is Tom Jackson's DVD's worth it?

robbotbass · #1 08-24-2011, 02:53 PM

Just wondering if anyone has used, heard, or bought any of Tom Jacksons preformance DVD's. And if so what did you think of them?
Tom Jackson Productions

WJGreer · #2 08-24-2011, 03:02 PM

I bought "All Roads Lead To The Stage". In it, he covers a lot of ground and seems to identify the problems more than the solutions. I get the sense that the solutions are in the in-depth topical DVDs he also offers.

Tom seems to have lots of good stuff to say, and his philosophy is right on the money as far as I can tell. He's very good at luring you in with free non-information and then charging you to satisfy the curiosity he creates. There's nothing wrong with that, only I felt like there should have been more satisfaction in "All Roads Lead To The Stage" given what I paid for it.

robbotbass · #3 08-24-2011, 03:30 PM

I agree we got all road lead to the stage and it was helpful but I wish there was a little more substance or a little smaller price tag. Do you use any of his teaching on stage?

austentaciousC · #4 08-24-2011, 03:40 PM

I could write so much about this subject...im going to try my best to simplify this:

-The package he sells seems to say "you don't need charisma, stage experience, or knowledge of popular styles to appear experienced and charismatic onstage while constructing a musical set that is well balanced and contemporary"...

Basically its like saying you dont need to lift weights to be strong, or eat less to loss weight, or go to college to attain a degree in law.

Thats my opinion, and ive seen him live, and we have ALL of his DVD's (i didnt want to be there or buy those DVD's, but it wasnt my time or my money)

lowfreq33 · #5 08-24-2011, 03:43 PM

Several years ago a guy I played for hired him to come out for a day. He does know what he's talking about when it comes to creating a show and not just standing there and playing. I haven't seen the dvd's though.

wyliee · #6 08-24-2011, 03:45 PM

I've attended several of his classes he teaches at the Christian Musician Summit.

He covers a lot of material in the classes and it is valuable to see him interact with a live band. I've used most of what I've learned from those classes on stage. (ie. song order/flow, interaction on stage, etc...)

I've thought about the DVDs as well, but they are pretty spendy. Then again, if your live show needs a lot of improvement, the DVDs might be spot on for you. (Try videotaping yourself live if you think you do just fine on stage. The camera won't lie....)

Not to derail the thread, but the CMS conferences cost less than a Tom Jackson DVD and there are many other classes you can attend during the conference.

Full disclosure: I work for CMS productions at the Pacific Northwest conference. Me do grunt work, lift heavy things...

robbotbass · #7 08-24-2011, 03:51 PM

I saw him at Sminar in the Rockies a few years back. We got his DVD's and honestly we used more of his business model then the live preformance side of things. To be honest it would be good to have a privet session with him. Our little band can't really afford that. And really our live show isn't really needing alot of tweeking these days. I think he's good for a young band. but for the vets who have done the song and dance it's pretty elementry.

TBrett · #8 08-25-2011, 08:59 PM

A friend lent me Jackson's DVD (I'm a lead singer/front-woman). It was interesting and a good reminder about some of the fundamentals of performance, but in my case, I didn't feel it had enough substance that I wanted my own copy. For less experienced performers, I could see how it might be helpful, though, and I can imagine that his classes are more in-depth than the DVD. Bottom line, it's probably a good thing for all performing musicians to check out at least once. I also agree that videotaping the band is really important, both during rehearsal and in performance. Our guitarist is working through a bunch of performance concerns and his girlfriend often comes to rehearsal with her (new hi def!) camera so he can see what he's doing and how he comes across. He has seen Jackson's DVD, too, but the video is what's really helping him develop his live show.

BluezBassist · #9 08-25-2011, 11:34 PM

We split the cost of the discs within the band so it wasn't too hard on the wallet...I certainly have learned a lot...One of the big things it helped us with was arrangements...Instead of just learning the songs and playing them as close to the original as possible, we play with the arrangements to create some of Tom's "moments" and it really does turn heads, even in a bar where not everyone is paying attention...

We're a country/classic rock band with a girl singer and in the year that we've been trying to get some of Tom's ideas into our live shows we've consistantly wowed even the fans who come out show after show and know all our tricks...One of the earlier posts mentioned the business model and it is pretty good too. Lots of common sense material that is easy to understand and work into the band...bottom line, I love the discs and would encourage you to look into them if you have the means...

robbotbass · #10 12-08-2011, 08:52 PM

Well speaking of which anyone want to buy the DVD set i'll sell them cheap!

Chuck King · #11 12-09-2011, 01:21 PM

I have his DVD set and I do not regret spending the money for it. The main benefit to digesting all of it is that it causes you to think about your show, and indeed the whole craft of performing, in a new way (for most people, anyhow). The information could be presented more clearly and concisely, but I think just about anybody could benefit from his approach.

Don't think of it as giving you a formula---he does some of that, but slavishly following his directions will not work for everybody in every case. Rather, his program gives you tools to improve your show.

One caveat: after studying his stuff, you will become painfully aware of the shortcomings in shows by other people, including very successful bands that really should know better.

mikegug · #12 12-09-2011, 04:09 PM

I bought the VHS tapes on eBay. Cheap.

Good info in it. If your singer thinks they know it all and doesn't want to listen, well.... Let's just say I'm glad I didn't buy full-price DVD's.

It has a lot of small things you can do better... and let's face it, there is a difference between mediocre bands and great bands. They play the same songs, but it's attention to the small details that makes a great band. That goes for sound and visual.

For instance: why do you take the guitar cases off the stage when you play? Because it looks that much better! Small effort: big difference. (That example wasn't on the tape, but you get the idea)

The DVD's descriptions don't really nail down which one I need. They all seem to touch on something different. That's frustrating. If I'm gonna spend $120, it'd better be what I need. I don't want to call the company only to hear, "Oh! You needed to buy THIS one!"

I'm glad I bought the set.

MNAirHead · #13 12-09-2011, 05:50 PM

I've seen them - useful of you actually do what he says

electro61 · #14 07-16-2012, 02:36 PM

Hey robbotbass, still interested in selling the Tom Jackson DVD set? Shoot me a pm with the details. I'm interested

Roy Vogt · #15 07-16-2012, 02:40 PM

Anything that takes you in the direction of business, branding, a career trajectory, etc is probably worth it. I'm reading this right now and despite the ridiculous title and the American Idol cachet it's worth checking out (literally, I got it from the library!):
http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Up-Dawg-...at%27s+up+dawg

EddiePlaysBass · #16 07-17-2012, 02:12 AM

So you started this thread just to plug your second-hand sale?

batukealo · #17 02-05-2013, 06:26 PM

i'm interested i'm buying the dvd......inbox me at:
batukealo@yahoo.com
i'll pay with paypal or credit card....
thanxs

batukealo · #18 02-05-2013, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbotbass

Well speaking of which anyone want to buy the DVD set i'll sell them cheap!

im interested in the dvd