Yes, you heard me right, your website should not be about you. Your website should be about your visitors. You should be using your website to give your visitors what they want or need to become your fans!

Empower Your Ministry just posted an article about things that bug them about your website. That post just fits in so well with why your website is not about you.

Tom Jackson says there is a 2-step process for making your set list decision:

1. Ask yourself what kind of event it is. What’s the psychology of the audience? The who, what, where, when of the concert is going to help us decide what moments we choose (notice I didn’t say “what songs”).

2. Choose the moments you want to create for your audience. You’ll still need to start with an intro moment; and you’ll need a closer. The moment or moments in between will depend on who your audience is.

Too many artists blow their opportunity by thinking in terms of “songs” instead of “moments on stage.”

Below you will find a great idea from Empower Your Ministry.

Here’s an idea:  The next time you have a concert, tell everyone who comes by and maybe signs up for the mailing list that you are going to Cracker Barrel after you are finished loading out of the venue.  Ask them what they think of the idea of getting a group together from tonight’s concert so that you all can talk.  I know, what if everybody wanted to come.. that would be terrible wouldn’t it..

Empower Your Ministry

Let us know if you have success with this.

Boyle surprised the world with her powerful, heart stopping voice when she walked onto the “Britain’s Got Talent” stage. With I Dreamed A Dream, she will, once again, defy preconceptions. The collection of gospel, standards and classic pop songs is expected to be one of the biggest-selling records of the year, already setting records as the largest CD pre-order in the history of the Amazon.com.

I Dreamed a Dream was produced Steve Mac (Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Il Divo).  The 12-song disc demonstrates Susan Boyle’s extensive musical ability and reflects her inspiring story.  Featuring her now-signature songs “I Dreamed a Dream” and “Cry me a River” and soaring renditions of gospel hymns “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace,” the album also includes her unique interpretation of pop songs like Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” and The Monkees “Daydream Believer.”  “Who I Was Born To Be” is an original recording written specially for Boyle, while the plaintive and reverent “Silent Night” is sure to become a new, old Christmas favorite.
The 48-year-old Boyle lived an anonymous life in her small village in Scotland, caring for her aging mother and volunteering at Our Lady of Lourdes church.  Boyle always wanted to be a singer, but her music performances were confined to singing in church and karaoke at pubs in her village.  Boyle has said that her mother had encouraged her to audition for “Britain’s Got Talent,” but it was only after her death in 2007 that Boyle determined to seek a musical career in honor of her mother.

The rest of the story is already legendary.  Boyle shot to worldwide recognition following her audition appearance on “Britain’s Got Talent” in April 2009 singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables.” Her performance was quickly posted on YouTube and went viral, reaching 100 million viewers around the world in less than two weeks.  That video has been viewed by 300 million people.  That she placed second on the “Britain’s Got Talent” final was of no consequence as the singer had already triumphed at winning the hearts of the world.

Boyle will spend a great deal of time in the U.S. around the release of her debut.  Some of her appearances include “Today” show on Nov. 23, “The View” on Nov. 27 and “Dateline” on Nov. 27.

The complete track listing for I Dreamed A Dream with comments from Boyle:

1.) “Wild Horses” - ‘Couldn’t drag me away’. How could you help but be drawn in by this haunting theme?  It conjures up memories of childhood amongst Council Estates, poverty and struggle in the first verse.  Irony and bitterness – One of my personal favorites and an emotional release.

2.) “I Dreamed A Dream” – Obviously from the musical ‘Lès Mis!’  It’s about a mother living in hard times.  Very similar to my dream on a more personal level, of my ‘life gone by’ with mum who dies at the age of 91 and whose dream it was that I should ‘do something’ with my life.  Mum this is for you.

3.) “Cry Me A River” – About bitterness and anger as a relationship between a boy and girl has ended.  This timeless song is from the film ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’.  A release of tension and a greater insight into the human condition.

4.) “How Great Thou Art” – A hymn which has a great personal meaning to me as it reminds me of my friend who liked to sing this hymn in church.

5.) “You’ll See” – About determination, independence and the ability to show them what you are made of.  Doubt sows disbelief.  This is about turning this around.  This song is a kind of beacon.  A way of keeping going.  My productive anger.  My way of getting rid of the labels which have been unfair.

6.) “Daydream Believer” – ‘The tears of yesterday don’t mean a thing’.  There is happiness out there for everyone who dares to dream.

7.) “Up To The Mountain” – Reassurance, love and the ability to keep going no matter what ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ life thows at you.  God is our Light.

8.) “Amazing Grace” – About revelations.  About finding your way. Everything was new to me.  I was Scared, Hope it’s better.  I know it can be with your continued support which I find both comforting and humbling.

9.) “Who I Was Born To Be” - Ambition, fate, call it what you will, but who was I born to be?  Mum must have picked this for me.

10.) “Proud” - This is about conflict between a parent and his son.  The dilemmas most youngsters find themselves up against.  My dilemma was finding my own identity – a conflict, if you like, with myself.

11.) “The End of the World” – Don’t be silly!  It’s only the beginning!  I want you all to enjoy some more!

12.) “Silent Night” – Was first made public in Germany during a service on Christmas Eve.  A touching hymn at Christmas – hope you like it.

The UPC for I Dreamed A Dream is 000768476628.  The release date of Nov. 23 is on a Monday rather than the usual Tuesday street date to allow for the Thanksgiving holiday.

DAYTIME airs daily in more than 200 markets. To find where the show airs in your area, click here. Previous celebrity guests include Tim McGraw, Oprah Winfrey, Jay Leno, Donald Trump and many more.

For more information, visit www.stryper.com and www.daytimeonline.tv.

Integrity Music plans to introduce Whittaker, who has been a worship leader for more than a decade, through a digital EP scheduled for release in early 2010 with a full album slated to release later in the year.

Whittaker has earned a reputation as one of the most transparent and authentic worship leaders in the Church.  With more than 20,000 followers on his RagamuffinSoul.com blog and Twitter, Whittaker has harnessed the power of technology and social media to build and nurture community.  His fondness for knocking down Christian stereotypes was on full display in his appearance on The Learning Channel’s popular reality show “L.A. Ink,” during which Whittaker commissioned a tattoo of Saul’s conversion for his entire right arm.

“Unquestionably, Carlos has the ability to become one of the most respected and relevant voices in the every-changing landscape of worship music,” said Jay King, Vice President of Artist Development/A&R for Integrity.  “Along with leading worship at one of the biggest churches in the United States, Carlos is a born communicator and his unique and uninhibited style connects with a broad audience whether he’s leading from the platform of a church or writing for a constantly growing blog community, all of whom are eagerly awaiting his first worship record.”

“My life goal is to inspire a movement of authenticity among all generations of Christians that morphs the face of the evangelical church into a place of being real with yourself, others, and God,” says Whittaker.

Whittaker and his wife Heather Whittaker make up a blogging power couple in Ragamuffinsoul.com and Whittakerwoman.typepad.com.  They have 3 children – - Seanna and Sohalia and son Losiah, adopted from Seoul, Korea in 2006.

Nashville, TN – October 06, 2009 –Michael W. Smith and Jeremy Camp have added their voices to the “Hope For Samoa” free benefit concert being organized by The Katinas to aid their battered homeland from the after-effects of the of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake and resultant walls of 15-20 foot high tsunami waves that ravaged Samoa on September 29th. The Katinas lost both family and friends in the disaster.

The event will be held tomorrow–Wednesday, October 7th at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee-just outside of Nashville.

Among the other famous friends in music already announced to appear: GMA Female Vocalist of the Year – Natalie Grant and American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle. The church is located at 1210 Franklin Road in Brentwood. Nationally known radio personalities, Doug & Kim, from Salem Broadcasting’s popular ‘Doug & Kim in the Morning’ will emcee the event. Salem’s Nashville anchor station has also donated free radio spots for the event.

The benefit concert is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Admission is free with a love offering to benefit the “Samoa Relief Fund” established by the Katinas to offer both immediate and long term aid to the tiny island nation.

The Katinas, who had planned a November mission’s trip to their homeland, are moving up plans to travel to Samoa to offer their own “hands on” physical and spiritual support to the recovery and rebuilding process.

Donations may be made online at the group’s websites: http://www.katinamissions.org or http://www.thekatinas.com.  All donations are tax deductible.

Goodlettsville, TN – One of Christian music’s leading booking agencies, The Harper Agency has announced the addition of multi-award winning bluegrass Gospel group, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver to the agency’s list of artists. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver was awarded Vocal Group of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association seven consecutive years. The group also received the honor of IBMA’s Gospel Performance of the Year three years in a row, with recording projects released by Crossroads Entertainment. Lawson’s latest Gospel recording, Help Is On The Way, which released in the Spring of 2008, has afforded the popular group yet more success, as the title cut became the recording’s first Number One song on Southern Gospel Music’s Singing News Magazine National Top 80 Radio Airplay Chart, a first for the Bluegrass legend, and his second release, “Eternity Has Two” became a Top 5 release.

According to Jeff Harper, The Harper Agency will be scheduling Lawson and his popular group at Christian music events and concert events in churches nationwide. “We are very excited about the opportunity to work with this legendary group,” Harper states. “Over the years they have enjoyed tremendous success in the bluegrass music genre and with the success they have enjoyed in recent years in the Gospel music field, there is a great demand for them at Christian music events and churches, as well.”

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver may be scheduled by contacting the Harper Agency at 615-851-4500 or via e-mail at info@harperagency.com. A complete list of artists scheduled by the Harper Agency is available at www.harperagency.com

The ICM Awards to be Held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the Trinity Music City USA

NASHVILLE, TN-October 1, 2009—The 15th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Show (ICM Awards) announces that Craig Morgan, Point of Grace, Dennis Agajanian as well as the Carter Twins, Halfway to Hazard, Katalyst and Jordyn Shellhart are all confirmed to perform on the award show.  In addition, Megan Alexander, Host of Inside Edition, has been added as a presenter. The award show will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. CST at the Trinity Music City USA Auditorium located in Hendersonville, Tennessee.   Tickets are $45.00 and are on sale now. For tickets, more information and show highlights, please visit http://www.icm-awards.com/

Additional performers confirmed to date are: Multi-platinum recording artist Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; The Cherryholmes; 2008 ICM Entertainer of the Year CrossCountry the Band; Jason Crabb; Randy Houser; Adam Gregory; James Payne, 2008 ICM Music Evangelist of the Year and past ICM Living Legend winner; Tommy Brandt, 2008 ICM Male Vocalist, and 2008 Entertainer of the Year Del Way, who is also nominated for four ICM awards this year. Greg McDougal and female vocalist nominee Amanda Fessant have been added as well.  More performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

The annual Inspirational Country Music Awards are dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent among artists who perform Christian and Inspirational Country music. Inspirational Country music is inspired by Faith, Family, and Country™.  The 2009 ICM Awards will be aired on TCT Networks, The Worship Network, Cornerstone TeleVision, NRB Network,  My Family TV, CTS Television Canada, Angel Two Network, Total Living Network, Golden Eagle Broadcasting (Oral Roberts University) and DayStar Television Network.

The Inspirational Country Music Convention and Awards Show is a yearly event that draws music fans, broadcast media (radio, print, and TV) and the industries top artists to Nashville to showcase music and to discuss industry related issues.  The member-voted ICM Awards Show is the keynote event of Inspirational Country Week, slated for October 11-15, in Nashville, TN.  The convention and show are presented by the 501C-3 not-for-profit corporation, founded in 1992, The Christian Country Music Association. http://www.ccma.cc/