This blog is by singer/songwriter/producer, Benita Charles Music. She shares her thoughts and views on life and music. She resides in Harlem, NY. Her debut CD, Moments In Love: Volume 1 is now available on CD Baby and iTunes.
WOSRadio Love Songs for Valentines on Spotify: My song, "I Miss You" is one of the featured songs on the WOSRadio Love Songs for Valentines! A special thanks to my producer, Andru Cann and Bree Noble of Women of Substance Music Radio & Podcast! Thanks to all my fans for your continued support of my music!
"I Miss You" from Moments In Love: Volume 1, is a heartfelt song about a person who misses their loved one tremendously and anxiously awaits the day when they are reunited. The song was written by Benita Charles and produced by Andru Cann.
WOS Love Songs For Valentines Day Series Podcast: My song, "I Miss You" is one of the featured songs on the WOSRadio Podcast Show #920, February 8, 2019. A special thanks to my producer, Andru Cann and Bree Noble of Women of Substance Music Radio & Podcast! Thanks to all my fans for your support!
"I Miss You" from Moments In Love: Volume 1, is a heartfelt song about a person who misses their loved one tremendously and anxiously awaits the day when they are reunited. The song was written by Benita Charles and produced by Andru Cann.
A special thanks to Fraser Ramsay for featuring my song, Never Let Me Go (featuring Impaq) on his the first show in 2019 of his podcast, Ramsay Unleashed: Going Beyond Borders in Scotland! The show featured special guest, Dr. William Flip Clay on being emotionally constipated. A special thanks to my producer, Impaq!
A special thanks to Fraser Ramsay for featuring my songs, "Christmastime" and "We Can Make A Difference" on his 2018 Round Up Show! I'm so honored to be featured among so many talented artists. Congratulations to Fraser on celebrating one year with his podcast. Wishing him a successful 2019! Thanks to my producers, Themi and and Andru Cann. Thanks to all my fans for their continued support! Much love, Benita Charles
The Power of Music: My song, Never Ever Give Up is featured on the Women of Substance Music Podcast by Bree Noble (Show #880). I'm so honored to be among so many talented artists! A special thanks to Bree Noble for such an inspiring show! A very special thanks my producer, Themi!
Benita Charles and Producer-Jason Thompson in New York City
Top of the World: On the last Singing Tips Live, we celebrated my first music video, Never Ever Give Up with over 1,000 YouTube views! My producer, Jason Thompson discussed the creative process. My stylist, Patrice Carter was kind enough to work the camera! Thanks to all who've made Never Ever Give Up a huge success! A special thanks to all who contributed to the Never Ever Give Up Project: Jason Thompson (producer), Patrice Carter (stylist); video actors: Nijah Miller (Bully), Erica Norris (Bully victim) and Yolanda Norris (business owner) and the song: Jean Wiltz (co-writer), Themi (producer). A very special thanks to all my fans for your support and for sharing the video! You are truly amazing!
The Power of Music: My song, We Can Make A Difference is featured on the Women of Substance Music Podcast by Bree Noble (Show #867). I'm so honored to be among so many talented artists! A special thanks to Bree Noble for such an inspiring show! A very special thanks my producer, Andru Cann!
"Image is Everything!" That is the theme of the "Your Image" Section of the Singing Tips with Benita Charles Show. Nowadays, your image can be more important than your music in some cases. That's why it has to be impeccable.
Your image consists of your appearance, your communications and your behavior. Once you sharpen those areas of your image, you will be unstoppable.
In this show, we reviewed the 10 tips in the "Your Image" Section (Tips 31 - 40).
"Your Image" Section
Tip #31 Image is everything
Tip #32 Self Image/Self Care
Tip #33 Your Appearance
Tip #34 Effective Communications (verbal, non-verbal and written)
Tip #35 Your Communication: Your Message
Tip #36 Your Behavior (Your Reputation) Tip #37 Your Behavior (Time Management)
Tip #38 Your Behavior (Self Discipline)
Tip #39 Your Behavior ( Self Confidence)
Tip #40 Your Behavior (Self Esteem/Self Worth) Best wishes to you as you take your voice to the next level!
Much love,
Benita Charles Music
"Spreading love through music for your inspiration and entertainment!"
I recently had a great recording session this past weekend. The song was great, the producer was engaging and had great ideas and my vocals were on. It was truly amazing.
