrong, musical theatre is fun and all and if you know how to save money when on the road, it's even better....

But when colleges do so many things right (science, poli-sci, environmental science, business, law, accounting, history, chemistry, literature, phys ed, marketing) why go through the expense of something they continually do so wrong like musical theatre?

And no, I'm not talking about EVERY college -- just 99% of them.

In my one year of college, I flunked Intro To Theatre (was busy rehearsing and having fun instead of reading the book). 13 years later, I won the L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Award for Best Production.

In theatre, you don't need a degree. You need guts and a willingness to learn about everything in your theatrical environment.

Which ain't always in L.A.

But, if you're "stuck" in L.A. and you ultimately want to do musical theatre in N.Y., here's my best prescription for proactive, positive growth and development:

1. Focus on getting commercials: The pay's good and you can become a familiar face throughout the world;

2. Focus on getting in front of the camera: Any instance where you say words with your clothes on is a learning experience, so get started -- you can become a familiar face throughout the world;

3. Study acting with a teacher who has trained people who are currently working in front of a camera: Makes sense, doesn't it?;

4. Study voice with a teacher (like me) who has trained singers who are currently working on the stage;

5. Take a dance class at least once a week: It's good for you.

6. Every audition is a chance to create a positive relationship with a producer, director, casting director, musical director...GO TO EVERY AUDITION. NO EXCUSES.

You can work and you can train at the same time. Don't worry about the money. Budget accordingly, but PRACTICE YOUR STUFF.

Love on ya!

A Simple Song

Was just ruminating about how -- oftentimes -- my most accomplished singers have a tendency to look down on "simple songs."

You should see the faces I get when I assign a golden moldy like "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" to a singer who can already belt everything out of WICKED and CANDIDE.

Two realities are at play here.

When we are "accomplished," we want to sing all the stuff with vocal fireworks -- super high, super low...

And when we are "accomplished," we don't want to spend (make that "waste") the time practicing songs we believe are not challenging.

When we buy in to and reinforce those two realities, that's the mindset the production staff picks up on before declaring they need to "go in a different direction' -- which, ostensibly, doesn't include you.

Treat a simple song as if it is the most difficult song ever written.

Do that and you will discover volumes of information about the character, yourself, the show, life....

Treat a simple song as an unworthy task and you will ease yourself right out of the running for that revival of "Sound of Music."

Why We Don't Recommend Parallel Motion In Vocal Performance....

One hand at a time, folks, one hand at a time...

...uh, and don't let that hand come up above your waist unless you know how you're going to get it back down...

Points of focus (where do I look?!) are way too wide and all over the place.

In other words, this presentation is so lacking we barely hear her singing, which, oh...

Maybe they planned it that way.