A Different Role- What Jasmine Did This Summer...SO FAR!

This summer, I took on a challenge that not only helped me to believe, "If I can do this, I can do ANYTHING!!!", but also brought me back to the most basic reason why I love music so much and why I have chosen to make it my life.

As part of a World Peace Festival entitled, "Dream Big. Change the World" which was organized and performed entirely by people under the age of 35, I had been asked to lead the chorus. This chorus was comprised of 350 people from the ages of 11-35 who came from the Eastern United States from Maine to the Caribbean. Some people have been on Broadway and some had never sung a note in their lives...

We all learned a wonderful song by John Legend entitled, "If You're Out There", as well as an original song, "Rise". Our challenge was to bring everyone together and unite not only musically, but with our hearts and souls to spread the messages of these songs to a crowd of roughly 12,000 people in attendance at The Liacouras Center at Temple University in Philadelphia.

There were many challenges and obstacles that tried to stop us in our quest, not to mention the fact that we only had a day and a half to really bring it all together before the performance! Through blistering heat, a young woman collapsing of dehydration, some people not having access to or knowing the arrangements of the songs before getting there, another young woman breaking her foot getting off the bus, acoustical problems in the arena that made it difficult to sing with the backing tracks, people who had traveled as far as New Orleans for this festival, people with severe lack of sleep (I had a total of 9 hours of sleep in 3 days!), nerves that come with singing in front of 12,000 people, people's own personal obstacles, etc...It turned out to be a huge victory, not only for me, but for the people I had the privilege of conducting and uniting with, as well as everyone who attended our performance.

One of the most triumphant moments for the chorus group was when we decided, as a chorus of 350 people, to sing one of our songs a capella! When I suggested this initially, I thought people might shy away or object, but in my heart I knew they were all ready to take it on. Apparently, they all thought so too...Just at the suggestion of this challenge, they were cheering and celebrating with joy! At that moment, I KNEW that these are the people I would want to go into "battle" with...(Funny enough, for the sake of world peace! LOL!)

When we performed, from the moment they stood up in perfect unison, I knew something very special was about to happen. I felt everyone collectively break through the obstacles in their lives, whether they wanted to be the best accountant, performer, student, etc. when we all sang (From "If You're Out There"): IF YOU'RE READY WE CAN SHAKE THE WORLD! BELIEVE AGAIN!!! IT STARTS WITHIN!!! WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR DESTINY!!! WE SHOULD BE THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE...IF YOU'RE OUT THERE!!!!!!!

It is a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life. The power of music is truly amazing.

I have eaten, slept and breathed music for most of my life. To be in a position to introduce music to people who have never encountered it on this level before really brought me back to why I love performing so much. In learning how to teach what I know, it brought me back to thinking about all the fantastic people who taught me so selflessly, to do what it is I am able to do today as a performer. It also made me appreciate and better understand my younger sister's position as a music educator. To be able to give in this way really opened my life up in ways I'm still trying to fully process.

It made me realize that striving to be a performer on Broadway for World Peace is only a piece of a much bigger puzzle. I haven't figured out the entire puzzle yet, but I am going to enjoy the journey SO MUCH!!!!

To the people that I am so grateful to have shared this experience with, I know this is just the beginning of many more wonderful things to come!!! You were fearless, through it all!!! And absolutely united and amazing...You all taught me so much! THANK YOU!!!! It's about so much more than just the music!

I feel like this experience is going to change the way I approach all of my work and I'm looking forward to seeing how this all manifests itself!

Here is a picture of the chorus and me:



And another picture of me conducting with my fabulous pink gloves at the dress rehearsal:



And here is a video of the chorus performance at the festival:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDkd5rU3g18

Callbacks, Recent News, Etc.

Often one forgets that mentioning callbacks is an important thing in this industry. I'm noticing that the callback is just as important as booking the job...Also, there are many other performing opportunities that I have on a regular basis that may not always end up on my resume.

Like many of my other actor colleagues, I am resolving to not only talk about what's coming up on the horizon, but also chronicle recent opportunities I have had.

This blog is as good a place as any...

So...without further ado...catching up on (what I can remember) 2010 (so far)!

* Made her second appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" as one of the Late Show Cobblestone Carolers.

* Got a callback and placed "on hold" for an Orajel commercial as a young mom.

* Began acting classes with Larry Singer of Larry Singer Studios.

* Got a callback for a Carmax commercial as a wife to a crazy husband.

* Performed in a reading of a screenplay by Chris Gilligan and Dallas Brennan as part of the Last Stop Reading Workshop.

* Performed with SGI-USA NY Chorus as part of the "Great Assembly of Capable Youth" singing the original song, "Rise".

* Got a callback for an ESPN Commercial as a rabid Giants fan.

* Was the soprano soloist in Handel's "The Seven Last Words of Christ" with string quartet and chorus at The First Baptist Church of NY.

* Performed Dubois' "The Seven Last Words of Christ" with full orchestra at Church of the Village.

* Performed various concert pieces with full orchestra at Church of the Village.

* Shot an upcoming internet commercial for Guggenheim Partners as a young mom.

* Performed as Madeleine in Lisa Germinsky's "Breakfast in Bed" as part of the Last Stop Reading Workshop.

* Am currently leading the NY Chorus as part of an upcoming festival at Temple University to promote world peace, being held in July.

* Performed in a reading of Joe Fiorello's "Picking Up Girls in Hell" as part of the Last Stop Reading Workshop.

* Professionally Recorded the Official Version of the original song, "Rise" with various Broadway Performers and Professional Recording Artists.

* Appears in this online commercial for Guggenheim Financial: http://www.moonrap.com/2010/06/showreels.html

* Sang for my sister's wedding

My Germany/Austria Experience...

I had a WONDERFUL time in Berlin, Salzburg and Munich!

Never having traveled the world before, it was such an eye-opening experience! There was a lot of history there and it was amazing to be part of it all. I have a newfound appreciation for things that are TRULY old!

Berlin is all about transformation...After being torn apart and put back together so many times in the 20th Century, it is recovering, but still trying to find its identity. As a young girl in WI, I remember hosting a foreign exchange student who had hidden in the bushes and taken a video of the East and West Berlin guards patrolling the Berlin Wall. To see the sections that were left standing was incredibly powerful. I am glad they are reunited and I hope Berlin continues to a bright future! There were so many things that I enjoyed- (To see more, find me on Facebook and write me a message!)

BERLIN:

A PICTURE OF THE MORE "REAL" SIDE OF THE EAST SIDE GALLERY (A PART OF THE WALL THAT HAS BEEN TURNED INTO AN ART GALLERY)...



ME STANDING ALONG A PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT IS PART OF THE OLD BERLIN WALL...



THE REICHSTAG: THE MAIN GERMAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING...



Yes, I traveled to Salzburg as well! One of my favorite experiences was taking part in the "Sound of Music" tour...I am pretty obsessed with the musical and to be in the Austrian countryside and go to the places where my favorite scenes were filmed was magical!

I also enjoyed walking the same streets that Mozart walked as a boy, hearing Medieval music being played by street musicians late at night in the plazas, hearing Eine Kleine Nachtmusik as part of a Chamber Music concert in the Hohensalzburg Fortress, enjoying traditional Austrian food in an outdoor biergarten high above the Old City...

SALZBURG:

A PICTURE OF THE "OLD TOWN"...



WAITING IN THE HOHENSALZBURG FORTRESS FOR THE CONCERT:



CLICKING MY HEELS TOGETHER AS "MARIA" DID IN THE MOVIE ALONG THIS SAME PATH DURING "I HAVE CONFIDENCE":



Munich was an interesting combination of Berlin's modernity and Salzburg's "Old World" feel...

MUNICH:

DANCING AROUND THE MAYPOLE IN VENDARMENMARKT...THE OPEN-AIR MARKET AND BIERGARTEN IN MUNICH



THE BEAUTIFUL PALACE CEILING AT RESIDENZ

My Headshot Proofs Are In! Please Help Me Out!

Hello, all!

I just got my headshots done through Jordan Matter Photography and would love to know what you think of them. Basically, I need a commercial one and a more legit one...

The more I'm looking at them, the more I'll probably end up picking at least 4 of them to reproduce for one reason or other! There are a few that fit different purposes, whether it be "corporate go-getter", "Midwestern Cutie", "Victim-y" and even "Sexy".The question I need answered is "What photos are the most Jasmine-y?"

I look forward to your feedback! :)

Please follow this link:

http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/Jazzygirlsings/Headshots%202009/

Reflections on My Recent Commercial Improv and Voiceover Classes

Last week, I concluded my Commercial Improv class with Shirley Sender. I am sad that it is over and I hope to continue my studies with her in other classes, etc. This class was such a HUGE help!

More and more at commercial auditions, I am being asked to quite literally throw away the script and put it into my own words. This can be a bit intimidating when operating under audition nerves, but Shirley taught me that it's quite easy to get the main points across if you focus and breathe. And of course, practice makes perfect!

It was also an on-camera class, which helped me to monitor any "ticks" I have when I'm stuck, when I'm being a bit too big, not expressive enough, etc.

Lucky for me, the class was smaller than usual, which meant I got to practice a lot! Shirley would give us commercial copy and tell us to throw it away and put it into our own words. She would also give us entire situations and have us improv them in front of the camera.

The last week, I got to work one-on-one with Shirley through a stroke of ridiculous luck! Boy, was that a treat! She kept giving me tons and tons of copy and then coaching me on it. Of course, I got to improv, too!

By the end of the course, I feel much more confident about how I approach commercial improv, as well as how to approach copy!

THANKS, SHIRLEY SENDER! :)

Her class actually tied into my Voiceover 101 course last night with Diana Lote of CESD. I looked at the copy and found things that many others in my class glossed over. It made me feel great to know that I was applying it all and comfortable enough to play with the copy.

Diana has great energy and is a fantastic wealth of voiceover knowledge. She made a great book with all the basics of the voiceover business in it. She also had us read a lot of copy and gave us one-on-one feedback, which was immensely helpful.

She told me I have a nice, clean voice that has just a hint of Midwestern warmth to it. She also liked the range of my voice...that it went up when it needed to go up and went down when it needed to go down. She was impressed, which made me feel great! :)

I'm so glad I got the chance to work with both of these ladies who are well respected in the business and that they have both been so encouraging.

I will be taking more classes over the summer...a Meisner intensive, a commercial class with David Cady, etc. Once you start, you can't stop!

As an actor, you should always keep studying! You're a student of the world!

Annie Chadwick's Career Seminar...

For awhile now, my voice teacher has told me that I need to go see Annie and talk to her about how to further my professional career. FINALLY, I took Annie's workshop in May and I REALLY WISH I HAD GONE TO HER SOONER!!!

Before the seminar begins, Annie sits down with each and every member of the class one-on-one and you discuss your career goals. She then gives you a basic six month plan of where she feels you should best put your focus/career goals in that time frame.

Annie and I already know each other through our voice teacher, Wendy Sharp, and also through singing together for other events, etc. She knows a lot about what it is I would like to achieve and is very sensitive to my needs. She's heard my voice and she said she wants me to be able to share it with as many people as possible!

Since that workshop, I have also taken advantage of her one-on-one consultations. It is AMAZING how much I learned and how motivated this has made me to take my career to the next level. Her energy is contagious and you leave feeling like you can conquer the world, one class, one audition, one follow-up at a time...or rather, MANY of those things at a time! :)

Her career plan for me for the next six months/year is to really focus on commercials. I can't agree more! She also directed me to some fabulous teachers throughout the city, so I can continue to hone my craft. (I just finished a FABULOUS commercial improv class with Shirley Sender! I will also be taking a series of commercial classes with David Cady in July!) Annie also stresses the importance of creating your own works. I am currently beginning the process of creating a cabaret piece...

So for those of you who take your career seriously, I HIGHLY recommend this seminar and her extended one-on-one services.

For more information, please go to: http://www.utdtheatricalservices.com/

I really can't thank you enough, Annie! :)

Want To Create a Voice Demo? BroadwayDemo.com is The Answer!

Recently, I was able to save a bit of money up to make a voice demo. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile. In this highly competitive business, I think it's a GREAT tool to have. Rarely do actors submit their headshots/resumes via snail mail. Pretty much everything is done online.

A friend of mine, Katherine McClain, told me that she had a wonderful experience creating voice recordings through http://www.broadwaydemo.com/. So I gave it a try!

A lot of the music I had in my rep was really great, but I was looking to find a few new things to throw into the mix. I met with David Libby and Tina Marie Casamento before I did my recording because I knew they had an extensive library and would be able to help me find something new.

They not only helped me to go over my current rep to get a sense of what I wanted for my recording, but they also were able to find some new songs that really fit my personality and voice!

I returned on a few more occasions for voice coachings with them in preparation for my upcoming recording. (Personally, I HIGHLY recommend doing this, as you get a TON accomplished on your recording day!) Doing a few of these beforehand helped me to be more comfortable with the recording cuts to my music. It's a good idea to keep your songs to less than 2 minutes. Casting directors won't spend 5 minutes listening to you sing the same song. They simply don't have the time.

Tina Marie Casamento is also an amazing voice coach as well! She's very good with all styles of music and I look forward to working with her on audition cuts/etc. in the future! She gives you some wonderful guidance on the acting of the song and it sounds SO MUCH BETTER when you apply it to your recording!

David Libby is a great accompanist and he has some really fun musical ideas to apply to your music as well. He's very sensitive to the singers' needs and has probably played just about EVERYTHING in musical theatre...and if he hasn't, he plays it flawlessly on his first sight-read!

The day of the recording was really fun! Tina and David had everything set up, including an assortment of teas, water and anything else you would need for your recording! They allot a three hour slot for your songs. This includes instant editing on the spot with their equipment, etc.

Luckily, since I had run my songs a few times with them, Tina, David and I all breezed through the process! I had time to record 6 songs, which they told me was pretty much a record! :)

I had a wonderful time and it all went by so quickly!

In about a two week time frame, my Broadway Demo was ready to be seen/heard publicly! David was SO HELPFUL throughout the entire process! A page on the Broadway Demo website was created and included in their showcase: www.broadwaydemo.com/jasminespiess

AND David continued to follow up with me on the FREE embedded attachment they give you of your song clips so that you can put it on your personal website. Since I was revamping my website, he helped me to make a player that would best suit the look of my website, etc. He also offered the option of adding a performance video in the future, which was great!

For all of the services they provide, I really felt that I got way more than my money's worth!

From start to finish, I HIGHLY recommend BroadwayDemo.com!

To David and Tina: THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

:)