Life After The Voice

Lia Lando from News 10 NBC and I showing off my Team Gwen shirt in studio.

The weeks following my TV debut on NBC’s The Voice were anything but uneventful. TV interviews, newspaper, magazine, blog articles and radio spots quickly became common place. I was even asked to open for Mat Kearney and The Script at a radio sponsored concert. I received emails and messages from people all over the world expressing their gratitude for sharing my story and my voice. The response was overwhelming, and I welcomed it with open arms.

Before my involvement on The Voice, I had worked as a graphic designer at the same place for over 7 years. It was challenging to give my music career a real chance while working a day job. With all the traveling I was doing for The Voice and the gigging opportunities I received, I got the courage to quit my day job and persue music full-time.

Mat Kearney and I backstage for the 100.5 The Drive Mistletoe Show in 2014.

I took advantage of my momentum and free time and decided to start recording a solo CD. This time I wanted to try my hand at recording and producing it on my own. Over the winter months, I worked with a local drummer to lay down some tracks. It had its challenges, but in about three months worth of time we finished recording. I took the tracks to a local engineer and had him mix everything. Then I sent it off to get mastered and pressed.

In April of 2015 I released my first solo EP (which you can purchase through my website or on iTunes). I then organized my own North East tour to promote it. I was pretty proud of myself for accomplishing so much and mostly all on my own. I probably would’ve never been able to do this without the The Voice. Why? Because The Voice gave me the momentum, the resources and the courage to quit my day job and spend the time needed to achieve these things.

So has being on The Voice helped you?

The number one thing I get asked about being on The Voice is “So has it helped you?” It has helped me immensely! I’ve gained a ton of new fans, and it definitely helps when I’m trying to book out of town shows. Also, as I stated earlier, it has allowed me to quit my day job, which in turn has allowed me to travel more and spend more time on my music. Aside from all that, the experience alone taught me so much about myself. It was a huge learning experience.

Performing at the New York State Fair 2015

Did you make any connections?

The second most common thing I get asked is “Did you make any connections?” I think the general public has a bit of a misconception about these reality singing shows. These shows are in the business of making good television, not necessarily good music or music artists. Sure, I met lawyers, producers and sound engineers who all have connections in the music industry, but they aren’t there looking for the next Justin Bieber. They are there because they are getting a paycheck from the show.

The music industry is so different these days. Record labels can’t afford to sign artists who haven’t “proven” themselves yet. By “proven” I mean selling a ton of records on their own, and/or selling out shows. You may be thinking “Well what about the coaches. You at least made that contact.” Not quite. Despite how it may be portrayed on TV, the coaches don’t spend their free time working with the contestants. They have very busy lives, not to mention they are artists themselves. I was able to email Gwen through a Voice email client, which I’m sure isn’t even active anymore. So it’s not like I could contact her even if I wanted to. So, no, I did not make any music industry connections, but I did make some new friends.

Are you going to try again?

Sometimes I get asked if I’d ever go back and try again. I don’t even have to think twice about this one. Nope. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because once was enough. I had a great time, made some new friends and learned a lot. I came, I saw, I conquered. Now it’s time to move on.

Why the hell are you still in Rochester?

Occasionally I also get the “What are you still doing in Rochester?” I hate this question/comment. Maybe it’s because I ask myself the same thing at times. Maybe it’s because it plays on one of my biggest fears – looking back on my life from my deathbed and regretting the things I didn’t do. I’ve tried to get away from the mindset that living in a big city gives you legitimacy as an artist, but it still strikes a chord with me. This is another misconception the general public seems to have. They equate good talent and level of seriousness with big cities.

For the past 5 years I’ve been saying this was my last year in Rochester. It’s mostly because I’m so over the winter, but also because I succumbed to that very mindset. This past summer changed my perspective. I realized something while I was on tour – I can do mostly everything I want to do while still living in Rochester. Just because I live in Rochester doesn’t mean I can’t travel to play shows, or work with other producers. The only downside I’ve found to living in a smaller city is the lack of available, professional and diverse musicians to work with. There’s way more options in a bigger city.

Right now, someone is playing a cat piano and selling the songs in iTunes.

Like I said earlier, the music industry has changed drastically since the Internet phenomena. You can now reach millions of people with a simple upload of a song or video. You couldn’t do that before. The record labels used to be the music gatekeepers. Now the Internet is the music gatekeeper and it’s free game for anyone and everyone, but I digress.

Life after The Voice has been wonderful! And while I don’t want to only be know as “the girl from The Voice”, I’m taking advantage of it while I can. I know pretty soon, it’ll just be another bullet on my resume or a fun fact I tell at shows. But until then, I’ll be riding the waves. Cowabunga dudes!

This Is The Voice! – Part VI

You win some, you lose some, but in the end it’s all in how you play the game. And you better be damn proud of how you played it!

In the weeks leading up to the Battles I did nothing but take some much needed chill time, which of course included practicing. Almost every song I cover gets a unique A.L.P. spin, and because I had already been playing Jolene for so long, it did take a little adjusting to conform to the Battle arrangement. I didn’t want to over think it, but I needed a secret weapon. I needed to add something to the song that no one had heard or would expect.

Something else I tried to work on was my “blocking” or how I would move on stage. I had to go big this time. Sandy really challenged me in this aspect. She said to really go for it, even if it feels awkward. I’ve had my fair share of experience on stage without a guitar, but not like this. I had to bump it up about 10 notches. I practiced in front of a mirror and studied my movements right down to the details. I practiced until it no longer looked like a middle school dance routine.

About a month went by, and I was on a plane back to LA. I was feeling confident and excited. This time I was way more relaxed about everything. I knew exactly what to expect this time. I walked into the hotel cool as a cucumber. Looks like I’d be getting another chance at rooming with Jean Kelley.

Jean was quite hilarious and full of energy. She was also an avid Harry Potter fan. I’ve never watched any of the Harry Potter movies nor read any of the books (not that I would be opposed to doing so). Upon learning this, Jean enthusiastically played a Harry Potter movie she had on her laptop and explained what was happening in each scene. I enjoyed her energy, and we frequently exchanged music stories and Voice conspiracy theories. She was partnered up with Sugar for the Battle Round, and they gave me a sneak peak of their Battle performance. Holy Crap! Talk about making the stage explode!

The same schedule followed as usual: voice lessons, blocking, filming and meeting with our coach one last time. Taylor and I presented our polished performance of Jolene to Gwen and she loved it, though she did have some suggestions. She said we had to interact with each other more. We had to create a performance, not just sing. I agreed. After all, we wanted our Battle to be interesting enough to get air time. The last thing I wanted was to get montaged. A boring performance wouldn’t help our case.

Getting Montaged: Having your story, interviews and/or performances get cut or shown for only a bleep of a second on TV. This is the worst thing that could happen to a contestant. Getting montaged has nothing to do with whether you made it on the show or not. No matter how far you made it, if you got montaged the viewers would never learn who you are.

Taylor and I got together a few different times to make sure we completely nailed it. I suggested interacting a bit more, but he said he didn’t want to rehearse anything. He wanted it to look natural. I did too, but I also wanted it to be an entertaining performance. I brought it up several times, but he just wanted to go with the flow and feel the moment. Hmm, I thought maybe he had something up his sleeve and that he would break out some crazy breakdance move that would have Gwen melting in her chair. Well, whatever he decided to do, I knew I had to go big.

It was the day of the Battles and everyone was getting pumped. This time none of the wardrobe came out of my own closet. I firmly reinstated NO HEELS or dresses. They respected that, and I was pretty happy with what they picked out – blacked studded leggings with a casual suit jacket and some rocker boots. It looked pretty rockstar, and everyone was jealous of my sparkly pants. Even a couple of the hair dressers and make-up artists checked the tag to see who they were made by. Taylor looked adorable in his folky hipster outfit. This was going to be a great battle!

