Week In Review - 9 January 2015!

I hope you had as lovely a Holiday Season as I did because honestly, taking those two weeks off was just what I needed to reflect on a very productive 2014 and set my intention for what I hope will be a stellar 2015! I have to confess there's a bit more of me to love, because I certainly didn't miss a meal during those two weeks, and I happily indulged in all those yummy foods that I tend to stay away from during the year. I am paying for it now having to work out like a mad woman so I can get into that lovely Diana Ross dress for my first gig of the year next weekend!

When I say I took two weeks off, that's strictly from admin work. I was performing quite a bit and ended the year with a bang by performing four mini sets of my Diana Ross Tribute Show at four different venues on New Year's Eve! It seemed like a good idea when I said yes to doing this type of booking, but I had no idea how exhausting it would be. It was interesting to see how the demeanor of the crowd changed at each venue. 

At the first venue I went on just after 8pm and the night was young, people were just starting to get their drink on so the mood was laid back and mellow. Venue two, and hour later and the crowd was a bit livelier as the liquid courage was just starting to kick in. I get to venue three and this crowd was marinated just enough to think I was the real Diana Ross and gave me the rock star treatment complete with being followed around and trapped by the pappirazzi with a line of people wanting a photo!

Then it was off to my final venue ... I arrived just before 11pm and the crowd was totally baked and well up for anything. I could have stood their barking and they would have loved it! I didn't, but I could have. I had a great time at each venue and was done at 11:30 and back home and in my onesie just in time to watch the count down and the fireworks on the telly. A special shout out to the hubs who was my driver, sound person & body guard for the night! I would not have survived without him!

Also during my Christmas hiatus, Mayfield Recording Studio was launched! I am so proud to be associated with this amazing venture and the buzz is already starting about this brand new, state-of-the-art recording facility located in Portsmouth. Visit the website to learn more about the studio and the 50% Introductory Offer!

There have already been a few recording sessions at the studio, and Mayfield the band was in on the 2nd of January recording the first track for our second album due to be released later this year. If you having any recording needs, do check out Mayfield Studios and take advantage of the discount while it lasts!

It was hard getting back to work on Monday, but moving into my very own office space at the Cathedral Innovation Centre in Old Portsmouth made it a bit exciting. I've been hotdesking at this location for the past year, and now the Gloria Miller Entertainment Ltd. office is now open for business. The space is proving to be quite the boost to productivity as this week I added quite a few bookings to the diary. Let's hope this keeps up!

On Thursday I had a meeting with Ross from the Jolly Sailor about Southsea's Got Talent, and I am happy to be returning as one of the judges for the competition that is going to be bigger and better as it goes into its third year. The first heat will be 5 February! Watch this space for more info. 

On Friday I did my first music business coaching session with a new client. Last year I started doing some vocal coaching and this year I am diversifying that service to include music business coaching as well. I will be officially launching this service later in the year in partnership with Mayfield Studios Tuition Services. More details to come ...

Finally, on Saturday I am off to Leeds for two days of intensive rehearsals with The Midnight Soul Sisters as we prepare for our promo video shoot and the growing schedule of upcoming shows!  I'll put up a good fight against the battle of the bulge this weekend as I try to turn one of my two left feet into a right foot and learn all the dance moves required for these shows. I had a look at the routines we'll be learning, and this is going to be a hard couple of days, but well worth it 'cause these moves will look amazing once it's all put together! I'll post the promo video when it's finished! 

Well, I think that's enough yapping from me this week!  Have a fabulous weekend ...

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