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With all of the statements made about Ms. Houston since the late 1990’s regarding drug and alcohol abuse, I believe the MOST foul of ALL plays came when those pictures of her bathroom and home surfaced in the tabloids, exposing a real mess of leftover beer and soda cans, ashes, lighters, trash, (possible) drug paraphernalia, and other horrific items of garbage surrounding (yet fading out) the gold faucets and top-of-the-line construction of her bathroom. What an invasion of privacy. What gets me most is that the statements regarding those horribly embarrassing photographs suggested, over and over and over again, that this was how Whitney Houston “lived,” and this is “who she was.” Is it at all possible that this was just an unfortunately embarrassing stint of photos to snap after an unusually wild, over-the-top and, yes, messy party, ultimately “violating Ms. Houston’s privacy?” Is the home not still “sacred” and “untouchable?” Bottom line; the most embarrassing revelation that Whitney Houston had to carry with her was the fact that various press were saying: “This is how Whitney lives. This is her life everyday. She is so badly on drugs and alcohol that she lives like a slob.” That is some pretty heavy stuff to have to carry around. The most important consequence is that this truly “flawless legend” (in her own right), who added depth, precise timing, and a theatrical emotion to each song she performed (not to mention an earth-shatteringly powerful and spiritually uplifting set of pipes she was so-very-blessed to have been born with), was hit with a CHEAP-SHOT in the form of an invasion of privacy in her home that put an undeserved “dent” in the image of a physically and vocally beautiful woman of class, demeanor, and poise during a personal time of struggle with substance abuse in her life. It also likely put a “dent” in her psyche. I would want to ask those involved in this, regardless of whether Ms. Houston was ready to get well or not, do you believe that when it actually became her time and her calling to attempt to “get well,” that living with the lasting stigma of those photographs would actually “help her?” Were you trying to help her or harm her?
Given the amount of struggles that Whitney Houston went through, music fans should actually be grateful and (a tad inspired) that she was able to make (at least) a brief comeback in 2009, while having the gumption and the guts to appear with Oprah Winfrey in an interview that same year (appearing “in-control” and, visually, like the legend she ALWAYS had been) to talk about her substance abuse issues, her rehab attempt(s), and the problems of her (by then, former marriage). Whitney Houston talked in-depth and detail about her uncompromising love for her daughter, and it is clear by pictures alone that the daughter TRULY loved her mother. Amen.
Still, I think that photo stint of her home was too much for her or anyone else to bare. Whitney, I don’t believe you advocated living that way, and I don’t believe that’s what you ever stood for. Your home (or one bad night “or several nights” of partying) was NO ONE’S business (especially the public’s). It was a low blow to you, my dear.
Whitney Houston’s interview in 2009 with Oprah Winfrey (I have seen, I believe, the majority of it) revealed a spiritually wise, “connected” side of Whitney Houston’s psyche (that could only be developed through her history as a young Choir singer at a Church that was surrounded with spiritual energy). Add music and singing to the prayer and, bam, you have a level of uplifting spiritual energy the likes of which you might never be fortunate enough to know of. Whitney knew of and felt this energy from her earliest history. How or why she disconnected with it, time (and an autopsy) will certainly reveal. Those photos of her home were a lynch-mob, regardless of whether or not Whitney Houston was in the process of trying to get well or not. Jealousy is oh-so-often the hidden motive in peoples’ behaviors. Even in the VERY late 1990’s when I was singing, performing, and winning video and publishing awards (myself) in New York, I was present for the filming of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey’s triumphant song: “When You Believe.” This was supposedly during the peak of Whitney’s drug issues, though nobody knew this yet. With the exception of a questionable scar on her face, her voice was MAGNIFICENT (and, of course, so was Mariah’s). They both had to perform that song over and over again (15 times?) in front of a hugely “live crowd” in order to get the “visuals” correct for the music video. Ms. Houston did not falter once, and neither did her voice. When the rumors kicked in about Whitney Houston and that invasion of privacy, she took a fall from dignity and grace. If people criticize her for singing spiritual songs of personal human idealism, despite her own turbulent and troubled life, the one thing I can say in her defense is that we “sing” and/or “teach” what we MOST want to learn.