The infamous sparkly pants the day of the Battles!

We met up with Gwen backstage before going on. She was so sweet and told us we both looked great. She quietly whispered how nervous she was, which was endearing. She gave us a pep talk for the camera, and we were sent to our spots to be announced into the ring.

“Amanda Lee Peers – the confident graphic designer from Rochester, NY!” I walked out and waved to Sandy and my dad sitting in the audience (they allowed my dad to come in place of my mom this time). I met Taylor on stage with a curtsy and he returned with a bow (one of the few little things we did rehearse together).

We started in. I was having a bit of trouble hearing myself, but I just let muscle memory take over and went for it. The a cappella intro was dark and haunting, then the music kicked in. I cued the audience to start clapping their hands as Taylor took the first verse. “Go for it, go for it!” was all that kept ringing in my head. I came back with raw energy and soul, using the mic stand (one of Gwen’s suggestions) like it was my dance partner. Taylor stayed in one spot for the most part, but what his performance lacked he made up with his vocals. They were smooth and fluid. I pulled out all the stops, going up front in center and dropping to one knee.

The apex of our performance was coming up, and Taylor and I faced each other once again. I leaned into him, hoping he would see my game and lean back into me, but he just backed away. “Come on dude! Work with me here!” I was thinking. He slowly came back in for the end of the song and we sang into each others eyes, just as we had for the beginning of the song. We hugged it out and nervously looked at the judges to hear what they had to say. Check out our performance here.

Adam started off stating his undying love for Taylor (Adam was the other coach that turned around for Taylor in the Blinds), but then went on to say how Taylor should take notes on how passionate my performance was. Even though he said I had Taylor beat on the performance aspect, his pick was still Taylor.

Blake commented on how I “sang the crap out of that song” and that my performance was more believable. Something that they didn’t air was Blake’s disdain for Taylor’s lack of enthusiasm on stage. He stated in more or less words that “you should never look like you’re ungrateful to be on that stage.” Ouch. Blake said his pick was me.

Pharrell echo’d Adam and Blake’s sentiments on how well I worked the stage saying he appreciated how lost I got in the song and that my ad libs were beautiful. The ad libs were my “secret weapon” that I had saved for the Battle. I’m glad someone took notice to that! He also commented on Taylor’s star quality. They cut out that Pharrell’s pick was me.

Then there’s Gwen. She had nothing good to say about my performance and praised Taylor for how far he had come since the first practice with her and Gavin. She then went on to point out she was the only coach that turned around for me and how downhill my Blind performance went after she turned her chair. Granted, it wasn’t my best vocals, but I don’t think I deserved that. She made no comment on how I just poured my heart and soul into performing Jolene, especially after all three coaches pointed that out. Regardless, I was hoping she was just trying to make Taylor feel better before she picked me. “The winner of the Battle is going to be…..Taylor.”

My heart sank. I was in shock. I hugged Taylor and thanked the coaches for their kind words. Begging wasn’t my style so I just expressed how grateful I was for the opportunity and walked off stage to give them all a hug, anticipating a steal. I hugged Gwen first, and she regretfully said “Please don’t hate me.” I didn’t hate her. I knew it was all a part of the game. Pharrell told me he hoped I would come back next year. Blake was the last one to hug before the exit. Once I got past his chair that was it. I gave the giant teddy bear a hug, and he told me I did a great job. I was past the chair and no steal. I couldn’t believe it.

Sandy and my dad were there waiting for me as I exited the stage. They both were emotional, but I tried to stay strong. I didn’t want the cameras to see my disappointment. An interview followed with one of the producers. She stated they were all just as much shocked as I was about Gwen’s decision. One of the questions that was brought up was “Is this the end of the road for your music career?” Ha! “Absolutely not. This was only a pitstop on the way to the top.” I replied.

I was then escorted out to a golf cart where I’d be taken to give them back their clothes and change into mine. Then there was the “exit interview.” Basically, I had to meet with a shrink to make sure I wasn’t suicidal after being booted from the show. It sounds silly, but I can see why they do this. No matter what you tell yourself, no matter how you act, reality TV really messes with you mentally, emotionally and physically. I was emotional to say the least. I was heartbroken. I was confused. I felt betrayed. Tossed away like trash. I wasn’t going to kill myself, but I won’t lie and say I was fine. I wasn’t.

Me, Sandy and my dad went back to the hotel to spend the last night together before leaving the next morning. Luckily, they put us in the same hotel. During the course of the show, family and friends stayed in a different hotel, and were not allowed to see contestants except when filming.

I avoided Taylor at all costs. Not because I didn’t like him or that I blamed him, but because I felt like I won that Battle fair and square. I was resentful. I wasn’t ready to talk to him or really anyone else for that matter. It was getting late and of course those damn singer circles were roaring. This was all new to Sandy, and she was enjoying the music and camaraderie. I couldn’t stand it. We found a quiet place in a different part of the hotel. I completely broke down on her. I just couldn’t understand why I hadn’t been picked. It was killing me inside, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

I skipped spending my last night with my roommate Jean Kelley and opted to stay with Sandy and my dad. The next morning we all had breakfast, and I said goodbye to fellow contestants Ethan Butler and Griffin who happened to be having breakfast at the same time. We waited outside for the van to pull up. Jean Kelley came out and gave me a big hug goodbye. She had made it to the Knockouts, and I was happy for her.

I was curious to see who else would be joining me in the van home. Jonathan Wyndham walked up and started putting his bags in the van. “You’re leaving?” I was shocked! Jonathan was my buddy during the legal meetings. I’d always sit next to him and ask him to explain what all the legal jargon meant. Well, one thing was certain. I wasn’t alone.

The conspiracy theories started swirling in my head. Right before my Battle, I was pulled aside by a producer. “We need you to re-record what you said about being kicked out of the church.” What? Why? “Our legal team doesn’t want to get in a battle with the Christian church. Can you just say you didn’t feel welcome at the church anymore?” Did I have a choice? Not really. This literally happened right before I walked on stage.

I started replaying that in my head along with the fact that two of the coaches said I won that battle. Why wasn’t I stolen by them? I started thinking my journey was cut short, because The Voice didn’t want to deal with any legal difficulties my story might cause. I aired my theory with the show and followed it up with a phone call to one the staff members.

I started telling her my theory and completely balled my eyes out – which very few people have seen or heard me do. Seeing that I was clearly torn apart about the decision, she reassured me that I gave an amazing performance and that I’m more than who I was on The Voice. She tried to put my conspiracy theories to rest, stating she wouldn’t work for a company who would do something like that. I appreciated her reassurance. While I still wasn’t sure if I bought it, I welcomed her encouraging words.

For the next couple weeks I didn’t want to get off the couch. All sorts of self-loathing and self-pitying thoughts came into my head. One day Sandy finally gave me a well deserved ass kicking. I had my time to mourn, now it was time to regain my confidence and be proud of who I am and what I did. She was right. Enough was enough. This wasn’t me. I pushed through the pain and started writing and working on my music again. I wasn’t going to let The Voice conquer me.

My friends and family getting ready to watch my TV debut!

I wrote another letter to The Voice production team and thanked them for the entire experience. I also thanked them for giving me the opportunity to share my story and my voice and asked them to air my performances as well as my story. I emailed Gwen and expressed my gratitude once again for turning her chair and giving me the opportunity to be on the show. Lastly, I sent Taylor a long overdue congratulatory email and wished him the best of luck on the show.

The TV show aired and sure enough my entire story and performances were shown. I was so grateful for that. Watching my Battle on TV lifted my spirits, and my confidence was restored. I performed just as good if not better than I thought I did. It was one of the best performances I had ever given! I had absolutely no regrets. In life, you can only control what you do. You can’t control the actions of others. I gave it 110% and was proud of every second. That’s what it’s all about.

