'Spirit of the Season' Holiday Tour Ticket Giveaway

Emmy-winning Musician is awarding Free Concert Tickets

A simple click on your computer mouse or a quick thumb-touch on your laptop keypad. While that is all the effort that it takes, the outcome will lead to an unforgettable experience. This can only mean one thing: a Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience “Like and Share” Facebook contest.

From now until November 25, Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience will be hosting a ticket giveaway. Four lucky BBE fans will win a pair of tickets to attend any of the ten “Spirit of the Season” Holiday Tour shows. To enter the contest, simply go to the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience Facebook page and like the November 18 post. Then share the graphic with your friends so they have the potential to embark on this incredible opportunity. If you and a friend plan to attend a show together, your chances will doubled when you both like the contest post. 

Like & Share this contest post on Facebook!


Again, four winners will be announced on November 25. Below are the following Holiday Tour dates and venues:
 

12/05: Rochester, MN, Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall, 7:30 p.m.

12/10: Alexandria, MN, Alexandria Area Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/11: Sioux City, IA, Sioux City Orpheum, 7:30 p.m.
12/14: Willmar, MN, Willmar Education & Arts Center (WEAC), 7:00 p.m.
12/15: Sauk Rapids, MN, Sauk Rapids Rice High School Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/16: Burnsville, MN, Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/17: Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux Falls Orpheum Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/18: Omaha, NE, Joslyn Art Museum – Witherspoon Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
12/19: Urbandale, IA, Urbandale High School Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

12/27: Glencoe, MN, Glencoe City Center – Grand Ballroom, 7:00 p.m.

Shaun Johnson looks forward to seeing you at the show – do not miss out on this fantastic, free, and easy opportunity!

Rochester kicks off 2013 Holiday Tour on December 5

In just over a month, the 2013 Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience “Spirit of the Season” Holiday Tour will take flight from Rochester, Minnesota. On December 5, at 7:30pm, the first of ten December shows will treat Minnesota’s third largest city to a night of contemporary big band music with a pop flair at Mayo Civic Center's Presentation Hall. The folllowing is a brief background on the Rochester venue and a list of tips for attending the event.

Rochester's Mayo Civic Center

Rochester has rich tradition of performing arts and Shaun Johnson BBE could not be more honored to kick off the tour in such a storied city. The Mayo Civic Center, a venue that also has a rich history, has four main performance facilities. Presentation Hall, the premier concert facility, is where Shaun and a collection of superior big band musicians will take the stage on December 5.

In 1938, community leaders deemed the original “Mayo Civic Auditorium” as the area’s premier entertainment venue. Since then, the city has continued to expand and update its facilities. Now the largest event center in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, the Mayo Civic Center plays host to over 1300 events per year. The way in which Mayo Civic Center is positioned in the Rochester community makes it an ideal place to host a winter concert. Here are a few tips for attending the show:

Parking
• Look for city wide “Parking Logos”. They will direct you to open parking lots and ramps.
• Rochester meter parking and parking ramps are FREE after 5pm.
• In addition to the ramps, Civic Center “South” Lot has 240+ parking spaces available.

Get Involved 
• Join the facebook event page.
• “Like” and “follow” Shaun Johnson BBE for news, photos, and cool contests leading up to and continuing through the Holiday Tour. 
• "Spirit of the Season" Holiday Tour dates and locations. 
• Who is Shaun Johnson?

More Ideas 
• Planning to purchase “What’ll I Do” but don’t want to wait in line at the show? Order your copies here. 
• Consider booking a night or weekend in one of Rochester’s 5000 hotel rooms.

Pre-order What'll I Do

We are excited to announce access to pre order your copy of What'll I do. All shipments will go out after November 1st. Take advantage of FREE shipping on 2 or more CD's.


Click here to PRE-order your copy NOW! http://www.shaunjohnsononline.com/store


What'll I Do

Spiderman

One for My Baby (and Another One for the Road)

Devil's in the Jukebox

What'll I Do

Brother Lee

Birth of the Blues

Hallelujah

Can I Steal a Little Love

Stay

Go Light Your World

My Girl Tonight (LIVE)

I Need You By My Side (LIVE)

WHAT'LL I DO

The BBE's first studio album, "What'll I  Do"  is about to be released!  And, like all musical projects, there is a story.  