In an effort to try and create some “good” for present and future Independent Solo Artists and Independent Bands (I’m sure Ms. Houston would want this; she publicly praised multiple Artists who possessed not even half of her own vocal abilities, and had a deep love for other Artists and people in general), I’d like to provide a useful insight that was (perhaps) unintentionally revealed by Whitney Houston herself during her 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Then, I want to talk about your VOCALS and your future as a performer.
Whitney Houston mentioned to Oprah that she didn’t even know what an Icon was when she first started singing in a Church choir. This was despite her famous relatives. She “did her thing” without any expectation (or perhaps PREPARATION) of what was to come (career-wise) and what would result from her genuine talent and gift. It appears that she simply did what came naturally to her (argue if you must). The reality is, she started modeling in her teens to start a career, and was not pushing the singing. This is an exceptionally important lesson for Artists who have been following my advice throughout this blog as well as my book: The Musician’s Companion: Everything you need for a successful music career.
I have ALWAYS stated that your success should be automated, formulaic, and above all, ON YOUR OWN TERMS. Whitney Houston’s numerous industry followers wanted dibs on her amazing talent (perhaps a bit too much and too soon for her). This might have spun her out of control after she got FAR, FAR more than the original “brass ring she earned,” though more accurately in her case, “a multi-platinum ring.” A bad marriage didn’t help matters either, and many people (somewhat) suggest that it was the “nail in the coffin;” no comment here, I was not present for her marriage. This is an ideal time to REEMPHASIZE the importance of creating a music career “on your own terms” and “not biting off more than you can chew.”
Now let’s move on to VOCALS (specifically YOURS’), but with a brief further explanation on how various press unfairly tried to permanently DAMAGE the vocal reputation of Whitney Houston based on her problems with substance abuse. Here we go, and I hope I don’t sound corny. There’s a daring bit of humor and sarcasm to drive my point across. In Whitney’s own highly validated words: “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” With this said, I also believe in my OWN words that “adults are our present, so teach yourself well despite errors in judgment, and lead the way for the children, regardless.” Why am I saying this? I want to talk about possible substance abuse issues with Independent Solo Artists and Independent Bands.
In addition to Whitney Houston’s embarrassing photos and the permanent label she was given as a drug addict, she was ALSO labeled as somebody who permanently ruined her voice. This is arguably NOT true. In reality, years and years of cigarette smoking, smoking other dangerous substances, and drinking alcohol WILL ruin your voice. However, if you’ve been down this road, but still believe in your music and your vision, it’s not going to do you ANY good to think that you are permanently damaged goods or, more specifically, that your voice is. Coming from a family of many physicians, I happen to know that the general “creed” is that “the body heals.” If I sound idealistic, it’s because I’m a Visionary when I write. When I’m not writing, I’m a practical Realist. If you want to start singing again, quit smoking and start drinking PLENTY of water, ideally with lemon (which amazingly helps to “clean” the vocal chords of toxic build-up), drink herbal teas, do breathing exercises as your lungs clean themselves, and constantly strive to keep those vocal chords moist. Take out the mp3 player and download some (GOOD) vocal warm-ups for singers, and do them daily. Your vocal chords are moist flesh, and like any other part of the body, they can heal (especially if the psychology of the brain directing those vocal chords is ALSO cleaner, happier, and more confident due to self-discipline). Your spirit will provide a better performance. Unlike the tragic story that befell Whitney Houston, you don’t have the stigmatized notion from the public that your voice is “ruined” before you even arrive on the stage. That would be some serious pressure to have to live with. We’d all be a bit foolish to believe that Ms. Houston did not have to live under this pressure. The GREATEST gift you can give a deceased legend is to follow your own dream and sing with your own voice on behalf of those who NO LONGER CAN. In short, keep going, keep going, keep going.
