Free at Last / What Next?

[yanni5]

I do have a couple of questions for our fellow Haliens that attended the events in Vegas. In light of how fond we are of Haley as nicely-aged or aging fans...

1. What was the demographic of people in the bar watching Haley perform? Were there a lot of Haliens from her peer group that were locals or flew in for the event? Her friends from Chicago, LA, any large block of young people passionately whooping it up? These questions are all part of...it was wonderful that Haley showed her appreciation for her passionate and mature fans afterwards, but where were the younger Haliens during this post-party....still there I hope?

Hey Buzz, being in a casino bar, no really young ones obviously, however I would say the crowd was a mix of all adult ages. While most seemed to be in the 30's and up, there were some groups of younger people. One couple in particular that comes to mind on Saturday had to be in their early 20's I would guess. They caught my eye repeatedly as they were dancing and swaying to most of her songs, as well as mouthing all the words. They were definitely big Haley fans. I remember thinking it was good to see someone so young being that familiar with Haley. As far as where they were post party, I was too in awe of the whole thing at that point to really pay attention.

[john]

Watching Haley singing on the Vegas videos reminds me of the extraordinary talent and passion for music that she possesses. Her scatting is unbelievably good. Eventually Haley will have her HOTRs moment where the wow factor blasts into the consciousness of the general public -- across age groups. In the meantime she's digging the life.

I made a couple posts in recent weeks saying that it would be good for Haley to put some time in playing clubs and little gigs with a band. This Cosmo experience further convinces me that this would be great for Haley. With a dozen gigs like the one in Vegas she would start to get really polished I think.

Haley feeds off an audience and those little promo shows for Free she was doing seemed deadening after a while. The Lollas and Carnegie Hall appearances are so sporadic. And she can't control the agenda at the the big venues or little radio station promo shows like she can in a small club where she's the boss on the stage.

As far as the teenybopper audience goes, Haley could have them if she choose to go that direction. With a tiny bit of promo in Step Up she's got a lot of interest and buzz for Undone. It is sitting right there, but it is not a direction that interests her. A lesser talent or artistically committed person would jump on Undone in a second and would be promoting the hell out of it right now.

[Swansteel]

I think the jazzy vegas performances may be a huge step in Haley's career growth. I have loved everything I have read and watched. That said, I don't want jazzy-Haley to take over. What drew my to Haley is her versatility with blues, rock and even pop. I do want jazzy-Haley to influence her songs, but I love, love, love the variety. It may take her longer to find that mass core audience, but it will be worth it and will last a lifetime (IMO).

I don't think you have to worry about Haley turning into a strictly jazz artist. One thing she said at the Saturday after party (I STILL can't believe I was there for that) was that she likes to sing EVERYTHING, from which I inferred she meant she has no intention of limiting herself. She loves jazz and it is deeply ingrained in her heart, but I think she doesn't want to be pigeon-holed into any one genre.

[Tusk]

If I could afford it, I'd buy a ticket for Haley and gang right now, to go over to England/Europe....something in me is aching to see the reception she would get

[Himm2]

Have her play in Liverpool in a show similar to Ed Sullivan and instead of the Beatles invasion here almost 50 years ago it would be cool to see a Haley Invasion over there to reverse the favor.

[kaypea]

I think that Keith is still in the clouds from last night.I'm curious-wouldn't he be travelling with someone else whose involved and might know where they're going? If not-someone should tell him that New York is a really big place.

That's hilarious kaypea...maybe Keith is on a need to know basis...

I'm glad that I finally saw on the other thread what the actual event is.I was beginning to think that Keith had somehow gotten it wrong and would be the only one showing up in NY.

[john]

K'naan Warsame = 166K followers. He is followed by Courtney Leonard. He just had an opinion piece - "Censoring Myself for Success" - published in the NYT on Sunday: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/opinio...d=tw-share

Interesting article. Relevant to the discussion here about audiences.

. . . Now I have recorded three albums. A few days before I was to record the third, which was released in October, I received a phone call saying my record label wanted a little talk — before the songs were written. (I like to write in the moment.) For the first two albums, there were no such talks. But that was before my name was familiar. So let me start my story there. . .

Which brings me to our little chat. Over breakfast in SoHo, we talked about how to keep my new American audience growing. My lyrics should change, my label’s executives said; radio programmers avoid subjects too far from fun and self-absorption.

And for the first time, I felt the affliction of success. When I walked away from the table, there were bruises on the unheard lyrics of my yet-to-be-born songs. A question had raised its hand in the quiet of my soul: What do you do after success? What must you do to keep it?

If this was censorship, I thought, it was a new kind — one I had to do to myself. The label wasn’t telling me what to do. No, it was just giving me choices and information, about my audience — 15-year-old American girls, mostly, who knew little of Somalia. How much better to sing them songs about Americans.

http://cms.interscope.com/knaan

[stairway2halien]

http://cms.interscope.com/knaan

http://cms.interscope.com/haleyreinhart

[Tusk]

http://cms.interscope.com/knaan

http://cms.interscope.com/haleyreinhart

That just makes me sad

[lovinghaleyr]

If I could afford it, I'd buy a ticket for Haley and gang right now, to go over to England/Europe....something in me is aching to see the reception she would get

TUSK:At this point and after your incredible job on the COSMO you deserved
the 2012 award for the BEST HALIENFAN on the world.Thank's very much.