SylviaBennett

Start Your Holiday Shopping Early for a Good Cause

I am always looking for ways to make a difference with my music.  I love to sing and make people happy.  Now, I'm the one that's happy because Janet, my assistant, came up with a way to help any organization raise money for their cause.

This one in particular is very dear to me because, once again,  I'm helping Janet raise money for young David's baseball.  Last year, she came up with the clever idea of raising funds with my music CDs and a GoFundMe page to go to Cooperstown, NY.

Now we are taking it a step further and we are launching this new concept by helping to raise money, for the Cougars Baseball Booster Club, with my new website SmileGifts.com. For the next week, 20% of all sales will go to the Cougars Baseball Booster Club.  All they have to do is share it on their Social Media pages.  When the group, their family and friends buy, they will be making 20% of all sales*.

It's a simple idea and a win-win for everyone.

Feel free to share this post.  Start your holiday shopping, make people Smile and help a team buy new uniforms and equipment.

 

*When purchasing music downloads, email a copy of your receipt to [email protected] to ensure proper credit.

So Much to Share

With Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, I didn't realize that it's been a year since my last post here!  I've been doing a lot of traveling in the past year both personally and professionally.  I released a single, Another Love Song,  from my upcoming CD, It's All About Love. I also have a new online store SmileGifts.com.

Every chance I get, I update my travel blog, Places to Make You Smile.  I like sharing my experiences and giving you a review of my favorite hotels, restaurants and destinations.  I also post pictures to give you an idea of what we have experienced on our trip.

One of the highlights of the past year is that Another Love Song has been on the RadioWave Monitor Top 100 Smooth Jazz Chart for 29 weeks!

The Sylvia Bennett Gift Collection has grown and has its own website at SmileGifts.com.  I now have jewelry, apparel, accessories and gifts along with my music CDs and CD greeting cards.  Make sure that you're on our mailing list; we will be having Black Friday specials.

As you can see, it's been quite a busy year for me and we're not done. 

Ready for Summer in Switzerland

Hi Everyone,

So here I am, 3 days away from our summer trip. My suitcase is packed and my itinerary is set and I’m ready. The fact that I’ll be performing at the Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland makes this trip even more exciting. I have been rehearsing the show for the past few weeks and tweaking it as I go along.

The new CD project is now in production. Since we still have some time before its release on July 1st, I will give you a sneak peek at one part of the album cover:



Follow me on Facebook and Twitter and you’ll be able to see the rest of the pieces of the puzzle.

I look forward to sharing more about my trip and the concert next time. In the meantime, enjoy your summer wherever it may take you.

Sending you a Smile,
Sylvia

Sylvia Bennett March News

Hi Everyone,

I hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day as much as I did. The dinner and concert at Mariposa this year surpassed even my expectations. The manager, Michael Hyatt, and his chef, outdid themselves with the spectacular menu; It created a perfect complement to my show. The evening was magical and it was heartwarming to see so many returning guests from the last time. I can’t believe it was two years ago. The Rotary event at the Boater’s Grill celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Key Biscayne Art Festival was also special. I encourage you all to come to Key Biscayne on March 15th and 16th to enjoy great food and fabulous art.

It was an honor for me to entertain at the Marian Center fundraiser. Chef and sommelier Lee Blakely did a magnificent job explaining the wine and pairings at the stemware-specific wine tasting. It was fabulous and our hosts, Bill and Kim Kent, couldn't have been more gracious. I also want to share with you that I have booked an additional date on my calendar. The Alpina Gstaad has invited me to perform at an exclusive concert dinner to celebrate the Summer Season. Needless to say, I am over the top with excitement. It is a magnificent hotel located in a beautiful area of Switzerland. If you love to travel like I do, you might want to come to this event.

On a different subject, I am always looking for ways to help organizations fundraise for their different causes. One way has been through my performances and the other has been by giving a portion of my CD sales to help raise money. It just so happens, that my assistant Janet, is fundraising for her son to participate with his baseball team for their trip to Cooperstown, NY. She came up with a creative way to thank those that donate by using GoFundMe.com and my music and products. Below, I will let her explain it to you because this is a good example as to how you can partner with me to help you fundraise for those causes that mean so much to you.

Hoping you have a great St. Patrick’s Day.

Love, Sylvia

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Hi,

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Janet and I’ve been lucky to work with Sylvia for many years. I take care of all the “behind the scenes” tasks so that Sylvia can concentrate on what she does best. If you have been to one of her shows, then you might have seen me there.

Throughout the years, we have partnered with different organizations to help raise money for their causes. Usually, a portion of the CD sales goes back to the organization. It always makes us happy when we can give back to the community in one way or another.

This year, it just so happens that my son’s baseball team, the PBSA Angels, is going to Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York during the summer. That’s a long way from Miami, Florida! Like all teams, we are doing the usual fundraisers that include car washes, garage sales, and raffles.

Since Sylvia and I have had many conversations on fundraising, this was my opportunity to raise extra funds for David’s trip and create a model that other people/organizations could use. Crowdfunding has become a popular way to fundraise since it uses the internet and social media to spread the word. I decided to use GoFundMe.com. It gives you the ability to create a website that can be easily shared with friends and family and you can also accept donations and gifts through it.

How does it work for me? I purchase the merchandise at a discount and set my own price. I created seven different levels. Each level offers a range of Sylvia Bennett merchandise from notepads to t-shirts and even all of Sylvia’s CDs and merchandise. In my case, the prices for the different levels are actually the retail price you would buy the merchandise at any of Sylvia’s shows or online. Click here to view David’s GoFundMe site.

