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

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.

Comments are closed.