That hasn't always been the case. When I first started recording, I had a difficult time in the studio.
Because I started as a live performer, I was use to singing in front of an audience. In the studio, it was just me and a mic. I was out of my element and it was difficult at first.
I tried so hard and I over thought everything. In turn, my recordings would turn out horrible. Not to mention, some of the producers I was working with didn't know how to bring things out of me. It was not a good situation. My confidence and self esteem were wrecked.
One of the things that helped me was when I performed the song live first before I recorded it. It made all the difference in the world. In this case, I was able to experiment with the song first before I went to the studio. When I returned to the studio, recording was a breeze. This boosted my self confidence and raised my self esteem tremendously.
Benita Charles with super producer, Themi
Here are 3 top lessons I learned from recording:
1) Always be prepared
-- Know the song and make sure you are performance ready
2) Get out of your own head
-- Relax and take your time
-- Usually, the first few takes are the best
3) Never, ever give up -- Keep up working at it, eventually you will get better
-- This will definitely improve your confidence in the matter
Best wishes as you take your music to the next level!
Much love,
Benita Charles Music
"Spreading love through music for your inspiration and
entertainment!"
Singing Tips by Benita Charles - Tip #40 Your Image: Your Behavior
SELF-IMAGE/ SELF ESTEEM
"Self-esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves." -- Nathaniel Branden
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." -- Marilyn Monroe
"Never say anything about yourself you don't want to come true." -- Brian Tracy
In this episode, we discussed self image/ self esteem and how it affects your behavior in every aspect of your life.
*Self image is the idea one has of one's abilities, appearance and personality. (Reference: Google)
*Self esteem reflects a person's overall subjective, emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is important because it shows ourselves how we view the way we are and the sense of our personal value. It affects the way we are in the world and the way we act towards others. (Reference: Wikipedia)
Things that shaped self esteem:
Childhood
Experiences with family and friends
Work experiences
School/college experiences
Society (cultures/religion/race)
Here are 5 key ways to enhance your self esteem:
1) Love yourself
-- Be kind to yourself as you are to others
-- Accept yourself for who you are
-- Treat yourself to something nice (a nice bubble bath, a nature walk, etc.)
2) Take care of yourself
-- Your health is #1. You can't do anything if you're not healthy
-- maintain a healthy lifestyle: eat a nutritious meal/exercise/get plenty of rest/drink water
3) Give yourself a break
-- Practice positive self-talk (build yourself up)
-- Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Learn from them and move on
4) Schedule "Me Time" everyday
-- Ideally: 10 minutes first thing in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening before bed
5) Focus on your strengths, gifts and talents
-- Develop your talents and sharpen your skills
-- This will increase your self confidence and self esteem
Best wishes to you as you take your voice to the next level!
Much love,
Benita Charles Music
"Spreading love through music for your inspiration and
entertainment!"
Hamilton Landmark Galleries Artist Jam Session in Harlem! It was so great meeting talented artists creating beautiful music: This is what happens when you put a bunch of creatives together! Pure magic!! (May 7, 2017)
BENITA CHARLES MUSIC
"Spreading love through music for your inspiration and entertainment!"
"One important key to success is self-confidence. A key to self-confidence
is preparation." -- Arthur Ashe
In this episode, we discussed self confidence in all you do in life. Self-confidence
will set you a part and attract success to you.
*Self-confidence is a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities and
judgement.
Self-confidence is a set of behaviors you can improve and it's built from the
outside in. You can improve your self-confidence by changing your behavior.
Self-confidence should not be confused with self-esteem.
**Self Esteem is an evaluation of one's own self-worth. In other words, self-esteem
is how we feel about ourselves (it's built from the inside out). Based on where
you are in your self-esteem, it can take years to repair and improve.
I. Here are 3 key ways to enhance your self-confidence:
A) Look the part
-- Always look your best
-- When you look good, you feel good (buy a new dress or suit. Get a new
hairstyle.)
C) Act the part
-- Make your presence known in every situation
-- The way you sit and stand speaks volumes: sit up straight and stand tall
-- Look people in the eye when speaking
-- Speak slowly and deliberately
-- Be assertive and self-assured, not timid
D) Know your stuff
-- Study your industry and gain the knowledge you need
-- Practice your speeches, presentations, songs to perfection (Practice makes
perfect!)
