Moments to mentor

I have been absent for a while, just one of those things. Life gets in the way and we run around getting on with it but as normality returns my fellow brethren so will I and once more take keypad to screen which I suppose is the tech way of saying pen to paper but much more stupidly. Apologies for the long sentence, I didn’t see the need to fully stop.

This week started most pleasantly with a talk for some very nice people at Stetson University in DeLand, I was made to feel very welcome. A very good attentive crowd and a pleasing turn out from faculty completed the occasion. It’s so nice at this time of life to be able to get out and share some of what I learned in all my years working in the music industry and help those looking for their step in to the great unknown. That’s what it is really but then again that is also what makes it all the more exciting. The anticipation, the whole not knowing of what could or could not happen. I used to wake up every day and if I still had a job in the music industry I considered it a bonus. Nothing lasts foreever I thought but this was getting close. Like footballers you can trip and sprain something, in the music indsustry there is so much going on you can sprain your head at any moment! Somehow you pick yourself up, discard your brain and move on with a new determination.

I can’t imagine now having a job that doesn’t challenge you. I love what I’m doing, secretly you hope people will respond positively but you never know. It’s what keeps you focused and alert, you don’t want to slip up. And if you do then you don’t make the same mistakes again.

I love the Q and A sections in a talk and finding out what people want to know. You’ve stood there for an hour and all of a sudden you don’t have the say, the audience do. A good talk will always lead to interaction with an audience. They feel they’ve got to know you and have the confidence to ask anything. A quiet and non responsive Q and A and you have to wonder if you communicated as well as you could have. Speaking is great but engaging your audience is everything. Some speakers I have seen stand there and you can tell it’s clearly about them. Well wrong, far from it, it’s for the others to get something out of it.  It isn’t  a platform for you to wallow in self adoration and project an air of supremacy like the stage is yours. Humility and an understanding of what you audience wants is the sign of a good speaker. Oh and someone who has a message to communicate and not just someone who has learned how to speak publicly.

 

Filed under: About Tony Michaelides, View from the room, communication, public speaking

Idol goes where Idol knows.

When will people ever learn? Someone told me Steven Tyler was confirmed for American Idol, great. Remember  when he fell over and had to cancel  his own Aerosmith tour ? Nothing like having a team you can rely on, eh. And now apparently Idol bosses are close to confirming the arrival of…..Jennifer Lopez. WHAT!!! Who the hell cares and why are they throwing millions away negotiating with someone who’s had her day when they could have ME!! Start the campaign, ‘Yo Toe No J Lo.’

But hey, roll back the tape. What made American Idol a household name in the first place? It succeeded because the brain that is Simon Fuller thought a guy he knew, from his dealings with BMG called Simon Cowell  would work. He ( Fuller) stuck him on Pop Idol, it’s UK mummy and when Cowell didn’t want to do the US version  Simon Fuller convinced him he shoud. Even Cowell didn’t think America would like him. Well I hope Simon ( Cowell) bought Simon ( Fuller) a couple of mansions and some yachts by way of a thank you. Simon did what Simon said. You’ve done better than any artist you signed previous to your massive success and many congratulations , sir. You made it your own.

And so to the point. American Idol is huge because of him. He was a nobody no one had heard of on a show that no one wanted. Every network turned it down.  Someone presenting an idea of a talent show?  Now there’s a great idea, I wonder why no one had thought of that in the past.

Am I dreaming here but have they not seen first hand with Ellen de Generic that famous people don’t work so why rally round and think that getting judges who people have heard of is going to save it’s ass. Let’s get The Pope, everyone knows him don’t they? It’s obviously all about massaging the sponsors as per usual, I mean they couldn’t announce someone no one heard of now could they? Well I beg to differ. Even if you’re shit and unknown you can be popular today so if you’re unknown and on a show people have heard of then you could be Simon Cowell. Curiosity will tempt people in to watch the first few episodes but then once they’ve  seen fading pop stars trying to entertain they’ll do what they did last time, go. Only this time they’ll be off in in their droves. Push out Idol, people will respect you more whatever happens if you are trying to break out of the old boring and tired presenter  format.  And anyway I’m not shit and Randy and me would get on. Let me loose on them, I’d shake it up. I’m funnier than Cowell and with a much better record collection.

Let’s find some real talent, some stuff that might stand the test of time, something that not only can be successful but that can remain successful. Let’s make some noise and let’s make some noise people can take home and enjoy. With the power of a television show of that magnitude, boy could we help the music industry. As long as you have some faith and want to help the business rather than yourself that is. That’s the acid test after all… so no it won’t happen. It’s a money magnet, more and more of it for a select few. Can you imagine if some of that money was pumped in to new artists that might take a little longer to develop. Wow would we have an innovative ground breaking show then. Fancy having the power to change the music industry through the power of television.

American Idol needs some new blood. I wish they cared enough so we all could benefit from a show that made a difference.

Filed under: TV, TV hosts, View from the room, american idol, J-Lo, Simon Cowell, simon fuller, Steven Tyler