Become a 'Music Mentor'

Ever had 'one of those days' when everything goes wrong? Then, you show up for a gig or an open mic, you take the stage and all of the days woes melt away?

Wouldn't it be great if you could share that wonderful feeling with others? Well, now you can!

Just reach out to a friend, co-worker, or relative and become their 'music mentor.' It's actually very easy to do. Here are some tips.

- Find out if your friends has ever played an instrument or been in a band.

- If they are an experienced, but dormant player, invite them to attend an open mic with you.

- If they don't have any musical experience, bring them to an open mic and then offer to 'get them started.'

- Offer to show them a few chords on guitar or keys and get them playing a few songs quickly.

- Get them on stage at an open mic as soon as possible.

The joy of music-making is something that all musicians can share with others. Just reach-out to one-person.

You may change their life forever.

Open With a Cover Song

When people are hearing/seeing a performer for the first time, they are making their own judgment as to whether or not the performer is worthy of a listen. If the performer plays an original song first, the listener must then judge the quality of the song as well as the quality of the performance. Although this doesn't sound like a huge undertaking, it actually can be.

The average American is in 'sensory overload.' They are bombarded by media messages at every turn. They are forced to make split-second decisions on where to direct their attention.

If you lead with a popular cover song, the listener is drawn by the familiarity of the tune and will be more likely to pay attention long enough to pass judgment on your performance. Once they like you, they are more likely to listen to your original music and obscure covers.

Think of it in terms of the direct mail business. Getting people to open the 'junk mail' is the hardest part. Once they pop the envelope, the chance for a sale goes up exponentially.

Open with a cover and you'll find that you'll have more people paying attention to your performance.