All Things Vocal Blog & Podcast by Judy Rodman: June 2021

Training & insights for stage and studio singers, speakers, vocal coaches and producers from professional vocal coach and author of "Power, Path & Performance" vocal training method. Download All Things Vocal podcast on your fav app!

Monday, June 14, 2021

How to Practice Your Voice Without Irritating the Neighbors - UPDATED 2021

NOTE: The audio player should appear below, if not, please click on the title of this post 
and go online to hear. 
Available also on iTunesTuneIn RadioStitcherSpotifyAmazonPodbean, most other podcast apps
PLEASE REVIEW at ratethispodcast.com/atv
I received a very practical question in my email ... Julia in Albuquerque asks,
I live in an apartment complex and like to practice at night. What should I do about the noise? 
Singers sometimes need to do vocal warmups and practice songs in hotel rooms, houses shared by others or on postage stamp lots, artist dressing rooms, public bathrooms, between-set-alleys, band buses, a back corner of the venue itself. How can you do this without annoying neighbors or giving away the sound of your not-yet-warmed-up-voice? Here are some suggestions:

Quietest solution:

Silence! Mime or lip-sync your songs. Use your facial and body language, flex your pelvic floor power, do everything but make a sound. Use silent vocal exercises like lip or tongue trills - try the "Mental Body/Voice Connection Routine" which is in my 6-disc Power, Path & Performance vocal training course. Tell you what; I'll just give it to you as a signup bonus right now! (If you don't see this signup box below, go to the blogpost site online

Cheapest audible solution:

Consider getting a pair of HearFones. These gadgets are like having a PA system that requires no electricity or batteries. Wearing them will also have the added benefit of keeping you from using too much air pressure. You won't push your voice loudly because it will sound like yelling at yourself! So you'll most probably be prompted to use better techniques for opening your throat and balancing breath support and control. A win-win for you AND your neighbors!

Good will/kindness solution:

Try garnering a little good will by contacting and alerting neighbors about when you intend to practice, being willing to work around times they especially need quiet (working night shift and need to sleep, baby's napping, etc). If you're singing with your instrument or your band is joining you for rehearsal, try using quiet practice gear and maybe some headphones. Your neighbors (and family) could become supportive friend-fans and organic show promotors!

Location solutions:

  • For an apartment, hotel room or space you don't own, you can try warming up and singing in the shower! You can also try vocalizing into a pillow or window curtains.  However, don't practice in 'guarded stance'. A hunched over, too-careful posture and numb delivery could lead you into bad vocal technique, causing you to tighten up instead of loosen up!
  • You can always practice in your car... but if you practice correctly you must be mindful of how you are singing. SO.... don't tailgate, stay away from other cars, or better yet... park and sing! Oh and don't let your posture slump. 
  • For your home, you might consider dedicating a space for playing/listening to/practicing music. In my home, my music room is located over my garage, and there is carpet on the floor. It really is a great situation for me and my students. So is, of course, the fact that I'm mostly working online with lessons, background vocals and production right now.

High end solutions

If you want to go the whole distance (and have the funds to do so); 
OK you... now go practice! Got neighbors? Where there's a will there's a quiet way:)

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Monday, June 7, 2021

Before Marketing Your Artist Career, Know Who You Are - Chat With Diane Foy

 

                                Diane Foy                                                             Judy Rodman

NOTE: The audio player should appear below, if not, please click on the title of this post and go online to hear. 
Available also on iTunesTuneIn RadioStitcherSpotifyAmazonPodbean, most other podcast apps
PLEASE REVIEW at ratethispodcast.com/atv

I interviewed PR & marketing coach Diane Foy hoping to get some good advice for artists. Wow, did she deliver... honestly, pulling no punches... about what it really takes to be successful in the business of the arts. I found her refreshingly authentic and generous with strategic advice. If you answer 'yes' to her question: "do you have an unstoppable drive, but lack a strategic plan?" then you really want to hear this chat. My thanks to Diane for sharing her valuable insights with us, and you might want to check out her own podcast, too (you'll recognize her guest)!

Some of the Rabbit Trails We Explored: 

  • How Diane helps people thrive financially with their talents, including her "6 C's" roadmap to book gigs and make money.
  • How a love for artists led Diane to become a photographer, makeup artist, publicist, journalist, and finally a coach with deep and wide understandings of how the business of the arts works.
  • The importance of getting out of our comfort zones, even if we are introverts.
  • Diane suggests that for real success an artist has to attract fans, media and industry.
  • The effect of the pandemic on Diane in Canada, and the mistakes she has seen artists make in not taking advantage of industry downtime.
  • Diane talks about coaching her artists to explore their stories and form their personal branding to gain confidence before learning about and digging into strategic social media activity.
  • How music marketing and promotion strategies have changed significantly; why hiring a publicist may not be your answer.
  • The importance of having a trusted team, and how you can vet the people you work with.
  • How coaches can speed up career trajectory.

About Diane Foy

There is a section on Diane's website titled 'My Why'. She says it's her life-long passion for arts and entertainment. Helping artists and performers succeed is her purpose in life. 

For 25 years Diane has been a creative entrepreneur, including 16 years as an arts & entertainment publicist representing renowned celebrities as well as independent artists. When traditional media began to downsize, there were fewer opportunities for the indie artists she most enjoyed working with, and 'artist development' departments had vanished from the entertainment industry leaving new artists to figure out on their own how to build their career. So Diane found the solution to help both artists and herself to thrive: She studied and became a certified coach. She developed what she calls her 6 "C's" of the Sing!Dance!Act!Thrive! Pathway to a successful career. Testimonials on her website speak to her client's success. 

Diane's Links

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