RIP Whitney Houston. You are loved.
(C) 2012 – Paul Alexander for: www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.
I want to start by wishing all of you a happy new year! These past few weeks have found me INUNDATED with projects. I hope the same goes for you. While the holidays are fairly distant to the mind by this point, I do want to suggest that, if all you got from Santa was a brand-new muffler, then I hope you were CELEBRATING instead of (possibly) frowning. Here’s why. I had, in the past (upon movin’ to California), humorously come across a book about how to make it in Hollywood. It was written by a college professor and counselor. It tried to sell me some neurosis. I decided not to buy. I’d already owned some.
While I miss New York, I also love to drive. People like me took the subway. We stayed down with the people. Do you? New York was my home when I really started playing live. In Hollywood, we drive to our shows and get to avoid lugging equipment on the subway. Despite this convenience, Artists in Hollywood often have to put up with the problematic social disease known as: “It’s All About The Car.” Artists don’t want to pull up to the loading dock in a “piece of s&%t,” but it can be unavoidable. Most Artists don’t really care, but if it is Hollywood, and it is valet, the strictest of the VIP and managerial staff (in addition to on-lookers), might be judging something as superficial as what type of car you drive as part of your perceived “packaging” and, above all, “the first impression of you.”
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Unlike the suited job interview for work in a boring office, where the “Powers That Be” (thankfully) don’t get to see what you pull up in (since you likely get to park in an underground structure 50 floors down from the interviewers, or at the very least, park on the street), when you’re an Artist or Band pulling up to the loading dock with equipment, you are seen and having to greet Staff the very moment you pull up. Make sure your car is CLEAN. Disagree with me if you must, but I am (mostly) only including Hollywood here in the quarantine. Make sure your car is PRESENTABLE, no matter what you drive. Or, grab a limo and go in style, no matter what city you live in. You’ll have more fun, especially if it’s not your best performance. The problem is that a limo is so often a complete waste of money that you should be SAVING. Your actual physical appearance should be polished. In Hollywood, you must be a “Star.”
If you drive an older Ford Focus, that’s FINE. Focus on having that “sledge hammer of a dent” running from the left front grill across your entire left door “repaired or pushed back in somehow,” even if it’s done by a Mickey Mouse Mechanic made in Anaheim. That trusty little yellow bubble on wheels now needs to be WASHED, because the last time you washed it, George Bush Jr. was in office. Yellow bananas turn brown when they are ripe. Your automobile is not a banana and, while it might very well be a lemon, wash it squeaky-clean anyway and dump out all the empty fast food bags that have piled up on the front and back seats. The “interview,” or more specifically, “your first day at work,” in many ways starts the moment you pull up to the club. A car that is visually sloppy might suggest that you don’t take pride in your packaging and appearance. You might look unprofessional (even if YOU look GOOD). Don’t get caught off-guard.
Obviously, it doesn’t matter what you drive. But you do want to try and start living impeccably, no matter where you are at with your music career and your finances. It’s about self-respect. It will do wonders for your self-esteem when you start to fine-tune and MORE OFTEN UTILIZE the daily objects and artifacts you have in your life that, when used, make you more productive in creating, promoting, performing, and distributing your music. Things can flow more freely this way. If you’re in Los Angeles or anywhere else where you drive to your shows, then your car is PART of your productivity and appearance. Get your car fixed, no matter what you drive. It’s cheaper than buying a new one. Save the money for your survival and your music, especially during these times. Keep doing what you love during the process, and the money (should) follow.
More to come.
(C) 2011 – Paul Alexander for: www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.
