Iwo loba lyrics

Chorus
Iwo loba,awimayewun
Iwo loba,alewilese
Iwo loba,atofarati
Iwo loba,asoromatase...

Solo..
From age to ages..
You are the same lord.
From years to come..
You are the same ..
You never change ..
You always me..
Now and forever... Forevermore..

Stage performance encounter

Stage Performance Tips for Singers + What You Should Never Do

JAYCROWN ELITE | 18/03/2020

Stage performance techniques are ideas singers can use transform them from an average performer to a potential star. Learning how to perform on stage is a skill that all singers should master if they wish to be successful in the music industry.

Making a successful career in any form of live entertainment typically involves performing on a stage. There are a lot of cool things you can do on stage while performing as well as things you should never do. Check out our stage performance tips below.

How to perform on stage

These are the essential stage performance techniques, as well as some cool ideas to do on stage. Follow these steps to be a good performer whenever you sing on stage, even if it’s your first time.

• Make sure you learn your lyrics
• Practice performing as much as possible
• Sing with emotion
• Break from your character
• Know your audience
• Acknowledge other performers
• Get physical while on stage
• Make use of the whole space and get close
• Express your emotions physically
• Let the audience see your eyes

Tips for performing on stage for the first time

#1 Make sure you learn your lyrics

There’s no point in working on any of these other tips if you can’t remember lyrics. Practise singing them a cappella and this will help you remember them. Nothing looks more unprofessional than a singer with a lyric sheet or a singer that can’t remember their own song.

#2 Do as much practice as possible

Practising your songs is essential at any stage of your career. Get it drilled in again and again so that performing it becomes second nature. This way, you can focus more on performing on stage and interacting with the crown instead of trying to remember your song.

#3 Sing with emotion

Music can stir up a lot of emotion easily and quickly and can make for a ‘magic moment’. By adding emotion to a song this will not only demonstrate your ability to connect with a song, but it will also draw audience engagement into your performance.

Choosing the right song will help you to create audience engagement. If you can connect with the song emotionally you are more likely to sing from the heart, making you feel more confident in your performance and believable to the audience.

After choosing a song you can connect with, the use of various dynamics and tone to your singing can also help add emotion to a song. However, if you have to manufacture it, it’s fake and will be picked up by the audience.

Cool things to do on stage while performing

#4 Break from your character

Singers who occasionally break from character can make themselves a lot more relatable to their audience. Don’t be afraid to show a small crack in your persona.

For example, if it’s a serious song with a sad theme, perhaps ramp up the emotionat the end, showing how the song has affected you. Perhaps you might even have a small anecdote you can tell the audience about, or offer a back story to the song’s lyrics.

#5 Know your audience

Before you show up to your next gig, do your research into the local area. There might be some recent news on local websites that you can refer to when opening up a song. This will immediately create a connection with your audience and let them know this isn’t just another gig.

Whatever you do, don’t get the name of the city wrong. Touring artists have a lot to remember already but this happens far more than you think.

#6 Acknowledge other performers

If you are singing with a band, then give them their share of the limelight.

You can introduce everyone at the start of the performance. Alternatively take it in turns with the introductions, perhaps during a solo section or when a song finishes where a particular member played a large part.

The band will appreciate this, and the audience will also be able to put names to the faces entertaining them.

How to move on stage while singing

How you move on stage when singing will add a huge dynamic to your performance. Here are some tips for moving on stage and reasons why these simple hacks can lead to greater audience engagement and feedback.

#7 Get physical on stage

Moving around on stage is engaging for your audience and your energy is contagious. Ideally, learn the stage where you will be performing and, if you can, take dance lessons – singers can pick up some amazing tips from dancers (and even actors).

Also, focus on moving in a way that complements your song (tempo, mood and style).

By building rapport with your audience, they can quickly become your best allies. Singers who create a great connection can mask mistakes and mean that audience members are more likely to get into your performance and get involved too.

If you can come across as being likeable, the audience is far more likely to interact back with you. This will help you buzz off them and likewise, creating a stellar performance to remember.

#8 Make use of the whole space and get close

Physically moving to the front of the stage also helps to engage and connect with your audience.

It doesn’t mean you have to use every inch of the stage, but you don’t want to be anchored to the floor, so make sure you move around.

#9 Express your emotions physically

Your body language gives the audience an idea of how you’re feeling when you’re on stage and conveys the emotion of the song. Becoming comfortable enough to express your emotions on stage can take time but will come with practice.

This will also help with the trust factor, with the audience feeling that emotion and connecting with you better.

To encourage audience engagement, it’s important that your facial expression matches the feeling of the song. It’s no good having a frown on your face if the song is upbeat or a grin like a Cheshire cat if the song lyrics are full of emotion.

If your expressions aren’t matching the feeling of the song your audience won’t get into it as much. The most common cause of not matching facial expressions to songs is due to lack of confidence or focusing on words and timing.

A good way to combat this is to practice your song in front of a mirror and find an expression that looks genuine, click here for more advice on facial expressions.

#10 Let the audience see your eyes

While performing on stage making eye contact with the audience helps them to connect with you, it shows you’re confident and again adds to the interpretation of the song. Standing tall and having good posture not only helps your performance, it makes you look professional.

However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that manic energy and movement is going to carry you as a singer.

The energy you put into your movements should also be put into the singing too!

Things you should never do when performing on stage

It’s also important to know what not to do when performing on stage.

Whilst there are a multitude of cool things you can do plus great ways in which you can move, here are some things we advise you don’t do!

• Stop singing or get distracted by a heckler – it happens to the best singers!
• Scratch yourself unless you really, really, can’t wait.
• Tune-up your instrument or look unprepared.
• Say sorry and apologise when you make a mistake.
• Keep your eyes closed.
• Fall out with fellow musicians or audience members.
• Do more talking than actually performing.
• Let your ego get in the way of a great performance.
• Forget where it is you are playing and say the wrong city name.
• Get too drunk you can’t play and sing properly.

How and where to gain experience performing on stage

We see lots of singers enter our competitions who haven’t performed on stage before. Get ahead of the competition and perform wherever and whenever you can. Here are four actionable stage performance tips for singers that you can try out today to improve your live show.

#11 Consider busking for experience

Contact your local council and ask where and when it is OK to busk in your town centre. Not every council allows this, but if the opportunity is there then it can be an effective way to build up your confidence.

#12 Start small and work your way up to bigger gigs

Everyone has to start somewhere, but singing live can be daunting at first, consider hiring a venue and putting on a show for your family and friends, once comfortable you can work up to bigger gigs. Starting with smaller venues gives you time to adjust and improve your skills and makes it easier to land larger gigs in the future.

#13 Perform at open mic nights

Look around your local area for pubs/venues that host open mic nights, contact them and find out how to get involved. If you are under 18 let them know as some pubs won’t allow you to perform — though, most will allow it if accompanied by a parent or a guardian. If they hold frequent events, perform as often as possible to build your connections and build valuable performance experience. Networking is a great way of hearing about other live opportunities.

#14 Put on a live show at home

Do a private show at your house for your friends and family. Your friends can often be your biggest critics. This can be nerve-wracking but good friends will always back you when you need them to! Ask your friends and family for feedback to help you improve. Remember, this is an intimate gig not a show at the O2, so tailor your performance accordingly.

#15 Film yourself performing

If none of the above are possible, then film yourself performing, watch it back, show friends and family and ask them for areas you could improve. Keep an open mind and focus on those you can trust to be honest — it will help your stage performance skills and confidence in the long run!

How to own the stage for a memorable live performance

#16 Engage with the audience

It’s not all about the voice when performing; you need to be able to create audience engagement so they’re on your side. It is important to have a certain presence on stage, which lets the audience know that you are confident in your singing abilities.

This can range from simply smiling and giving eye contact to show you’re enjoying yourself, to using your eyes, face and body to reflect the emotions of the song.

