I know there’s going to be pushback on this – perhaps a lot – but it’s overdue to be pointed out. Sure, the timing feels awkward since yesterday was Independence Day here in the U.S. But maybe that makes it even more relevant that this finally gets addressed.
I see lots and lots of artists who really hype their national anthem performances. And I mean almost promoting it too much. And while it’s also happening before and during, it seems like maybe the after is when it has gone to a level that needs to be toned down.
And now I pause to tell you that this is going to be like when you buy a car and suddenly you start to notice so many other people on the road driving the same make and model vehicle that you just bought. Granted, the Stanley Cup playoffs are concluding, and the NBA Finals are starting tomorrow night, but there will be plenty of Major League Baseball games (plus minor league games too) over the course of the summer where you’ll have opportunities to observe what I’m describing.
Is a sporting event an opportunity to get your name and your talent out there? Sure. Am I all about promoting every performance you do? Absolutely. But can the national anthem be played up too much? Yes, and I see it happen far too often.
When I see artists promote that they’ve sung in front of crowds of so many thousands of people, it raises an eyebrow with me. Then, however, when I find out that it was at an MLB ballpark or an NHL/NBA arena, I right away start to discount it and think, “Oh, wait, it was probably just the national anthem.” The key word there is ‘just.’
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I’ve seen a game or two where there has been a decent anthem singer and once or twice I might’ve pulled out my phone to look up who they are and what they’re doing in their music career. So, can someone ‘discover’ you because of performing the national anthem? It’s possible, but don’t count on it. And yes, I am someone who says, “You never know who might be in the crowd,” and I mean that. Except that by and large it’s going to be when you’re performing your original music, or a cover song at your own shows – not singing the national anthem at a sporting event.
Is it prestigious to do and say that you did? To some extent, sure, I guess. But did you see a big jump in your streaming numbers or video views or channel subscriptions or music sales or social media followers after a national anthem performance? I seriously doubt it.
Boasting about singing in front of however many thousand people when it was just the national anthem is the same type of misleading as saying that you “shared the stage” with a national headliner when, in fact, you performed at 5:00 and they came on four hours later after other opening acts between you and them.
Remember, unlike someone who actually won a reality singing competition TV show, you’re not in elite company by saying you sang the national anthem before a sporting event. Heck, there might be some nine-year old who got to do it for some reason and that’s how watered down it ends up being.
Sing the anthem, post your picture or video, and move on. Don’t lead with that as you’re promoting yourself and the career you want to build from your original music.
Share your reaction to this blog with me on Twitter via @NHT_tweets. Alternatively, post about it instead on Facebook or LinkedIn. You can even just write to me via good old-fashioned email. And if you read this and thought, “But I’m struggling with my career,” then book a private, one-on-one video consultation with me to take advantage of my more than 15 years in the entertainment business and let’s work on the challenges you’re facing.