I'm On a Podcast! And some Kickstarter Updates.

Hello pals,

I'm on a podcast! I virtually sat down with podcaster Jim Boy Star and talked about my Kickstarter, finding a studio, and sweet, sweet revenge.

Here is the interview! Give it a listen!

In other news, my Kickstarter is more than halfway through and I am ALMOST at that glorious halfway point. As I post this, I need about 30 dollars. Anyone? ...Bueller? 

Fingers crossed we hit that goal by Easter (when the campaign ends)!

I've had some exciting gigs lately. Some kids parties, and I played at Pianos, Caffe Vivaldi, and Lovecraft. Cool stuff! My friends get all the bonus points for coming out and supporting me throughout gig-madness these past few months. I won't have another show until May probably, so I can really buckle down and focus on all the work for the album.

Here is my latest video...I'm talking!

Wild, right?

I'm a fan of this one too:

That's all for now, folks! Please please please check out that Kickstarter! Every dollar will make the music *that* much more beautiful! And tell your friends! Be annoying! It works for me! Just kidding, sort of?

Love ya, miss ya, see ya soon.

xoxo Jill

Farmer's Market Fun!

Hello friends!

So I've been in touch with the people who run the Greenmarkets in NYC and they set me up with some gigs at the farmers markets in Queens! This past Sunday, I played at the Jackson Heights farmers market and it was SO much fun!

Farmer's markets are awesome because...

-lots of families and kids.

-people at the market are ready and willing to support local food producers, and a local artist isn't too far from that idea!

-everyone has cash.

-lots of humans, no one is in a hurry, people can mosey and watch and listen.

So I like the farmer's market. It was slightly tough competing with the noise of traffic and airplanes flying into LaGuardia nearby, combined with barking dogs and shouting children, but that's all part of the game, you know? It's fun changing up my repertoire based on the surroundings. And the people who really wanted to listen would come closer.

I did make a nice chunk of change in one hour. Probably four hours worth of work at another job. And that is awesome, I can't pretend like it's not incredibly cool to make money doing what I love. Not to mention MORE money than I make doing side jobs. But I've always thought that when someone puts a dollar into my case while I'm singing, it's more than just a dollar. It's like a little thank you note that says "Keep going! I like your music!" which means so much more than your average old dollar. And yes, a five dollar bill is a nice thing, but to see one in my case is like seeing a note that says "I think you're REALLY GREAT!!"

Just doing' my thing.

I also met a very confident young girl (I would guess 9 or 10?) named Penny, who repeatedly said to me, "You have a very beautiful voice ma'am."

Her little sister did a very cute hula dance while I sang. Penny knows a lot about artisan cheese, and was quite the little saleslady. Hey, it worked, I bought some medium-firm goat cheese!

I met a lot of awesome people and cute kids, and got to do what I love on a beautiful Sunday! I think it was the most fun I've ever had busking! So I will definitely be back at these farmer's markets, hopefully every weekend. I will broadcast it all over social media in case you live in Queens or want to come to Queens some weekend for live music and fresh veggies ;)

So many love notes!!

Alright, my babies, catch you on the flip side. Make sure to like my artist page on Facebook to stay in the loop with everything! https://www.facebook.com/jillsargeantmusic

Peace!

Notice anything different about me?

I've been revamping the website! I added my SoundCloud under the "listen" tab (now it actually makes sense! Before it was just videos) and have been playing with new fonts and colors! I'm slowly adding more photos from my shoot with Sargeant Creative

I absolutely love all the photos they took! Check out the new shots in my Gallery! And definitely scroll through some of their wedding shoots on their website. Multiple friends have told me they check the site regularly, just because their photos are "so pretty!"

Couldn't have said it better myself. 

I'll be adding more songs onto SoundCloud as I record them, but as of right now, I have three originals up there, and tons of live/ studio covers.

Tickets to my gig on August 15! It's $10 at the door but only $5 online in advance!

Buy them here:

http://turnstylemusicgroup.com/event/863977-powerlines-new-york/

Another Sarah Lawrence student will be playing that night! Rowan goes on at 7 and I go on at 8. So really, what's stopping you?!?!

I got a new app called FontCandy and it's a little too much fun. I can't stop making funky posters like this!

PS if you buy a ticket to my show, email jillsargeantmusic@gmail.com a screenshot of your receipt and you'll get my full length album (once it's ready at the end of summer) for FREE. Yes, free. 

Alright my puppies, goodnight and good luck!!

 

so many updates!!

Hello friends!

I fell off the earth for a while there. I went on a long, lovely, and undeserved vacation to Seattle (girls trip!) and then Orange County (home)! I got to see everyone that I love and take a break from this sometimes-stressful, energizer bunny of a city. But I'm glad to be back and I'm ready to kick butt/ take names. Figuratively, of course.