I have often humored myself with a notion that, the greatest mistake any man might make is to view his own life as a “story” at all. In terms of making a decision as to whether or not you should pursue a music career (as opposed to downgrading to a hobby), you need to get absolutely clear in your head what is fact and what is fiction, regarding your decision. If you have chosen to be a professional music Artist, your songs might very well tell a great story, but perhaps, so should you if you want people to pay attention to your songs or your music. This includes Instrumentalists as well as the pens they should all be using to write about what the music they create means to them. I understand that not everybody likes to speak, especially when we all want so badly for our work to speak for us. Unfortunately, those songs aren’t able to instruct people to push the play button on the ipod. They may not even be in the ipod if you are not doing your part to push them in some way so that people will know they exist and, perhaps, push the play button themselves. You will have to include your music in the marketplace.
Life (in the esoteric) has no need for a story, since it should be filled to capacity with living. That doesn’t mean that if you’ve chosen to pursue a music career, you should be afraid of success either because, if you are, you won’t get anywhere. To get too caught up in a story (especially if it’s one’s own) can be a complete waste of time, I realize. It can also be quite a lot for others to have to deal with. Yet, if you are looking for a happy ending to your story, you had still better realize that you are worth the creation of one. You will get to leave something truly invaluable behind: your music.
To be fearless in the face of success, one must keep in mind that none of us knows the ending to the larger story (the one that includes all of us). No matter how it ends, we were fully living and love was the only meaning. Sorry if I sound corny, but for everybody’s sake, I hope I’m correct. Go ahead and write a story, write your career, and don’t be afraid. At the end of the day, it’s sometimes helpful to keep the idea that all words might be meaningless, but the words or music you created might very well end up a needed (and even healing) portion of another person’s daily existence.
The idea that there is no real meaning grants you the opportunity to create some without any fear of success. The idea might also free you up a bit (along with your productivity when pushing your material), as unconventional as it might sound. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there musically for fear of a consequence to your story. It can often manifest as success from A LOT of hard work. Those that go the very farthest in this world probably have the wisdom that their own “lives” (at least in the esoteric sense), have no real need for a story. This gives them the FREEDOM to create one without fear of consequence (again, mainly of success). Let this idea free you up to create something too, particularly a successful music career. The “story” is nothing more than any (successful) person’s by-product from fully living and participating, being present to do so, and not getting caught up in any story line, especially one’s own. This idea might keep an ego in proper check too, which should also lead to success. Humility is often a storyline that is, by far, most admirable to all, at least in my own book.
(C) 2010 – Paul Alexander for: www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.
Let’s move onto the subject of having a home recording studio that is your’s, and at your complete disposal. Musicians, Artists, and Songwriters often play the “avoidance game” when trying to accomplish setting one up, but this need not be the case. You might very well regard the concept of “proper” home recording as a daunting task. I am a firm believer that following the KISS method (i.e. “Keep It Simple, St#*id”) is the best route to take when choosing a home recording studio.
When I think about software programs for laptop recording, and how convenient many can be, I also think about “frozen screens, pops, hisses, and cracks” that can occur. This does not mean you shouldn’t use them, when appropriate. HOWEVER, I also think it is wiser to own a home recording studio that is self-contained and separate from your computer.
When you think about it, all you really want to do is record GREAT songs that sound as professional and ready for pressing as possible. The ideal situation would be to invest in a multi-track home recording studio that is EASY TO USE, and most importantly, will burn a CD of your session right within the actual recording console (without the need for a computer’s separate CD burner). Doing this will prevent you from having to “reinvent the wheel” by pursuing months and months of (time-consuming, technical, and frustrating) learning that would equate in time and stress to a music engineering degree when ALL you want to do is record your OWN great songs, right now. Best of all, so many new digital recording studios come complete with drums and samples to enhance your recordings and create a more full-bodied sound.
The bottom line is that, however you decide to record, make sure that you follow the rule of “simplicity.” Don’t complicate the recording process and don’t procrastinate over silly (perceived) technical issues that you yourself create and that ultimately waste more time and prevent you from completing the recording of your songs…It’s ALL about the music!!
You can enhance your music promotion and music publicity efforts by distributing news-worthy stories of your Act or band to sources that are interested in your particular topic or musical style. It is a key strategy when promoting your music. All information you publish about your music should have a GENUINE news angle.