-- When you know what you're doing and what you're saying, it automatically
makes you more confident
II. Fake It Til You Make It
***The purpose of this phrase is that by imitating confidence, competence with
an optimistic mindset, it can lead to the realization of that imitation in an
individual's life. In other words, acting as something can lead to that something.
Aristotle once said: "To be virtuous one must act as a virtuous person
would act."
**** I read an article from a coach, John Sannicandro and
he said that he once worked part time in a psychiatric ward. He discovered that
the patients did well when they were exposed to positive behaviors (such as
bedtime curfew, mandatory group attendance and structure). He found that
structure, behavior and routines are the best ways to create positive change.
This can definitely apply to positive behaviors to enhance your self-confidence.
"Do what you gotta do so that you can do what you want to do." -- Edgar Holley, Sr.
In this episode, we discussed self-discipline in terms forming successful habits for success. Self-discipline is one for the keys to success.
Growing up, I've always been a child who loved to play first (pleasure before pain). This has carried through my adult life. It hasn't worked out too good. It has lead to missed deadlines, missed opportunities and unnecessary stress. I've decided self-discipline is something I'd like to improve and master.
Here are 3 key ways to improve your self-discipline muscle:
1) Make a list of things that need to be done for the day
-- Prioritize your list to the top 3 things that need to be done
2) Do the one thing from your priority list that will make the most impact on your life
-- This will leave you with more time to do the things you want to do
3) Do it even when you don't feel like it (this is the key to self-discipline)
-- This is the most difficult thing to do and this is the heart of mastering self-discipline.
-- If you can push through those times when you don't feel like it, success is on the other side.
-- Sometimes you need a swift kick in the rear-end to get the party started. Get it done!
Best wishes to you as you take your voice to the next level!
Much love,
Benita Charles Music
"Spreading love through music for your inspiration and entertainment!"
It is imperative that artists are on time for their obligations and events. This will project a professional image and ensure more work. This week's topic is time management.
In this episode, we had a special guest contributor, Ed "Preachermann" Holley. He has a great sense of time that dates back to childhood. He was an athlete throughout his youth and adult life (baseball & football). His father was a football player and coach and instill great values of line in him. One of the things his father use to say has stayed with him throughout his life:
"Do what you gotta do so that you can do what you want to do."
Here are some key time management points from Preachermann:
*He's known by his friends and people who work with him as someone who is always early.
*He give himself time for "life" (train delays, wardrobe mishaps, traffic). This leads to less stress.
*He arrives at his gigs 2 hours in advance (this allows him to prepare equipment/solve any venue difficulties, sound check, etc). Whatever the issue, he's there to address it early.
* He allows time 10 - 15 minutes before he goes on stage to "center" himself.
A special thanks to Ed "Preachmann" Holley for the valuable information he shared with us!
About Preachermann:
Preachermann is a recording artist/dynamic live performer who performs with his band, Preachermann and The Revival throughout the New York City area. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/Preachermannmusic/.
Singing Tips by Benita Charles - Tip #37
On this episode on Singing Tips Live, we discussed ways to improve time management.
Effective time management as it affects your image and reputation.
"How you do anything, is how you do everything." -- Martha Beck 3 key ways to improve your time management skills:
A) Commit
*Make a commitment with yourself that you will improve your time and you will improve your time.
B) Prepare (Plan...Plan...Plan)
*Always use a calendar to keep up with your obligations and events.
*Make a list of everything you need to do to prepare for a particular event. Think about the time it will take you to get each thing done.
*Calculate that time into the total amount of time you will need to leave on time. Include extra "cushion" time.
*Prepare the night before for your event (eg. review directions, prepare clothes, bag/purse).
C) Execute
*Leave on time for your event (with the extra "cushion" time calculated into the total time, it will take you to get to your destination)
*Practice Lombardi Time
- Vince Lombardi, the legendary Green Bay Packers Coach, had a motto: always arrive 15 minutes before the appointed time. If you're on time, you're late!
Best wishes to you as you take your voice to the next level!
Much love, Benita Charles Music
"Spreading love through music for your inspiration and entertainment!"
Benita Charles is a singer/songwriter/producer who resides in Harlem, NY. Her debut CD, Moments In Love: Volume 1 is now available on CD Baby and iTunes.
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