My journey on The Voice was over, but my journey to the top isn’t.

If you have any questions about The Voice that I didn’t cover, please leave a comment or email me at contact@amandaleepeers.com. I’ll write a new post with answers to all your questions!

Thanks for reading everyone! Subscribe to my blog to continue following my journey!

 

This Is The Voice! – Part V

What do The Muppets, Vampires and The Rolling Stones have in common? Keep reading…

Before I start in on the next chapter of my journey, I want to clarify something that may have confused you in the last chapter. I stated that Gwen Stefani was my childhood idol, though prior to the Blind Audition she was at the bottom of my coach picks. Let me tell you why.

Pharrell was also an artist that I looked up to for a long time and still do. I had dreamed of working with him ever since I discovered N.E.R.D. and thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Aside from being an artist, Pharrell was a successful producer so I already knew he was good at working with other artists. I admired how he blended genres to make his own sound, which is exactly what I like to do. Naturally, I thought he would be a good fit for me. Even if his productions skills didn’t translate into being a good Voice coach, I’d still get to work with him. It would be a win-win for me.

Blake appealed to the organic, raw side of my music. He was an experienced coach and had already won several seasons. This is why I picked him as number 2. Adam was number 3 on my list because he had experience being a coach. I’ve always enjoyed Maroon 5 and thought he could lend some good advice on how to get more out of my performances. My last pick was Gwen, simply on a strategic standpoint. This was her first season on The Voice, and I had no idea how she would fair as a coach. Even though I’ve been a fan since early No Doubt, I was there to win, not drool over celebrities.

Something else to note – when you are presented with the opportunity to choose your coach, your picks might completely change when you hear what they have to say to you. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given this opportunity, but almost every contestant I talked to afterwards said they based their decision on what the coaches had to say to them after turning their chair around. Why would you want to work with a coach that doesn’t have much to say to you, even if they were you’re number 1 pick prior to your Blind Audition?

So now that we’ve got that cleared up let’s get on with the story.

The Blinds were over, and the adrenaline of making it out alive was still coursing through my veins. We had strict rules not to tell anyone what happened during the Blind Audition. Being the good secret keeper that I am, it wasnt hard, though my smile always gave it away. We were flown back home to attend to our real lives for a few weeks, which was not nearly enough to get back to much of anything. It was more of a purgatory, just biding time until we’d find out what our true fate would be.

I landed in sunny LA again and was whisked off to one of hotels we had previously stayed at. The first order of business was a meeting. It’s always a meeting. This time we were separated into our chosen teams. Team Gwen in the house! “Movie time!” said one of the producers sadistically. “We’re going to watch all of your performances!” I was squirming already, as was everyone else. Artists rarely enjoy watching or listening to themselves perform, or at least I don’t.

I was however interested in watching my fellow teammates’ performances. I hadn’t participated in any of the singer circles so I didn’t know much of what anyone sounded like. Plus, I’d be able to check out who my potential competition was for the Battle Round. It was my turn for embarrassment, and I hid my face as soon as I heard the “Ooooo’s” happening.

I definitely hadn’t performed as well as I thought I did, but I chalked it up to nerves. In all honesty, I don’t really remember how I performed at all. This was a common theme among all the contestants. I call it The Blind Blackout.

The Blind Blackout:The short-term memory loss experienced by contestants of NBC’s The Voice while performing their Blind Audition. Contestants often find themselves having no recollection of how they performed during their Blind Audition. Although the cause is unknown, it is most likely due to the enormous amount of both stress and euphoria experienced on stage.

Phew. Now that that was over, we’d find out who are Battle partner was and what our song would be. Throughout this entire process we were asked to pick songs which we’d like to perform. Just like the song list I had to submit for my Blind Audition, we had to do the same for the Battle Round. And just like they picked my number one choice for the Blinds, they picked my number one choice for the Battles.

“Amanda Lee Peers, your battle partner will be Taylor John Williams, and your song will be Jolene.” I couldn’t believe it! I hadn’t really seen or talked to Taylor prior to this moment, but in any case I immediately thought I had it in the bag. Jolene was my jam! Taylor said he didn’t know the song. I had been singing it at shows for years, and it was always a crowd pleaser. I also thought it was a sign that they picked my number one pick for a second time in a row. I was so happy about this news and couldn’t wait to tell Sandy!

During my short time back home, the stress had taken a toll on my immune system. I picked up a cold that turned into bronchitis – which was like having the black plague in Voiceland. They quarantined me to my own hotel room – which was perfectly okay with me. While having a roommate lended a new experience, which I was always a fan of, I quickly reverted back to my loner self and enjoyed the solitude. My roommate would’ve been Jean Kelley.

Taylor and I got together a few times to practice. We also had voice lessons together which really helped shape our performance. Taylor is a super cool and quirky guy, and I enjoyed getting to know him. Everyone that heard us sing together instantly fell in love and said our voices complimented each other really nicely.

Taylor and I, during one of our choreography lessons.

The usual schedule followed – voice lessons, choreography, recording and filming. Recording was done at Jim Henson Studios, which was in itself an experience to remember. We pulled into a gated lot with several buildings located inside. There were adolescent girls waiting outside the gates. Apparently, they got word Justin Bieber was going to be there later that day to record.

The buildings were adorned with Muppets characters and other magical motifs adorning the ground and buildings. It was like stepping into a magical sanctuary. One of the staff members secretly pulled me aside to show me something on the ground. It was Charlie Chaplin’s handprints and name stamped into the cement.

Taylor and I entered through the giant mythical looking door and walked down the hallway into a holding room, where there was an assortment of refreshments and a giant fish tank. Across the hall was the studio where “We Are The World” was recorded. History was made here. I was treading where legends created masterpieces. The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Dr. Dre, Rhianna, Justin Timberlake, just to name a few, made their mark here. I was hoping they left behind a little piece of their magic for me.

Recording went quick and easy – unlike my past experiences. It took Taylor and I no more than 45 minutes to record vocals for Jolene. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy! What a refreshing studio experience!

Now for the moment we had been waiting for – we were scheduled to spend some time working with our coach Gwen Stefani! We were taken off to hair, make-up and wardrobe in preparation for the cinematic reunion. For those who don’t know and to refresh those who do, each coach gets a mentor to help lend their expertise and knowledge to the contestants. They kept us guessing almost right up until we walked in. Our mentor would be Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. He was also Gwen Stefani’s husband.

My coach Gwen Stefani and mentor Gavin Rossdale.

I was so excited! I was a 90’s girl and had always been a fan of Bush. All my 90’s nostalgia came rushing back, and I felt like a rebellious teenager again. I think I was the only one on my team who actually knew who he was or at least knew enough to be excited.

We walked in to the room and saw Gwen, Gavin and Paul Mirkovich (the band leader) sitting at the piano. The band was off to the sides ready to jump in at Paul’s signal. Gwen acted super excited to see us and gave us both a squeeze. I got the double cheek kiss from Gavin, which I wasn’t prepared for but pleasantly welcomed.

PAUSE.

I have to share something quite comical. I’m a fan of the TV show Criminal Minds – like I think I’ve seen every episode type fan. One of the episodes starred Gavin Rossdale. He played a vampire rock singer on an episode called “The Performer,” and it was all I could think about when I saw him. I meant to tell him I loved him on that episode, but it slipped my mind.

PLAY.

Gwen asked us some questions to break the ice. She asked us to give the song a go. I was a bit nervous and my voice was a little shaky but when Taylor and I came together it sounded really nice. Gwen was really impressed and said it gave her goosebumps. She then proceeded to tell us we should start a band together. Gwen was California cool and laid back but actually seemed a bit nervous herself, which was reassuring.