#17 Make use of props

During your singing performance, make use of whatever props you have to work with. Choreograph and practise your routine; and if you get the opportunity, in advance, learn the stage so that you can use the space provided effectively. If you have a mic stand, use it during the softer bits and consider taking the mic out when the song gains pace.

#18 Consider bringing dancers on stage

If you are performing a fast-paced song on stage, why not bring some dancers — not only will you create a more enjoyable performance for the audience, it will be a more memorable one. Of course, the performance will only be as good as your worst dancer (so choose them carefully) and ensure you get involved in the routine so plenty of practice is essential! You will also have to consider your fitness if doing large parts of the routine otherwise it will affect your breathing and vocal control.

#19 Make an impression from beginning to the end

Walk confidently on stage and maintain that confidence throughout your performance. It’s easy to tell which performers are nervous when they walk on stage and it often takes a while to fade. The more you perform, the easier this should get.

#20 Talk to the audience during the performance between songs

Talking to the crowd. Announce yourselfwhen you come on stage (if you’ve not already been announced). If you are performing a full set, and you feel it is appropriate for the mood, use any transition period to introduce your next song and, at the end of your set, thank the audience and let them know you’re grateful that you have had the opportunity to perform for them.... 

#21 Coordinate your outfit

What you choose to wear can impact your performance and help with audience engagement. You may think the crazier you dress the more you will stand out, but you should ask yourself whether your outfit also matches the style of song you have chosen.

If no, then there’s no harm in re-thinking your outfit. Not everyone can pull off a Lady Gaga number.

Thanks for reading.. 

©tribe of david music 

HOW TO CONTROL MIC ON STAGE

Many singers struggle to control their mic technique so it is best to start practising this as soon as possible. We’ll cover everything that you need to know to help improve microphone technique for singers. It also includes some of those common questions such as why singers get so close to the microphone, what distance and how close you should sing to a mic, and more mic tips for vocals.

How to sing into a microphone

The first step towards good microphone technique is to establish is where you’re going to put your mouth. The distance between your face and the microphone can have a drastic effect on the sound. Some singers like to eat the mic and put it right up into their face. Others like to control their technique and pull away from it.

Understanding microphones and vocal dynamics help you find out how far you should put the microphone away from your mouth.  If you are a dynamic vocalist then your technique needs to practice pulling away. If you are consistently quiet then you need to get closer but your technique needs to manage the proximity effect.

How far should you hold a microphone away from your mouth?

You should hold the microphone at a distance of 10-20 centimetres away from your mouth.  You should hold it further away at a distance of up to 20cm when you sing higher or more powerful notes. If you move around and turn away from the stage always maintain the same distance. If you use it as part of your performance during instrumental breaks always make sure you bring it back to your mouth.

To put that into perspective, when holding the microphone, 10 – 20 centimetres is the distance the top of your little finger to your thumb. 

Why do singers put their mouth on the microphone?

Some singers put their mouth right onto the microphone. Putting their mouth so close is often known as eating the mic. When singers do this, they always keep a consistent distance between their mouth and the mic. You tend to find that this is something that energetic performers do as it can be hard for them to keep a steady distance between their mouth and microphone when jumping around on stage.

#1 Get comfortable with the microphone

Many singers when first starting out are very nervous when given a microphone for the first time & it often comes across in their performance.

Feeling tense and holding a mic awkwardly can affect your vocals more than you would imagine. Get to know the feeling of controlling a mic as early as possible by practising!

If you don’t own a microphone then use a prop; although it may seem a bit lame using a bottle or hairbrush will definitely get you used to that feeling and soon that mic will be just like an extension of your arm & more importantly, your voice!

#2 Sing into the mic

Make sure you are directly singing into the microphone. It’s one of the simplest mic techniques but it’s so SO important. Singing into a microphone allows all of your vocals to be fully projected.

Most microphones for singers have a radius around them that will detect noise. Great mic technique is about the importance of hitting this radius with every note you sing.

Sing with the microphone too far away from your mouth and you won’t allow the tones, dynamics & power of your vocal to be fully captured. Even as a great singer, your lack of control could put you at a disadvantage to others who have mastered their mic technique.

If you don’t, the projection of your vocal will be inconsistent and you’ll lose key elements in the performance of your song.

#3 Sing as you would usually

This may sound really obvious however there are many occasions when a singer has practised their song without amplification, absolutely nailed every note and brought it to life with beautiful dynamics, overall it’s sounding just right!

They then pick up a microphone and all of a sudden start singing with completely different power and volume and the whole thing just doesn’t sound or feel like how they practised it anymore.

This is especially vital for that all important sound check as the sound engineer will set your levels based on the vocal volume he or she hears.

If that changes dramatically or is inconsistent, in either the sound check or the actual performance, they’ll simply have a guess when to put your vocal level up and down.

Whether you manage to get away with it or not, it will by no means result in you sounding the best you could have.

#4 Avoid microphone feedback

Feedback is that awful sound the singer’s microphone gives out and causes everyone to wince a little. One of the most common ways for a singer’s microphone to affect performance is with feedback from the speakers or monitors. Take time to check where they’re situated on the stage & simply avoid getting too close.

#5 Eliminate vocal distortion

Distortion occurs for a couple of reasons, one of them being a singer holding the microphone too close or too far from their mouth. The distance from your mouth to the microphone is essential as it can make your vocals sound muffled and distant.

The other reason a singer might notice distortion is when the volume is too high on their microphone, keep the volume low enough to allow you to project.

Pro microphone techniques for singers:

#6Control your dynamics

A very common problem singer’s face during a performance is not getting the balance right between the backing track and the microphone. You want the backing track to be loud enough that you can hear it but also so you can hear yourself.

This can vary a lot depending on the quality & production of the track. If you don’t have a sound engineer, the best way to solve this is by trying out various settings until you’re happy.

Ideally, have a 3rd party present standing near the back of the room where you’ll be performing to ensure the microphone is loud enough for you to be heard but not be overpowering.

#7Pull away on high notes

To further avoid microphone feedback and distortion, pull the microphone away from your mouth on the high notes – how far you pull away really depends on the volume and power you sing them with.

Far too often, this is ill-timed by singers and they pull the mic away too quickly thus losing the projection where it’s needed most for impact. Timing is crucial and observing other seasoned singers can assist you to get this right.

Additional mic control tricks for singers

Having strong microphone technique can really help a singer enhance their performance. Breath control when holding a note is crucial.

If you are running low on a breath by the end of that all-important sustained note, a sudden dip in power is going to be very noticeable to your audience.

You could try pulling the microphone away then bring it back as the note ends. It sounds as if you held it consistently and the audience will be left remembering the power you still had to the very last second – impressive!

Mic Technique Related questions

We also wanted to answer some of the more common questions that are asked by singers relating to microphone technique. You can see those questions below with some short answers from our team.

Does a microphone affect your voice?

Yes, it does. Just like connecting an amp up to an electric guitar, a microphone can affect the recording quality and sound of your voice. The microphone quality will also play a factor; a cheap mic could make your voice sound middle, boomy, or crispy. An expensive mic tends to have a flatter frequency response and will give your voice a far better and accurate representation.

Why do singers pull the mic away?

Some singers will put the microphone away from their mouth when they are just about to hit a high note. They do this because it can help to prevent the signal from breaking up, as sound pressure will decrease the further away the source is – which means less distortion.

Why do singers kiss the mic?

Singers kiss the mic to help increase volume. By bringing the mic closer to their mouths, almost in a kissing fashion, it means lower notes can be amplified more.

In which position should a microphone be held?

You should hold handheld microphones just below your mouth or to the side of your mouth. A great microphone technique for singers is to not hold the mic directly in front of your mouth

What is the proximity effect?

This is an effect that applies to all directional microphones. A directional microphone simply means that it is focused to pick up the sound on a certain side. These microphones will get more bassy as you get closer to them.

