While good manners forced me to bear through Melba Moore's excruciatingly bad show, I was able to cobble together a New Year's Resolution list of Dos and Don'ts for cabaret performers.

First the Don'ts: 1) Pre-recorded tracks (“'This Is It,” “You Stepped Into My Life”) when you have a proficient band standing behind you is a don't. This is a live, intimate show. If we wanted to hear the old disco hits' sound, we'd stay home and listen to the records. 2) Hold your medleys to a minimum. The Hair medley (“Aquarius,” “Easy to Be Hard” and “Let the Sunshine In”) with its great tunes reduced to a small sampling was OK, but then an abbreviated ‘60s hits medley and another of ‘80s disco material was a tad to snippety. 3) OK, you have a marvelous voice, please use it wisely. Vocal trills up and down the scales and extended high notes, while showy, become boring and uninventive quickly. 4) Sing the gospel of Porter (“I Concentrate on You”) and Ellington/Mills (“It Don't Mean a Thing...”), not the otherworldy one. Sing to the cabaret choir and leave the religion in the dressing room.

Finally the one Do: put together a new show with great songs that showcase your talent and come back to wow us.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
December 30, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org