No Comfort Zone for me in 2017!

So I believe this will be a year of me living outside of my comfort zone. I've been singing since I was a little girl of about 9 or 10 years old and have been singing professionally for over 20 years, yet in just the first month of this brand new year I have found myself way outside of my comfort zone during my second gig of 2017. I had the pleasure of stepping into the shoes of my friend and colleague Marlene Hill to perform in the Swinging at the Cotton Club Show. To say I was nervous would be a grave understatement. All week long heading up to the performance on 28 January I was practicing the seven songs I'd be singing during the just shy of two hour show. I sing loads of genres during the many shows I perform each year including Soul, Motown, Jazz, Blues, Classic Rock and Funk with the occasional Pop song thrown in to show I'm current. However, singing in the style of those famed Cotton Club shows is a bit of a stretch for me. Out of the list of songs I was given to learn for the show, I only knew two already, God Bless the Child and Can't Help Lovin' That Man, and had at least heard of a third one, Stormy Weather.

The January performance would be my 2nd with this company having depped for Marlene just over a year ago. With that only being a one-off show, I didn't feel the pressure I'm feeling now having to cover six shows in the span of two weeks. The cracks were showing a bit during the first half of Saturday's show and I'm choosing to blame that on the difficulty I was having hearing myself. Struggling to hear myself against an amazing eight-piece orchestra added to trying to remember cues and how the songs actually go, was definitely all the building blocks of discomfort, but I got through.

During the break, I had a bit of a pep talk with myself and remembered that this was only music and performing is what I live and breathe for so I allowed myself to relax and enjoy myself during the second half. What a difference remembering the pleasure of what I get to do night after night as a profession made.

As I young person my dream was always to be able to do music for my living and not have to get up to an alarm clock in the morning. And I am living proof that dreams do come true.

So I've got five more Cotton Club shows starting 2 February in theatres that zigzag the country. I need to be off book and have my lyrics in my head by Thursday and I'm about 70% there. So, there's still a bit of work to be done to be ready, plus there's the issue of changing the key for Stormy Weather. Marlene beautifully sings this song in a pretty high key, and I struggled. So the band leader is checking to see if they have the arrangement in a lower key. If not, we might have to switch this one out to something else. I hope we can keep the song in because musically it is a great moment in the show. I'll keep you posted on this one.

My discomfort won't be ending after my run in the Cotton Club shows. I have also booked myself for a James Bond Themed charity event later in the year and I have never in my life sung any of these iconic songs like Goldfinger, Skyfall, etc. I only have to include five or six Bond songs, but how in the world do you choose which ones? Luckily I came across an article today, 23 Best and Worst Bond Theme Songs. That's a lot of material to sift through to find the best tunes, so thankfully it's been done for me here. Obviously, I have to include the Bassey classics, Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger. Then there's Tina Turner's Golden Eye and Gladys Knight's License to Kill. Another great one to include in my set would be Nobody Does it Better by Carly Simon and Live & Let Die by Paul McCartney.

So that leaves one more song and this is where the choice gets difficult. Should I include Skyfall? Do you have any suggestions?

Yes, 2017 is the year of being outside of my comfort zone, and though it feels intense and scary, I like it out here.

I welcome your Bond theme song suggestions ... please help!!

Week in Review: 23 Feb. - 1 March, 2015

Marlene Hill

My good friend and GME Artist Marlene Hill lit up the stage as Motormouth Maybelle in the Portsmouth Player's production of Hairspray which enjoyed a 4-night run from the 24th though 28th at The King's Theatre in Southsea. When I don't have her booked on various events, Marlene is usually busy performing as a featured vocalist in the Swingin' At The Cotton Club Show with the Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra. Since Marlene was busy with Hairspray, she asked me to cover one of her Cotton Club shows and on Thursday, I did my very best to fill her very talented shoes at The Brook Theatre in Kent. With only a couple weeks to learn six songs, and one acoustic rehearsal with band leader, Maurice Dennis, I took to the stage with the eight-piece orchestra and six Jivin' Lindy Hoppers in front of a capacity crowd, and had one of the best performing nights I've had in a long time!

I was incredibly nervous right before my first song, and it didn't help matters that because I was wearing long gloves as part of my costume, I couldn't get my lyrics on the iPad to work. Here's a little tip: if you are dependent on lyrics, as I am, and need your iPad, as I do, the iPad won't respond to your touch if you are wearing long gloves. So, the band is vamping as I am desperately trying to pull up the lyrics. When I realized what was happening, I snatched off the problematic glove which sent the bling I was wearing over the glove flying across the stage! Yes, people I am a professional, but sometimes these things happen. Finally, after about eight measures of vamping, I finally started singing 'Miss Jenny's Ball' with one glove on and the other in my hand. During the instrumental break, I managed to get my other glove on, retrieve the rogue bracelet and pull myself together.

Thankfully, it was smooth sailing from there, I even got my swing dance on with the other singer, Megs, and the Lindy Hoppers for a raucous finale of 'It Don't Mean a Thing!' What an amazing experience and I'm so thankful to Marlene for getting me all the music and lyrics I needed, and to all the performers who warmly welcomed me into the fold. I do hope they call on me again if the need arises!

On Friday, I saw Marlene in action in Hairspray, and in my admittedly biased opinion, she was the best thing on that stage. Alright, there were a few other amazing performers on the stage too! It was a fantastic production, and the staging and costumes were excellent. Aside from a few sound issues, the performers really brought the music to life and the dancing was spot on!

Finally, on Saturday I performed with The Midnight Soul Sisters at Akamba Garden Centre, an African themed venue in Solihull, to a very rowdy crowd. There were four or five tables who were celebrating birthdays and a hen party sprinkled throughout the audience which made for a very celebratory atmosphere from song one. Normally, people sit and watch during our first song which is 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' but not this time. The dance floor was packed before the end of the first song.

If you would like to book Marlene Hill, The Midnight Soul Sisters, or any of the amazing GME Acts, please get in touch to discuss your entertainment needs. Call me at 02392 894902 or email: gloria@gloriamillermusic.com. 

That's it for this edition, have an amazing week!

Gloria xx

Week In Review - 20 June 2014

Chillin' in Spain w/the Hubs!

I had a much needed 4-day mini break to Spain from Monday through Thursday, topping up my tan and the scale a bit too! The getaway was the perfect combination on sunshine, sangria & paella!  

On Friday, I performed a dep gig with 'Beau' at the grand re-opening of The Westleigh in Havant. The venue and the crowd were both fantastic, and I really enjoyed working with the fantastic musicians that comprise Beau. Dep gigs keep you on your toes because usually you don't get a chance to rehearse, you just show up and hope for the best :). Thankfully, I've dep'd for them before, so we were good to go.

Beau

Gloria Miller Duo

Note to self ... never schedule three gigs for the same date which is exactly what I did on Saturday, the longest day of the year in every way! I put in a 12-hour day gigging at The Spring in Havant with my duo in the afternoon, a private party in Hedge End in the early evening, and finishing up at The Mermaid in Portsmouth performing Supremely, Diana Ross. I was one tired soul at the end of the night and the drive home was a bit of a blur. When I arrived home, my very lovely husband had lit relaxing candles all over the house to create a calming atmosphere for me to come home to! After murdering a veggie stir-fry I hit the sack only to wake up on Sunday feeling quite out of it. This was my excuse to sit on the sofa and watch movies on LoveFilm, which I did! 

One of my acts, the incredible Marlene Hill, will be performing in 'Swinging at the Cotton Club' at the King's Theatre in Southsea on the 26th of October. I've seen this show a couple times now and it is spectacular and features The Jiving Lindy Hoppers & Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra!  Take a step back into 1920's New York City and through the doors of Harlem's hottest nightclub, 'The Cotton Club'!  Swinging at The Cotton Club is an action-packed show celebrating music, dance, and song! Buy your ticket today!

I am excited to announce that I am starting to book original duo and band gigs as my CD, Let Go, is experiencing a bit of a revival over here in the UK. I released this CD in America just before moving to the UK five years ago and it seems the album got a little bit lost somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic ... LOL! At the first of my three gigs on this past Saturday, I dried off and performed five songs from the album which received a really positive response from the audience, and I sold a few CDs too!  

I just confirmed today that The Gloria Miller Duo will be performing originals & covers as part of The Guildhall Summer Sessions on the 24th of July at the outside cafe! We're performing two 45-minute sets, starting at 5:30pm.  And, Move On Up will be backing me on a gig at The Pizza Express in Soho on Sunday the 28th of September ... doors at 12:00 and we start at 13:30. We are supporting a fantastic up and coming band, Alter Ego, and will be performing songs from my CD as well as a few covers. This is going to be a great show with two great bands performing original Jazz, Soul, Blues & Funk!  Click here for more information.

Venus Awards Nominee Networking Event

Lastly, it was just announced that I have been nominated for a 2nd Venus Award in the New Business category. I was completely surprised to get the 1st nomination in the Customer Service category, and I am terribly humbled to be recognized again for starting GME. Check out their blog and learn more about the other nominees and the businesses they represent.

I think that's enough for now ... I'll be with you again on Friday with the next edition!

Until then, have a fab week!