I just returned home from the seminar tour-de-force. It was an amazing trip and I would love to do it all over again. I drew so much energy from the many positive and talented singers I worked with. The stunning beauty of the White Mountains of Vermont and the Maine coast and the streets of NYC and the rolling Appalachian hills in Pennsylvania also helped bring me along.
Now to catch up on my blogging!
I just returned from an exciting weekend Classical Singer Convention 2010 at the Times Square Marriott. This was a giant leap forward for my business (my website hits are way up, downloads are way up, new customers are way up) and a thrill for me personally.
Perhaps more importantly, I think it will go down as a turning point and a new chapter in the careers of many young singers. I am lucky to be a part of that new chapter for so many organized, empowered, forward-looking, “put together” artists.
I was able to meet very many young and talented singers and it was a huge opportunity for me to refine Velvet Singer Software’s value proposition. I am a technical guy, but what so many of you were interested in is not how cool the software is (and it is cool), but what benefit you get out of it.
In short, Velvet Singer helps you do things you already have to do more efficiently and more effectively. For example, you already have to file your taxes, you already have to keep track of what repertoire you sing, you already have to keep track of who you sang for. Why not do these things better?
More generally, recording your development in a career journal helps you feel more in control of this highly-subjective business. And how else will they complete your biography when you are rich and famous?
I expect that putting a face to the name will help singers look to me for career / technical coaching. I am here to help so please call or email anytime.
Thank you to Classical Singer Magazine for putting on a great conference! As Editorial Director Sarah Thomas put it, the convention is all about making these connections possible. Young singers have many goals and desires. Velvet Singer is here to help.
I am trilled to have finalized plans to do a seminar and individual follow-up sessions at the prestigious Caramoor Bel Canto Young Artist’s Program spearheaded by Maestro Will Crutchfield. This program places an emphasis on the most foundational vocal literature — that of the Bel Canto tradition. If you can sing Bel Canto opera well, then you are set up for a healthy and prosperous career.
According to the Bel Canto at Caramoor PDF Brochure, “… the bel canto tradition has been at the heart of vocal training throughout the world: the purity of tone, liquidity of line, clarity of pronunciation, and virtuosic agility required by this literature provides young artists with the foundation for a lifetime of singing.”
This mission dovetails quite well with the mission behind the Velvet Singer seminars and I think that is precisely why they have hired me to come work with their very talented group of emerging professional singers.
Velvet Singer helps singers set up a reliable mission and tone for their business, and establish a consistent journaling habit to foster proactive growth. Singers learn to clarify and articulate their goals and discover the virtuosity required to build a career in singing. The principles of organization and optimism have been proven throughout the centuries and will provide these young artists with a firm foundation for a long, healthy career.
Giochino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini, Benjamin Franklin, Stephen Covey, and Dale Carnegie would all be proud!
I am very excited to contribute to Classical Singer’s fantastic annual competition. The competition final rounds will take place during the Classical Singer Convention this May at Times Square in New York City. Velvet Singer will be on hand to exhibit our software and seminars, to present awards to competition finalists, and to support Classical Singer’s highly-valuable mission. I am thrilled to be in the company of so many veterans of our industry and expect to learn a lot.
I will present a free copy of Velvet Singer Software to each of the finalists in the University Competition at the close of the Final Round Concert on Sunday, May 30th. Each copy of Velvet Singer Software at the student price is worth $145.99. I will award over $1,000 worth of free software.
Each of the five to seven (5-7) singers chosen as finalists from the undergraduate and graduate divisions will have demonstrated extraordinary talent and ability to deliver. These young singers will make ideal recipients of this prize because they will be able to derive immediate value from Velvet Singer’s journaling and audition-tracking features. They will also enjoy getting their repertoire organized by selecting from Velvet Singer’s list of over 2,600 arias.
I will also present a free copy of Velvet Singer Software to each of the top rated Professional Track singers at the Winner’s Concert on Sunday, May 30th. Each copy of Velvet Singer Software is worth $195.99, therefore I will award up to $2,000 worth of free software.
Each of these eight to ten (8-10) singers has demonstrated consistent quality and career potential through the unique and valuable Audition Feedback Experience auditions and call backs. These emerging professional singers will immediately gain insight into their careers by tracking their gigs, organizing their repertoire lists, and managing their income and professional expenses with the help of Velvet Singer Software.
Best of luck to all of the participants!