Getting to work with Gavin was a different experience. I felt like I was talking to an old band mate. He complimented me numerous times on my voice stating I had the “voice of the ages.” Wow. Is this seriously happening right now? I was psyched! Gwen seemed less than impressed with Gavin’s flattery, and looking back I can understand why. It would be about year later they’d announce their divorce.

We left, and I felt pretty stellar with how things went, not to mention I just got to work with Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. How could you not feel stellar? All in all it only lasted about 45 minutes, but that’s show biz for ya. Taylor and I had one final voice lesson before we’d be sent home to mentally and physically prepare for what would come next.

To Be Continued…

This Is The Voice – Part IV

The Voice has a way of making your mind numb with all the waiting that happens. I’m a pretty patient person, most of the time, but waiting in suspense is enough to make you die an early death. Your mind starts to play tricks on you. Paranoia sets in. “Do they already know my fate? Maybe I think I’m better than I really am. What if I mess up?” Stay strong my friend! It’s the day of the Blind Audition.

The time was getting closer. Production had called for a meeting. This was the moment we’d find out if we made it to the Blind Audition. There were five days worth of auditions, and today we would find out which day our audition was. If you got the fifth day, you most likely wouldn’t make it to the Blind Auditions as the teams would already be filled up. Even the fourth day would be sketchy. The earlier you went the better your chances were of getting to audition, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on the first day. The judges may play it safe and be conservative on how many people they pick the first day.

“Amanda Lee Peers. First day.” Phew, well at least I was guaranteed an audition, now hopefully I sing well enough to land a spot early in the game. Megg and Sugar got somewhere in the first couple days, but I don’t remember specifically which days they got. Everyone went back to their rooms buzzing about which day they were going. “See you guys on the other side!” I said to Megg and Sugar before turning in for the night. It was a super early morning for me so I made sure to get to bed early.

Ugh, is it seriously 5:00 AM already? My alarm went off way too soon. The big day was finally here. It was too early for nerves to set in though. Fortunately, the only thing that was required of us was dry hair. No makeup, no fancy clothing, just a blank canvas for the Hollywood artists to paint on. With bags packed, (in case I didn’t make it), and matcha in hand, I wandered down to the lobby still half-asleep to meet up with my group. We piled into the van and headed off to wardrobe and makeup.

After we were all duded up, we were taken to a concrete, cold, dark holding cell in a giant warehouse, where we were left to be tortured by our nerves and self-doubt. (I later learned they keep it so cold because of all the production equipment and lighting.) Luckily, my girlfriend Sandy and my mom had visitation rights and whisked me off for a little yard time – aka more filming. It was great to see them and they lifted my spirits with encouraging words. It was just what I needed before my big moment.

 

Yoga, headphones, nervous chatting – we were all now seated backstage and everyone was trying to get in their zone, myself included. The time was getting very close now. I could hear those who went before me performing, and listened intently to see if they made it. Some did and some didn’t. People I thought had it in the bag, didn’t get a single chair and those who I didn’t think had much originally got four chairs. We ain’t in Kansas anymore Todo. In the Wild West, anything goes.

FUN FACT: 

The sound effect you hear when the coaches press their red button, does not actually happen during the Blind Audition. It’s all a part of the TV magic.

I closed my eyes and rehearsed the song in my head when I heard my name called. “Amanda, pretend you’re nervous. You’re pacing back and forth. You’re whole life has been leading up to this moment. Beautiful! Great job, now shake the jitters off. Look up at the ceiling. Look at the door. Jump up and down. Okay, now let’s do that again.” Are these guys for real?!  I can’t work like this!

I quickly remembered I was here for a TV show – their TV show. Having no time to focus and calm myself, the nerves were really starting to build up. It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. “Holy shit! This is it! This moment could change my life forever!”

With a little pep talk from my vocal coach, I was whisked off to make my TV debut. I walked to the X marking where I was to start out. My knees were shaking uncontrollably as I stood there staring at those four chairs. I tried to block them out and concentrate on the audience, as if I was just performing at my own show.

The piano keys tinkled, cuing me they were going to start the song. “Oo, oo, oo, oo, oo, oo, oo, o0!” And she’s out of the gate! I wasn’t 30 seconds into the song when my childhood idol, Gwen Stefani, turned her chair around. I lost it, thinking “I’ve made it. That’s it. I’m on The Voice!” The excitement derailed my performance a bit, and while it definitely wasn’t my best performance all it takes is one chair, and that’s exactly what I got!

You can check out my performance for yourself on Youtube. After I finished my song, Gwen looked to her sides and said “Well, I guess you’re stuck with me!” I couldn’t believe that I was officially on the show. It was an amazing feeling. Gwen reemed the rest of the guys out for not turning around and said I had the whole package, which made me feel even more like a rockstar.

FUN FACT:

Prior to my Blind Audition. My coach picks were:
1. Pharrell
2. Blake
3. Adam
4. Gwen

She congratulated me with a hug and an exclusive “Team Gwen” t-shirt. Despite what was shown on TV, I was the first girl on Gwen’s team, which I thought was also awesome.

Pharrell asked if I ever sing country. I stated that everyone tells me I should, but I don’t. He said I’d make the perfect southern rock singer. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that before and interesting coming from Pharrell Williams.

I went up to hug all of them before I exited the stage. Meeting celebrities is always an interesting event. I’ve learned they are usually larger than life or way smaller than they look on TV. Here were my conclusions: Adam is really short. Blake is a giant. Pharrell is much taller than I expected, but maybe it was his hat. Gwen is very petite, not to mention gorgeous.

I was whisked off on a golf cart and met up with Carson Daily, Sandy and my mom “backstage” – aka a completely different warehouse. They were so excited, as was I! No time for pleasantries though, within minutes I was whisked off again, this time into a van. We waited for more “yes’s” to fill up the van, and we were taken to a new, secret “yes” hotel.

Prior to the first Blind Audition, they took everyone’s cell phones so no one knew who made it and who didn’t. Mind you, this was only the first day of auditions. There were potentially 4 more days to go before teams got filled up. They didn’t want anyone spilling the beans before all was said and done.

FUN FACT:

The order of auditions you see on TV is not the actual order of the auditions. The order is edited for TV.

I was anticipating who would already be there and if I’d see Megg and Sugar again. We were greeted by our fellow contestants with congratulatory hugs. The new hotel was pretty cool and in a different part of LA than the last one. The roommate situation was still in effect. I went to pick up my room keys and new paperwork, wondering who my new roommate would be. This time I’d be rooming with spunky contestant Mia Pfirrman.

It was getting into the late evening and no Megg or Sugar yet. The final contestants of the day had begun to trickle in and finally Sugar jumps out of the van. I was excited to see her and was hoping Megg would be joining the happy reunion in the next day or two.

It was weird not having a cell phone, but it gave a sense of freedom not having to incessantly checking it every 5 minutes. I took advantage of my tech-free time to write some songs and letters to Sandy, exercised and occasionally took a dip in the hot tub.

Day 4 had come and gone and no Megg. At this point it was safe to assume she hadn’t made it, which was a bummer. We all waited patiently for the last few stragglers to join us. Finally we got word that all the teams were officially filled up! Next stop – the Battle Round!

THE VOICE — “Team Gwen Battle Reality” — Pictured: (l-r) Bryana Salaz, Menlik Zergabachew, Amanda Lee Peers, Taylor John Williams, Jean Kelley, Mayra Alvarez, Troy Richie, Gwen Stefani, Jessie Pitts, Gianna Salvato, Sugar Joans, Ryan Sill, Anita Antoinette — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

To Be Continued…

This Is The Voice – Part III

“Oh you’re calling from that TV show The Voice? Meh, sure I guess I’ll come to LA to sing in front of four celebrity judges and millions of viewers all over the world. Why not. I got nothin’ better to do.”

