Year In Review - 2013

Happy New Year! 

Before taking on 2014 I want to take a look back at 2013 and highlight some of the highs and lows that made the year so amazing!

On 13 January Mayfield hires Quay West Recording Studio in Gosport to start recording a demo that eight months later became our debut album. As we started cutting tracks, we realized that something more was starting to take shape and the final product became 'Tempo of Your Sou!' which was released on 30 August to local and national acclaim on the Soul music scene. In 2014 we will begin working on our 2nd release, 'Keep On!' (Click here to read Mayfield's New Year's message.)

Southsea's Got Talent 2014

Southsea's Got Talent is launched at The Jolly Sailor on 7 February and I signed on to be one of the judges. There were 7 heats from February through August with two semi-finals held in September. I had no idea how difficult the judging was going to be because I didn't expect Southsea's talent pool to be so reach with potential super stars. me and fellow judges, Rod Coombs (Stealers Wheel), Andrew Pearce (Miss G) & Ross McInally (owner of The Jolly Sailor) had the very difficult job of deciding who would win the £1,000 cash prize, and The Hourglass Duo consistently wowed us with their original acoustic pop music and were named the first winners of SSGT at the Final Gala Show on 27 September! The Hourglass vocalist Chloe Dixon is a GME Artist and is a highly sought after performer as a solo performer, with her Duo or as a dep vocalist with some of the top bands around the UK!

w/Fran Classic @ FF Hampton Court

GME was contracted to provide entertainment for five Foodies events across the South of England and the first event was 4-6 May in Brighton. Thanks to some absolutely fabulous performers we set the bar really high for the remaining four events.  When taking on these events, I thought it would be difficult to find enough good talent to fill all the performance slots. To my amazement, I was getting contacted by GREAT bands from across the UK who were looking for an opportunity to showcase their talents, and I was constantly humbled by the caliber of artists I was getting to work with. Some were beginners and some were seasoned pros ... and all came together to provide top notch entertainment for the eagerly awaiting Foodies crowds. The last event was 24-26 August in Oxford. By this time I had worked with several of the performers across several of the events and there was a real family atmosphere by the final day of the final event. The organizers were well pleased with how the entertainment went so watch this space for info on this year's events!

Move On Up Party Band

In September I started two new projects ... 'Supremely, Diana Ross' which is my tribute to the legendary performer; and 'Move On Up' party band, which is a 5-piece Soul, Funk & Rock band! MOU had our first gig on 21 September at Port Solent Tennis Club in Gosport, and I performed the first tribute show the next day at The Old Vic in Portsmouth. These projects were born out of a really low point in the year when I had to leave a band that I had spent a wonderful year working with. It felt bad at the time, however, looking back I now realize that leaving was the absolute best thing that could have happened. So many other wonderful doors opened when that door shut and I'm thankful!!

September 1st was the first year anniversary of being in business and I decided to change the name of the agency from GMM Booking Agency Ltd. to Gloria Miller Entertainment Ltd. which seems to better describe what the company has become during our first year.

Talk Network Event

October and November were my planning months for 2014 and it took me two months just to set four goals ... LOL! The main goal of the four is 'grow GME with a focus on private and corporate events.' I started laying the ground work for this goal to become a reality in November and December by going to local networking events, joining the Hampshire Chamber and by restructuring my artists and website to meet the demand for these types of events. The last few gigs of the year that were booked through GME were corporate and private events so we are well on our way to meeting this goal in 2014!

w/John Leete

Other highlights included meeting John Leete & Company of Home Front History at the Royal County of Berkshire show in September.  Home Front History recreate the social and military history of Britain during the 1939-1945 war at events across the UK and have adopted me into their family! I'll be partnering with them in 2014 as we lead up to the Anniversary of the D Day landings which took place on 6th June 1944. Also, joining Opus 20 Jazz Orchestra and performing two fantastic events with them in December was an amazing experience and I'm looking to do more with them in 2014.

I don't know what 2014 has in store for GME, but I will focus 100% of my efforts on my four goals and enjoy the journey! I wish you every success in this new year and look forward to hearing all about your journey!!

Gloria