Mindful Behavior

Awhile back I got certified in basic mediation with the Los Angeles County Bar Association. I thought it would be a cool thing to do. I didn’t realize at the time that the training would impact my perceptions of things so much. I hear different meaning in what people are saying when they are talking to me than I used to.

It’s given me a better place to live from. In mediation, it isn’t about being right or wrong or even about winning anything. It’s about coming to an agreement. Most of what I see now when I’m dealing with people has to do with intention and a person’s agenda of what they’re trying to get rather than what they may be telling me.

I find that when I pay attention to where my motives are I can be more mindful about another person’s agenda with me. It’s usually not a personal thing at all. People are constantly looking to get what they need when they have goals or have responsibilities to take care of. I like to be clear in what I’m doing. It’s easier to assess others when I am.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Memories

I was visiting a friend’s neighbor who is selling the house he grew up in. His mom passed away in the spring. I could tell that his mom was a person who paid attention to detail. The way she had things organized, the needlepoint work she had done, the way her closets were arranged indicated that she put a lot of love in her home.

I could see that his mind was being flooded with memories of growing up in the house. It was like a surreal tour listening to him talk about when things were remodeled and how rooms had been changed over the years. I could feel his mom’s presence while we were there as he was talking to us. It’s interesting how the energy of a soul feels.

It seems like he is at significant turning point in his life now. Selling the house a person grew up in creates a definite shift in the fabric of someone’s life. My parents sold the house I grew up in after I graduated from college. It cut the cords on some things that I didn’t really understand at the time. I understood it more looking at this man today.

Blessings!
Laura

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Where Music Meets Artistry

Memorial Day

It’s nice that we take a day off to remember people who died fighting for a cause. It’s nice to remember people for any reason. In Mexico, they have the Day of the Dead to remember people who have passed away. Souls that are remembered by others are probably very relieved to know they made a difference while they were here.

I remember when I was younger my father made it a point to let me know that it was important to make a contribution to society during my life. A life worth living is a life with meaning. Honesty and integrity were also strong values that he taught me. Not that it’s easy to learn how to live that, but it’s been worth pursuing.

Memorial Day to me also signifies a responsibility for my actions. When what I’m doing has an impact on others, I need to be clear with my intentions and, in my case, be very connected to my heart with God. It’s not that I feel my decisions are going to send people off to war. I just feel strongly that I’d like to be someone that heals and brings in peace.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Photography

My photographer, Gil Benzeevi, was over this morning going thru the pictures he took at our CAP show Friday night. This is the 3rd time Gil and I have worked together and it shows. He had already edited out shots he knew I wouldn’t like and I could tell by the shots he got, that he knew what I would be happy with.

He also got some really great shots of Jen Kober, the comedian who opened the show for us. She is really funny and you can check her out on myspace.com. It’s great to work with extremely talented people. It brings out the best in me. It’s an energy thing. People who are vibrating at a certain level raise the bar for everyone around them.

I’m really happy that I have a photographer who can get great shots under guerilla type conditions. It takes finesse and real technical ability to create and capture moments in a camera with minimal lighting, fast action, and no real set up time to speak of. It’s really fortunate for me, as an artist, to have Gil documenting these stages in my career.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Table Manners

I saw my friend, Paula Jane Newman, in a play called “Table Manners” today at Theater 40 in Beverly Hills. It’s one of three plays in The Norman Conquests which are written as what the director called a Rubik’s cube for theater. The plays are happening simultaneously in how they are written and can be seen in any order.

It was really nice to see my friend perform live on stage. She is awesome. Some of you might have seen Paula in the movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean” with Johnny Depp. She was the maid in the film. She’s a very dedicated actor and very good at what she does. All her years of training and voice over work have paid off.

The nicest part about seeing my friends in shows, (other than being entertained) is knowing that they are doing what they love, getting paid for it, and building their repertoire for future opportunities. It’s important for an artist to keep doing what they do and stay in the process. Success comes to those who don’t give up.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Cake & Ice Cream

Voyce McGinley, III and I celebrated a year of playing at CAP Theater tonight and we had a great time. At the end of the night we had cake and ice cream. Lonny, the director, made a fabulous chocolate cake and I brought chocolate chip ice cream. It was a great way to cap off the evening.

