How Do You Value Your Artist Self?

How much is buying in to the 'struggling artist' mindset hurting your business???

This is a great idea from Christine Kane

"And here’s the lesson: Not only do you teach people how to treat you, but you teach the universe how to treat you as well. The challenge of the self-employed or of the artist is to decide. To decide that taking extremely good care of yourself without an expense account means that you become a better artist (or business owner, or whatever). To decide that you serve the world in a bigger way when your needs are met. To decide before anyone else grants you worldly success what it means to value your time and your work."

Voice - Use it or lose it!

Did you know that your voice is subject to the adage 'use it or lose it!'? Keep your voice in great shape by vocalizing every day and you'll have a healthy, strong voice at any age!

Sound Attraction - Car Mufflers!

I came across a really interesting article by Jim Wilson in Popular Mechanics. The big muffler manufacturer, Flowmaster was using scientific research to determine how different muffler sounds affected certain demographic groups. It's sort of the same premise I talk about a lot - that the sound of your voice determines whether someone is attracted to you, or repelled by you in a subliminal sense. So be aware of your voice and how it affects others!

Here's part of the Popular Mechanics article:

"Relaxing Sounds. "Our working hypothesis is that if sound is discordant it would mobilize the right forebrain to make people want to withdraw," he explains, as he pulls wires and glue pads off my hand. "If people are hearing more sound they like, we expect to see more activity in the left forebrain." Work is still in its early stages, but Flugger believes that Flowmaster eventually will use Madill's research to help automakers home in on specific types of muffler systems to appeal to different demographic groups of drivers. There is evidence, for example, that younger drivers like a louder, lower sound with a slight metallic ring and a certain amount of disharmony. On the other hand, more low frequencies give an added sense of confidence, Madill says.

Flugger says that Madill's research will begin to find its way onto the streets in the next several years, initially as Flowmaster conversion kits for popular model cars. Flugger also hopes to begin working with Detroit. "If GM came in with an age group, we can design a muffler that the majority of that group will like," says Madill. "That is where this is headed."

Sci Fi Music by Thalheimer/Lawrence

If you like quirky Sci Fi songs, you've got to check out my new CD 'Flash' with the famous inventor of the EVI, Nyle Steiner.

Listen to "STOWAWAY" a song I wrote for my Brother, Billy! The song features the Theramin played by Nyle. Norman Thalheimer and I wrote the song years ago, so this is the first time it's been featured on a CD.

Cass H. says "I LOVE THAT SONG! BRILLIANT!"

November Voicegram

Look for my NOVEMBER Voicegram in the next few days. If you'd like to receive my monthly newsletter, please opt in at the Viva La Voice Website!

This month some insight on being Captain of your own ship through these current rough waters!

Children's Article Featured!

I think a great thing for parents to do is sing lullabies to their children, no matter what you think your voice sounds like! To your kids, you sound like an Angel! My mom always sang to me as a child, and I never forgot it. My article "Lullabies Last A Lifetime" is featured this month in CITI HEALTH MAGAZINE - Raleigh Durham.

You can read it online at citihealth.com

Positive Consciousness & the Economy

Last week one of my favorite authors, Alan Cohen, sent out a message with advice on how to relate to the economy and make the current situation work on your behalf. Here are 10 vital tips he shared that will help you navigate through this period...they really helped me as I find the right perspective in all of this...feel free to pass this along to your family, friends and clients!

