Welcome!

Welcome to The Performer's Parent, the companion blog to performersparent.com (which will launch early in 2012). I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences as the mom of one seasoned performer (Greg, age 19) and one new to the scene (Andy, age 16)! Our family's experiences include teen band competitions, marching band, regular band, choir, theatre, college auditions and applications for performing majors, recording, and the beginning of a professional performing career -- did I miss anything? I hope that you will be able to get some tips from my experience that will help your own path with your performer.

I'll also share some of Greg's life as a performer, both in a little bit of a brag (we hope!) and as examples of information that may help some of you. And I'll share some of Andy's tentative efforts to join the theatre scene in high school. And I'll look forward to hearing your experiences and trying to answer your questions about aspects of this exciting venture. Soon, I'll start publishing YOUR photos of your performer in action -- once I've got the hang of this thing, I'll tell you where to send them and I'll put up one or two every week.

When performersparent.com debuts, you'll be able to look up retail and repair shops, extracurricular performance opportunities, private teachers and studios, colleges that offer majors and minors in performing, and those "extras" that parents of performers look for, like costume makers and recording studios (these items will, at first, be specific to the McHenry County, IL, area). The website will also offer a weekly Parent Clinic, which will be relevant to parents no matter where you live, with columns by industry professionals on topics like why changing a mouthpiece or reed can make a difference; what questions you should ask to find a great private teacher; how to handle the child who enjoys band but doesn't like to practice; and other information you won't easily find elsewhere. I hope you'll join us on that venture! I'll be sure to let you know when that will be available.

So, on the night before Thanksgiving, I'll say I'm thankful to Sheri, our new webmaster; to my great performers, Greg and Andy; to my husband, who thinks I should have gotten this started a long time ago; and I'm thankful in advance for all of you who will join me on this journey!