I eat cake and ice cream once a month, unless there's a holiday reason for me to have it twice. I do that mainly because I need to keep my weight down for performing. My body does better when I'm on the lean side. Plus, when I do have cake and ice cream for a special reason it's more special to me.

It was wonderful to be with so many friends at the show. I got to wear a new dress that I picked up at my favorite thrift store. It cost $3. That's a lucky number. It's a number for creativity. Voyce was certainly creative and did a wonderful percussion solo ala cirque de solei. I love my life!

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Technology

It’s kind of funny how much I rely on my cell phone these days. It’s not like they were a part of my life 10 years ago. When I was a kid growing up there weren’t any cell phones. These days, in LA at least, kids have cell phones and all kinds of electronic things to use. It’s probably nice for parents to have a way to reach their kids on their cell phones.

I was talking with someone and our call got dropped. We were both on cells. He was on a blue tooth. I haven’t gotten to the point where I’m using one of those yet, but I never know how my life will change so I may find myself using one at some point. I have to remember when technology lacks certain things that it’s already come so far.

When something is invented, it takes time before the consumer market sees it. I think that as humans we get used to things being a certain way and so we’re not always quick to adapt. Also, a lot of money gets put into technology platforms so introducing new things can be more of a financial prospectus than a convenience one.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Please Tell Muslims, Iranian Jews & Christians

I feel compelled to write about this because I’m not interested in seeing anymore history repeating itself in the saga of Iranian Jews and now Christians. When I studied the Holocaust in college, I learned something that is a very important lesson that I would like to share. It has to do with the mentality of the “victims” in Nazi Germany.

When the Nazi party started imposing new laws against the Jews in an effort to de-humanize them in society, it was the Jewish leaders cooperative efforts in complying with the new regulations that made the extermination of 6 million Jews the most efficient and cost effective effort of the war that the Nazi party engaged in.

Please tell anyone with relatives in Iran to protest the new laws requiring Jews & Christians to wear identifying bands on their clothing by refusing to comply. And I ask all Muslims in every country, for the Love of God, to protest these laws by wearing yellow and red bands in support of humanity becoming a Divine evolved race.

Blessings!
Laura

Stand up and be empowered! We can create new history that’s worth repeating.
AMEN!!!
Please read my 5/21/06 Blog "Iran" for more info.

Honesty

I know for me when I’m being honest with myself and others I tend to feel more comfortable in my own skin. It’s not really about what anyone thinks of me that gives me peace of mind. It’s about what I do that matters. I have to live with myself whether people like me or not. And I find I like myself more when I’m being honest.

Usually when I’m being honest I’m coming from a place of self-respect which in turns puts me in a position where I’m respecting others. I do my best to also be in a place of kindness as well. I’m not here to approve of people or judge people for what they’re doing or not doing. I’ve noticed people don’t always know why they do something.

A lot of things were already in place when I showed up on this planet so I don’t have first hand experience from where things started in how people operate in life. I do know there are things I’m not comfortable with that other people seem fine doing. But usually when I question them about those things I find that they aren’t comfortable with them either.

Blessings!
Laura

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Where Music Meets Artistry

Laundry

I’m home doing laundry tonight. I really like doing laundry because it requires very little effort on my part. I put clothes in a machine, come back an hour later, put the clothes in another machine, come back after awhile, take my clothes out and put them away. I love the feeling of warm clothes fresh out of the dryer, especially when it’s cold outside.

I also love having clean clothes to wear. It feels good. I’m not sure why socks disappear after I’ve done laundry, but I like buying socks, so I don’t mind. Anytime I’ve watched those National Geographic programs showing native women washing clothes in the river in some country somewhere I appreciate electricity and modern appliances.

My life is pretty convenient and simple. I like it that way. I like what is available to me the way I live. I like that I can relax at home and do laundry. It’s one of my favorite things to do because I get to lie around and still get something done that needs to be taken care of. I do my best to set up every area of my life that way. I like to be efficient.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Iran

I read about the new law in Iran requiring Jews and Christians to wear identifying yellow and red bands, respectively, on their clothing so Muslims won’t be “contaminated” if they shake their hands by mistake. I’m not sure why history is repeating itself with this one on a grander scale, but I am in prayer about it. Divine Intervention sounds good.

When I was in college, I took a class on Holocaust systems and we studied Hitler’s regime. One of the first steps he took in his plan to murder all Jews was to de-humanize them in the German society. When they were regarded as non-human and popularized as “the problem” it was easy to get people involved with killing them in mass.

