Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura

From the desk of Loy Machedo – Lessons From Usher American Singer & Songwriter Coaching Class

I had taken a Masterclass with American Singer & Songwriter Usher. Here are the tips, tricks and pointers I picked up from him. The reason I went for his classes was to learn more about Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura. Here are my notes to share with you.

If you wish to get in touch with me
loy@loymachedo.com

Loy Machedo
The World’s #1 Personal Branding Coach
www.LoyMachedo.com
www.whoisLoyMachedo.com
www.ThinkPersonalBranding.Com

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Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura

LESSON 1
1) There is no such thing as Overnight Success
2) You can be a sensation today and no one would remember you tomorrow

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Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura
LESSON 2

GETTING STARTED

Doing something
Be willing to take action.
Take physical action
Hardest part is getting over other peoples opinions – especially negative ones
Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one.
If you are truly connected to what you are doing, nothing can break you
Most important part of being fearless is being vulnerable

ALWAYS BE PERFORMING

The more you work at it, the more being to feel the gratification of the time you put in.You can become a sensation overnight – that doesn’t mean you are prepared
You can become a sensation overnight – that doesn’t mean you are preparedKeep doing what you are doing every time and every single opportunity.
Keep doing what you are doing every time and every single opportunity.When he was young, Usher would take every opportunity to perform on stage. He would perform every single place he could. In fact he would watch every artist perform on stage, study them and figure out what they did well and what they should have done to be better
When he was young, Usher would take every opportunity to perform on stage. He would perform ever single place he could. In fact he would watch every artist perform on stage, study them and figure out what they did well and what they should have done to be betterUsher would perform every place – in the bathroom, parking lots and even in front of people he met
Usher would perform every place – in the bathroom, parking lots and even in front of people he metIf Usher would meet a celebrity – he would walk right up to the celebrity and introduce himself to them. Even though he didn’t have a demo tape.
If Usher would meet a celebrity – he would walk right up to the celebrity and introduce himself to them. Even though he didn’t have a demo tape.
You need to have the Hutzpah to continuously move forward.

GAIN REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE

Many success stories have started from an Intership
You need to start your journey right from the grass-root levels
You must have always have real world experience

START SHARING

If you do not have the resources to help you reach the right people or connections, share your talent and skill with the world
Social Media is a powerful tool to get amazing access to the world

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

If you do not believe in yourself – who will?
Give yourself Pep-talk if required
Hutzpah is balls. You need to have the balls, the guts, the inside stuff.

DO YOUR BEST

The only thing you can do – is your best.
Have goals but not materialistic goals.
Rome wasn’t built in a night – so is your career.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

You have to set goals for yourself
It should always be written
You do and should set goals for yourself
Have simple goals and tough goals
You must have 3 months and 6 months goals
Email your goals to someone whom you love or care and hold yourself accountable.

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Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura
LESSONS FROM USHER – LESSON 3

GATHERING INSPIRATION

You may not feel you are creative. You are not the 1st person to feel this way.
To be creative – you have to find a source of creativity.
Have a Journal, Maintain one and write down the things you just thought about. Write down in them, ideas you had in your mind. And there is where you will find an idea, concept or something you thought about.
There is always a source of creativity all around you – at all times.

IDENTIFY YOUR HEROES

Bobby Brown, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Junior, Fred Astaire, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder were the heroes and idols of Usher.
You should study your heroes
Never be so confident about your abilities that you are not open to other ideas.
Versatility of an Artist – is the greatest gift you can have

IDENTIFY THEIR HEROES

When Usher began studying Michael Jackson, the was curious to know how he became how he was. Not just studying him but studying his inspirations.
Usher quotes Michael Jackson who said that – if you ever want to be great, you have to study the people whom inspire you, whom they get inspired by.
Two people whom Michael Jackson was inspired by was James Brown and Jackie Wilson

LOOK BEYOND YOUR DISCIPLINE

There is inspiration all around us – from the conversations we have, to what we experience, to the things we talk about, it’s the things we read, the movies we see, its in the books we read, it can be anywhere. It all starts from what you are attracted to.
Never be afraid to step out of your comfort-zone. It only makes you better. It is a little scary. Its not the safest place to be but it makes you better.
If you want to be a great street dancer, you have to study ballet. Study Martial Arts. Because there is a technique in it that you can apply to your discipline.
Visual Arts gives Usher Inspiration
In order to be a successful artist, you have to live in a world which only you believe and only you see – until people are able to make the connection through the passion, the love, the anger, the frustration.

