Eric moved to the South 7 years ago from Los Angeles where he did quite well. Knowing, and trusting him to get me the best originals from award-winning writers. I sent a video of my new discovery Katie. He responded with a Yes, I could work with her. We fell in love with 4 songs and Eric and Katie decided to write a fifth one themselves. It is one of my favorites!, “Somewhere, Anywhere”.

Katie and I booked six days in July in Nashville, and Eric outdid himself!. The guitarist was possibly the best guitarist in the country. George Marinelli was with Bruce Hornsby and the Range, and for the last few decades, Bonnie Raitt,  I think because Bonnie plays, people do not realize the genius of this musician.

The drummer had worked with me before when I was in Nashville, two years ago, Fred Satterfield, of the Oakridge Boys and Ronnie Laws. Bassist, Steve Mackey is with Dolly Parton, and again, a major talent. Matt Berry rounded out on guitar and was just divine in filling in those places that round out the song. Eric on Keys and B 3, and adding steel guitar, I threw in some back up on one song, and Katie knocked it out of the park. She has no idea of the star power that Eric got her on her first 5-track EP download.

I can”t wait to hear the finished project. I feel so honored to have worked with these guys, I even got to cut a song with them myself, due to Eric’s generosity.

Katie Pilkey and I had the best time seeing Nashville by night, and being in the studio all day. It is possibly the best time I have had in the studio in a long time.

Can’t wait to do it again!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

The X-Factor has not begun, yet I have my distaste for it already. Paula is a judge… again! Please, save me. Not just that, I have two students who have been through 2 and 3 audition segments and  did not make the cut. These are real singers, not potentially good, but real good, ready-for-primetime good.

The shows that I have faith in, are ‘The Voice’ and the “Sing Off’   These are shows that showcase real talent. Not someone in a E T costume, then it is just a freak show.  I find the superstar coaches on the ‘The Voice’ are really honest, helpful and not just showing up.

I’ve had it with the Simons, and Paulas. They did a good job the first give years, but all good things must end. I would never want any of my students to sing for Simon, I just don’t think he is qualified. He likes ‘Il Divo’ and that’s fine, but it gives you an idea of his taste. Classical!  Good luck with pleasing him.  ‘America’s Got Talent’ is its own entity, jugglers against singers? I enjoy it, Michael Grimm deserved to win.

I remember ‘Star Search”.  that was a great show, but we have evolved and ‘The Voice” gets my vote!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

MusiCares has helped millions of performers in times of life or death. If you play a piano bar in Ohio, or you are a famous conductor, they do not discriminate. The concert will be at the Los Angeles Convention Center Febuary 11, 2011

• 5:30pm Cocktails, and silent auction viewing
• 8pm Gala Dinner
• 9pm: Concert and award presentation

PERFORMERS;  JEFF BECK, TONY BENNETT, KRISTEN CHENOWETH, HERBIE HANCOCK, SEAL, DIANA KRALL, BARRY MANILOW, LEANN RIMES, DONNA SUMMER, BEBE WINANS, STEVIE WONDER, NIKKI YANOSFKY, LEAH MICHELLE, AND MATHEW MORRISON, JUST TO NAME SOME!

To hear that my new favorite singer, Nikki Yanosfky, will be in this event is quite exciting.

Ellen Silver

Let me tell you how Music Cares has affected my life. My dearest friend, and pianist/singer, Ellen Silver, became very ill from a rare blood disease. After suffering and getting chemotherapy for a year, she finally told me about her illness when she needed help. She was burning with fever, and needed rent money.I went to the ATM and dashed to her apt. I threw the money on the piano, and ran to her bedside where I first saw how seriously ill she was. Why had she not told anyone? She was afraid  no one would hire her if she was sick.  I wanted to take her to the hospital, but she said her boyfriend would be home soon, and they would go.

It was the last time she would see my face. When I saw her at the hospital the infection had gone to her eyes and brain, and she had no vision, ever again. All of her friends gathered round and we were all helpless. I convinced her brother to get her to Hospice, because the Doctor had told us there was nothing we could do.

