​RIP Harry. Harry Forbes was one of the most positive influences in my life. At the tender age of 13 he set me on my life's course. It went like this. At our first meeting I had a guitar and 4 chords in my pocket. My entire repertoire consisted of "The Monster Mash." (Giving up the guitar was one of my best career moves, Harry later remarked.) Anyhow in the corner of the classroom, there was this thing with wires hanging out. I said, "Harry, what's that?", "It's a synthesizer." What does it do?". "It does this." At that moment, my life's trajectory changed. I came home from the experience and grandly announced to my astonished parents, "I'm going to be a musician like Harry." Fifty two years later, I'm still playing synthesizers and I'm still a musician.
I'm so grateful to have been in his orbit.

The allure of the entertainment industry lies in the allure of being the centre of attention. It looks like fun. And it is. However, performing is magic, and magic always looks easy. Here are five home truths to consider.

1. Memorize your lyrics; this isn't karaoke! The audience won't respect you if you're glued to your &^**^$#%&% phone for the words.
2. Know the key to your song. Answering a musician's query with the first note of the song will only cost you, their respect.
3. Command the stage and captivate us. It is called the entertainment business. So, be larger than life, ooze confidence, stay in character, talk to us, and keep it rolling.
4. Invest in singing lessons. Deciding you have a beautiful voice doesn't eliminate the need for training. Consider this: in what domain of human excellence does self-evaluation replace the need for professional training? Beyond the age of ten, the answer is none. 
5. Learn to use a microphone. Microphone technique requires skill and training, from a professional coach, to master. 

End of rant.

David