There are a lot more Muslims living on this planet than there are Christians and Jews. A Muslim friend of mine was telling me about his relationship with God in the Muslim faith and it was very similar to Jewish practices with different symbols and names for things. I don’t know what causes things to get conflicted in religions, but I’d like to heal that.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

We Come & We Go

That’s the title to a song of mine and I find it’s very true in my life. We do come and go in and out of each other’s lives quite a bit. I don’t usually know the reason I’m meeting someone or how long we’ll be around each other. I just know that when I don’t concern myself much with the results of a situation I can keep things simple.

The chorus of the song is, “I see the sky when we are not islands. Like seasons we come and we go. We’re into pleasing what we are feeling. What do we laugh about? What do we dream about? Seasons, we come and we go. We come and we go.” That seems to be happening more and more lately with people I’m meeting.

It’s always a fascination to me when someone I wouldn’t think would stay in my life becomes an important person to me and someone who I thought would be there is nowhere in sight. It’s nothing personal. It’s just how it is. I believe we serve a greater purpose than what our minds were taught to believe, so I can’t predict much.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Plush Lounge

I played the Key Club’s Plush Lounge tonight and it was really fun. This was my second gig there. It was great to see friends and meet some new ones. It was also good because the manager/producer team I’m talking with about my career came to see me and that gives us a starting point to work from. We’re on the same page and then some.

It’s very cool when things click. It’s a timing thing. Now is my time for my career to be taken to the next level. Even a friend of mine who was at the show tonight could see that. She asked me, “Are you ready for this to happen now?” When I told her yes she said she could see that. I can also feel it very strongly.

I like when I get to play the same venue more than once. It gives me a warm feeling in my heart when I see the people who work at a theater or club again that I play at. It makes the gig more meaningful in some ways. When the staff digs what I’m doing on stage then I know I’ve done my job. After awhile of working in a club they’ve seen it all.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Repeat Business

One thing that’s nice about working with the same people is that a certain kind of relationship builds over time and getting things done becomes very efficient. It also is fun to find that the people who I’m doing business with are growing with me onto bigger and better things. Even when we work on separate projects, the mojo carries over.

Next week, Voyce McGinley, III and I are playing a show together at CAP Theater to celebrate our 1 year “birthday” of performing there. We met because the director at CAP, Lonny Stevens, told me to get other musicians to play with me when I came back. Voyce answered my ad on craigslist looking for a percussionist. We clicked right away.

It will also be the 3rd time for me working with Gil Benzeevi, my photographer. He answered an ad I place in the E-Lert and his shots are awesome. Even with no lighting to speak of he can get magic happening thru a camera. I do well with people who answer my ads. There is a manager who answered an ad of mine. We’re in the initial talk phase now.

Blessings!
Laura

For gig info and more go to:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Saying Nice Things

Have you ever noticed that when people say “nice” things they get in a better mood than if they say “angry” things? I’ve also noticed that when I say things that are upbeat, fun, and happy in how I describe things, the person I’m talking to gets a lift in their energy. It’s especially fun when I describe something that’s not so great in a positive way.

That’s where a lot of humor comes in my day. I had someone talking to me about a person they called a “pain in the ass to deal with”. My response was that I preferred to use different words to describe the person. She laughed and wanted to know what words I would use that would be nicer. I was happy to laugh with her when I answered.

I told her that I thought of him as a guy who knew what he wanted, the way he wanted it and also was very clear in how he wanted it. I continued to let her know that it made dealing with him pretty cut and dry because he was so specific I could tell what would work and what wouldn’t. Then I could feel her tension subside with a smile in her voice.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Vitamin World

I was in Vitamin World today and learned something new. Their parent company manufactures most of the vitamins that are in grocery stores and drug stores. The good news is that Vitamin World’s prices are a lot less and the products are the same as the other brands they manufacture. I’m a bargain shopper if you hadn’t guessed.

The other fun thing for me about going to the Vitamin World store in Burbank is that I did a testimonial for them about a year ago and I’m in the promo DVD that the chain plays in their stores. The staff knows me now because they’ve been seeing me everyday for about 6 months now on the disc. I’m a star in Vitamin World. I like being a star.

I do like the specials they have the first Monday and Tuesday every month. I save a fortune buying on their sale days and I get money back coupons to use every quarter on the purchases I make. The quality of their vitamins is also good. Most of the supplements I use are their brand label. Do I sound like a testimonial? That’s why I’m on the DVD.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Press Release

Illegal Immigration Law Talks Aren’t Taking Into Consideration That The United States Was Founded By Illegal Immigrants, Says Singer/Songwriter Laura Cohn

Los Angeles Based Singer/Songwriter Laura Cohn is challenging the American people to look at historical facts before taking stands on current illegal immigration laws. In Cohn’s blog called, “Illegal Immigrants”, May 14, 2006, Cohn writes that the United States “was founded by a bunch of people who showed up on boats, stole the land from the people who were living here, killed many of them, moved the locals to reservations and told them to stay put.”

(PRWEB) May 16, 2006 -- Cohn believes that for the United States to hold such an arrogant attitude towards people who come here for a better life, work hard, and maintain a strong sense of community and culture for themselves and contribute to the economy is ridiculous. “For our society to continue basing our decisions and policies on outdated ideas that do not regard humanity as a whole is shortsighted and destructive”, said Cohn.

Laura Cohn is an advocate of new thinking and takes issue when unconscious behavior is being promoted in the news. She particularly seeks to infuse accepted beliefs with new ideas so that people will not automatically buy into what corporate and government leaders are selling to people as necessary policies in society that do not serve the greater good for all people living on the planet now and in future generations.

For information, visit www.LauraCohnMusic.com.

About Laura Cohn:
Laura Cohn grew up in Highland Park, IL and became a private pilot at 17. She received her BA in Political Science from Tulane University. She began writing music after she graduated college. She is currently performing around LA.

Illegal Immigrants

I find it funny that our country takes issue about people coming to live and work in the United States from other countries and calls them illegal. This country was founded by a bunch of people who showed up on boats, stole the land from the people who were living here, killed many of them, moved the locals to reservations and told them to stay put.

It seems ridiculous to me that our country holds such an arrogant attitude towards people who come here for a better life, work hard, and maintain a strong sense of community and culture for themselves and contribute to the economy. What is our problem? These people aren’t doing what our forefathers did when they showed up here.

I wonder how many Americans speak more than one language. For the most part, these immigrants learn to speak English and appreciate our American lifestyle. They are considerate and grateful for the opportunities they are given here to build a better life for themselves and their families. Maybe we should rethink how we’re treating them.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Shopping

I was at my favorite second-hand store today and ran into a friend of mine I hadn’t seen in awhile. I heard her voice across the room and just smiled. She was laughing because she had given away a bunch of stuff when she was moving a couple of months ago and some of the items wound up in the store.

It’s always a good shopping omen for me when I see her. The last time I ran into her at thrift store I found a fabulous pair of shoes for $10. She brought me great luck again today. I scored a really cool piece of framed art, two long dresses, a skirt, a top, and a purse, all for $21.50. I put the picture up when I got home and it makes me smile.

I was in such a good mood after that I went to another store and picked up some shoes. I don’t normally indulge in a lot of shopping. My schedule gets booked up with other things that take up my time. I’m excited about the new dress and shoes I got for gigs. It makes performing so much fun when I’m wrapped in glamour.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

MusiCares/MAP Fund Honoring James Hetfield & Bill Silva

I went to volunteer for the MusiCares/MAP Fund Benefit honoring James Hetfield of Metallica and music promoter Bill Silva at the Music Box Fonda Theater. MusiCares helps musicians with drug and alcohol addiction problems. MAP Fund gives emergency financial aid to musicians and they respond really fast if you need help.

It was true bliss listening to the artists that played on stage. I’m in awe of musicians and adore watching guitar players do their thing in particular. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club opened the show, and Velvet Revolver played Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” dedicated to all the artists that died from alcohol and drug abuse. I love that song.

Tom Waits and Jason Mraz both played and the highlight for me was when Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney joined Metallica’s James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo for some classics. Comedian Greg Behrendt, author of “he’s just not that into you”, was the MC and did a fine job. It was a heartfelt night of celebration and respect.

Blessings!
Laura

If you’re a musician and need help, please call MusiCares toll free:
West 1-800-687-4227, Central 1-877-626-2748, Northeast 1-877-303-6962
MusiCares was established in 1989 by the Recording Academy

Growth

A friend of mine told me that really successful people go beyond their comfort zone and do the things they need to whether they want to or not. She told me this after I told her there were things that were so not my personality that I needed to do and it was challenging for me to get out and do them.