We went to Nathan Adelson Hospice, they had treated my father so well. Her brother Jerry was in denial, but by the time we got him to agree, the room was gone. They found another hospice,  Odyssey, and she went the next morning. Her boyfriend was concerned how he could live in the apt, until he could settle somewhere else, and the memorial, when she would pass, it was all too much.I ran around town collecting 20 dollars from here and there, and her boss a Fellini’s gave him enough for rent, he used the money I left on the piano for bills or something, I never knew what? She died that evening, just after I left her and went home, I got the call, she was gone.

The money from MusiCares went to her boyfriend Sean, so I suppose it paid for the lovely memorial service we had. Every dime I collected went to Sean, so I suppose it helped him stay in the apartment another month. A dear friend and fan of Ellen’s gave me the money to buy the contents of her storage shed, filled with her life. I have her music, and she is everywhere in my studio.

Whenever there is a musician, singer or dancer in trouble, you can always count on MusiCares.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

The Pantages had a brilliant idea to make the original cast part of the excitement of its grand opening, and many as of us, did make it. Our beloved producer, Michael Butler, arrived with Ben Vereen, which made it even more special. After all the screams and hugs outside while the papparazzi were setting up, we gathered for some group shots.

Other celebs who made the opening were Jason Alexander, Lorenzo Lamas, John Savage, Marty Ingels and wife Shirley Jones, Melissa Manchester and many others.

I had been skeptical about seeing the show ever since it returned to Broadway and London. I felt too close to it and was afraid of change. But, here I was and there was no turning back.

The first big change, it was so colorful! We were supposed to be street people but here they were, rather clean and in this surrealistic setting. Then I noticed it wasn’t easy to recognize the cast leads. Berger was not crazy and Sheila was just another cast member until I realized she was Sheila! The same problem with Hud, his character was bigger, broader in the original production. Think “Ben Vereen!!!

Steel Burkhardt, the actor who plays Berger, did what he was directed to do. I believe the the director was trying to make this her own. Diane Paulus is the director of this production. When we did the show it had more choreography also. These tribe members seemed to jump up and down a lot.

However, the important elements of the script were kept alive. the war, and all the important statements we tried to make were there. just in color!! the script was cut and the tempos were rushed. It most was apparent when Claude sings “Where Do I Go” A very emotional song, I used to cry eight times a week, but I did not shed a tear Thursday night. the cast failed to move me.

I would still tell you to see it, Gerry Ragni and Jim Rado‘s dream lives on in this show and it must be told, no matter how many different ways. I was Chrissy, I was Jeannie and I was a tribe member.

I witnessed brilliance in Teddy Neeley, Jerry Combs, Red Shephard, Tata Vega, Delores Hall, Ben Vereen, and all the others great talent in the Age of Aquarius. I am so lucky to have been part of history and now 40 years later to watch a new generation of actors live the dream. Don’t miss this important work of art, it still matters, now, more than ever.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

Another one I watch, once-in-a-blue-moon, is The Kardashians; only because it amazes me that it is still on. Every situation is so contrived and the girls, except for mom Kris, sound like they inhaled helium before every show. Speaking as a singer and voice coach, I cannot for the life of me figure out why no one has suggested elocution lessons?
Except for those, a few competition shows, So you think you can Dance, Sing off, and Yes, Idol, that is it for my reality viewing.

When Oprah announced her own network, OWN, I must say I was curious. Then her magazine came out previewing the new shows, more than half are reality shows with people like (cough), excuse me, Ryan O’Neal reconciling with daughter, Tatum!
Oprah also gave BFF, Gayle King ,her own show! OK, cable news has a lot of hours to fill up, but come on! Dr. Oz is terrific. And Nate Berkus, give us more of that and I will watch. give someone a musical variety show, something that has been missing a long time. Oprah, I thought I knew you. we will see what else her dream team can come up with.

I am old enough to remember watching The Ed Sullivan Show. As a dreamy eyed kid, I watched Sullivan when people like Bobby Darin, The Beatles and great singers would entertain the family every Sunday night. The Carol Burnett Show was amazing, even the Mandrel sisters show was great. Sonny and Cher, Judy Garland had a show, Sinatra, times were magical. then the Beverly Hillbillies took over and it was all down hill after that.