I did a lot of THINKING and PLOTTING and PLANNING about my music, which is awesome! And also explains why this site and my YouTube channel have been tumbleweed ghost towns. Cricket chirps. Temporarily abandoned buildings. You pick your favorite analogy, I'll throw them all out there for you! I do have SOME exciting developments to share though!!

1. I have a mini-album!

Yes, fingers crossed it wins the Grammy. But seriously, I laid down five solid tracks to sell at "Day of Music" in Fullerton, and with the help of the ever-skilled Gordon, they all sound pretty marvelous. I'm using it as more of a business card to get my info/ links out there, but some sweet jams never hurt anybody. Neither did money. Which people give me in exchange for the CDs. 

I love that.

It's got three originals and two covers. The true, full album of only my originals will be ready by the end of summer! Such a fun project!

2. Day of Music!

Day of Music was a hit! I played at a coffee shop, outdoors at the cultural center (baby needed a tan), and the arts colony where my brother and sister-in-law have studios. Each place had an awesome crowd and I'm pretty sure Brucey (dad) had the best Father's Day ever! Watching me sing for HOURS!! Dreams do come true.

I felt very loved and supported, and I sold all my CDs! Wahoo!! Bummed I missed all the other cool events/ acts that day, so I guess I'll just have to come back next year. And only play...two gigs.

Cheesin' at the Arts Colony. One of the few shots that wasn't photobombed by a sneaky 8 year old!

THAT'S MY DAD.

So Day of Music was a FABULOUS way to kick off the start of my favorite season!

Summer. In case that wasn't clear.

3. I'm forming a jazz band! (but it's a secret)

I have found the best that craigslist NY has to offer, and we will all team up to form one super, unstoppable, majestic jazz band. I just have to...meet them. So it's happening! Soon. But maybe don't tell everyone you know until we actually have some gigs lined up. Which will be SOON!

4. I HAVE A GIG!!!

AUGUST 15!!! 8 PM!!! SHOW UP EARLY TO CATCH ALL THE OTHER COOL CATS!! I have to promote this thing like mad and I've been slacking. So here we go. Please come to this if you live in NYC!! If you buy tickets in advance, they're only 5 dollars each and you get to see FOUR bands! I'll be singing for an hour, and if a ton of people show up to see me, the group organizing the event will put me at a bigger/ better venue and I'll move my way on up from there.

So if you were considering NOT coming to this, consider the OPPOSITE thing!!

It's gonna be a good time.

Here is the link to buy tickets! http://turnstylemusicgroup.com/event/863977-powerlines-new-york/

5. New promo shots are coming our way!

My bro took some photos of me running around New York with my avocado ukulele, so we'll be seeing those shortly!

6. Giveaways!!

I'm holding some giveaways on my facebook artist page. Follow me if you want to win a shirt, CD, handmade art, or other surprises!

https://www.facebook.com/jillsargeantmusic

And now for the not-so-exciting news. I found out a few weeks ago that I didn't get into Music Under New York. And I hyped it up SO much!!! I was SO certain I got in!! But what can you do.

I did my best, and powered through a nasty cold and got on the news and was still an all-around superstar about it. There's always next year! And this baby can still make money in parks/ subways, so it's no true setback.

Phew! That was a lot of things! I'll be sure to share updates as they come, so we avoid OVERWHELMINGLY AWESOME posts like this in the future. OH and a soundcloud is in the works, so look out for that!

Keep it real.

Talent Tuesday (It's friday)

I was featured on a blog! And now I'm sharing it on MY blog! Who wants to blog about this blog post about a blog so people on tumblr can reblog it?! Anyone?

Here is the link: CLICK ME!!!! <3

And this is the song I have on my profile on "Down to Jam" (the site that featured me) so take a lil listen. This is a cover!

(I still have not heard about Music Under New York so don't even go there)

*****kisses****

The Audition

The bad news: none of the judges wore curly white wigs.

The good news: my voice appeared roughly a half hour before the audition and I got to properly show everybody what I'm workin' with (...vocally).

This chapter of my memoir will be called "The Sigh of Relief Heard Round the World"

The one doing the sighing is me. Because I was extremely worried. And then unbelievably relieved. Even though I spent an entire day inhaling steamed ginger and drinking cup of tea after cup of tea, I can't help but think I was visited by a little vocal guardian angel on Tuesday. Because I could barely squeak more than five notes out that morning, even after doing all my "little tricks" as my mom called them. I do have a lot of little tricks. But I was convinced they hadn't worked.

