• Keep secrets.
    Avoid negative people.
    Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."
    Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
    be there when people need you.
    Sing in the shower.
    Never refuse homemade brownies.
    Be the first to say hello.
    Keep it simple.
    Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
    Don't expect life to be fair.
    Dance like no-one is watching. Sing like no-one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt.
    Rekindle old friendships.
    Sing in a choir.
    Floss your teeth.
    Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
    Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
    Always accept an outstretched hand.
    Stop blaming others.
    Be forgiving of yourself and others.
    Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
    Learn three clean jokes.
    Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
    Look people in the eye.
    Say "please" a lot.
    Marry only for love.
    Keep your promises (no matter what).
    Count your blessings.
    Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
    Drink champagne for no reason at all.
    Plant a tree on your birthday.
    Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it.
    Take responsibility for every area of your life.
    Don't be afraid to say "I made a mistake."
    Send lots of Valentines Day cards and sign them "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
    Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank filled.
    Compliment even small improvements.
    Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
    Compliment three people everyday.
    Have a dog.
    Commit yourself to constant improvement.
    Wave at kids on school buses.
    Return all things you borrow.
    Call your mother.
    Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
    Say "thank-you" a lot.
    Over tip breakfast waitresses.
    Plant flowers every spring.
    Have a firm handshake.
    Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
    Wear polished shoes.
    Use the good silver.
    Strive for excellence, not for perfection.
    Leave everything a little better than you found it.
    Remember other people's birthdays.
    Carry jumper cables in your trunk.
    Never underestimate the power of love.

Engage your audience

This is why people come to see you – to be entertained. To entertain means, obviously, to be entertaining.

Nothing is more engaging than eye contact – it’s a fundamental thing about people. It establishes sincerity, interest and trust. So next time you perform, pick someone in the audience and sing your song to them. Some examples:

  • Ask them, personally and sincerely, “Shall we Dance”? Make it feel like an actual invitation.
  • Look them in the eye and try to make them believe that no matter how badly you slipped up, “You Were Always on My Mind”.
  • In “Yesterday” you open your heart and your hurt and your longing – make them believe that you chose just them to share that with.
  • If it’s a happy song, put that smile on your face and that twinkle in your eye as you romp through “Mairi’s Wedding”.
  • Pick someone else for the next verse or the next song.

People are also attracted to movement. In the context of a choir, this takes some coordination. Individuals bopping about can be more distracting than enjoyable, so this is where it’s essential to follow your director’s instructions. All sway together, all clap together, all march together – whatever the song calls for.

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