I’m glad I have friends that tell me the truth and give me encouragement to go beyond my comfort zone. That’s where growth happens. I find that when I break down what I have to do into small little, tiny steps then it’s easier for me get things done. That way I don’t get overwhelmed thinking how much I don’t want to do what I need to.

It also helps my mind think that what I don’t want to do is really no big deal and my mind likes that. It replaces resistance with a feeling of accomplishment. Then the next time I have to approach the same task I have a better attitude from the start. It’s usually the little things I do in my daily routine that brings in the most progress, like writing this blog.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Doyle Dykes

I was at a finger picking guitar workshop at West LA Music last night. Taylor Guitars was putting it on and Doyle Dykes was performing and giving instruction on technique. He is one of those magical players that can do amazing things on the guitar. I learned a lot watching him. He played so effortlessly and was very entertaining.

During his presentation he shared that he needed to find better super glue for his fingertips. He played so much that the skin cracked open on one of his left hand fingers from the strings. Ouch! He also shared that he had completely lost his hearing in his right ear. He didn't say how it happened, but he said that it wasn’t going to stop him for playing.

When he said it, Beethoven crossed my mind. Beethoven was deaf when he wrote some of his work toward the end of his life. Doyle said that his situation had brought him closer to God and that he was grateful that he had what he had in his life. Faith will do that for a person. I felt compassion for Doyle and he helped me be more grateful for what I have.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Music Connection Magazine

There’s a picture of me playing in the Key Club’s Plush Lounge VIP Room in this week’s “Mixed Notes” column in Music Connection Magazine. And I want to thank Michael Mollura of Music Connection Magazine for putting my picture in his column. It really helps keep me motivated when other people support what I’m doing.

If you want to check out the magazine online, www.musicconnection.com is their website address. This is the second time I’ve been published in Music Connection. In March, they gave me a really nice demo critique. It helps confirm to me that I’m a real artist. Not that I don’t already know that about myself. It helps when other people know.

I don’t know what it is about being understood that makes a difference. Art isn’t something that I try to explain. It is what it is. Everyone gets what they’re supposed to when they encounter art. I know that how other people relate to my work has more to do with them than with me. My journey is about being the artist not how I am interpreted.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Rescue Me

I was at the Television Academy tonight in North Hollywood to see a panel presentation for the TV show Rescue Me. It’s now promotion time for the television industry and people who are voting members of the Academy have started getting their DVDs to view for the Emmy’s. I know this because my friend is a voting member.

What I like about panels and interviews with writers, directors and actors is that the banter about what goes on behind the scenes is fascinating and funny. Every project has its own process of development, studio politics, and the chemistry which ultimately brings in the mysterious magic that shows up somehow to make a hit out of an idea.

From the conversation presented tonight, it was obvious that Rescue Me is close to the heart of Denis Leary, Producer, Co-Writer and Starring Actor of the series. I didn’t know that he grew up in New York’s fire fighter community and one of his cousins, who was a fireman, died on the job. He and his writing partner Peter Tolan were very funny tonight.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

The Israeli Festival

I was at the Israeli Festival at Woodley Park today in the Valley. A lot of people came out for it. I’d never been to a festival where you had to go through electronic security gates like they have at airports. They also went through everyone’s bags. There were a lot of police there, too. I guess that’s just the sign of the times these days.

The music was nice. A woman on stage sang an old song called, “Those Were the Days” that reminded me of my grandmother. She was a Russian immigrant and had an accent. She made good mandel bread (Mandelbrot) which is like biscotti. It’s a favorite cookie of the Ashkenazi Jews. She always made it for us when she came to visit.

I hadn’t thought of my grandmother in a long time. She passed away many years ago. It’s amazing how a song can be so powerful in how it brings back memories and emotions. Maybe that’s why I keep playing my music. The Hebrew songs of Israel seem to unite the Jewish people. I know that for me singing strengthens my soul and fortifies my heart.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

www.electriceelproductions.com

I was over at Electric Eel Productions today. They have a studio in North Hollywood. Adam and Costa are the 2 guys who own it. Adam grew up in Deerfield, IL which is a suburb of Chicago next to where I grew up in Highland Park. It’s always fun to run into someone who is from the same area of the country that I am from.

We met today because I’m looking to get some recording done and have started checking out studios. The vibe has to be right, the gear needs to be good and something just needs to click when I go into a recording situation. I’ve learned from not getting usable tracks to know when to pass on working with someone.

The first tune I’m looking to cut is a Neil Young cover to submit for a project. I used to play Neil Young songs when I was in High School before I started writing my own songs. I may cut the song in a few different recording situations with different people to see where I’m best suited to work. Everyone has their own thing when it comes to sound.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Live Rehearsals

My mom and I were talking one day about me getting to the next level in my career. She said to me that in order to get to the second step I have to be at the first one. The majority of showcase gigs in LA don’t pay anything. Artists can sell CDs and if they bring in enough friends, they sometimes get paid something. It’s a half hour show, they provide sound.

I don’t mind that I’ve been playing showcase gigs in LA. I’ve benefited a great deal having a live audience to perform for. It’s helped me to work things out, get more comfortable making changes in my performance style and has developed my chops differently. Typically, I don’t drive more than 10 minutes to get to a gig either.

I’m looking forward to the next step where my manager will be booking my shows, negotiating what I’m being paid and dealing with the promotion side of the business for me. I’m better suited to being creative in writing, singing and design concepts. I’m glad that the next step is showing up now. I’ve worked a lot to be ready for it.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Babies

I was holding a baby today for a bit while her mom was doing something. I haven’t held a little baby in a long time. What I noticed right away was how pure the baby’s energy was. She was a docile little girl and even had really cute earrings that she was wearing. I was proud of her mom for starting her out right as a bling bling kind of girl.

It was fun to show her things and tell her what they were called. She hasn’t started talking yet, but I could tell that she was taking it all in and enjoyed seeing all the new things. I wonder what it would be like to have that kind of newness in how I experience the world. I don’t know what difference it would make but it would be cool to have language for it.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be a mom other than to the little animals I take care of. My friend told me once that we can honor the women who have children and give them support since we’re not the ones with the screaming children in the back seats of our cars throwing Cheerios. I thought that was a great visual.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

www.voicelesson.com

A few months ago I was looking online to find out about vocal training and found www.voicelesson.com. What I liked about Mark Baxter’s site is the information I got to read in his free section. Just reading his articles gave me some visuals that helped improve what I was doing vocally in my performances.

I decided to order his CD, “Sing like an Idol” and it arrived today. Listening to it was fun and doing the exercises felt good inside. He covers 10 steps that are important to achieve a good vocal performance. What’s nice about the way he presents the material is that anyone who wants to sing can benefit from going through the exercises.

I’m glad to have a CD I can work with to expand my range and further develop my style as an artist. It helps to understand what works and how to make it work better. I love to sing and learning how to be a better performer is important to me. I’m getting ready to record some songs and I want to really shine when I do.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

VIbes

It’s always interesting to me how things shift and how different the vibe can be without me even having to do anything. I don’t know if it’s a planet thing or what, but one moment can change everything in the most profound ways. Sometimes it has to do with a new person coming into my life. Sometimes it’s just time to move on.

I know better than think that any of it is personal. I feel what I feel and that’s just how it is. I guess that the best thing for me to do is just go with the flow. My friend, Sandy, refers to endings as the completion of Divine Assignments. When we have served our purpose and the situation accomplishes God’s goal, we’re done.

A number of assignments have been completed lately and it feels great like a big release. It’s cool to be in the flow of new energy and things coming to fruition. Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer according to one calendar I have and I’m going to dedicate it to the Vibe of Grace pouring in for humanity to share.

Blessings!
Laura

Get gig info and more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Representation

I’m in the process of deciding on a manager to work with now. Aside from the obvious reasons, I have a song that I’m very motivated to get recorded and played on radio stations. A manager is a necessary component for me to have to be successful in the entertainment business. And to take my career to the next level I need one.

What I love about this business is that some things are just cut and dry, black and white, so it’s easy to sort through the talkers and the walkers. People who are actually doing things have a certain kind of energy about them. It’s real and their process of getting things done makes a lot of sense. The talkers just talk. It doesn’t take long to see it.

A lot will change when a manager steps in to handle my career. I’ll be able to focus more on the creative side of what I’m doing and my manager will be able to deal with the business side of how people work with me. One of the people I’m talking to also said that I’ll be taken more seriously when a manager is doing the business talking for me. Cool.

Blessings!
Laura

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http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry