GME News - November, 2015

Editor's Note

Welcome to the November edition of Gloria Miller Entertainment News and there's loads to tell you about what's been happening around here this past month. For the past year I've been offering private vocal & performance coaching and I am now partnering with Mayfield Academy at Mayfield Studios for their Artist Development Program. Through this program, I will continue to offer vocal & performance coaching, plus I will be involved with songwriting sessions and song production for aspiring and emerging performers. We are now enrolling students into this program and if you know of anyone who might be interested in developing themselves either as a singer, musician or songwriter you can click here for more info. On 16 October I judged the final of Southsea's Got Talent at The Jolly Sailor and that was one of the hardest nights of my life! There were 12 finalists and all are hugely talented so I wanted everyone to win, including several of my  Acts and vocal students who were participating. But, there could only be one winner, so me and my fellow judges had quite the job on our hands whittling the 12 down to just three. I am thrilled to announce that the performer who placed first is a GME Artist. Now before you say 'fixed' just remember I wasn't the only judge ... LOL! Before I announce the winner, I must give a shout out to our lovely Gemma Anderson (left) who was a finalist and brought the house down with her Gospel song choice, Shackles. I must also mention the lovely Harriet Standen who is one of my vocal students. She did a very heartfelt version of Feeling Good showing off her soulful voice to this classic tune. Harriet won the Mayfield Studios songwriting competition and will be recording a 4-song album in 2016. I'll be working very closely with her on this project. There were so many other standout performances at the final, and I wish I could tell you about all of them. So, who was the 1st place winner? Check out GME Act News to find out! Lastly, on 22 October I attended the launch of the Portsmouth Venus Awards. Last year I performed at the Awards ceremony and was a Finalist for New Business. The launch was held at Changes Clinic in Portsmouth and the evening turned out to be a great chance to network and support other businesses. Changes offers some great surgical and non-surgical treatments for looking great and they performed demonstrations of several of their treatments at this event. I made sure to grab their contact info before I left cause, let's face it ... I'm not getting any younger. Thank you for taking a few minutes to catch up on what we've been up to in October and please take a look at our Act of the Month and Special Offer. That's it from me ... Gloria Miller GME News Editor

GME Act News

And the winner of Southsea's Got Talent is ... Congratulations to Russell Keith who won his semi-final heat and the entire competition! Russell wow'd the crowd with a very sexy version of Cry Me A River and had the judges right in the palms of his hands. Russell is the ultimate performer giving 100% to every performance and this is what pushed him over the top to win the competition! As part of Russell's prize package, he will be recording a song at Mayfield Studios. We are very proud of Russell's accomplishment and wish him all the best with his very bright future in entertainment. Congratulations are in order for the fabulous Bupsi Brown who made it to the Live Shows on The X Factor. Bupsi gave a powerful performance of Marvin Gaye's You're A wonderful One on the first live show on the 31st of October. Bupsi's star-quality was on full display on the show as she went up against a very strong group of competitors all fighting to impress the judges and the voting public. Bupsi is the founding member of GME Act, The Midnight Soul Sisters and is always a crowd favorite whether she is performing solo or with MSS. You go girl!

Act of the Month

The Midnight Soul Sisters The Midnight Soul Sisters are a female group who share a passion for music, a blend of amazing ladies where every sister will give you a different taste of soul! All professional singers, the Midnight Soul Sisters have years of combined experience as vocalists and dancers and have worked with original Artistes such as; Beyonce, Mary Wilson, Errol Brown, Edwin Starr, Martha Reeves and many more! The Midnight Soul Sisters are fully self-contained with professional sound & lighting and are ideal for cruise ships, weddings, corporate & private events, and festivals. We are now accepting bookings for 2016 so click on 'Get-A-Quote to submit details for your next event.

Special Offer

Receive 10% discount on your January, 2016 Entertainment! Tribute Acts Function Bands DJ's/Discos!   Contact us today at 02392 894 902 or click on 'Get-A-Quote' to submit details for your upcoming event! The discount covers entertainment for the period of  1 January - 31 January 2016 and must be booked prior to 31 December 2015. This offer expires 31 December 2015. Use discount code JANENTS16.

Five Tips for Booking Entertainment!

Do you need to hire star-quality entertainment for your Wedding, Venue or Event? Here are some tips to make finding the perfect entertainment a little less daunting:

1.                 Make sure the agency has vetted all of their Acts. When working with Gloria Miller Entertainment (GME), you can rest assured that each Act on our roster is vetted for quality of talent, professionalism and service.

2.                   Only work with agencies that have updated audio and video samples of their Acts. GME offers a search facility on our website for ease of finding the type of Act you’re looking for, and we have the artists’ most recent audio and/or video demos on their pages, including sample set lists.

