It's Wednesday. Generally a slower day for retail businesses, Wednesday is also a teaching day in the store, and it is also church choir rehearsal day for many....myself included.
But, relatively speaking, for retail businesses it is a slow day.
I have sung all over the world. I am not bragging. Just did. It has been interesting seeing how people live in different parts of the world. Also interesting how similarly we all live, and particularly, how similarly we make music. Music is a language that a lot of people understand. Selling a song, therefore, has been possible for me in a lot of different lands and languages.
What is this thing, Selling a Song?" On TV, there are a lot of 'reality' programs that deal with singing, starting with American Idol, and The Voice. Somehow, in order to be an idol, you have to be a singer. (Insert sarcastic remark). And even the title, The Voice, would imply that success is more about talent than skill. "Just open your mouth, and if gold comes out, we will help you cash in!" But, as we all know, there are 'singers' who have had fabulous careers without much vocal talent. Our own local, famous, folk-singer, Bob Dylan, is an iconic example. But what does Bob Dylan have (using him as an example for many such performers) that makes him great? Is it his ruggedly handsome good looks? The visual aspect of an Idol, or a Voice has, over the years, proved to be pretty important. Or is he just really good at selling. And if so, how does he do that?
I teach singers, too. Believe it or not, there is a lot to know about singing. I have found that the more a singer is in touch with themselves and their voice, the better able they are to identify for themselves what sells and what does not. A student asked me yesterday, "How do I know when what I do is too much?" I think that question applies to the retail piano business, too, BTW. I answered, that practice and experience will help you know. But, you will never know if you don't push the limits. Some people need a hard sell, some people need a soft sell. Part of selling anything meaningful is educating your customer (audience).
See, it all makes sense!
Get your tickets to the St. Matthew Passion, coming to Duluth in a couple of weeks. There will be lots of good singing, and one of the greatest musical works of all time will find life in a performance by Duluth's finest!
But, relatively speaking, for retail businesses it is a slow day.
I have sung all over the world. I am not bragging. Just did. It has been interesting seeing how people live in different parts of the world. Also interesting how similarly we all live, and particularly, how similarly we make music. Music is a language that a lot of people understand. Selling a song, therefore, has been possible for me in a lot of different lands and languages.
What is this thing, Selling a Song?" On TV, there are a lot of 'reality' programs that deal with singing, starting with American Idol, and The Voice. Somehow, in order to be an idol, you have to be a singer. (Insert sarcastic remark). And even the title, The Voice, would imply that success is more about talent than skill. "Just open your mouth, and if gold comes out, we will help you cash in!" But, as we all know, there are 'singers' who have had fabulous careers without much vocal talent. Our own local, famous, folk-singer, Bob Dylan, is an iconic example. But what does Bob Dylan have (using him as an example for many such performers) that makes him great? Is it his ruggedly handsome good looks? The visual aspect of an Idol, or a Voice has, over the years, proved to be pretty important. Or is he just really good at selling. And if so, how does he do that?
I teach singers, too. Believe it or not, there is a lot to know about singing. I have found that the more a singer is in touch with themselves and their voice, the better able they are to identify for themselves what sells and what does not. A student asked me yesterday, "How do I know when what I do is too much?" I think that question applies to the retail piano business, too, BTW. I answered, that practice and experience will help you know. But, you will never know if you don't push the limits. Some people need a hard sell, some people need a soft sell. Part of selling anything meaningful is educating your customer (audience).
See, it all makes sense!
Get your tickets to the St. Matthew Passion, coming to Duluth in a couple of weeks. There will be lots of good singing, and one of the greatest musical works of all time will find life in a performance by Duluth's finest!
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