Will we ever return to good TV programming? We had The Wire, The Shield, a lot of terrific shows, Sopranos and more, but the musical has become amateur hour, and we are forced to watch regular people competing for a prize and voting from our cell phones and laptops.

I suppose you can’t go back. Everything I miss is old fashioned, out of date, never to return except in Guthy Renker DVD commercials of old Dean Martin shows!

Ed, Judy, Sonny, Cher, Barbra Mandrel, Dean, Mel Torme, Frank, Carol… You all rocked my world growing up, and I wish my students could be exposed to the brilliant TV programing of my day.

In closing, if you do see an infomercial for any of these shows, check them out, you can learn a lot from these pros. Even the Johnny Carson show will expose you to greatness.

Good night and good luck.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

I asked her who was going through? She said some people in costumes and some people who were seemingly normal. She had no expectations because we had talked about the process and I was familiar with other singers I knew to be great singers who also didn’t make the cut. She chalked it up to experience and enjoyed the ride. I was a little more upset and confused. What, I thought, do they want?

Cut to a few weeks later, my student Nancy is planning on auditioning in San Francisco. Nancy is a teenager, and only recently started with me, and I felt she wasn’t quite ready. I mean, once you get there, If you get there, the competition gets very intense and you need to be a great singer, not just good. That was the problem last season, it was filled with “good” not great singers. The ratings went down, and it lost a lot of it’s magic. There was no one to root for.

So, Nancy wants to do this and won’t wait til next year. Now we picked a great song that would be easy for her and showed her personality. Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis and more recently Mandy Moore. we worked hard on the song and I asked her to cut off the notes and clip them to make it authentic and 50′s. You see Nancy has a high Beehive hairdo, and even to lessons wears stilletto’s and her hair high, with cute little dress”s. Nancy would, I know get their attention. But I wanted her to also be able to be able to keep their attention once they saw her.  She always wears eyeliner and red lipstick, that IS who she is. She is what the show is about at the beginning when they find characters in line. But she is for real, and I did not want them to make fun of her or hurt her feelings.

Nancy called me from the first day,“She was handed a green sticker from a man who told her to wear it when she went to sing.” Nancy knew then, when no one else had a green sticker, she was probably juiced in. She accepted that and was going to sing great to make sure she stayed in the game. She and the two other people with her were rejected. Nancy was crying and going to get her mom when the man ran after her and said “Hey, where are you going?”

She told him she was rejected and he said “Oh no,” took her by the arm and went back to the table where she sang, and was put through. Now she was happy, she went through the second round of judges and flew home to Vegas , told to come back 2 days later for a third audition.

The third audition was the one where they told her she just wasn’t strong enough, and it was a tough competition. She came home happy, knowing she did the best she could, and knowing that her “Look” got her through the first round.

I am happy that she was happy. They also had her on camera in line and the cameraman did photograph her and ask about her hair. There is a chance she will be on TV from this interview.  I think Nancy has “it” and will be fine, and this experience was great for her.

American Idol has give us a few blessings,  Carrie, Kelly, Daughtry, Jennifer, to mention a few. So this is a recent complaint about the last 2 years. Before that I believe they were on track.

As far as America’s Got Talent Las Vegan contestant, Michael Grimm, is in the finals and deserves to be. He comes across very well, and having seen him live here in Vegas, I am a big fan. That show is also a circus. A singer going against a dance troupe going against a fire eater going against a duo and on and on! I just don’t get it.

Bring back Star Search, or anything that brought us real talent. Leanne Rhinnes came from star Search, Brad Garrett also. I just am so tired of seeing  people telling people how great they are, and then they get a million dollars for being mediocre. Here we go with another season of millions of singers trying to make it in the business we call Show.

Listen, it isn’t all it’s made out to be. It can be a real drag, hence Fantasia!!!   Have a back up plan, Take it from me!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

Speaking to the keyboardist, my friend Cosmo Topper, who came in from los Angeles to do the Las Vegas-based show, I said “Vegas audiences are the worst”, the drummer overheard us, and said “no, L.A. is the worst”.

