Several years ago I went to meet an ex-student, Peter Reckell, for lunch. Peter is known throughout the world as "Bo Brady" on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. I was a little late arriving, and Peter was already seated. I told the host that I was meeting a single guy, and she said "Oh, you mean the TV star." And she took me right to him. I asked Peter if he had mentioned his fame or career and he said no. How did she peg him as a TV star? What gave him away?

The answer is "star quality". Sure, Peter was dressed well, and he looked great, but there was something about the way he presented himself that said "someone very special.... a star." Randy Jackson calls this something "IT". I call it "star quality." Whatever you call it, it can't be defined by what they wear or what they say. It goes beyond those things. You just know they are special by being near them, or seeing them.

All the great performers have "IT", and you should have it also. (Read Randy Jackson's terrific book, WHAT'S UP DAWG to learn much more about the subject.)

So how do you acquire or develop or discover your "IT"? Here are a few tips:

1. Understand that you the singer are already special just because you are doing something others wish they could do. You don't need to act important because you ARE important. You're the one with the talent and the guts to get up on stage.

2. KNOW YOUR SONGS, and understand the lyrics. Deliver the song as if you spent all night last night walking the floor composing it. Feel its message and emotion. Regardless of whether it's a fast rock song or a slow ballad, you must feel something about it: an emotion, a mood, a "groove". if you feel nothing except that you are nervous that's what the audience will feel...uncomfortable because you are.

They might not feel exactly what you feel, but they must feel SOMETHING (other than nausea). You can only be concerned with your own feelings about the song.

3. Present yourself with confidence, even if you don't feel it. How you dress, move, use your face to express your feelings.... Even if you are just dressed in jeans and an old shirt, add SOMETHING to the outfit to make it say "here stands a star". An unusual belt, a hat, some very special jewelry, boots, a jacket... something that helps make you more special. You wanna be a star? Act and dress like a star. Don't feel you are better than those in your audience, just different.

I'll be discussing "star quality" in more depth in other articles, but these tips will take you closer to your goal as you begin to use them.