Months had gone by and I was over the wait. I was leaving it up to fate and went on with my life. At this point all the excitement had been sucked out the whole thing by these ridiculous waiting games. Just when I was about to give up on the whole thing, I got the call! It looks like I’d be heading back to LA!

This of course didn’t mean I made it to the actual Blind Audition, as cuts could still happen, but I was that much closer. I was curious to find out if I’d see any familiar faces.

Hey Roomie

This time I’d be in LA for almost a whole month! I also found out I’d have a roommate the entire time. “What?!” I wasn’t too keen on the idea, but I couldn’t really complain as I was basically getting a free vacation. Since I attended a local community college and just drove in and out every day, I never got to experience the whole college dorm thing. I guess this would serve as the college experience I never had.

I checked in and was on my way to see who my new roommate was. I stumbled into the room over my giant luggage bags and was greeted by a bleach blonde California girl – not the annoying kind, the cool kind. Her name was Megg. Luckily, we had a bunch in common and got along really well. This was going to be much better than I had anticipated.

I left my bags in the room and went to get all my info and paperwork. This time we didn’t require a chaperone, we just had to sign in and out and couldn’t be gone for longer than an hour or so. Three strikes and you’re out. They were serious about this rule.

Our hotel was situated on the infamous Ventura Blvd, where we had a lot more options to pass the time with. When I wasn’t doing something for The Voice my day usually consisted of eat, gym, eat, pool, walk around, eat, sleep. There was even a grocery store nearby, which was amazing for stocking up on snacks, water and the singer essential Throat Coat tea.

L to R: Megg, me and Sugar

After checking everything out, I headed back to the room and Megg and I chatted for a bit. Then there was a knock on the door. I opened it, and some girl was standing outside. She was there for Megg, and I was a bit confused as to who she was. Was she a part of The Voice or was she just a friend of Megg’s who came to visit?

She introduced herself as Sugar. She was another local Cali girl who was there for The Voice. I hadn’t seen either of them during the last round of auditions, because they were local to the LA area and only drove in and out for the meetings and audition. We all got along well and hung out together for the remainder of the trip.

That’s So LA

There was much more on the itinerary this time around – meetings, voice lessons, choreography, make-up, hair, wardrobe, band rehearsals, and lots of filming. We were about to get little taste of what commercial success would be like LA style! It was all really exciting, but as busy it got, I still found time for some good old-fashioned R&R.

Getting some R&R by the pool

Of course the singer circles were in full force now, and I stayed as far away as possible. Megg had the same disdain for them, and we both smirked as the volume of the singing gradually got louder. Oh well, to each their own, but I wasn’t about to lose my voice right before my Blind Audition.

Meetings

I looked forward to the meetings. It was the only hope of getting information on what was going to happen next. Then there were the legal meetings. We were separated into groups and presented with three law firms, in which we were to choose one to represent our group. All sorts of questions were asked, and I tried to pay close attention to how screwed over I was going to be after signing the contract. The Voice would basically own me for as long as I was on the show and even after I was off the show. What was my alternative though? Refuse to sign, and go home? Not a chance!

One of the many meetings

Along with production and legal meetings, there was what I like to call the “crazy test.” We were all given some sort of physiology Bubble Test to gauge our mental stability. Of course we were timed, and I didn’t get to finish but I was eager to learn what the test revealed about me. Everyone had to meet with a Physiologist who would review the test results and determine whether or not you would be a liability to the show.

You might think “Why would anyone be a liability to the show?” Well, I’ll tell you what, going through this process and being on the show is NOT for an unstable person. It is emotionally, mentally and physically draining and could cause someone to have a serious nervous breakdown if they aren’t ready for it. This show really f#@&$ with your head! If you can’t take rejection, DON’T EVER AUDITION FOR THIS SHOW! As a matter of fact, if you can’t take rejection, forget about music as a career.

Voice Lessons

The voice lessons were a pleasant surprise. I’m really glad we got them but for the Blind Audition, I’m not so sure they helped. My Blind Audition song, ZZ Ward’s Put The Gun Down, was naturally raw and emotion filled. The voice lessons had started to polish the raw character, and instead of just feeling the song, I started thinking about reaching a certain note or forming my mouth a certain way. It made me think way too much, and I felt like I lost that emotion the song really thrived on.

That said – all of The Voice vocal coaches are top notch, and I’m so grateful to have worked with them. Later in the competition they improved my singing immensely. For the Blind Audition, they got inside my head too much, which wasn’t any fault of the vocal coaches, it’s just a lot to think about before the big audition.

My favorite matcha brand Breakaway Matcha!

I did learn a whole lot about vocal health though. This was when I decided to stop drinking coffee and taking allergy medicine. Both dry you out and can affect your voice so I wanted to do everything I could to take care of my instrument. I switched to a strong type of green tea called matcha, and I’ve been drinking it ever since! I still miss coffee sometimes, but I feel immensely better off of it! Singers and non-singers alike should give it a try! My favorite is called Breakaway Matcha.

The single most important thing I learned from the vocal lessons was to always warm up your voice before singing!

Choreography

I was a little worried about this one. I had flashbacks of myself practicing break dancing and other cool dance moves in my bedroom. Those moves were best left in that bedroom a long time ago. Luckily, “choreography” was more of a “blocking” lesson – basically how the stage would be set-up, where we were supposed to stand and where to exit the stage. They did give some tips on how to make the performance more entertaining – no break dancing needed.

Make-Up

I’ve never been big on wearing make-up, and my hair was pretty easy to style – just blow dry and go. That would never fly on TV though or at least on The Voice. Because of the type of cameras they use, you had to wear a special HD foundation, so America doesn’t see every pore on your face. The make-up starts out very natural, so they can gradually build you up over the course of the show. As “natural” as it looked it was still way more make-up then I’ve ever put on my face.

Hair

The hair stylists were exactly what I had envisioned a Hollywood stylist to be. They embodied the stereotype I was hoping for, and I loved it! Unlike NYC, LA was living up to all my expectations and pre-conceived ideas of how it was out West. I’m sure any LA native would cringe if they knew what those ideas were, but for me it was just as it was supposed to be.

Wardrobe

Wardrobe was interesting and they surprisingly liked a lot of the clothes I had brought. They had racks and racks of clothes, shoes and accessories. I do like shopping, but after a while I suffer from shopper’s fatigue. This time they did the shopping for me, so no skin off my back! They even tailored my clothes to custom fit me. Not too shabby, huh? The other thing I had discovered while at wardrobe was that a couple rooms down, the cast from the TV show Parenthood hung out. I loved that show, so I thought that was pretty cool.

Band Rehearsals

The band rehearsals was where I came alive. I was in my element, and being able to rehearse with world-class musicians was even better. Paul Mirkovich, the band leader and piano player for The Voice band was super laid-back and said I had a cool voice. I was most excited about the guitar player Justin Derrico – who was P!nk’s guitar player. I’m a huge fan of P!nk so it was awesome playing with him!

One of the buildings we filmed in

Filming

I’ve never had any experience with filming, minus the silly plays my friends and I would record on my dad’s camcorder in middle school. I secretly had visions of the producers telling me “Wow you’re a real natural. You should get into acting!” Well, I never heard those words per say, but I was given plenty of encouragement. I actually really enjoyed filming and wouldn’t mind doing more of it in the future. I had make-up and hair touching me up between takes. I felt like a star already!

My Story

Remember back to Part I when I said you should know your story? Well, after some digging I realized what mine was. It wasn’t necessarily something I’d want to blast all over a major network television show, but I knew it was what helped me get here so I didn’t have much of a choice. That’s what the producers wanted, so I gave it to them. So here it goes.

