Preview
JENNIFER GASOI
May 24 to 28
Calgary Children’s Festival
Sunday, May 29
Beth Tzedec
Sure, it’s kid’s stuff, but little ones like to sing. The world of children’s entertainment is big business – last year Australia’s The Wiggles earned an unbelievable $35 million US. Clearly that is nothing to sneeze at (no matter how many laughs it would get from an underaged audience).
Though not as financially successful, Jennifer Gasoi is doing it for the kids. So far (in a relatively short time and with no enormous marketing machine behind her), Gasoi has sold 2,500 copies of her debut disc, Songs For You, been nominated for a Juno and been named a Parent Choice Gold Award-winning children’s performer. Loved by CBC Radio’s Definitely Not The Opera, Gasoi makes music that parents can listen to with their kids without going bonkers.
That has a lot to do with the fact that she knows her audience. Since her performance techniques probably differ from those of, say, Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler, we asked Gasoi for advice for aspiring Raffis and Raffiets.
DO TREAT THEM LIKE PEOPLE
"Treat them like you’d treat your friends," she says. Kids will give you instant feedback. "If they’re having a good time you’re gonna feel that, you’ll feel the energy and if you lose them, you’ll feel that as well."
BE REAL, BE HONEST
"Kids get it. Kids are smart and they’re intuitive. They’ll know if you’re pulling a fast one on them," she says. "Kids are very honest. Adults will clap politely if they like you or if they don’t, and kids won’t."
BE SPONTANEOUS, BE QUIRKY
"Kids love it. I have this pizza song – it’s like, ‘What do you put on your pizza?’ They’re like, ‘pepperoni and olives.’ ‘Well, what about marshmallows and jelly beans?’ They like strange things."
DON’T HAND OUT CHOCOLATE BARS BEFORE YOUR SHOW
Sugar is definitely a problem. "Especially around Halloween and Christmas, you notice the mornings after those kind of things are insane. Easter is one of the worst."
DON’T PLAY TWO SLOW TEMPO TUNES BACK TO BACK
"That would be the death of a show, for kids. You can put maybe one in – maybe – but you want upbeat high energy." Contrarily, she suggests, "Don’t play ripping tempo tunes back to back – they’ll just end up flying all over the place."
DON’T TALK DOWN TO THEM
"I hate it when performers do that." Provide a condescension-free zone and everyone will appreciate it. |
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