I wanted people to see the beginning of this band and, to that end, decided to put rehearsals, special guests, practices, and first read-throughs on the BBE YouTube channelhttp://www.youtube.com/gobos2.  The initial response to these videos made me wonder if the band might put together a CD of the most "liked" songs... go into the studio and re-record a few of your favorites, now that we've had a chance to make them our own.  

I thought about calling the CD, "YouTube Sessions" but decided that we may get into some legal gray areas with that title... so instead, I named it after the first song we recorded for the album.  Like our shows, we featured the whole band as well as smaller configurations to highlight the MANY talents of the instrumentalists.  

I chose songs which run the gamut, but which are all in the style of big band or at least the BBE's version of a big band.   So, you will get to hear "Spiderman" and "Can I Steal a Little Love" from our show, but you will also hear Jeff Carver (our trumpet player) play swampy, New Orlean's style jazz licks on "Devil's in the Jukebox" before switching to sweet melodies on the title track.  You will hear our intern, Nick, join in on the harmonies of Citizen Cope's "Brother Lee," my a cappella peer, Greg Bannwarth, add vocal percussion to "Birth of the Blues,"  Aaron Moe, make you feel like you just stepped into the Copa Room on "One for My Baby (And Another One for the Road)," and hear Dave Stanoch (band leader and percussionist) on a special, live bonus track - just as if he was in your living room.  Too, we've included "Hallelujah" and "Go Light Your World" based solely on your requests. 

I cannot wait to see where we go from here.  I know I will look back on the days of recording with the best of memories, but I'm already looking ahead with even more excitement to your response.  

What'll I Do

Spiderman 

One for My Baby (and Another One for the Road)

Devil's in the Jukebox

What'll I Do

Brother Lee

Birth of the Blues

Hallelujah

Can I Steal a Little Love

Stay

Go Light Your World

My Girl Tonight (LIVE)

I Need You By My Side (LIVE)

The History of Music Recording

Do you ever wonder what music was like before iPods and Mp3 players? For starters, audio devices weren’t as compact as they are now and you couldn’t download music with the click of a button. Here is a brief history of recording that will explain just how far we’ve come in the world of music!

The Record Player: 1920s

Recording technology started out with an acoustic horn instead of electric motors or amplifiers. The earlier record players relied on acoustic horns. However, as home radios became more popular the  record player evolved. People started purchasing the record player that had electric motors or amplifiers for better sound.

The Tape Recorder: 1940s-1950s

Tape recording brought a more convenient and inexpensive option to the music recording industry.  It allowed producers to alter the music. For example, they were able to cut sounds out, rearrange sounds, compile recordings, mix sounds and fade sound in or out. Before these features musicians either had to record their song perfectly or they had to remake the entire recording.

Stereo Sound: 1950s-1960s

Stereo sound included two microphones, two amplifiers and two loudspeakers.  The first stereo sound recordings were available on reel-to-reel tape.

The Cassette: 1960s-1980s

Cassettes ruled the music world for decades. Cassettes were the most popular recording devices for home recording and pre-recording listening applications. The cassette was the first movement toward personal audio.


The CD: 1990s-Present

When the compact audio disc (CD) was first introduced it wasn’t a big hit.  It took almost a decade for the CD to become more popular than the cassette but the CD eventually became the most popular home recording format. Today, iPods and Mp3 players have overtaken the CD.


If music recording had not evolved, we wouldn’t get to hear the great beats or the  music effects as well as we do today. Musicians weren’t able to make a mistake while recording unless they wanted to re-record the whole song!  Today we have the privilege of listening to music whenever and wherever we want to. The best part is, now we can listen to Big Band Music the right way—with ample volume and much appreciation!

Behind the Scenes with Shaun Johnson

1. Do you ever get nervous before a performance?
I do tend to get nervous before a performance. Often, the first song (and the audience's response) dictates the feel of each show for me. I have gleaned tips and tricks from voice lesson teachers and mentors to lessen the impact of that initial adrenaline rush, but I don't know that I've ever stepped on stage without a bit of fear. Healthy? I hope so. Too, it is easier for me to sing for strangers and much more difficult if I have close friends and family that I can see. I suppose I watch their reaction more closely and lose myself a little less in the songs.


2. Who is your favorite singer?
My favorite singer changes with my favorite ice cream. By that I mean that I love ALL ice cream and am willing to try any flavor that is labeled as such. I typically download 10 to 20 songs per week... artist's I've recently discovered or been turned on to by friends, artists I've read about or met in passing. I hesitate to make a list, as I will read the list next week and wonder what I was thinking. While I answered emails last night, my playlist included: "Golden" by Lady Antebellum, "February Seven" by the Avett Brothers, "Here Comes My Man" by the Gaslight Anthem, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Adam Levine, "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash, "Let it Be" the Beatle's "naked" mix, "The Sound of a Million Dreams" by David Nail, "One Lovely Day" by Citizen Cope, "Runaways" by the Killers, "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, "No Words" by the Script, "Gawd Above" by John Fullbright, and "I've Got a Crush on You" by Mayer Hawthorne.

3. What is your most memorable performance?
I would have to say my most memorable performance - as of late - was actually in my adopted hometown, Saint Cloud, MN. After we had finished the final chord of"Hallelujah" (about 1/2 way through the first half that evening), a gentleman from the balcony to my right stood up and shouted "Bravo!" I've performed on 1000's of stages over the last decade and don't remember that ever happening. Sometimes, it's the little things...


4. Which venue is your favorite (in which to perform)?
Typically, we perform in theaters, and some theaters definitely give off a vibe because of their history or because of cutting-edge technology, etc. But I have to say that my favorite venue always comes down to the people who populate it. Whether we perform for 30,000 or 30, the show's success hinges on the relationship between myself and the audience members. When those two are in synch, there is absolutely no better rush.


5. What is your all time favorite song?
Unfortunately, I don't have an all time favorite song. I like songs for different reasons... for perfection, for storytelling, for mood and emotion. To me, music can bridge all gaps. Two people who don't understand each other's dialects can still find common ground in a melody. I wish that, like a movie, our lives had a soundtrack, and I suppose (in some ways) they do. So at this moment, I may love Ray Charles, and his expression may fit my needs but in a few minutes, I will be moved by an up and coming songwriter from Nashville.


6. What is your favorite song to perform?
Oftentimes I like to perform the song that is the newest to the show. At that point, I am still experimenting... still a bit nervous... and am not sure where the song will "go," or where it might fit. The newest songs tend to have an energy that can't be exactly duplicated as the song ages. Currently, I love performing our version of "Spiderman."


7. What is the funniest thing that ever happened during a performance?
We are a fairly loose group and are able to roll with the proverbial punches. Sometimes, the funniest moments are inside jokes with a bunch of guys you have gotten to know throughout the tour. I'm not sure if it's funny, but I once performed at a college in West Virginia (which shall remain nameless) during Thanksgiving break. The people who hired us forgot that nearly the entire student body would be gone. so we ended up performing for a few foreign exchange students who could not return home for the holidays, and some food service workers who'd pop their heads out from the kitchen in between baking tasks.


8. What is the largest audience you have performed for? 

32,000 people. The size was a little disconcerting. I remember seeing people clap and cheer but then hearing those cheers seconds later. However, I think I could get used to it. Ha!


9. What is Jay Leno like?
I met him briefly before a show in Southern California. I'm sure he remembers me clearly. Okay, maybe not. He looked just like he did on TV, but we did not become friends. He watched a bit of our show and we watched a little of his.


10. What is your favorite book?
I like anything that is historical and/or non-fiction. However, my dad used to tell me that learning should be a challenge (Chemistry for me), so I do try to deviate... to push the boundaries. Recently I loved a short book entitled "The River of Doubt" (about Theodore Roosevelt) and am currently reading "Why Does the World Exist."