I grew up in a strong Christian family, went to church every Sunday and spent a lot of free time doing churchy things. It was all I knew, but I enjoyed it and have a lot of great churchy memories.

Me at age 12 with my first guitar

I got a used acoustic guitar for Christmas when I was 12, took lessons and started playing in my church’s band. Years went by, we switched churches, but I continued to play guitar in the church band and stayed pretty involved in church activities.

There was something that I had always struggled with though. I always felt different from others, and couldn’t shake the feeling of being attracted to other girls. I never told anyone because I grew up thinking being gay was wrong and sinful. I guess it would be something that I’d just have to struggle through.

There was a point that I had confided in a good friend of mine who also struggled with the same thing. I thought, “Well maybe I’m not so different.” until one day I was called in for a meeting with my pastor.

He had found out through “my friend” that I was involved in a relationship with another woman, and because that church believed that was a sinful lifestyle, I was not allowed in any leadership role in the church – including being in the church band. I did have an option, however. I could go to counseling to be “fixed”, and once I had successfully completed counseling I could return to being in the church band. That was the last day I ever stepped foot in that church.

Playing guitar in the church band

I was devastated, but didn’t realize how much that affected me until being asked to talk about it on The Voice. They have a way of pulling things out of you. Because church and music were so intertwined for me, once I was rejected from the church I stopped playing music too.

Years went by. The wound healed, but the scar was still there. I played my guitar every now and then in my bedroom. A friend of mine came over one day and asked if I would sing for her. It took me forever to muster up the courage to do so, but eventually I did, and she was blown away. She started telling all her friends and encouraged me to start singing out again. I’ve been pursuing music ever since, and if it weren’t for her support and encouragement I wouldn’t be where I am today. My friend’s name is Sandy, and her and I are now partners.

Sandy and I backstage

After telling my story during one of the on-camera interviews I explained to one of the producers that I didn’t want to become the “token lesbian” on the show. I didn’t want them to focus on that instead of who I was as a musician. She understood, but explained that my story and struggle is what helped get me here, and that she would do her best to spin it in the best light she could. I agreed that would be okay. I didn’t want to be difficult to work with and decided the best thing I could do was just to be true to myself.

Looking back, I am SO happy I got to tell my story and let America hear the struggles the LGBTQ community goes through. I’m actually really proud of myself for telling that story on national TV. I never talked to anyone about it and had buried it deep inside. I needed to get that out. The Voice helped me do that, and I’ll be forever grateful to them for giving me that platform to not only showcase my voice but to also tell my story.

To Be Continued…

This Is The Voice! – Part II

Jet setting, fancy hotels, palm trees and 80 degrees of pure happiness – now this was something I could get used to! I left the snowy gloom of Rochester behind me and entered into a strange new land where the sun actually shined every day. Upon arriving at the hotel, a commercial was being shot in the lobby. Yup, I’m in LA alright!

Into The Wild West

With every new level of The Voice journey, there were new rules and directions. The next round was the “Executive Audition.” Everyone was given a giant list of songs in which we were to rank our top 25 in the order we’d like to sing them in. Out of our ranking, the music department would pick a song which we had to sing. Here was the deal for the Executive Audition:

1. Aside from music department’s song pick, we had to prepare two other songs of our own choice. Again, they preferred modern, moderate to up-beat songs. No originals.
2. This time no one was allowed to accompany you. Backing tracks were required for all songs, but you could accompany yourself for one song only, and it couldn’t be for the song the music department picked for you.
3. They really encouraged originality, but humorously pointed out that just slowing down a song doesn’t get you any points. Switch it up and make it your own!
4. Guess what song they picked for me? Yup you got it – ZZ Ward’s Put The Gun Down. I couldn’t have been happier! It was my #1 pick, as I was a huge fan of ZZ Ward already and was already performing that song at my shows. Here were my picks for the Executive Audition:

1. Put The Gun Down by ZZ Ward (music department pick)
2. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
3. Sweater Weather by The Neighborhood

I’m pretty computer and audio savvy, so I edited my own arrangements of the tracks and sent them in to the music department. I love playing guitar, but I wanted my audition to be all about my voice and performance – no distractions. I was so ready for this! I packed my bags and headed out west!

Sing Into Spring!

We had an itinerary to follow, mostly just meetings and of course the impending Executive Audition. The rest of time we were free to roam the hotel and walk across the street with supervision. Single files, chaperones and meeting new classmates. It felt like elementary school all over again!

Everything we did had to be top secret. I started to feel like I was a part some secret society. We were no longer there for The Voice. To anyone who asked, we were there for a “Sing Into Spring” Singing Camp. The importance of confidentiality was pounded into our brains at every glance – which is understandable since everything happens before the show airs on TV.

I kept to myself for the most part, occasionally chatting with my fellow “campers.” The singing circles though? Forget it. They just weren’t my thing. In this type of situation, they just wear out your voice and your psyche. The staff even warned against them, but that didn’t slow them down.

Singing Circles: An instance where two or more singers get together to show off their pipes in a public place. Veiled as a happy bonding ritual of fellow musicians, it’s secretly a passive aggressive way of scoping out the competition. It usually turns into a contest of who can sing the loudest and best. They seem to grow in numbers and sometimes branch off into multiple locations. Almost always started by a guitar slinger.

Guitar Slinger: A guy or gal who carries around an acoustic guitar wherever they go, looking for an opportunity to sing a song and/or get asked to start a singing circle.

The Executive Audition

The time had come. I had my appointment for the Executive Audition, and I was feeling good! I walked into the room, but something caught me off guard. It was dimly lit, candles and all, and there were about 25+ people sitting in chairs. “Did I take a wrong turn?” It looked like a scene from VH1’s Storytellers. I wasn’t expecting this. It was like a real industry showcase! Not that I’ve ever been to one, but if I had I’m pretty sure this is what it would look like. There were record label reps, producers, and other important industry heads seated, and I was the main attraction.

My nerves kicked in a bit, but I did my best. Michelle McNulty (the one from my Philly audition) was in the back jamming to my performance, which helped me loosen up. I got through Put The Gun Down and Rehab, and that’s all they needed to hear. As I was on my way out the door, I got a “Great job!” from a lady in the audience, which boosted my confidence. I was then told to report to a specific room in the hotel – most likely to either hear I made it or I didn’t.

When I got there, there were others seated waiting to go in. Everything was very mysterious, and no one really knew what was going on. I went in but once again got no answer, just more paperwork. Turns out I’d be going home again to wait for a “call.” Arghhhhhh! Not this again!

To Be Continued…

This Is The Voice! – Part I

It was late summer of 2013, and I had just broken up with the band. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but I was ready to move on the the next chapter. They say the best way to get over a break-up is to get some rebound action. Luckily, I had no trouble keeping myself busy with solo gigs the rest of the year.

The evil Rochester winter was starting to set in. I sat hunched over my keyboard in my office cubicle, like a cave man huddled over life-giving fire. Mesmerized by my life-giving fire, I sat staring, much like I am now, just passing time. Then something interesting happened. I received an email from a casting company working with NBC’s The Voice. They said they found me on YouTube and would like me to audition for the show.

A flash of excitement passed over me, but then a jaded voice inside my head rolled it’s eyes and apathetically whispered “It’s probably a scam.” As with anything else I get involved with, I Google’d the crap out of it and found that the company was actually legit.

“We are looking for strong singers and I found you on YouTube and love your sound. With that being said, I would love to chat with you about our auditions and see if you’d be interested in coming to one of our appointment cities this winter.”

– The Voice Casting Department

I had sworn off TV singing shows after auditioning for American Idol, The X Factor (twice) and The Voice and never making it through to the TV judges. I had decided it just wasn’t for me and that I was going to make it to the top the old fashion way.

Even after receiving that email I was still on the fence. If I did make it through this time, was that really the path I wanted to take? I thought about it for a few days and figured since they contacted me this time, it would be silly to turn the opportunity down. Philadelphia here I come!

Show Me Some Love Philly

Benjamin Franklin Bridge near our hotel

There were no lines to wait in this time, at least not long ones out in the freezing cold. I bypassed the “first” audition thanks to my YouTube skills and went straight to the “second” audition.

I brought back-up, as I always do, for moral support and just plain fun. My friend, now girlfriend, Sandy, my dad and my ex-bandmate and friend Brice were the lucky ones this time around. So here was the deal for this audition:

1. I had to have three songs prepared, either to a track or with one person accompanying me. I could accompany myself for one of the songs as well if I wanted to.
2. I remember from auditioning for The Voice the last time that they really favor modern and mostly up-beat songs that were popular within the last 5 years or so. Original songs were very discouraged. I made sure to stick to that as best as possible and tried picking songs that were diverse yet still showed my style and personality.
3. My original audition songs were Tighten Up by the Black Keys, You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse and No One by Alicia Keys in that order. Brice played guitar for the first two songs, and I played guitar for the last.

Nerves weren’t really an issue for me this time around, since I was good with the outcome either way. We walked in and were greeted by a very zealous, energetic lady, Michelle McNulty (who later turned out to be one of the most awesome people I’ve worked with). There were a couple other somber looking executives in the room. I wasn’t phased by their robot like stature. Here goes nothing!

Brice and I waiting to be called in for the audition.

Brice hit the chords perfect, the vibe was relaxed and I sang with confidence! It felt great, just like it always should. I think that’s the key. Confidence is the better than the best voice, coolest outfit or most gorgeous face.

Confidence is the key!

As a side note – it also helps if you act like the rest of your life isn’t contingent on that one moment. Moments and opportunities come and go. Be yourself. Do your best and just go for it! Whatever happens next is out of your control.

The more you develop as an artist the more comfortable you get with who you are as an artist. It’s no longer someone you’re trying to be, it’s who you are. It’s ingrained in you, and it becomes natural. This comes with time and experience.

Back to the story…

The audition went great and I figured whatever their decision, I would walk away happy with my performance. We waited. An intern asked me to come with them while Brice waited outside. We weren’t sure if this was a good or bad sign, but I was optimistic. I was taken to another room where I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork. It felt like I was filling out a job application and resume.

Sandy, Brice and my dad (taking the picture) patiently waiting outside to hear some news

Did this mean I made it? There were no golden tickets handed out, and I was a bit lost as to what was actually happening. I filled out my paperwork like a good student and handed it in. I’ve done this before, twice for The X Factor (where I made it to the second audition both times). I’ve learned another key to these types of shows is having a great backstory. This is TV, not music school. They want entertainment. They want a story.

Know Your Story

At first I had no idea what my story was. I thought “My life is boring. Nothing tragic has happened to me. I have no story to tell!” I had buried my story so deep that I almost forgot about it altogether. Everyone has a story! You just have to dig a little and realize what yours is. It took me a few times to get it right, but this time I knew exactly how to hook them in. More on that later.

I was then taken to a different room, where I was to give an on-camera interview with one of the producers. Well, here’s my job interview. It was very casual and the producer was super nice. She went off my paperwork and asked me to talk about my answers. Part of the reason, if not the whole reason for the interview was to see how I would look and speak on camera. It would also serve as a reference for the executive producers to review in their decision of who would make it through to the next round.

I finished the interview with a little less confidence than the audition, but I was still feeling good. Everything felt right this time. I was completely confident in who I was as an artist. My song choices fit me well, and I was happy with my performance. Now, for anyone who’s ever auditioned for these types of shows, you know that there’s many rounds of auditions before you get to the actual “TV audition.” The Voice was no different.

After the interview they sent me on my way with an information sheet. “So did I make it through?”  I asked. “We’ll be in touch.” they casually answered back, with a delayed smile. Ugh, the dreaded “call backs.” Oh well.

The Reading Terminal Market in Philly – our last stop before heading home.

Before making our way back home we stopped at the Reading Terminal Market, home to tons of restaurants, shops and Hershel’s monstrous corned beef reuben. I couldn’t resist! We all indulged our tastebuds as a reward for the adventure we had undertaken and left for home feeling confident, happy and stuffed!

For the next month or so, I jumped every time my phone rang, hoping to see some unrecognizable number. I started to give up and tried to shove it in the corner of my mind.

Here I was back in 2011, performing in front of the judges at Lovin’ Cup’s “Lovin Cup Idol” singing competition.

Sandy and I decided to grab some dinner together at one of our favorite spots and the place where I had gotten my start as a singer – Lovin’ Cup. As we were about to walk in, I glanced down at my phone. I had a missed called from a weird number. I listened to the voicemail. This was it! I called the number back and got confirmation I had made it to the next round of auditions!

It was only appropriate, the next part of my journey would happen at the place where it all started. Ironic how the universe works sometimes.

To Be Continued…

How To Become An Overnight Success – Everything You Need To Know!

I am going to share with you the top industry secrets no one wants you to know about on making it big in the music industry. These secrets are guaranteed to get you signed by a record label! Become an overnight success like so many have already become! I am willing to share these secrets for a small, one-time fee of $24.99. Act now before the secret is out!

See how easy that was? Happy April Fools Day, but DON’T BE A FOOL!

One thing I will tell you over and over again is that nothing that lasts long is built overnight. There’s no such thing as overnight success. Being the dreamer I am, that was a hard concept for me to accept. After a few hard lessons I think it’s finally sunk in.

When I was first starting out, I got sucked into one of those talent agency showcases. I auditioned with my old faithful “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers and was enthusiastically accepted into the program. I attended weekly modeling, acting and singing workshops, which were suppose to polish us up to industry standards. At the end of the program, we would attend and perform at a talent showcase in hopes of someone spotting our talent and getting our first “big break.”

Yep. This about sums up my model walk in heels.

The staff was great and I don’t doubt that they all had credible experience in the entertainment industry, but I soon realized these types of things are more or less scams targeted at young kids and their hopeful parents…and naive dreamers like me.

After paying almost a grand for the workshops, I started to realize this was a bad decision – a decision that wouldn’t get me any farther in my musical pursuits. I pulled out of the program, trying to recoup any money I had dished out. “Sorry, you’re SOL.” was the general response I got. Well, lesson learned.

I won’t speak for the actors and models out there, but I will say this from a musician’s point of view. Don’t pay for these talent programs. I suppose there’s always a chance someone could “discover” you or your kid, but honestly you’d have better luck being discovered on YouTube. Don’t waste your time or money on these talent showcase programs.

There’s no program, workshop, shortcut or secret to success. As boring as it may be, it boils down to everything you’ve ever been taught. Work hard and don’t ever give up.

Not only do you have to work hard, you need to be educated. There will be snakes and crooks at every corner, just waiting for an innocent little songbird to come along. With a little knowledge of the music industry you’ll be able to spot that snake a mile away. So read up!

I’ve come across a couple snakes along my journey so far and I’m sure I’ll come in contact with many more. One in particular was a well known local man, who had toured with a national band and had built a recording studio. He was looking for some artists to develop and manage, and I had caught his attention from playing around the local music scene.

He approached me at a show one night and gave me his card. He stated he was very interested in recording some demos for me and/or developing me as an artist. I was thrilled! He wanted to meet at his studio and discuss his thoughts and ideas. I agreed but cautiously brought along a friend, seeing as how I didn’t know the guy. Based on my personal experience, it’s always good to bring along a parent, friend or another musician as an extra set of ears at least until you’ve established a trustworthy relationship.

