Recently I had the experience of finding myself before music executives and making a total hash of answering their questions because I hadn’t thought things out.  Never again!  Here are more thoughtful answers to some of your questions:

Singers and Musicians With Whom I Share Similarities

Why My Big Show Will Be Great

Why My Recordings Will Be Great

Why My Big Show and Recordings Will Sell Well

Why I Would Be A Pleasure to Work With

Projects I Would Like to Undertake

I’m in my 40s… So Why Am I Not Already Doing the Things I Envision, and Why Start Now?

Three Interesting (?) Things About Me

Bette Midler – Bette’s show in Las Vegas shares many elements with my shows: 1) Characters – Bette creates characters, as do I, including an English Princess, a Marlene Dietrich type, a blond bimbette, a Junk Food addict, a Carmen Miranda type, and more. 2) Uniqueness – Bette shows are extensions of Bette and exist nowhere else; my shows are built around my own character and share an eclectic uniqueness.  3) Humor – Bette’s humor is far raunchier than my own, and mine is more song-based, but we both make our audiences laugh often.  4)  Song selection – Bette sings a variety of styles, as do I.  My styles include cabaret, musical theater, pop, techno (modern sounding), opera, bluesy, country, jazz, and more.  However, Bette does not write her own songs, as I do, and so uses more covers than I. We also both do not dwell much on the dramas of casual sex and thwarted love. 5)  Creative use of dancers.  6) Heart

Madonna - I sing pop cabaret as well as the more usual cabaret.  Madonna's shows share pop cabaret elements such as making the song more of a story and giving it visuals and dances that move it into more of a theater experience.  These original pop cabaret songs create a more modern, edgy, hip show.

Marilyn Monroe – There is a sweetness, vulnerability and sexiness both in the voice and the persona of some of my songs.

Barbra Streisand – There is her type of control of line and beauty to the voice in some of my songs.

Bernadette Peters – We share a versatility, and a range of vocal colors and styles.

Michael Jackson – I do not sing like him.  The similarities have to do with how we present our songs.  Michael Jackson made each song an event.  He attended to the details that made that event a special experience for the listener.  I aim for the same (on a less expensive scale).  For years I have had videos and audio effects and dancers and lighting and costume and musical effects in mind when I performed and I would like to make this vision a reality for myself and my listeners.

Carol Burnette – I do not sing like her either.  The similarity is in the use skits that make people laugh out loud.  My skits are sung, but the aim of some of the songs is the same: make them laugh!  She also invited guests, as I would like to do.

Victor Borge – He was a pianist who used great skill on the piano combined with humor to create truly unique and wonderful entertainment.  Some of my shows include nods to his style of combined mastery and humor.

Great Vocals – Take a beautiful voice, give it expressive mastery of range, nuance and meaning, add energy, mischievousness, and daring, and we have a great start to a show.

Uniqueness – Shows include original and unique material listeners won’t hear anywhere else – as well as covers sung in fresh ways – and a very individual style of presentation.  I borrow from many different styles to weave a tapestry of eclectic and effervescent entertainment.

Creativity – What is the ultimate drama?  If a princess kept a diary, what would it say?  Why would a boyfriend leave his sweetie for his dog?   What might a husband want to say to his new-mother wife?  What might a new wife want to say to her hard-working husband?  What is the ultimate “me” song?  If a blond joke expressed itself as song, what would it look and sound like?  Audiences will discover this and so much more!

Total Song Packages – Songs have great set-ups, props, costumes and delivery.

Humor –  Some song presentations are really funny.  Some stand alone, while some are part of larger skits. 

Class and Ass – Eloquent one number, sassy and sexy the next – audiences enjoy a wide range of personas and presentations.

It’s Personal – Michael Jackson was personal.  The Dixie Chicks are personal.  Their shows were aspects of themselves presented larger than life.  I share this approach to entertainment – at the heart of the show is the heart.

It’s Positive – Shows are positive and life affirming.

Musicianship – It's not just a song, it's an experience of what music can do as an exquisite form of communication.

Visual Layering – Videos and costumes and dancers add meaning, texture and appeal. 

         Videos – Videos set up some songs (and provide time for costume changes).  Videos could also be used to enrich some performances.

         Costumes – Changing costumes a few times each show keeps it visually enticing and spot on with the music.

