What Not To Do

 

Soooo, while web surfing and tweeting I come across a link to sit in on auditions via Ustream. Being the information sponge that I am, I was there, front and center. Not much to my surprise there was some guy, rapping about something and not doing very well but his energy was high. After the guys was done with his performance, the panel gave feedback. I can’t recall the feedback because I was more concerned with knowing what the auditions were for and where they were, etc. Turns out that Frank of Taylored Entertainment (Artist developer for over 20 yrs) were scouting for artists for 106th & Park and Atlantic Records. So now that I’ve readjusted my eyes and ears for what was going on, I realized how NOT ready people really are. The tracks were not mastered mainly because the artist themselves made the beat. Some “groups” were grossly unprepared. No routine, no order, no PRESENCE.

Out of this experience I jotted down a few things that I will pass on to my artists in hopes that they will not be in this position. Here are a few things that I think are key to me titled:

What Not To Do

1. Don’t just wear anything! – Look the part. If you are a singer, dress like a singer. Don’t look like you just came straight from work. Treat yourself as if you were a business. Think about if you went to get some pizza. The front of the restaurant has a pizza logo and u can smell the pizza but when you open the door, you find it’s a Chinese restaurant. That’s bad business. Do not think that your talent will over shadow your appearance. It don’t always work.

2. Don’t just be up there jumping around! – Have a routine. Practice what you are going to do on stage. Have a performance prepared. Remember, you are there to entertain your audience. You want people to want to spend money to see you perform. A bunch of dudes crashing into each other and fighting for the spotlight is NOT a performance. It’s a HOT MESS! (via Frank)

3. Don’t make excuses! – For whatever reason, your song doesn’t go over well and the panel/judges weren’t feeling you. Don’t start explaining to them why you sucked. The whole “Well, I’m used to a big crowd” trick NEVER works. Bring you’re “A” game to every performance. It’s possible that you have been pushing a lame song. Or maybe it’s just not what they’re looking for. In any event, take the feedback and move on.

4. Don’t lie!! – It was unbelievable to see a group audition and when they got done a bad performance accompanied by an equally bad song, they went on to say how that song was doing well on the cd baby. Weeelll, that opened up a can of worms!! After they said (lied) they have 5,700 units sold on cd baby, a panelist made a move as if thhe were going to look it up on the laptop he was using to Ustream the showcase. Suddenly they only sold about 80. From 5,700 to 80 ….. that’s a very big lie!! Not only did they look foolish in front of the panel but to the ustreamers as well. Not to mention credibility or the lack there-of. And remember, you never know who knows who so name dropping will not help you out either. The truth is usually just a phone call away!

These few things are just a start of the list of soooo many things I have taken notes of. So to you and anyone you know of that are taking that step into entertainment, feel free to pass on these pointers!!