After a few meetings, I started to get the feeling he was trying to mold me into something he thought I ought to be. He hadn’t particularly liked any songs I had written and kept sending me links to artists he liked or wanted me to be like. After a couple meetings, he called me up and said he wanted to meet again, but this time he wanted me to “Come alone.” This immediately sent up my “CREEP” flag, and I questioned him on why that was necessary. He acted offended that I even questioned his request.

“Well you wouldn’t bring a friend to a job interview would you?” 

“Umm, I wasn’t aware this was a job interview.” I said, as equally offended as he was.

After all, he was the one who came to me. In fact, I was the one that should be interviewing him, and at this point it wasn’t looking good. I hung up the phone and thought about all the stuff I should’ve said. I always think of the best things to say after the conversation is over.

I started to second guess myself and thought, “Well maybe that’s just how things work in the music industry.” I decided to reach out to some people about this, one of which was an innovator in the music world and founder of CD Baby, Derek Sivers. I explained the situation and asked for his opinion. This was his advice…

This type of attitude, (referring to the man I had been working with), sends up some red flags. When working with managers or producers their first priority should always be to make you feel comfortable. It is a mutual business relationship where both parties should feel at ease and be trusted. 

My gut feeling was right. Whether or not he was really trying to do something shady, he made me feel completely uncomfortable. So I did what I usually do and sent him an email explaining why I no longer wanted to work with him.

Trust you gut. It’s usually right. 

When you are young and fresh on the scene you think you have to walk through every door that opens, but some doors don’t always lead you down the right way. Discover who you are not only as an artist but also as a person. Know what you believe in. Know what you like and don’t like. Know yourself. You’ll be put to the test many times. Become educated in the music business. Believe me when I say, it will help you immensely.

The journey is all part of the process. Learn from it and enjoy it. Take the bad and turn it to good. Everyone has to learn for themselves, but hopefully you will gain some knowledge and insight from my experiences.

Now all you have to do is pay me $24.99.

(That was a test.)

Musicians Are People Too – ARISE AND SEIZE THE DAY!

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a budget to pay musicians, but this is a great opportunity for exposure!”

Every musician and/or artist will come across this at some point. Venues will either say they can only pay you in pizza or they can’t pay you at all, but the exposure will be great! Some venues will even require you to pay them to play on their stage. There is some diseased mindset that musicians and artists are a sub-human race that will do anything to share their talent. WRONG!

Being a serious musician isn’t easy. You have to wear many hats – manager, booking agent, accountant, songwriter, performer, etc. Many people don’t realize how much blood, sweat and tears is put into our craft, and they think of our talent as a luxury, something disposable. By playing for pizza, for free or even paying to play, we are enabling our own demise. We must TAKE A STAND AND SAY NO! Now watch this video…

If we don’t take a stand for ourselves who will?! If a venue wants you to pay them to play, they are either shady, stingy or you don’t have a big enough fan base to impress them. Find the venues in town that support you as a musician, not the ones that want to use you and give nothing in return.

But you say you want to play that giant auditorium or festival?

Well my friend, you will if you keep working hard and continue building your fan base. But I’ll let you in on a little secret…always play venues that you can sell out. If that means playing small bars and coffee houses than so be it! It’s better to sell out a small venue than to play a giant stage with a quarter of the seats filled. If other venues see that you are selling out shows, they will be the ones knocking at your door.

So don’t be discouraged if you are only playing coffee houses. Every successful musician started out just like you and I, playing house parties, coffee houses and even sidewalks. You are worth more than pizza, so don’t give them a reason to think otherwise! If you can’t find a venue who will fairly compensate you, then create your own! Don’t settle just because you think it’s the only way.

ARISE AND SEIZE THE DAY!

The Recording Studio III – The Dragon Tamer

 We had come a long way, but our journey was far from over. The road behind us had proved more difficult than we were prepared for and our morale had suffered greatly. Everything started to look the same and we began to wonder if we had been walking in circles.

We were at a crossroads. Were we to continue down the same path in hopes of reaching our destination or abandoned the road ahead and forge a new path? We decided on the later and made our way through the dark, ominous forest.

We noticed a strange, blue glow up ahead and pressed forward cautiously. As we got closer, the silhouette of a man started to appear. Whether friend or foe we did not know. Swords drawn, “Who are you? Show Yourself!” I shouted. The man laughed and pulled his hood back, the blue light from his staff illuminating his face. “I am the Dragon Tamer. Follow me.”

It was July 2012. We had just finished up the same three tracks we started with in January. Now read that again.

It was July 2012. We had just finished up the same three tracks we started with in January. Six months had passed and we had only finished three out of the ten songs to be on the album. Our goal of releasing the album by summer had been slaughtered, and our sanity was next in line if we didn’t find a solution fast.

Now don’t get it twisted. The people at ACME were very professional and knowledgeable. We ended up with three great recordings which would later be used on our album, but the process had gotten too long and too expensive for our needs. We were running out of time and were low on cash. There had to be another way.

I was browsing the musicians section on Craigslist and came across a post advertising a recording special with a money-back guarantee. I was intrigued and replied to the ad. The mystery man behind the listing was a gentleman by the name of Jason Lustig. He was a local freelance engineer with over 12 years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree in audio recording. The list of credentials went on. Then something caught my eye.

“On Location Recording”

That meant we could record in the comforts of our practice space, otherwise known as Seniuk’s basement. I proposed the idea to the guys and they were all in favor, so we crossed our fingers and booked our first session with him.

Recording with Jason Lustig in Seniuk’s basement.

It was recording day at Seniuk’s. We all felt a sense of relief being in a familiar environment. We hear a knock at the door. A small framed guy, who looked to be somewhere in his 30s, stood there with a big grin. His glasses and demeanor gave hints to a possible gamer and/or comic book reader. “Hey Jason, come on in!” I led him down a small flight of stairs and through a series of doors which led to the practice space. He looked around and set his mic cases on the floor. “Alright I can definitely work with this. Let’s get started!”

Mics were set up and we layed down the basic tracks for the seven remaining songs. How long did it take us? One day! Now we’re talking! Things were looking up, and we felt like we had just found a nugget of gold while sifting through the dirty trenches of Craigslist. Usually our Craigslist experiences resulted in no-shows, crazies and ego-maniacs, but this time we struck pure gold!

The process seemed effortless this time. Maybe it was because we just wanted it done, but there was something magical about the process. New ideas trickled in and were executed without taking up days of recording. We welcomed Lustig’s criticisms and looked to him anytime we were fresh out of ideas. His extensive knowledge and experience in the dark art of musical engineering was exactly what we needed. He knew just how to manipulate the dragon to make it bend to his will.

We finished up the tracks in Lustig’s basement, where he had built a control room and small iso booth for vocals and guitar overdubs. He mixed and mastered the tracks and the CD was sent off for duplication by the end of November 2012. We ended up with an amazing product that we were all really proud of.

Our first full-length album titled White Horses & Black Jeans  was released on December 18, 2013 . You can find it on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Google Play and CdBaby.

Well folks, this concludes my recording studio series for now. I hope you all learned some valuable lessons from my experiences. In case you missed them, here’s the big ones I learned along the way:

• Always come to the studio prepared! Know your parts like the back of your hand.
• Get your instruments intonated and tuned prior to recording.
• When researching studios keep in mind that it’s not all about the fancy gear and bells and whistles. What matters most is finding an engineer that can adapt to your needs and understands the sound you are trying to achieve. This is vital.
• Remember that time is money…your money. Make sure you and the engineer are on the same page with deadlines and budget. 
• Don’t do something just because you think it’s the “right” way to record. Different styles of music require different approaches to recording. Do what will benefit your music the most.
• Have fun and admire the journey!