This can result in your voice sounding fuller but it can also have negatives. If your voice is already bass heavy then these frequencies could suffocate the rest of your voice, making it sound muddy and without any clarity.

You need to control your technique to understand when it is appropriate to utilise the proximity effect. For instance, if there are fewer instruments playing then use the proximity effect to fill out the sound a bit more. If there is a lot going on with the music then the proximity effect could mask your voice and even other instruments.

Thanks for reading 

©tribe of david music 

I AM FREE LYRICS BY JAYCROWN

KEY  Eflat
(INTRO).
Oh oh oh ,oh oh oh oh ---oh----oh
Oh oh oh ,oh oh oh oh----oh----oh /2CE

*SOLO*
i am heal
i am free
by the power of holy ghost
he sent my life for free
i am a cham-pi-on
i am a victorious
through the power of God
that strenghten me

*CHORUS*
Oh oh oh, i gat my vic-to-ry
oh oh oh, you set my so-oul free.(2*)

(HOOKS)
in you O' lord i'm a conqueror
your mighty power is glowing in me
your compassion over me never fail
your word set me free
i'm a vic-to-rious in you

*SOLO*
In time of trouble, you're there for me.
when i am weak, you make me strong
no one can compare the way you love me
On a solid rock i stand my feet
with you alone,i know i am free
i am a conqueror---rrr
(i am a champion-----nn) /2CE

*BACKUPS*
(back to hooks)

CHORUS
oh oh oh, i gat my victory...(C&R)
oh oh oh, you set my soul free..(C&R)

*LEADVOC..
yea, right now..
Say something good to your life
declaring, declaring ,declaring
and say...

*BRIDGE*
i am free....C&R
i am heal.....C&R
i am strong .....C&R
i'm a champion ..C&R
Call--/No matter how i'm falling
Resp../ I will rise
Call--/ no matter things may be.
resp--/ i'll be strong
call../No matter devil may try me
resp../ i will won
call../ becuase i'm a champion
resp../ I'm a champion

i am free...(C&R)
i am heal...(C&R)
i am strong ..(C&R)
i'm a champion (C&R)

*END*
Chorus in acapella
 BY LEADVOC

SAME GOD LYRICS

SAME GOD LYRIC BY JAYCROWN

Solo....
Talaba ma fi o weee
talo le-e ba o dogba
in heaven and the earth
only you are God ---(sustain)
Talabama fi o wee
Tã lo le ba òdò gbà
no one else but you oh God
you are God alone
mountains bow before ur throne |
oceans praise your only name    |
for who you are.....|  2ce
you are God that never change|


CHORUS
You're the same God
you are God that never fail
your name will never change.
your power remain the same


RAP
If he did it before
he gonna do it again
same God right nw.
same God back then.
And the God of the good time
still God of the bad time
the God of the day
still God in the night
way maker,master planner
cre--ator ,of the universe.
you keep on prooving yourself
over and over again
and the fact is that.
you never fail,never change
you're the God of ages .
till now,you still the same



Hook..
heaven and earth
it maybe pass away
but your word will never fail never   change
right from beginning you are king of kings
and lord of lords
till now you still dey reîgn
no one can take ur place

BACK TO CHORUS
4CE (4 is acapella)






HEBREWS 13 VS 8


I;G  @OFFICIAL_JAYCROWN

LEARN HOW TO SCORE SONGS

LEARN HOW TO SCORE SONG…
Some singers who do not understand what it means to score a song thinks it mean listen to the song and learn the lyrics. NO NO NO NO.

Firstly Scoring a song greatly depends on your level in music, listening fast and technicality of the song.

You don't score a song anyhow;
it needs ATTENTION and CONCENTRATION.

For the fact that you are enjoying the song and singing along does not mean you have scored it. Now the Big Question is:

WHAT IS SCORING OF A SONG?
HOW CAN I SCORE A SONG?

If you can answer the first question, then you have 70% idea on how to answer the second.