THE ASSIGNMENT

Look at Bobby Brown, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Junior, Fred Astaire, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder – any of them.
Find one that resonates with you.
Write down what emotions they were trying to convey
Think what they may have been inspired by
If you watch the performance without sound, is the energy, the emotion – is it there? Did you feel it?

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Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura
LESSONS FROM USHER – LESSON 4

GATHERING INSPIRATION
A THIEF STEALS, A GENIUS BORROWS

Take the inspiration from greatness and do something that gives you an identity
Don’t be a cheap imitation
You will always have an opportunity to create substance from substance
Michael Jackson wasn’t the 1st one to discover the moon-walk. Most of his ideas were as a result of being exposed to Jean Kelly, Bob Fosse, Camel Junior
No matter how genius you may feel your idea is, somewhere someone has done your move or did what you created.
There is no so called ‘new idea’ but what is new is your perspective on it.

GO FROM IMITATION TO INSPIRATION

Be inspired by what you see.

LET TRENDS INSPIRE YOU

Confessions came out when music was brutally honest like for example when Eminem was cursing his mom.

GET PERSONAL

Take inspiration from your own personal stories and tell the story in what you do.

GET TO WORK

You need to do it. Physically and actually do it. Go to a club, any place in front of an audience – and do it. But make it your interpretation. Make it significant to the person you are selling it to.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Take elements from your favorite performance and adapt them to your performance. It could be anything from the mood, to the style to the energy that inspired you the most.

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Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura
LESSONS FROM USHER – LESSON 5

SINGING

Usher would listen to his favorite singers and try to out-sing those singers.

LISTEN TO YOURSELF

When you practice, listen to yourself privately. And then evaluate.

BE GOOD TO YOUR VOICE

Drink a lot of water, tea, lozenges.
Visit a doctor.
Warm up your voice.
Drink warm water with honey.
Do not speak before the show.
After your performance – do not speak to anyone.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

Nothing acidic is good for you.
Tomatoes, Certain Fruit, Anything that gives you indigestion.
Usher do not eat fruit or food before the show
Stay away from milk or diary products
Drink a lot of water

BUILD ENDURANCE

Usher practices singing when he is running or doing exercise. It helps build endurance.
Stronger lungs and stronger heart helps.
Make your body go under stress when practice
Swimming helps.
Go underwater and hold your breath longer

WARM UP

Every time there is going to be a session – you must warm up.Warm up
Warm up are boring.Practice vowels, practice sounds to warm your voice (like
Practice vowels, practice sounds to warm your voice (like brrrr, veeee, ooooo)Drink water
Drink water
Download an app to warm up your vocal chords

WARM DOWN

15-20 minutes to down-shift your voice
Like a car with a stick shift – from down – going up to going up then going down

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Take every opportunity to perform.

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Lessons From Usher Coaching Class On Creativity, Charisma & Artistic Aura
LESSONS FROM USHER – LESSON 6

DANCING

Usher wasn’t a great dancer when he started.

FIND YOUR STYLE

Different people have different perspectives
Mix and match the best of all that attracts you and create your style
Do what you are comfortable doing
If you are not good at something, work at it until you are good at it
Have a challenge – “I want to be the baddest dude on the stage”; “I want to captivate everyone in the stage”
You can look and study all the greatest styles in the world by just going online.
You can go for lessons
You can learn from the best.

WATCH AND LEARN

In order to be great at anything, you have to work.
If you do not have the money – look online. Literally stand in front online – copy the dance move.
In the early days – we look at videos, copied and mastered the step and customized. And then gave it an ‘attitude”
The more confident you are, the most you will be able to customize it

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE