Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pamela Poisson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Pamela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Everything about who I am revolves around music. Lyrics and melody are the lens through which I see the world.
When I was in college, I nannied for a couple in Dallas, Texas who were in the radio business. They knew I was a musician and asked to hear a few of my songs. I recorded a small part of 5 original compositions on a cassette tape (!) and excitedly passed it along. They gave me the advice to pursue a music career as a singer/songwriter. I was ecstatic! I quickly spoke to my inner circle about it knowing they would be as thrilled as me. I was wrong. Instead, they counseled me to not get involved in the music industry and that my “gifts” were not meant for financial gain. Being young and impressionable, I listened.
Since then, that decision has nagged me every…single…day.
Life went on. I earned a degree in Education and started teaching elementary school, but I was not fulfilled. I went back to school to become a Personal Trainer and loved my job helping others live healthier lives but there was always something missing.
Over the years, I continued to write music. I had journals, binders, notebooks, files, and computer drives full of melodies, lyrics, partial songs, and full compositions. I performed for events, wrote songs for occasions, and shared my creations with others. I directed choirs, wrote musicals, and sent music to encourage and lift others.
Yet, I knew I wasn’t living my full purpose and wanted more. But life kept going, I continued grinding, and I ignored my little nag.
Then, three years ago, I started experiencing severe throat pain while singing and speaking. At first, it was occasional, but it quickly became a daily feature. I tried everything to alleviate it – whispering, quietness, drinking hot tea, cough drops. I even wore a mic and portable speaker to help. The pain became so unbearable, I went to see an ENT. I was diagnosed with a severe case of vocal cord atrophy. The doc didn’t know if it was related to my Multiple Sclerosis, but there it was, and they sent me to speech therapy.
Little did I know that the therapist I found would change my life. When I met her, she said “I’m going to ask you to do some crazy things, and I need you to trust me.” I was desperate and would try anything. When she questioned, “What is your goal?” I responded, “I just need to be able to sing again.” She looked doubtful and told me she didn’t know if that was possible, but we would try. For six months I did everything she asked from blowing into a kazoo, drinking aloe juice, eating papaya enzymes, and absolutely NO SINGING.
In the meantime, I came to the heartbreaking realization I may never be able to sing again. I decided to look into “doing something with my music” although I didn’t know what that meant. I began searching the internet for how to try and sell or record or post or WHATEVER with my music. I stumbled on a website that offered guidance to songwriters. It wasn’t flashy or fancy but something about it drew me in. Nervously, I decided to book a mentoring song review session with the owner. It was one thing to have family and friends tell me they loved my music, but this was the real deal, and I was throwing it all out there. I sent her a few songs I recorded in my living room before my vocal cord issue and waited.
RISK #1: Have my melody and lyrics reviewed by industry professionals.
RESULT: I was told there was real potential to not only pitch my songs to music industry publishers but that I should be performing on my local and regional circuit. What?! Totally unexpected.
By this point, my voice was starting to respond to therapy. I was given the green light to sing a little and noticed more breath support, vocal control, and less pain. My voice was not fully back, tiring after only a few bars, but I would take anything. I was so appreciative and grateful.
I continued learning about the business side of the industry and knew I had to record songs in the proper format to pitch them to publishers and artists. But I had hundreds of songs. How would I know which to record first? I knew they weren’t all gold. My mentor suggested a listening session, in which I invited people to listen to parts of some songs and give me their feedback.
I was in. I created three listening sessions, one held at a piano showroom and two in private homes. I invited over 75 people to attend. They received a scoring booklet in which they judged 20 songs in categories such as lyric, melody, and feeling.
Pamela the songwriter and performer was totally ready for it. It was what I was born to do. But Pamela the singer was uneasy. Not only would I have to sing for over 45 minutes, but I was presenting my songs and wanted to represent them the best I could.
RISK #2: Start performing live.
RESULT: Around the same time as my listening sessions, I created a show called “Sunny Side Up” where I would tell the stories behind songs people love and then sing part of the song. I sent out emails to lots of companies and got my first booking. It was exhilarating.
And the risks just keep coming…or should I say the opportunities. I am now completely willing to put myself out there every day.
The music industry is 99% no. I’ve been rejected more times than I can count. I express my inner feelings and deepest thoughts whenever I share a song with industry publishers. Most of those songs are passed on. I go into cowriting sessions with ideas that never get attention. I brainstorm characters and scenes for musicals that my co-writers want to scrap.
And I want to do this over and over again because I am living my purpose. I love every second of it.
I now have a new definition of taking a risk.
Possibility…
Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Pamela, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In everything I do, my purpose is to create music that inspires and impacts others. I want to bring more joy and happiness into this world through music. And because I am multi-dimensional, I offer a variety of services.
What I hear from my clients is that my work/programs/performances exceeded their expectations. What I see are smiles, happiness, joy, and motivation. These are the things I am most grateful for. This is why I do what I do.
I want potential clients to know that I strive to bring the highest level of quality to everything I do. I look at my interactions with clients as a symbiotic relationship in which all parties are important and contribute to the final product. When they work with me, I try to make it easy, enjoyable, and always overdeliver in every aspect possible.
I like to say “Music isn’t one size fits all. Neither am I.” And this is awesome because I get to offer so many different things to my clientele.
Musical Theater Programs
I create original programs for adults and children jam-packed with storylines that are morally driven, fantastic music, and impactful characters.
My clients receive all the tools needed to make the process of putting on one of my productions as easy as possible.
I offer consulting services for those who want to put on a production but have no idea where to start. I call it my “Bright Star Bootcamp.”
I am also one-half of “Dream Team Productions” working as a librettist to bring high quality musicals to the stage. My partner and I write, and also offer our stage directing services to organizations.
Songwriting
I work directly with clients to make their song ideas become a reality by creating personalized music for an organization or event. I write lyrics and melodies, create full tracks, instrumentals, or can perform live.
Presenting/Performing
I have created two original shows:
Sunny Side Up & Grab Happy
Sunny Side Up – I perform live and present both original and popular songs, telling the stories of how they were written or quirky, interesting facts the audience loves to hear. Everything in this show revolves around choosing more joy and happiness every day, no matter the circumstances.
Grab Happy – In this motivational speaking presentation, I teach why choosing more happiness is beneficial to our lives. I share with the audience how to get happier by giving them hands-on tools, techniques, and examples they can apply to their own lives.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn where my value lies concerning my musical abilities. I was raised under parents who taught me to be humble and deflect personal praise. They taught me to always put others first and myself last. I believed this was a fantastic character trait and I lived it to its fullest. But this left me confused when it came to stepping into the professional world of music. Yes, I am a creative. But, just like earning a degree in college and going to work to earn an income, my “education” in music could also earn me an income and that didn’t mean I was being proud or haughty. It’s an ongoing conversation I have with myself, reminding me that what I have to offer is valuable on many levels and that I can use it to both impact the world and create a life of abundance for myself and my family.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Without question, the most rewarding aspect of what I do is knowing that through lyrics and melodies, I can share messages that will help people heal, love more, forgive, hope, and focus on the positive. This is really what it’s all about for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pameladiomusic.com
- Instagram: @pameladiomusic
- Facebook: @pameladiomusic
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/pameladiomusic
- Youtube: @pameladiomusic-nt6hw