SCORING A SONG
It is the tenacity and ability of literally knowing how a song was written, structured, and recorded. You inversely become the owner and producer of that song. This means that, you have to know the lyrics, the harmony, melody, rhythm etc. (I will break it down, relax)

How To Score a song
The HOW-TO of Scoring a song entails the above and what am about to write now.

1. JUST LISTEN:
Get your phone or mp3 player listen to the song, enjoy the melody. Don't start learning it. Feel the weight and sweetness of the song. You can do this once or twice.

2. KNOW THE STRUCTURE OF THE SONG:
Know how it started either from the intro to the chorus, from chorus to verse or vice versa. This will help you achieve alot at the long run. This is the first stage of scoring a song.

3. WRITE THE LYRICS:
Getting the lyrics down on a notebook will help you when learning the lyrics. I want to warn you. Write down the song by yourself, I don't advice you to go to internet and copy and paste. It is good to check it online, but listen to it if it tallies to what you are hearing, abeg o. You maybe hearing VISION and seeing MISSION online. Be careful about that.

4. LEARN ALL VOCAL PARTS, BREAKS E.T.C.:
This is where I sometime begin to have problem with my choir. Some will be saying I'm an alto singer so l scored only d alto part  Ahhh. My dear you are a SINGER NOT ALTO SINGER. Learn all the parts. Beside Singers should know how to swap parts. Know when each part comes in, when the sing MELODIOUSLY OR HARMONIOUSLY.

5. BE THE LEAD SINGER AND THE BACK UP SINGERS:
Try as much as possible to handle the lead vocal part and the back up. This helps you to correct others even the lead singer when he or she flops. Learn everything both d ad-libs. Everything, Everything.

6. LEARN THE INSTRUMENTATION SOUND:
Don't say you don't know how to play, my dear learn the sound oo. The keyboardist may not get d melody or solo part. You will tell him, see! It's not like that play pi ni ra ra ni. (Lol). Knowing the sound arrangement will help you when singing.

7. SING ALONG:
You sing alongside with the music even if you have not or have perfected the song. Try to sing the same thing you hear in the song. I know voice texture differs but try do it with your own voice texture. You might be scoring Tamela Mann Song while your voice texture is like Don Jazzy or Eben. Do it. But don't go off.

8. TRY TO SING WITHOUT LISTENING OR PLAYING THE SONG:
This where you know whether you have been joking since you started scoring. Most of us tend to sing well with musical instrument but remove the beat, They sound Wack. My dear, sing the song without playing it. Where you make mistake play the song and correct yourself.

9. OWN THE SONG:
I stated earlier that scoring a song means you are now the owner, music producer singer etc. If you can make the song yours. Then you can take it to any level.

  With these Few tips, you can score a song without any difficulty.

(THANKS FOR READING AND UNDERSTANDING)

@I AM  JAYCROWN

How to increase charisma

7 Ways to Increase Your Charisma, According to Psychologists

Anyone can become more charming and engaging over time--all it takes is a little practice.

By Shana LebowitzBusiness Insider

GETTY IMAGES

As is the case with most personality traits, some people are naturally more charismatic than others. (Think Oprah Winfrey or Bill Clinton.)

But contrary to popular belief, anyone can become more charismatic over time.

"Charisma is simply the result of learned behaviors," says Olivia Fox Cobane, author of "The Charisma Myth."

In fact, Ronald Riggio, a professor at Claremont McKenna College who's spent years researching the development of this mysterious quality, has found that there are many people with untapped "charisma potential." Riggio described experimentsin which researchers have successfully trained people on specific social and emotional skills that contribute to charisma.

We spoke to Riggio about some of those skills and checked out other scientific research on strategies for developing charisma. Below, we've rounded up seven easy ways to become more charismatic.

Additional reporting by Drake Baer.

1. Start showing more expression in your face.

One strategy Riggio recommends is being more expressive with your face. "Learn to express emotions more clearly and more accurately," he told Business Insider.

Writing for Psychology Today, Riggio suggested practicing different expressions in a mirror and soliciting feedback from others on how well you're communicating your feelings.

The flipside of showing more emotion in your face is to learn how to control your expressions. Instead of letting everyone know you're angry or frustrated, you should try to appear what Riggio called "calm, cool, and collected in social interactions."

2. Listen actively to what people are saying.

"Active listening" is another key skill related to charisma.

On Psychology Today, Riggio describes it as "focusing in on what the other person is saying and reflecting back what you are hearing, rather than focusing on what you want to say."

3. Practice reading other people's emotions.

During charisma training, researchers took clips from soap operas and had participants watch them without any sound. Then they asked participants to figure out what was going on in the scenes.

Even if you don't employ the silent soap opera strategy, you can still watch people's faces closely to become more attuned to nonverbal cues.

4. Share stories and anecdotes.

A team of researchers led by John Antonakis at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland trained a group of leaders to become more charismatic.

One skill they taught was using stories and anecdotes while speaking. Writing in The Harvard Business Review, the researchers say "stories and anecdotes ... make messages more engaging and help listeners connect with the speaker."

For example, one manager they studied motivated her reports during a crisis by comparing the current situation to her experience climbing a mountain during dangerous weather conditions. "Working together," the manager told her reports, "we managed to survive. And we made what at first seemed impossible, possible. Today we are in an economic storm, but by pulling together, we can turn this situation around and succeed."

5. Ask rhetorical questions.

"Rhetorical questions might seem hackneyed," the researchers write in The Harvard Business Review, "but charismatic leaders use them all the time to encourage engagement."

Whether you're speaking to a large audience or a single individual, this strategy can be useful. One manager in the study motivated an underperforming employee by asking, "So, where do you want to go from here? Will it be back to your office feeling sorry for yourself? Or do you want to show what you are capable of achieving?"

6. Set high goals, and express confidence that you can achieve them.

When leaders set the bar high and genuinely think their team can hit it, Antonakis and colleagues say they both show and inspire passion.

They cite the example of an engineer whose team was given a deadline that would be hard to meet. The engineer told the team, "I know you can rise to the challenge. I believe in each one of you." 

7. Use words that people can relate to.

In his book "Why Presidents Succeed," University of California at Davis psychologist Dean Keith Simonton argues that the most effective communicators use concrete--rather than abstract-

DING EDGE

You Already Have Subscriptions for Movies and Diapers. Why Not the Couch?

The business model that started with clothing and Rent the Runway is taking a surprising new path.

By Tatyana Bellamy-WalkerEditorial intern, Inc.com@bell_Tati

Jay Reno, founder of Feather, pictured sitting on a Deco Weave West Elm "Eddy" sofa.

HALIE CHAVEZ

In the six years since Jay Reno started college and finished his masters' degree, he had moved seven times. Each time, he says, the load felt more punishing. The bed frame seemed to get heavier, and things got damaged. Reno, who grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in New York City, knew there had to be a less headache-inducing way to get stuff from A to B. Or better yet, he thought: What if he didn't even own stuff in the first place?

Reno figured he surely wasn't the only Millennial thinking along those lines. So, in 2017, he founded Feather, a New York City-based furniture rental subscription service. Furniture rentals is not a new idea: The 800-pound gorilla in the industry is Rent-a-Center, founded in 1986 with a rent-to-own model that last year was expected to bring in around $1.8 billion in U.S. revenue. Reno says unlike Rent-a-Center, Feather is targeting higher-end customers: people who can afford to buy but just choose not to. Convincing a critical mass of affluent customers to forgo new furnishings in favor of renting used items will be no easy task. Still, Reno has a pitch he's confident will be persuasive. 

"Buying things upfront doesn't make sense when your space is constantly changing," says the 32-year-old founder, who graduated from Columbia University in 2012 with a master's degree in environmental studies. "Owning things ties you to a physical place. It grounds you in a way that you don't want to be grounded."

The price of flexibility.