1. The economy is an expression of the consciousness of those who create it ― all of us. We vitalize the economy with expansive thinking and action, and we deaden it with fear and contraction. You have power over the economy ― especially your own ― by consciously choosing the thoughts you think, the attitudes you hold, and the actions that proceed from them.
2. The economy is not a fixed entity, but is quite liquid, constantly changing in accord with the thoughts and emotions of those who create it. The economy you see today is a result of the attitudes and actions that sourced it yesterday. The economy you will see tomorrow is a result of the attitudes and actions you think and do today.
3. You have the ability to create a personal economy independent of the one experienced by the masses. There are always people who thrive in a floundering economy, and people who flounder in a thriving economy. The two greatest architectural achievements of the twentieth century ― the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building ― were funded and constructed at the height of the depression.. There is always money out there for people who know how to use it. A visionary thrives under all conditions.
4. Engaging in conversations of lack only adds to the pool of thought that creates lack conditions. Talking abundance creates abundance. Join others in only those conversations that affirm what you want to create.
5. You are wealthy by nature, rich in an infinite number of ways that have nothing to do with money. Money is one thin slice of the greater pie of prosperity. Remember how rich you are regardless of money, and you will attract money to match your wealth consciousness.
6. In the Chinese written language, the symbol for "crisis" is a combination of the symbols for "danger" plus "opportunity." What opportunity lies before you as an individual and us as a nation?
7. This is a fertile time to check and reset your priorities. If you have been distracted by the quest for money or trapped by your business, you can refocus on your family, loved ones, and activities that truly bring you joy. If you end up being truer to values that fulfill you, this "crisis" will have served you well.
8. Circulate your wealth. The only antidote to financial contraction is to move energy. When you spend money, you become part of the solution. If you don't have money to spend, be generous in other ways. Give of your time, skill, and love. Even giving compliments is a way to stimulate the economy.
9. Remember that the tide always comes back in. The entire manifest universe functions in cycles. Every wave has a trough and a crest. No wave has ever ended with the trough. There is always a next crest.
10. Don't wait for the economy to get back on its feet before you can be happy. Find happiness right where you stand, and you will be the richest person in the world.

My article in OC Health

Read my article Lullabies Last A Lifetime in the September 26, 2008 issue of 'Orange County Health' magazine!

See Citihealth.com

Christmas Thought

I thought this was such a wonderful quote and wanted to share it:

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."


Bobby - age 7

Choose Optimism!

Here's some great advice from Sandra Anne Taylor's book "Quantum Success":

There's absolutely no energetic value in a pessimistic outlook. No matter what's going on around you, you can look past the problems and open yourself up to receiving the solutions. Think about how well things could go, and then take action in that direction.

This same philosophy applies to voice and singing! So many clients come to me with negative beliefs about their vocal ability. Since I believe that singing is 90 percent mental, I work on the mental and emotional level, as well as the physical, to get stellar results. If you're having a vocal challenge, stop thinking about the challenge, and start visualizing the perfect, powerful voice that you would like to have!

Andrea Michaels on Obstacles

I thought this was a great quote from Andrea Michaels, President of Extraordinary Events. It reminds me that we don't have to be perfect, just do our very best!

"Obstacles are merely challenges to overcome. No matter how much you think you know you should know that you don't know everything."

-Andrea Michaels

Musical Memory and Dementia

Studies have shown that musical memory lasts longer than any other kind, and may be the reason why people suffering from dementia are 'awakened' when hearing music that is familiar - sparking memories that would otherwise be unavailable.

A Baby Baptism Gift

I got this question from Dan on my askbethlawrence.com site, where you can ask anything you want about voice/music etc. And thought it might be of interest to those of you who are going to Baptisms or baby showers:

Thanks for your question: What are/is a typical type gift to a child being christened/baptized?
Since this question doesn’t pertain to voice, per se, I can’t give you a perfect answer. But, I might suggest that the gift of music would always be appropriate as a gift for both parent AND child. Here's my answer:

You might consider my lullabye CD “The Land of Sleepytime” which won the National Parenting Publications Gold Award. It’s a beautiful CD, with great reviews. I’ve heard from lots of parents who say they’ve played it for the child from birth and the child won’t go to sleep without it!

You can order it from my website: vivalavoice.com/products.htm

Or from CD Baby: cdbaby.com – just input my name.

A lullabye CD will help the baby sleep, and help the parents GET some sleep, so it’s always welcome.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Beth Lawrence

Sound Healing - Get A Cat!

I found this bit of information really interesting and wanted to pass it on!

The cat's purr may be a self-healing mechanism. Cats purr at between 25 and 50 hertz, a frequency at which vibrations have been found to have a wide range of medical benefits, from increasing bone density and helping in the healing of fractures, torn tendons and muscles to generally relieving pain.

Oprah and Inspiration

If you've ever watched Oprah's show, you'll know she has this uncanny ability to deliver a positive message without seeming sappy or trite. She's a master at presenting inspirational topics that truly do inspire, no matter how simple the message.

