Hello everyone, I’m back – sorry about not updating this blog yesterday – I’ve been so busy promoting the album, as it was released on Monday and things are busier than ever. It’s like being in a whirlwind, with so much going on that sometimes I have to take a few minutes to have some time to myself – otherwise I think I’d go mad! I honestly don’t know how I’d cope without the wonderful team of people I’ve got helping me through this exciting time. When we were preparing for the album I got to write a list of people I wanted to thank, which appears in the sleeve notes. First and foremost I have said thank-you to my wonderful wife Julie-Ann – I wouldn’t have been able to do this without her support and love.
There’s too many people to name here, but if you read the notes on the album you can see all the people that have helped me along the way. There’s so much going on behind the scenes that most people wouldn’t even have dreamed of – including me- that goes into the business of making and releasing an album, and I have been blown away by the kindness that everyone has shown to me.
If anyone reading this has bought the album, I hope you enjoy it – I have had the most fun making it and just hope that the people who voted for me on the show like it, as it’s their support that have got me this far. Now the album is out there I feel really excited – and I’m looking forward to the rest of the journey. I’ve just been told my next trip is to Australia and America and I’m absolutely over the moon that Julie-Ann will be coming with me to experience all of this with me.
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Paul Bryant wrote...
Well Paul, bloody well done. I doubt that you will read this but just on the offchance here's a few words you may find useful. You have managed to get to first base on your rollercoaster called the entertainment industry. It is only first base but you can get to second by focussing on your your love of singing and practice practice practice. Trust Simon Cowell and very few other people. Not because Simon is a great guy (he is) but because he's a connsumate professional and he wants to make money out of you (which is a good thing). Most everyone else you will come across are wannabees who want to make money out of you but can't make you money and they just waste your time. Get Simon to recommend a top flight publicist and a manager (A list). They're expensive but it's really important to you. Never trust anyone in the business who tells you how great you are more than once (if that). The Brits especially are extremely fickle once they sense that someone has 'made it'. Protect yourself by developing critical acclaim ASAP. I would love to go see you headlining at the Met. Remember you are bankrolling everybody around you. Make sure you know what their jobs are and why they're there. Get yourself a great assistant and give him/her the phone to repair and for that matter anything else including the bottle of Evian you need right now. Not because you're putting it on but because your voice gets better when you're practicing/singing rather than peering into a fridge. Your job is to get that voice into grade A shape without losing your emotion along the way. You shouldn't be thinking about anything other than your voice and the money. This is where Julie-Ann comes in. She's your partner in every way and the one person you can totally trust. She's your filter. Most 'rising stars' blow out because they listen to people who are unqualified and they get involved with activities that distract them from what they should be concentrating on. Your next album will be coming out later on next year. It's going to take you 2 months to cut it (possibly 3) and everybody is going to hold a big ass magnifying glass up to it. If you keep yourself straight and focus on what's important (your singing) 20 years from now its a knighthood for you boyo. Think I'm kidding? look back into history and you'll find Jimmy Galway or even Harry Secombe (who was always underappreciated as a singer). Your really lucky because you've got the Royal Variety performance to talk about. This is going to give you about six months more honeymoon before your team has to really get into gear and start keeping you in the public eye. You have no idea how you are going to change and change you will. I can already see it in the interviews over the past 5 weeks. Enjoy it but keep checking in with your wife and your family. If they start to grow distant (they'll never tell you because you'll be too rich) retrace your steps and find out why. It's really important. BTW you wait untill you really get in the thick of it. Hollywood is beckoning already, keep away for as long as possible or use Simon as a shield. Hollywood isn't really evil it just tries it's hardest to look that way.
Best of luck in the future Paul. And yes, you made this hard bitten cynical 52 year old Emmy Award winning ex pat bawl his eyes out.
Posted by: Paul Bryant | July 19, 2007 9:19 PM