         Dancers and Choreographer – Four men and one or two women would increase the energy, the visuals and the possibilities on stage – and supply additional time for costume changes.

Recordings will have a voice microphones love, material that is fresh – or freshly presented - and fun, a keen sense musicianship, and a co-creator who desires to learn and apply the knowledge of those helping me. 

To hear the quality I have already produced on my own, please listen to my lastest CD, “Little You.”  It is a lullaby album, and I challenge the listener to find another that is lovelier.

To see the kind of recordings I have in mind, please look below under “projects.”

There are several factors at play here.  First is the large size of the baby boom generation coupled with the small-by-comparison number of performers attuned to it. Second is the help that recordings lend live shows and vice-versa.  Third is my ability to write songs that will be popular with a mix of ages - both young and older.  Fourth is a platform than can also include books, both for adults and children – again aiming for cross-over appeal.  Fifth is the allure of interspersing and intermingling past eloquence and appeal with modern sounds and visuals.  Sixth is the television-friendly material, with humor that appeals to many.  And seventh is the effective marketing efforts that a professional will think of and I have not.

Baby Boomers – The music industry is mostly attuned to the young.  However, there are about 80 million baby boomers who need something more than cover bands, revivals and young people singing about young people’s concerns (sexual attraction, casual sex).  Response to my smaller shows leads me to believe that I appeal to baby boomers - and also younger people!  My voice and appearance are attractive to them, and my shows make them laugh and think and enjoy themselves in the presence of material that is smart, surprising, resonant and often funny, and a presentation that is very high in quality.

Professionalism – It’s about the quality of the show, not the size of my ego.

Talent and Dedication – I have the ability and the will to master what I need to make a number great.  Perfectionism is a blessing and curse that I bring to my shows.

Vision and Drive – I see the presentations inside my head, and am eager to work to bring them to reality.

Appreciation – I know these shows will not happen without help, and I will be deeply grateful to those who help me fulfill this life-long dream.

Maturity – I am a stable, long-time married, level-headed, non-drug, non-drama enjoyable kind of woman.

Collaboration – I want to hear ideas that improve the show and incorporate them.  (Admittedly, “improve the show” is a matter of perspective and I try to understand ideas from the perspectives they are presented.)

My Big Show!!!!

Recordings -
A Christmas CD with a mix of styles for which I already have a great deal of material (much original)
A funny CD with a mix of styles (also largely but not wholly original and mostly already written)
A contemporary CD that would compete with Lady Gaga (requires a collaborator to finish the songs)
A love song CD with both serious and funny songs giving new and refreshed perspectives, and more…

The shorter answer is priorities. I was unwilling to let singing take up my evenings.  My husband had a long-hours corporate job, and I wanted to be home when he was, so we could have a life together.  When we had our daughter, this strengthened my desire to be home with the family.  I have sung through the years in productions that allowed me to practice during the day and have limited commitments in the evening – primarily one-woman cabaret shows, house concerts, and private events.  All the while I have been exploring and honing my craft.

My life stage has changed.  Our daughter is now 13 years old, and highly supportive of my having a demanding music career.  My husband changed careers after our daughter was born, and is now able and eager to work around my schedule so I can realize my singing dreams.

The longer answer includes starting late and poor training.  I was a pre-medicine student who sang on the side until after my undergraduate degree in Biology.  Although I graduated with honors and enjoyed biology, I decided to switch to music, and earned my M.A. in Music (focus on opera).  However, such a degree does not prepare one for a career in music, and by time I was getting the right training, I was married.

1.    I think I chose my height.  When I was around 12-13 I decided I wanted to be between 5’7” and 5’8”, and then grew to be 5’7.5”.  My husband thinks he chose his height too (just under 6’4”).

2.    I hate shopping.  But I had an audition recently for which my costume advisor demanded I get new clothes.  Normally I perform in gowns and flowing things (and silly costumes) and she wanted to see skin-tight and sexy.  She was hospitalized with heart and lung problems, and when I visited her she would demand to see what I had found for my outfit.  So each day I would shop and then visit her at the hospital – hearing mostly, “no, no, no – (cough) (wheeze) (gasp) – go shopping!” until finally, after 5 days of torture, I had two acceptable ensembles (and she finally was released back home).

3.    When I was breastfeeding, milk would flow whenever I sang opera.