Well, if that is the case, why is live music still alive at all?  What has happened to people’s souls? I thought the music of The Beatles was universal. The theatre was 1/3 full and half were too young to remember the Vietnam war, the 60′s and the whole hippie movement.

But music is music, it heals the soul, it reminds you that  you are alive. The musician/singer/actor who played John was very very good. I felt like I was at a John Lennon concert.

He mentioned the lost Beatle, drummer, Stuart Sutcliff, who died of  brain cancer. He speaks of the loss when his mother pawned him off on his aunt and then his mum died from an off duty drunk policeman. His father left and seemed to never come back, unclear if he died in the war or something else.

He admits to being a bad husband to Cynthia and worse father to Julian. Then Later on, when the love of his life Yoko gives him a another son Sean. HE is the love of John’s universe. I hope Julian doen’t see this show. He doesn’t pay tribute to anyone but Paul, mentions Ringo and omits George. entirely. But the reason it inspired me to write this because he constantly reminds us that he was unhappy. Success and fame do not bring happiness.

That is what I want to talk about when the show is over. It should be enough to leave a body of work that you are proud of and leave a legacy that will define you. You don’t need the stress and pressure of superstardom.  If that happens to you and you want it, you need to be ready.

You need the right support group around you and advisors. You shouldn’t step on people on your way up.  All the voice coaches, dance and acting coaches that helped you get there should be not left in the dust.  Remember who you are and that is who you need to stay. When you are on stage,  think  “Miley Cyrus” and fans are screaming your name,when the concert is over, and you are alone in your hotel room with 22 more hours until the next show, you need to lead a life that you can be proud of.

You need to be well read, and able to converse at a party with record execs. You need a good education, both in history, english, and the industry. Who was in the “Who”… or the “Doors”? “Traffic”what band members branched out from what bands to be huge stars on their own?

You want it. OK, go for it, but do it with the power of knowledge, and class.

Rock on!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

The rock groups just had to look hot. Mick jagger, Herman’s Hermits… They couldn’t sing.  Loved Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick. Lot’s of others were not singers but stylists or just screaming.

So, have we lowered our standards? Or is the average public who are swooning over Aaron on American Idol, are they just tone deaf?  It is sad that you can be spotted by a producer because you have an exposed belly button {Shakira}  and they make you a big star. She has vibrato you can surf on, yes she is in tune, and I’m being picky.

I just miss the old days when you could go any where and hear real talent. Singers such as  Jerry Tiffe, Bob Anderson, Denise Clemente, Jeaneane Marie, Jerry Lopez, Tony Davich, Lenny Lopez, Jamie Hosmer, of Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns. These guys can sing. The hotels don’t seem to care enough to give us quality entertainment.

The Chef Michael at Tommasino’s where I work now, said “Jazz never brings money in, they sit and order water or coffee” So, I said, “Charge a cover?” There is a demand or there would be no coffee and water orders. maybe they are twelve steppers?   People, Charge a Cover, I will pay to hear good jazz, funk, R&B or really good anything. At Tommasino’s when I work with  Mike Shane we make great tips, because we talk to the audience, we do their songs, we are funny.

When working with the “Jazz” pianists, brilliant pianists, we make minimal tips, perhaps $5-15.  People want personality, and they want variety.  Driving out to Pahrump to this dream job is heaven, they appreciate me, and I feel like I am pleasing them.

In Vegas lounges, the tourists are getting off their feet, have not slept, and could care less about what you do. This wasn’t the case 20 years ago, we did lounge SHOWS  we entertained, we connected, now they are dance bands.  When did good become good enough?

I miss the old days, when after work at 2am you could catch a dozen or so great acts still playing til 6am. Then you could drive up to Mt. Charleston, watch the sun come up, grab breakfast and sleep til 2pm.  I have to say, I am glad that I am the age I am so i was there in those days.

When I met Cary Grant at valet parking with Walter Kane.  My car was kept out front waiting for me: Star Treatment.

What a memory. I’ll cherish those days forever.  Yes, you needed juice to get a gig, but you better be GREAT not GOOD to keep it.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training