Today she featured two people who had 'terminal' cancer, and their message was all about FOCUS. They weren't focusing on their illness, they were focusing on their LIVES. If you truly live in the moment, and seek moments of connectedness, peace and happiness, you can't help but experience it.

Deferred gratification is for grown-ups who are too responsible to enjoy life. Savor every moment you're alive, because as much as we don't want to face it, we're all going to die. It was said today that the only regrets we really have in life are not the regrets for what we've done, but what we haven't done.

Live. Be happy.

Commuter's Voice Warm-Up

Are you a teacher, salesperson, in the hospitality industry or receptionist? Here's a tip for anyone who uses their voice at work:

While driving to work, your car is a wonderful, private vocal exercise booth! Do 10-15 minutes of vocal exercises and your voice will be warmed-up, free of phlegm and 'scratchies' and ready to go! No one will hear you and you'll arrive at work energized, clear-headed and relaxed!

Don't know how to warm up your voice? Volume One of my Joyful Singing Series has over 20 minutes of great vocal exercises on CD. Check it out here!

MTV - AFI's Davey Havok Loses Voice!

According to MTV, AFI has cancelled the last 10 shows of their current tour because singer Davey Havok has been having trouble with his voice and is unable to sing properly.

I don't care what kind of music you do, it can be opera to rock, but the truth is, you should be able to sing all night, for an entire tour, and still have a healthy voice.

This, of course, is if you're SINGING CORRECTLY!

If you're pushing and straining your voice, on and off stage, you're going to have voice problems just like Davey Havok. How awful that he's having to cancel tour dates, and too bad he isn't learning how to sing the right way so that he can keep his voice healthy in any situation.

When you abuse your voice you run the risk of inflammation of the vocal cords; vocal nodules and even rupture or tearing of the cords! Usually, like Mr. Havok, you have to undertake serious VOCAL REST, usually for a month or more, and this means no talking, too. Or the more dangerous route is to undergo surgery to remove the nodules that have formed on your cords. Julie Andrews did this and her voice is permanently damaged.

If you're a singer, do yourself a favor and learn the fundamentals of good singing. An easy way to do this is to invest in Joyful Singing...Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery. Volume One includes two CDs, warm up exercises and the Seven Principles Booklet. Start today to safeguard one of your most important assets - YOUR VOICE!

Viva La Voice Tonic Success!

My friend's meeting (see yesterday's blog) went well, and the Voice Tonic was a success! Here's what he had to say:

Thanks for the tonic recipe. I made about 4 cups of it and brought it
to the meeting. It really seemed to help. The meeting was 90 minutes
long and my partner and I were talking non stop through all of it. So
my vocal chords survived the meeting - they feel tired now - but
they're not throbbing like yesterday. My throat really likes your
tonic.

Vocal Strain 911

Today I got an emergency call from a musician friend of mine. In a matter of hours he was going in to do a big presentation on some music software that he's developed, and his voice was hoarse! Seems he'd been practicing his presentation for the last couple of days, and since he's not used to doing any public speaking, he pushed his voice too hard, causing vocal strain.

He said that not only was he hoarse, but his 'vocal cords felt like they were throbbing', which is a good indication that his cords were inflammed, and probably swollen (causing hoarseness). He was afraid of lasting damage, but if he'd only been straining his voice for a couple of days, I believe he's just experiencing a temporary inflammation, with no lasting damage. It's kind of like going to a concert or baseball game and screaming all night - the next day your voice is hoarse, but with vocal rest and proper vocal technique, this should pass in a few days.

In an emergency case like his, when he couldn't rest his voice, I told him to immediately make my VIVA LA VOICE TONIC! All the ingredients in the Tonic will soothe and relax his vocal cords so that he can get through his presentation with comfort and confidence. I suggested he take a thermos with him and drink the Tonic during his presentation to keep the cords warm, cut phlegm, and reduce swelling.

My advice to all of you singers and speakers is to learn proper vocal technique BEFORE you have a Vocal 911! Get Volume One of my Joyful Singing - Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery Series and do some vocalizing every day!

For vocal emergencies, you should also get my VIVA LA VOICE TONIC recipe. You can carry it with you in a thermos whenever you have a singing/speaking gig. It's a lifesaver for all of us who use our voices.

A Simple Task

"Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people." - Mother Theresa