NHT Blog

Most people are probably publishing blogs about goal-setting today.  If you think about it though, those should’ve already come out a few weeks ago.  It’s January 1st so now you start implementing the strategies that will get you to the goals you’ve set for 2018.  It’s not the day that you start thinking about what goals you want to set for the new year.

Yes, it’s Christmas, but it’s also Monday, so, another new blog it is.  You see, last month here in the U.S. we celebrated Thanksgiving, but we truly should give thanks every day.  Whether it’s the fourth Thursday in November or December 25th, or, heck, May 13th, there shouldn’t be a need to designate one day for giving thanks.

Somewhat complementary to the blog we ran a few months ago about not being intimidated by Music City, this week a veteran singer/songwriter there contributes an entry about keeping your head up if you go to Nashville but end up leaving there.  For more from him, see the links at the end of this blog, including two appearances he has made on our “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast.

House concerts are definitely a mainstay on the live music scene now, and we've talked about them with a number of performer guests on "Now Hear This Entertainment."  So, this week we present a guest blog on that topic from someone who addresses it both from the hosting and performing standpoint.

Two months ago we featured a guest blog centered around the question, “Why does the listener care?”  Now a look from a different angle is presented, focusing specifically on the musical aspect of holding your listener’s attention, as opposed to the lyrics.  The contributor this time is singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Gregg Gascon, who also teaches several different instruments.

New York City-based songwriter, producer, and musician Jerry Jean was the guest on Episode 181 of our weekly show.  Among other topics he talked during that interview about the choice to put out his latest release on vinyl.  Today he provides a guest blog, taking us through that process.

When I tell people about some of the guests that I have interviewed on “Now Hear This Entertainment,” their reaction is always, “Wow!”  Immediately behind that is usually the question, “How are you getting that caliber of talent to be on your show?”

I have often been heard telling a potential or even existing client that just stepping out of the house to go perform one show already has five benefits:
1.    No matter how long you’ve been performing, it’s still always good practice (practice makes perfect, right?)
2.    An opportunity to get more/new photos and video
3.    You never know who might be there

This past Saturday night before the hockey game in Tampa, the Lightning – as part of their 25th anniversary season – celebrated the Stanley Cup-winning team from the 2004 Finals.  There was a pre-game ceremony, with players from that championship team brought back and even the coach, despite the fact that he is now leading the team who was the opponent two nights ago.  Pomp and circumstance was the order of the day for sure. 

Everybody wants to know the secret.  The question is always, ‘What is the key to getting the opportunities?’  There is a widely held belief that there is one something that will unlock the door to all of the successes that you dream of.  Naturally, the response always is, ‘Wouldn’t we all be doing it if it only took one (behavior, possessi