Part of being an entertainer is the two-way connection between the artist and the audience. When an audience responds (or doesn’t respond), a good artist will adjust to accommodate that audience. If an audience like what they see/hear, the artist will pick up on that and give them more.
Since the shutdowns last year, many of these entertainers who have chosen to keep working have been forced to work in a vacuum with no audience feedback. They have no clue if what they are doing is “landing” in that moment. Their entire rhythm is off.
Some artists may take this to mean that everything they say or do is good. They have no way to gage what they’re doing until after it’s done. They’ve lost their ability to adjust in the moment for an audience.
I suspect some of these individuals will struggle once audiences come back. They will be under the assumption that they have been 100% right for the last year, and will either be unable to adjust again, or even blame the audience for not being at the same level.
This is probably why some artists have chosen to just stop until conditions improve. These artists know their strengths, and rather than squander their brand, they’re trying desperately to wait it out.
I am genuinely curious, however, about what entertainment will look like once these artists who have kept working in said vacuum are once again back in front of an audience….an audience that may not respond the way the artist thinks they should….
CINCINNATI, OH – Cincinnati-based singer and musician, Kyle Boreing, is excited to announce the release of his new country music EP, Who Am I To Say, from Blaidecton Enterprises. The project was recorded primarily in Kyle’s home studio during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
“When you’re home for days on end, you need to find something to keep from going crazy!”, says Kyle. “I started tinkering with some songs I’ve loved for a long time, and the more I played around with them, the more excited I became. I didn’t set out to record a new album; I was just having fun.”
Who Am I To Say Blaidecton Enterprises
That fun has evolved into a 6-song project that includes some help from friends in the music industry, including Chris Golden, Paul Martin, Garland Craft, and Kyle’s brother, Kevin Boreing, who each contributed parts to the album. “The more I worked on these songs, the more I wanted to do something special,” Kyle explains. “I reached out to some folks that I’ve known for many years and invited them to take part. To me, it really elevates the songs and gives this album a special sound. The fact that it could be done ‘remotely’ also added to the uniqueness of the album.”
Who Am I To Say also marks a new direction musically for Kyle, who has primarily been known as a Christian music artist. “I grew up listening to all kinds of music. Although my solo projects have usually been gospel efforts, throughout my career, I’ve played or sang everything from gospel to country to rock to reggae…a little of everything!”
Kyle says that this project was very much a labor of love, stating, “I never set out to make a record; I just wanted to experiment, see what could be done within the constraints of the pandemic and using what I had at my disposal.”
Who Am I To Say is distributed by Blaidecton Enterprises, and arrives on streaming and digital platforms November 13th, 2020. A limited-edition CD is also available from kyleboreing.com.
TRACKS: 1. I Need You All The Time 2. Who Am I To Say 3. I Wouldn’t Be Me Without You 4. Come On In (You Did The Best You Could Do) 5. The World Ain’t Slowing Down 6. Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque
A few years ago, I decided to stop doing what I call “exposure” dates. These are usually gigs that don’t pay anything, and have no real benefit other than simply giving you exposure to audiences. They’re great for folks who are just starting out as singers/performers, or who simply want to go out and sing. They’re NOT ideal, however, for someone looking to make a professional living as a music artist.
Usually, when one does an exposure date, they are not paid anything for their services. They are allowed (hopefully) to sell product before and after their performance, however. That doesn’t guarantee that anyone will BUY said product; it just means that you have the CHANCE to make some money on product sales. This could be an incentive to give the best performance you can, as you are gambling on your ability to win over an audience enough to make them want to buy your music before they leave. The problem arises, however, when there IS no audience.
The last few times I agreed to do an “exposure” date, I sang for very few people. One such gig, I sang for exactly 3 people: the sound man, a lady who sat in the back row, and my wife, who watched out of pity. The lady in the back row bought a CD for $10. After deducting the cost of making that CD, as well as paying for lunch for myself and my wife (food was provided, but everyone, including the artists, had to pay for their meals) and gas, I wound up losing money. On another date, I was asked to provide music while another event was going on. While there were more people this time around, not one of them paid any attention to my singing or playing. I was background music. I didn’t sell a single CD that day, so even though I ate beforehand, I still lost money on travel expenses.
For you die-hard gospel/Christian music fans, I already know what you’re going to say – “You’re obviously only in it for the money!” Most musicians will laugh and tell you that being in the music industry for the money is like going to Walmart for designer clothes. You might LOOK like you’ve got a lot of money, but you know the truth.
“But if you’re singing Christian or gospel music, shouldn’t you be in it for the ministry, not the money?” The short answer is, yes. I am in it for the ministry. I’m not asking you to pay me to sing or play. I AM, however, asking you to compensate me for my services, which include travel expenses (gas, wear & tear on my vehicle, insurance, food, etc.), preparation and assembly for my singing such as loading in any equipment and/or product, sound checks to ensure a comfortable listening experience, and even my education.
What’s even more expensive than all of that is my family’s time. If you want me to come sing or play for you, there will always be an expenses cost included, just so I don’t wind up losing money. What determines the final rate is what my family is doing at that particular time. If my family doesn’t have anything scheduled for a particular day, then I’m happy to come work at your event for a fairly low cost. If my wife and/or kids have a special event already planned for that day, and they want/need me there, then the price just went WAY up. I totally understand if that makes me unaffordable for your event. I’d rather miss out on a concert date than miss out on date night with my wife or seeing my kids getting a base hit in little league or scoring the winning soccer goal.
You see, while music is definitely a passion of mine, it does not override the passion I have for my family, and I believe they deserve more than a husband and father who isn’t around because he’s out singing or playing somewhere. And unless I can guarantee that doing so will give them a better life in the long run, then I’d just as soon stay home.
