read more about Joan Crowe

Joan Crowe

JOAN CROWE

I met Joan by chance; it was an encounter I’ll never forget. My phone rang as I was heading to the airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia en route to Hong Kong. I answered the phone and the first words I heard from my producer, "remain calm," put me on alert. In short, a talented singer hired for a party in Hong Kong happening in less than 24 hours, was taken off the plane in Sydney, Australia. She had a fear of flying, took a few too many pills mixed with a cocktail. The plane turned around, she was escorted off, and her band left Sydney for Hong Kong without her. With little time to find a replacement, enter Joan Crowe, a brilliant jazz singer with a comedic side too. A friend of a friend of a friend had just seen Joan in New York and thought she might be just what we were looking for. All I can say is "Thank God for YouTube." After seeing a few clips of her work, I was convinced she could do the job. It was a matter of minutes before we connected, and a few seconds later she was hired. Two hours later she was packed and on her way to the airport with two pairs of high heel shoes and two black gowns in hand. She arrived in Hong Kong a little bewildered but ready to go. We started rehearsals, glammed her up, put her on stage, and viola, before we had a second to relax, it was show time. Everything happens for a reason…our original performer certainly was not in Joan’s league and could never have performed the way she did. She’s an extraordinary talent, a wonderful artist, and a savior.



      

Tips from Joan.

• Music Makes the Party!
  When choosing a performer or band to entertain at your event, be sure to have a clear idea of the mood you desire to create. If dancing is the main focus of the evening, hire a band that can play all the popular dance styles from swing to hip hop. This is especially true for a wedding, since the guests usually range in age from children to grandparents. If conversation and networking is the point, then a smaller jazz ensemble (background music) might be more appropriate.
• Understand the focus of the evening!
  If you hire a performer to do "an act" as a point of focus, structure the evening accordingly. It is important the attendees know when the "entertainment portion" of the evening is. You do not want to hire a comic to perform at a networking event when your guests are talking--the humor will be lost. And, in these situations, less is usually more. I am often hired by corporations to come in and do a "few funny songs" to liven up a dry work conference. This can work well, so don’t feel like you need the performer onstage for two hours to "get your money’s worth". Humorous material should leave them wanting more.
• Sound systems have volume controls!
  Remember sound systems have volume controls, and a bandleader or sound engineer should know when to use them. It is a huge pet peeve of mine when I’m a guest at a wedding or party, and I can’t hear the person next to me at the dinner table. Play appropriate music at a lower level during dinner to accommodate both those people who wish to dance between courses, and those people who prefer to chat. Then, crank it up after dinner and pack the floor! The evening should have several peaks and valleys to the music, not just high, fast, and loud. If possible, it is also thoughtful to provide an outer area where guests can go to just talk.
• Insist on personal contact with the bandleader!
  As an independent bandleader, I make it a point to go over the music selection with each of my clients. However, if you decide to book a band through an agency, always insist on speaking with the bandleader directly. This ensures they know exactly what you envision and specifically, the tunes you definitely want played at the event.
• Creativity is key!
  If your party has a theme, hire a band that can tailor the music to fit the theme. One of my favorite parties took place in Washington, D.C., at the Hazy Center which houses the Smithsonian Institute’s historical aircrafts. The event had a "flying theme" so we put together a program that traced the history of aviation in song. It was a blast, and made the event unique. (And, yes, we did Fly Me to The Moon!)