Butterfly Dreams

One of my favorite childhood memories when visiting Grandma Johnston’s house was the delicious aroma that would come from the kitchen. There is always something about Grandma’s and cooking. They’re like magicians in the kitchen. They have all the magic tools and they’re not about to give away their secrets.

Grandma Johnston was also famous for leaving candy dishes everywhere. The living room, the bedroom, the bathroom…they were everywhere. It was like Grandma Johnston and the Chocolate Factory.

Grandma Johnston’s house was always a cozy place to visit and although anyone over six feet tall would have trouble walking around without their head going through the ceiling, it was always a fun place to be. There was a park down the street where our family would take walks, play a little catch or just take in the scenery.

Mapleton was a folksy kinda town. It was like one of those towns that you see in a Folgers commercial and Grandma Johnston fit in perfectly. Like a bird in a nest. I would love to go back to the park and pay one more visit. Just to reflect upon Grandma’s life and the joy she brought to everyone.

If you see a twinkling star in the skies above Mapleton tonight, it’s Grandma Johnston looking down upon us with a smile. After all, who wouldn’t be smiling after getting a private concert from Andy Williams!

Now, she is free as a butterfly, spreading her wings and gliding across the heavens. I’m sure she has already reunited with her youngest son, husband and other loved ones in our family who have passed. She will be missed by all of us. Goodnight Grandma Johnston and may you rest in eternal peace.

If The Mic Isn’t Rockin, Start Walkin!

When the mic is rockin’, don’t bother knockin’! Okay, so what do you do if it’s just not rockin’ and you’re having a tough time getting your delivery down and you're stumbling through the entire script? Instead of getting frustrated and stressed out, take a break and come back to it.

That’s right! Go for a walk, turn up some music, make yourself a cup of tea or take a power nap. Fifteen minutes can do wonders! While excessive napping doesn’t pay too well, either does excessive stress. I enjoy running and playing basketball at the gym. It's great exercise and it always reboots my brain!

The point is to just break away from the studio – completely remove yourself and escape for a bit so that you can refresh! If you force it to happen when it isn’t, your frustration will come across in the recording. The voice is transparent and modulates to express our span of emotions. Any frustration, anxiety and stress will show through, stalling the flow and zapping the energy from your voice.

It’s like a good major league pitcher who just doesn’t have his good stuff on a particular day. If he struggles, the coach takes him out. If you're struggling during a day of recording, remove yourself from the studio.

So go ahead and break away! You’ll come back to the studio refreshed, full of vibrance in your voice, and ready to deliver!