While the main goal of distributing a press release is to get your music exposure, your press release must not sound like you are trying to “sell something.” Prospective publications will not publish you if it sounds like you are “advertising something.” They are likely bombarded on a daily basis with these “spam-like” types of press releases that never end up getting any news coverage. Music promotion requires something “newsworthy.” Is there a message in your music that you would like to get across? Explain it “in writing.”
In terms of creating your press release of your Act or band, you might want to think about having an experienced journalist write the press release for you. He/she will likely find a slant within your music )for use when creating a news story) that you or your band haven’t thought of yet. If he/she can’t, find someone who can or, better yet, diversify your musical activities and events.
The most important primer that you should have completed before making an official news announcement to media is having all pertinent (and current) information about your music published on your website. This includes music available for sale (and available as a sample for streaming), as well as how to contact you. If you are not out playing live, you can still distribute press releases about your projects if they are relevant to a current event, or if you are involved in a charity in support of a “greater good.” This would create an opportunity to pursue music promotion and music publicity, since you would be drawing attention to a much-needed charity.
(C) 2010 – Paul Alexander For: www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.
I hope everybody had a brilliant time over the Halloween weekend. I’m here to remind you that, regardless of whether or not you got dressed up for the holiday, you’ve got to remember that your costume, or “persona” is that of a ROCK STAR (or Songwriter, or Opera Singer, or however you happen to identify yourself musically), EVERY DAY of the year. It’s time to learn to promote your music along with your image. Most people already know that Halloween costumes (or any costume for that matter) can take the most (typically) conservative person and transform his/her behavior into something else entirely. Isn’t that fantastic? That’s the beauty of the costume. As I have alluded to a multitute of times in this blog, your daily music promotion tasks should be automated and, for the purpose of this article, so should your “costume,” (which should take many forms).
My point is that the very nature of your music performance is an “Act,” (even though your music, of course, comes from your heart). Your “Act” (or your “costume”) is that of a FULL-TIME JOB (and not just for one silly holiday). This DOES NOT mean that you shouldn’t conduct yourself like a business professional when you’re not on the stage, though I will say that, in terms of music promotion, the FULL ASPECT of your job is to be “in character.” If you don’t think, believe, and behave like a performer (like your “costume”) on a daily basis, how can you expect anybody else to believe in you or your mission, let alone take your mission seriously? If you feel like a little kid playing dress-up with your music and your image, don’t be discouraged. In fact, I highly recommend experimenting with what seems to “fit” and “feel right” as much as you possibly can. In terms of music promotion, if you’re not out there pushing your material (ideally, one to two tasks daily), nothing will happen; and that’s more frightening than the scariest of ALL Halloween holidays in history, combined.
In your continuing efforts with cultivating music promotion and music publicity, I want to draw your attention to a WONDERFUL resource for musicians, songwriters, Artists, and bands at: www.cmj.com. This site has a mailing list for successful music promotion and music marketing. Their continuously updated list of music festivals and song writing contests can be sent to your inbox along with instructions for easy, automated submissions of your music. I am constantly updated with their activities, and the amount of music promotion opportunities they provide is truly relentless.
In keeping with the virtue of an automated approach to music promotion, music marketing, and music publicity, we must remember that, despite the much easier (and less bulky) “cyber-approach” to promoting your songs, it still requires effort. In a world that more resembles an episode of “The Jetsons” (as opposed to “The Flintstones”), let’s not forget that with better ease in getting things done comes a new form of laziness: cyber-laziness.
The Jetson Family had a machine that could dial up a gourmet meal of turkey or steak with all the fixins’ in a matter of moments. They could even get their meal in “pill form.” Yet, when they came home from work after a long day of pushing buttons, the idea of pushing just a few more buttons to dial up their dinner was an exhausting task because, to them, that was the present-day “work” that was involved if one wanted to “eat.” They had no appropriate comparison to make regarding how much more difficult it was to take something out of the freezer and microwave it. How primitive (and yes, welcome to our own reality). Microwaving something takes a bit of work for us, a lot of work for some, but to the Jetson family, they would liken the task of microwaving food with having to grind one’s own flour and churn one’s own butter.