Anyway. The audition looked just like the photos from previous years, but there was a LOT of press there. A lot of news cameras and interviewers and photography areas. I saw all these dapper jazz bands take the stage and realized I was the only solo act in sight. I felt very small. Everyone else was in an established group. With multiple instruments. I was just...me. Sick little me. Gordon hadn't arrived yet, so I had to just sit there, internally freaking out. An older Asian man noticed my ukulele and asked me to take it out so he could snap a photo of me. I don't think he was press. I think he was just there. I smiled for him. He was kind and encouraging, and told me he would be back to watch me audition. So that eased my nerves for about five seconds. Gordon eventually appeared and I felt incredibly calm and centered. He has that affect.

It's one thing to give a bad audition in a closed room for ten humans, but it's another thing to give a bad audition for 25 judges, all the local news stations, and about 50 passerby. Maybe it was the adrenaline or maybe it was the steam or maybe it was the two sips of chamomile tea I had right before I got myself in line, but something brought my voice back. In a sectioned-off "green room" area, I practiced my songs into the marble wall, and to my surprise, I hit every note clearly. Gordon and I looked at each other a little baffled. He motioned to a man nearby setting up his equipment and said, "That guy was digging it. He nodded at me like 'right on' while you were singing."

If it's good enough for that random guy, it was good enough.

I stood in line behind three groups going before me. One included a girl with a ukulele. Awesome. A woman interviewed me, asking why I want this, what my story is. Gordon's parents waved and set up their camera on a tripod. The Asian gentleman was back, and gave me a thumbs up from the crowd. I tried not to think of the hundreds of things that would go wrong, aside from my voice cracking. We had barely practiced with my amp and had to immediately know what settings to use and what volume levels and what if they couldn't hear me and what if my ukulele slipped because I'd be standing and what if the mic gave feedback and what if I forgot the words and what if I did that thing where I closed my eyes the whole time? I feel nervous writing this now, but I didn't feel nervous then. I felt ready. Singing into the wall and hearing myself gave me all the confidence I needed. I went into full warrior princess mode. 

For the record, warrior princess mode is my favorite mode to be in.

The MC approached me, wearing a referee uniform. He told me if I neared the five minute point, he would walk on "stage" and blow his whistle. I thought that was a little game-show-ish, but I assured him I would not hit five minutes. He asked me a lot of questions about myself, with one band still in front of me in line. He asked me why I started playing ukulele and without thinking, I said, "Because I was sad."

Which is not entirely untrue, but I realized that was the wrong answer when I saw him scribble it down in his notes by my name. Great. Here comes sad girl. Strumming away all her pain. Maybe she'll stop crying long enough to sing to you. After I answered a few more questions about myself, the band in front of me gave their audition. I think they played "Fields of Barley" and I think they were amazing, but it was all a blur. After one song, they exited and the MC said, "That was the Jill Sargeants.....I mean.....here is Jill Sargeant, up next!"

Gordon and I rushed up and turned the amp on and tested the volume as the MC went on about how sad I am and how I come from the "promise land" or something. I started strumming and Gordon crawled back up to the amp to adjust the levels more, that saint. I started to sing. I hit every note with my usual pizazz. I tried my very best to smile and not shake too much. Toward the end of my second song, "Sea of Love" I actually started enjoying myself. I was singing in Grand Central Station in New York City. Arguably the most beautiful train station in America, in my favorite city in the world (...besides Orange). I got to share my voice with all these people and my voice was actually THERE. I was a grinning little polar bear. The MC sincerely thanked me as I left the stage. 

And that's how it went.

I wasn't expecting all the interviewers and photographers to rush up to me and literally form a line to talk to me and take my photo. That was surreal. I'm sure they did that to almost every performer, but I felt pretty darned special in that moment. I got to tell my abridged life story to all these reporters. Stand in front of the "Music Under New York" background and pose for everyone. After one reporter for Business Insider took my picture in the press area, a man holding a microphone with a camera following him said, "Hi I'm with NBC, do you have a minute?"

For you, sir? I have multiple minutes. I gave an interview to NBC, it's fine, no big deal. I exchanged business cards with a few people and talked to Gordon and his parents about it all. And then it was over. And then I had to babysit.

Here is an article I'm in, where I talk about getting escorted off the High Line (a few times).

I'd post my one sentence that made it onto NBC news but it's not on the internet! But if you're friends with me on facebook, you can find it on my wall ;)

Alright! I think this is officially my longest post yet! That's what happens when you look forward to something for months and then drink coffee and write about it, I guess. Who knows if I actually made it in, but I'm glad I did my best and didn't bomb and felt famous for about 10 minutes.

If you actually read this whole thing: good job, you little reader! Look at you go!!!

Now stop stalking me and go do something else (just kidding, never stop stalking me) but seriously stop stalking me.

TOODLES.