3.                 When requesting a quote, provide as much information about the entertainment you want as possible, including your budget. At GME, you can request a free, no-obligation entertainment quote through our website, and by simply filling in the required fields, we’ll have everything we need to give you the best quote possible. If applicable, we will also include the deposit amount due to secure the booking in the written quote.

4.                 Contact the entertainment agency well ahead of your event wherever possible. At GME we have several Acts who are available for last minute bookings, but if you are able to plan ahead we can insure that you get your first choice of Acts; offer ideas for your event; and put together an entire entertainment package, if required.

5.                 Make sure the agency issues a contract for your Wedding, Venue or Event. Once you have decided to confirm your booking, GME will verify all of the details of your event and issue a contract which can either be signed electronically on-line, or you can email or post a signed hard copy to our office.

Finding quality entertainment in your area has never been easier. If you have internet access, just get on your PC, Tablet or Phone and visit www.gloriamillerentertainment.com to preview the UK’s best Solo, Duo & Tribute Acts plus dynamic Party Bands and Variety Acts. We can also provide full DJ/Disco services and Themed Entertainment such as Vegas Nights, Double Tribute Shows, Motown Nights and more!

Contact us today for star-quality entertainment for your Wedding, Venue or Event and let us handle the details!

Week In Review: 9-15 February 2015

This week was quite busy with a variety of inquiries ranging from charity events to tribute shows, many of which have turned into bookings! Check out our Facebook page to see a listing of upcoming public shows.

Monday the 9th was just another day in the office tackling my never-ending to-do list. On Tuesday, I attended the Business & Enterprise meeting at The Purple Door in Portsmouth. B&E is a work stream of Shaping Portsmouth, and we outlined our overall mission for 2015 as well as set up subgroups to manage the various programs we are undertaking this year. I volunteered to work on the Business Support Bank project which is a structured program where business mentors volunteer their time and start up companies and existing businesses are able to connect with a mentor.

On Wednesday, I was off to rehearsal with Mayfield as we prepare for some upcoming shows, including our first show of the year at March of the Mods in Reading on the 15th of March! This promises to be a great show with some amazing bands in the lineup. Tickets are still available, so click here for more information!

On Friday, I headed up to Leeds for a gig with The Midnight Soul Sisters. Diana Ross made an appearance along with Beyonce & Tina Turner. This event was for our band leader's mum, Veronica, who was celebrating her 60th birthday. There were tears, singing, dancing and lots of delicious food throughout evening. I stayed overnight after the party in a very posh 4-star hotel. I had to pry myself out of the bed on Saturday morning before heading back to Portsmouth to get ready for my Simply, Tina Turner show on Valentine's Night! We had an absolute blast at Cosham Conservative Social Club. We started the show shaking our tail feathers to Tina Turner, and ended my part of the entertainment with my Disco Diva's set!

This was my second time performing at this venue, and they definitely know how to have a good time. My favorite part this time was when I finished my last encore and the DJ played Thank You for the Music. The guests all surrounded me and started singing this song to me ... I thought, what a lovely Valentine to have all that love and appreciation directed at me.

Speaking of Valentine, my lovely husband surprised me with a dozen red roses. He had two days of travel starting on Friday to get home from Argentina so I was not expecting anything. As I was getting out of the taxi on my way home from Leeds I noticed a box on the front step. My first thought was that my husband had bought yet another magic trick (he's a comedy magician), but much to my delight the box was for me!

Sunday was truly a day of rest and recovery from a very busy weekend. I caught up on my favorite TV shows and had a bit of Chinese takeaway for dinner. All in all, I had a fantastic week indeed!

Please take a moment to like my Supremely, Diana Ross facebook page. And remember to contact Gloria Miller Entertainment if you are looking for star-quality entertainment for your wedding, venue, festival or next event!

That's it for this edition. Have a great week!

Gloria.

Week In Review - 12 December 2014

Random Santas at Waterloo Station

The end of this week was so busy that I'm just getting around to writing this update and it's Monday the 15th! My week started with a cancellation for a solo gig I had booked for Friday, and I didn't have a booking for Saturday so I was quite happy to have a weekend off, especially during this very busy Holiday season. However, by Tuesday I had picked up two last minute bookings! We'll get to that in a minute ...

Besides the cancellation, Monday was just another day in the office doing the mundane office tasks that have to be done. Tuesday was more of the same, in addition to finalizing the two last minute bookings. Tuesday night I attended the Shaping Portsmouth Business & Enterprise meeting at the Innovation Centre in Portsmouth where we recapped the events of 2014 and started looking ahead to 2015.

I am new to this organization and my first few months on this work stream have been a great way to know what's happening in my adopted city, Portsmouth, and to be a vital part of supporting businesses in the area. Admittedly, my presence has been like a fly on the wall, soaking in the information and learning the ropes, but next year I intend to jump in with both feet wherever I can be of service. Watch this space to stay updated on Shaping Portsmouth activities.