My point is that all work is “relative” in terms of the task at hand, and depending on how far technology has advanced in an effort to ease the process of working. We are in the age of cyber music promotion. You can sell your music on itunes and sell instant downloads, upload your songs for consideration in music festivals, contests, and the like. You can book a gig online, send your music to a producer in London in seconds, and blast a press release around the globe in seconds. So why aren’t you doing these types of tasks? Because, as easy as things have gotten (technologically), it still requires the pushing of those buttons. SO… start pushing those buttons, and you’ll get your gourmet meal very soon. You might even grow a successful music career in the process.
If you are a Musician, Artist, Songwriter, or creative professional with something to share, please feel encouraged to use this forum, as we want to hear from you. We receive a lot of comments that inspire us to keep going, and we are oh-so-very grateful for them. If you have a music-related web site you would like to share, don’t be shy. You can post a link to your band’s web site in the “Comments” section, and also use it to network with other musicians and songwriters. If you are a music promotion resource or blog, we definitely want to hear from you.
Like most established music promotion sites, we do get our fair share of spam. People will sometimes write good comments but post a link to irrelevant web site content related to other subjects that have nothing to do with music promotion, Artists, or anything pertaining to music. As much as we would like to cater to everyone, we are a music promotion Forum, and are not interested in turning our music promotion site into a smorgasbord of non-music related material. This will lessen both the literal and the publically-perceived value of our blog as a viable resource of useful information for musicians and songwriters; particularly those who work diligently to their music careers through DAILY music promotion tasks. If anyone is posting irrelevant links in our “Comments” section, they will be deleted.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
© 2010 – Paul Alexander for: www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.
Music promotion, music marketing, and music publicity should be fully automated. In the cyber-age, this cannot be emphasized enough. If I sound like a broken record at times (no pun intended), be thankful.
The key point to remember is that, sources of automated music promotion, music marketing, and music publicity should not serve as a substitute to your own efforts with promoting your songs. They are meant to enhance your music promotion efforts, and help save you valuable time and money. Many companies exist solely for the purpose of promoting your songs to online magazines and media outlets. This doesn’t mean that all companies that do this will benefit you, especially if you happen to be lazy and expect them to make you a Star on your own behalf. You (ideally) need to be playing live or, at the very least, promoting your songs and their message for yourself, with a minimum of one serious task a day (as I continually mention throughout this blog). Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting, and if it is possible to follow up with any company that has received your music. The great news is that you can also ingest a music video these days, and thanks to high definition video cameras available at very inexpensive prices, getting a crew together and creating a WELL-EDITED video (your music video should be very well-edited) should not be difficult or expensive to shoot, copyright, and release.
As you sell your music online, get your music on itunes, and further advance into the digital age, please keep in mind that the entire music industry and entertainment industries are heading in this direction. The idea that the cyber-world will be used “exclusively” to sell downloads is a “space-saving,” (no pun intended) welcome concept, thus indicating that you do, in fact, have to be “in it to win it.” My book provides you with so many different options to be “in it and win it.”
In reference (and as a reminder) from my prior article that shows you another way to sell your downloads, I want to point out that, not only is it imperative that you do sell your music online and get your music on itunes if you want to earn money with your music, but that, the good news is, you have a ton of choices to work with. The choices of how to sell your music online and how to get your music on itunes (in terms of which company to go with) go far beyond the online realm when it comes down to additional assistance you will need, and where to properly obtain it.
I’ve mentioned in the past that you cannot possibly do all this by yourself. Every year around July, Music Connection magazine published their (extremely) valuable (and annual) directory of “everything indie.” There were over 600 contacts in this past issue that go far beyond online music promotion. It expands to include many indie record labels, publicity, promoters, and marketers. Even if you don’t live in California, I recommend getting a copy of this highly valuable issue.
www.magix.com Click here
