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Dear John

How hard is it to achieve long-term success?

First published 15th November 2007

Question:
I have seen many careers in showbusiness fizzle out - how hard is it to achieve long-term success?

Answer:
It depends on what your view of success is. I have rarely seen anyone in showbusiness (or any other business) whose career is always growing, with no hiccups along the way. Even for the few who do appear, from the outside at least, to navigate that path with relative ease, it's not usually fame or money in themselves which bring fulfilment. Many a 'successful' performer wastes the first half of their career worrying that they won't achieve their dream and the second half terrified of their success slipping away. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are two performers who have had real enduring success, not just by virtue of having long experience in showbusiness, but also in the way they use this experience to help them continually develop what they do. At the same time, they both manage to maintain their own standards of excellence.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle's voice and image are instantly recognisable at home and abroad, and she has had an impressive list of chart-topping records, starting with Dreams in 1993. She is also a respected songwriter. Her latest album Always - featuring guest vocals from Paul Weller - has received enthusiastic reviews and her new single, Every Little Teardrop, is released Monday December 3rd, 2007.

If I have a tip for long-term success, it's simply that I was fortunate to work out very early that you need to lay a good foundation for your career by understanding not just the performing or songwriting aspects of what you do, but the way the industry works also.

A lot of young artists get over-excited at the first sign of an advance and either start spending the money on goodies before they have any guarantee of long-term security, or worse, don't realise the money they are spending isn't theirs in the first place.

The other thing I have done throughout my career is to stay focused on my own unique style, both image and music-wise, and when you are under lots of pressure from people who promise to 'make it all happen for you', it takes confidence to stick to your guns and not to simply follow fashion.

Having said that, you need to be independent, you also need to be wise enough to recognise people who genuinely can help you and who do have your best interests at heart. Family and old friends can be very useful in that area.

And you need to work on your music, your performing or whatever else it is you do - I'm not a big one for attending every opening or awards ceremony. You're more likely to find me busy with projects like my new album, so that when I do show up in public, it's with something worth hearing.

LeeAnn James

LeeAnn is a highly experienced and versatile vocalist who is much in demand for top-end corporate and overseas events. Having shared the stage with Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Bucks Fizz, the Ivy League and the Real Thing, LeeAnn's repertoire covers everything from rock to torch ballads and West End favourites. In addition to her busy diary of UK shows, she has performed with great success in Bahrain, and at the end of November will be performing at the prestigious Husa golf resorts in Majorca.

It might seem like simple common sense, but the bottom line is that the way to sustain a long-term career in any market is to make sure you get rebooked as often as possible. At least that's what I keep in mind every time I do a show.

Being an experienced vocalist means I have more than 300 songs in my repertoire, so not only can I tailor a show for a particular audience, I can also take time to read an audience and change my set around if I feel something will work better for a particular crowd.

I see myself as an entertainer, not just a singer, and once again it is experience that allows me to chat to and connect with the audience as well as sing to them. I put myself in their place and think, if I was at this particular corporate event or on a cruise, what would the performer need to do to really wow me? Then I reach into my hard-learned 'box of tricks' to find the ingredients to do just that.

That same versatility is something I aim for when it comes to my stage image - I make sure that I have a big enough wardrobe with me so I can have the right look, from classy but casual, to full-on glamour, no matter what type of show I am asked to play.

I'm very conscious that the show is not just about me having a good time (although I love what I do), it is about delivering what the audience wants and, by implication, that means bookers can hire me with confidence because they know they will be getting exactly the kind of show they are expecting - although I make it my business to exceed expectations whenever I can.

John sums up

While many tend to focus on the pinnacle of their careers, both Gabrielle and LeeAnn were more focused on laying the foundations of a career properly at the beginning. I also noted they both seem to have pleasant and professional people around them, something which usually reflects a performer who has enough confidence not to settle for less - and enough knowledge of the non-performing aspects of the business to recognise good support. And if you get the chance to see either of these ladies live, go - you'll see for yourself why they have such long-term credibility in the business.

* Details of Gabrielle's single, album and touring schedule are available at www.gabrielle.co.uk and her new single, Every Little Teardrop, is released on Monday 3rd December 2007

* LeeAnn James may be contacted via www.showcall.co.uk

* Feedback/queries are welcome to dearjohn@thestage.co.uk
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