On Wednesday, I spent part of the day preparing for the terrestrial version of my radio show, Glo's Music for the Soul, that will be airing weekly on ExpressFM starting in January. I currently do a monthly on-line version of the show for One World Radio.  In the afternoon on Wednesday I headed to the station to learn how to use the equipment and to record the first segment of the show. I was so nervous and had a very restless Tuesday night thinking about what the recording process would be like and how complicated the equipment might be to use. My worries were not totally unfounded, because when I walked into the studio, I was quite intimidated with the microphones, the unending rows of buttons and flashing lights thinking there is no way I'm going to be able to get through this. But, within 15 minutes, Station Manager, Rob James had walked me through the very few buttons I needed to be concerned with, including those on the two CD decks for playing music and the very large mixing board, then I was left on my own to do a few test recordings.

Move On Up Party Band

I recorded three takes of the first segment of the show, would have been four, but I forgot to hit record on one take ... LOL. The process was very straight forward and doable even with my limited knowledge of how it all really works. So next week, Thursday I go in to record the first show. I will let you know when the show will air!

If you are a performer with original music, please get in touch to be included in my 'Unsigned, But Should Be' segment where I will showcase emerging talent. If you want your songs considered, email me an MP3 or a link to where I can download your music. I'll also be interviewing emerging talent during future shows so do get in touch if you would like to be considered. gloria@gloriamillermusic.com.

Athena Network Luncheon

Thursday, began my four-gig weekend starting with an afternoon Christmas luncheon at Languish House in Petersfield for The Athena Network where I performed a short set of Christmas and other classics and the ladies even joined me for a bit of an afternoon boogie! Thursday night, I was with my party band, Move On Up at The Wine Vaults in Southsea. We absolutely love playing this venue and the crowd were well up for a wild night, and that's exactly what we had! We look forward to playing this venue again in the New Year!

Friday, I was up to Doncaster at The Earl of Doncaster with The Midnight Soul Sisters (MSS), for a night of Motown/Soul! This was the first of my last minute bookings and we were well received by the guests and the staff of this lovely, art-deco venue. Finally, on Saturday I took what was left of my voice to The Hotel Celebrity in Bournemouth for a Christmas fundraising event where I performed a set of Jazz & Blues with a few Holiday favs sprinkled here and there, finishing up with my 'Disco Divas' set of fun party classics.

I was rewarded on Sunday with a lazy afternoon spent with family on the Isle of Wight where we had a lovely, four-hour meal with mulled wine and American-sized food portions ... LOL! I am still full from that meal.

I also had two fantastic GME acts out this weekend ... Ubermeister at The Plough & Barleycorn in Waterlooville, and Peach & The New Beats Duo at The Piranha Bar on Hayling, both on Saturday night!

Well, that's it for now ... I do hope you had a fabulous weekend and I'll speak to you next week!

Week In Review - 18 April 2014

Sunshine, Sangria, Spain!  I am on holiday in sunny Spain and loving every minute of it! It has been a slightly working holiday because I am still sorting out the first two of my five forthcoming Foodies events.  The Brighton event was 100% sorted last week, but due to a few last minute issues, it's now about 99% sorted ... LOL!  I'm just waiting on final confirmation from a couple replacement acts.  The Clapham Common event is quickly approaching, 6-8 June, and I am presenting the performer list to the Foodies organizers next week for their approval.  I hope to have both events done by the end of next week, but I think I'm dreaming a bit regarding Clapham!

Volume 2 of 'Glo's Music for the Soul' Radio Show, which airs on One World Radio, was released last weekend and I know I'm risking being thought of as vain when I admit that I've listened to it about 10 times already! The radio show is all about showcasing music that feeds the soul, and I'm really enjoying the song selection. Click here to listen and please let me know what you think. Also, if you have any song suggestions, that would be awesome. Next month's edition of the show will feature 'Foodies Festival' performers. Most of the acts I've booked on these events perform original music, and I'm looking forward to sharing their amazing music with you!  

I'm happy to announce that I'm working with a new venue in Southsea, 69 Wine Bar & Bistro and have booked the fabulous Marlene Hill to perform two R&B and Disco infused sets of music on Easter Sunday from 7:30pm! Marlene is the first act GME has booked into this venue, and I know she will set the bar high! If you're looking for something to do on Easter, join Marlene at 69 Wine Bar & Bistro and get your dance on!!

I mentioned last week that I'll be debuting my 'I'll Be Seeing You' wartime music show on Easter Sunday at an event at the Hayling Island Sailing Club. I've had a couple run-throughs of the show while on holiday, and it has come together quite nicely! The only potential problem is fitting into the cute little military number I purchased to wear for the event! Pitchers of sangria and pans full of paella seem like a good idea when you're indulging, but not so great when you're bulging!!  I barely fit into the outfit before I left for Spain, so I'm glad I sorted out a 'back-up' outfit just in case!  Here's hoping ...

That's it for this week ... have a fabulous weekend and ...