1. Do you ever get nervous before a performance?
I do tend to get nervous before a performance. Often, the first song (and the audience's response) dictates the feel of each show for me. I have gleaned tips and tricks from voice lesson teachers and mentors to lessen the impact of that initial adrenaline rush, but I don't know that I've ever stepped on stage without a bit of fear. Healthy? I hope so. Too, it is easier for me to sing for strangers and much more difficult if I have close friends and family that I can see. I suppose I watch their reaction more closely and lose myself a little less in the songs.


2. Who is your favorite singer?
My favorite singer changes with my favorite ice cream. By that I mean that I love ALL ice cream and am willing to try any flavor that is labeled as such. I typically download 10 to 20 songs per week... artist's I've recently discovered or been turned on to by friends, artists I've read about or met in passing. I hesitate to make a list, as I will read the list next week and wonder what I was thinking. While I answered emails last night, my playlist included: "Golden" by Lady Antebellum, "February Seven" by the Avett Brothers, "Here Comes My Man" by the Gaslight Anthem, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Adam Levine, "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash, "Let it Be" the Beatle's "naked" mix, "The Sound of a Million Dreams" by David Nail, "One Lovely Day" by Citizen Cope, "Runaways" by the Killers, "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, "No Words" by the Script, "Gawd Above" by John Fullbright, and "I've Got a Crush on You" by Mayer Hawthorne.

3. What is your most memorable performance?
I would have to say my most memorable performance - as of late - was actually in my adopted hometown, Saint Cloud, MN. After we had finished the final chord of"Hallelujah" (about 1/2 way through the first half that evening), a gentleman from the balcony to my right stood up and shouted "Bravo!" I've performed on 1000's of stages over the last decade and don't remember that ever happening. Sometimes, it's the little things...


4. Which venue is your favorite (in which to perform)?
Typically, we perform in theaters, and some theaters definitely give off a vibe because of their history or because of cutting-edge technology, etc. But I have to say that my favorite venue always comes down to the people who populate it. Whether we perform for 30,000 or 30, the show's success hinges on the relationship between myself and the audience members. When those two are in synch, there is absolutely no better rush.


5. What is your all time favorite song?
Unfortunately, I don't have an all time favorite song. I like songs for different reasons... for perfection, for storytelling, for mood and emotion. To me, music can bridge all gaps. Two people who don't understand each other's dialects can still find common ground in a melody. I wish that, like a movie, our lives had a soundtrack, and I suppose (in some ways) they do. So at this moment, I may love Ray Charles, and his expression may fit my needs but in a few minutes, I will be moved by an up and coming songwriter from Nashville.


6. What is your favorite song to perform?
Oftentimes I like to perform the song that is the newest to the show. At that point, I am still experimenting... still a bit nervous... and am not sure where the song will "go," or where it might fit. The newest songs tend to have an energy that can't be exactly duplicated as the song ages. Currently, I love performing our version of "Spiderman."


7. What is the funniest thing that ever happened during a performance?
We are a fairly loose group and are able to roll with the proverbial punches. Sometimes, the funniest moments are inside jokes with a bunch of guys you have gotten to know throughout the tour. I'm not sure if it's funny, but I once performed at a college in West Virginia (which shall remain nameless) during Thanksgiving break. The people who hired us forgot that nearly the entire student body would be gone. so we ended up performing for a few foreign exchange students who could not return home for the holidays, and some food service workers who'd pop their heads out from the kitchen in between baking tasks.


8. What is the largest audience you have performed for? 

 32,000 people. The size was a little disconcerting. I remember seeing people clap and cheer but then hearing those cheers seconds later. However, I think I could get used to it. Ha!


9. What is Jay Leno like?
I met him briefly before a show in Southern California. I'm sure he remembers me clearly. Okay, maybe not. He looked just like he did on TV, but we did not become friends. He watched a bit of our show and we watched a little of his.


10. What is your favorite book?
I like anything that is historical and/or non-fiction. However, my dad used to tell me that learning should be a challenge (Chemistry for me), so I do try to deviate... to push the boundaries. Recently I loved a short book entitled "The River of Doubt" (about Theodore Roosevelt) and am currently reading "Why Does the World Exist." 

Is there a questions you want answered by Shaun Johnson?