To be sure, swapping the burden of ownership for the flexibility of renting comes at a cost. Feather members pay a monthly $19 subscription fee plus the cost to rent each individual item. For instance, a living room package that includes a sofa, lounge chair, coffee table, and floor lamp will set you back $90 to $167 a month. Members can swap out items for free once a year, depending on their changing needs or tastes. Subsequent swaps will trigger a $99 delivery fee. Non-members can also rent from Feather, though they pay a $99 delivery fee each time and higher per-item fees. A Deco Weave West Elm "Eddy" sofa that runs $39 a month for members costs $134 a month for non-members. 

A key part of Feather's pitch to customers is positioning furniture rental as a more environmentally friendly alternative to buying furniture you may one day discard. Reno suggests the same consumers that, say, buy sustainably manufactured clothing at Everlane, or cleaning products in reusable packaging from Grove Collaborative, will appreciate Feather's sustainability angle. The company says it cleans and refurbishes all items, save for mattresses, which don't get reused between renters, to extend their lifespan. Mattresses and furniture that are no longer usable get donated.

Should customers want to buy an item after renting, Feather says it can be purchased for the retail value, minus whatever they already have paid in rental fees. At some rent-to-own companies, like Rent-a-Center, items cost more than they would if customers had purchased them directly from a retailer. Rent-a-Center doesn't argue with this point. "Yes, there is a premium paid for the flexibility for the service, which includes free set up, delivery, and repairs," says Michael Landry, vice president of franchise development at Rent-a-Center. Feather charges repair fees, which vary depending on the item, if damages go beyond regular wear and tear. 

Millennials are increasingly opting forrenting versus buying homes, says Michael Brown, a partner in the retail practice of global strategy and management consulting at A.T. Kearney. Going into the third quarter of last year, only about a third of Americans 35 and younger owned homes, according to a February 2019report by financial services firm Legal & General. "Renting a home; leasing a car; taking an Uber; renting the runway are all manifestations of this trend," adds Brown. He notes further that rented furnishings are expected to account for 25 percent of the total U.S. furniture market this year. Overall, U.S. furniture-industry sales in 2019 were expected to increase by 2.8 percent to $114.5 billion from the year before, says Jerry Epperson, managing director at research firm Mann, Armistead, and Epperson. 

Investors too are on board with rentals. On February 19, Feather announced a $30 million series B round of funding led by Cobalt Capital, with participation from prior investors including Spark Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Bain Capital Ventures, and others. It had previously raised $16 million from investors. The company says it is using the new funds to expand to additional markets and build its 60-person team.

Feather isn't the only startup aiming to reimagine the furniture rental industry. Los Angeles-based competitor Fernish also launched in 2017. Last year Fernish raised $30 million from early-stage investor fund Real Estate Technology Ventures, Intuit's co-founder Scott Cook, and Amazon's head of global e-commerce and retail operations, Jeff Wilke.

It's early days for Feather. Its service currently is available only in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California. Reno declined to comment on its number of members or annual revenue, beyond saying the latter is in the "eight digits." 

The true test for Feather--and by extension, Fernish--is whether it can make the product more widely appealing, beyond early-adopter Millennials. Kevin Thau, a general partner at Feather investor Spark Capital, is convinced it can. "Today's consumers demand fast and reliable products and services that make their lives easier," he says. "Feather delivers on just this by allowing consumers to easily rent furniture and skip the enormous hassle of purchasing and inevitably moving their furniture from one place to the next." 

Reno says even legacy retailers are starting to respond to the idea that ownership is less popular among certain customers. Feather offers Williams-Sonoma brand West Elm and Joy Bird furniture in its inventory, along with mattress firm Leesa. Crate and Barrel partnered with Fernish to offer its collections to renters in 2018. And in a related sign of the times, in November 2019, Nordstrom announced it would include exclusive products available for both purchase and rental through Rent the Runway. 

"We're already starting to see consumers shift away from ownership as a default," Reno adds. "And we believe this behavior is only going to grow."

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