How can you partner with Sylvia Bennett to fundraise for your cause? Whether it’s for your school, your team or your non-profit, you can raise funds by starting your own campaign. You too can purchase the products at a discount. You set your own price and you keep the profit. If you would like more information, please send me an email at [email protected].

In the meantime, thank you for taking the time to read this and to visit David’s GoFundMe site.

Celebrate Valentine's with Sylvia Bennett

Hi Everyone,

I have so much to share with you today. I have performance dates on the calendar and a new item for the Sylvia Bennett Gift Collection.

Let’s start with From the Heart CD greeting card.  This unique gift is now available just in time for Valentine’s Day.  It includes some of my favorite songs like My Funny Valentine, Embraceable You and    You Make Me Feel So Young. You can find it on our website and on Amazon.com.   

For the upcoming performances, we are back at Mariposa Restaurant in Neiman Marcus for Valentine’s weekend on Friday, February 14^th and Saturday, February, 15^th.  Dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. with show to follow. Michael is preparing a fabulous dinner menu and I’m working on putting together a collection of wonderful romantic songs for you. 

I will also be performing at the 50^th Annual Key Biscayne Rotary Art Festival Celebration on February 26 at Boater’s Grill on Key Biscayne.  The actual festival will be on March 15^th and 16^th.  This is one art festival you shouldn’t miss. 

I’m very honored to be part of the fundraiser for the Marian Center School on March 8^th in Ft. Lauderdale.  I had the pleasure of visiting the Center and was touched by how the nuns are dedicated to teaching and taking care of the developmentally disabled children and adults. This special fundraiser is a “Stemware-Specific” wine tasting dinner led by Sommelier and Master Chef Lee Blakeley who will provide a unique culinary adventure.  I hope that you will be able to join me at one of these events.

I hope that you have a beautiful Valentine’s Day.

Sending you Love and Smiles,

Sylvia

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Express Yourself with a Unique Gift! 

This beautifully packaged CD Greeting Card combination can be used for any occasion. Let
the music tell them how you feel. It includes timeless classics from the American Songbook that will warm anyone’s  heart. It’s a gift and a card “all–in–one.”

This unique presentation is also perfect for corporate gifts, hostess gifts, party favors, and even fundraising!

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Upcoming Performances:

 

February 14 and 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Valentine’s Weekend at Mariposa Restaurant

Sylvia will perform international songs of love.

Mariposa Restaurant will present a $49.50 (+tax and service) prix fixe three–course dinner plus a welcome taste that includes entertainment.  Reservations are limited. To reserve please call 786.999.1018 or online at www.therestaurantsofneimanmarcus.com.  Valet and Self–Parking available.

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February 26 at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

50th Annual Key Biscayne Rotary Art Festival Celebration

Boater's Grill in Bill Baggs State Park
The cost is $20.00 per person, cash bar

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March 8^th 

Marian Center Fundraising Event

Details to follow

 

Inspiration Can Come at Any Time

My husband Hal and I are so fortunate to have spent Thanksgiving Holidays at the beautiful Monarch Beach Resort located in southern California at Dana Point. It is right on a gorgeous stretch of sand and cliffs called Salt River Beach. We spent Thanksgiving Day wandering along this glorious bit of nature.  The sky was crystal clear and the surf was up, so we not only soaked up the sun and sea air but were also treated to a great show by the local surfing clan.

The hotel put out a great Thanksgiving Buffet in the evening and we made sure our tummies took “full" advantage of the offerings. Afterwards, we strolled the beautiful hotel grounds passing palms, plants, and archways newly lit for the holiday season; simply stunning.

Walking the beach earlier on the day and then experiencing the holiday lights of the hotel grounds brought back memories of how I got the idea for one of the original songs on my CD, It's Christmas Time; which makes up part of the new Christmas Card/CD all in one combination I have brought out this year.

It was a very hot August day and I was walking through the park, then on to the beach on Key Biscayne when a melody came into my head. After a while words started forming as well and the song "Christmas Lights" was born. To this day, I still can't figure out how I came up with a Christmas song in the middle of summer. I guess it was so hot that I started thinking about winter and Christmas and how in South Florida, while we don't have snow, people make up for it by decorating their homes and palms with gorgeous lights. I sang the tune into my voice recorder and played it for my producer who added the introduction and we decided to add it to our Christmas album. 

It all goes to show that one never knows when or where the Christmas spirit hits.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe that time is going by so fast.  We have been traveling since June and in less than two weeks we will be back in our favorite place: our home in Key Biscayne.  It’s been an extraordinary travel experience.  Some highlights include:

• Hiking the mountains in Beaver Creek and Vail Colorado.
• Attending the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
• Walking the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoying a hot dog in Coney Island.
• Enjoying the Jazz Trax Festival in Catalina Island (You must check out the Peet Project from Budapest.  They are terrific).
• Hiking the Napili Coast trail and kayaking on the Hanalei River in Kauai.
• Singing with Maggie Heron and Rocky Holmes at the Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu. 
• The Chihuly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Scottsdale.

Of course, one of my favorite things has been my weekly meetings with Janet, my assistant.  I am particularly excited about the response I have been getting on our new CD Greeting Card It’s Christmas Time.  We worked a long time in putting this together and it is very gratifying to see how everyone thinks it’s a great unique Christmas gift.  Not only has it been used as personal gifts for family and friends, it has also been used as corporate appreciation gifts for the holidays.

This time of year is a reminder of all that we have to be grateful for. I am grateful for all my friends, family and fans that make my life so much better every day.  I want to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sending you a Smile,

Sylvia

Places to Make You Smile

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and are enjoying the changes that fall brings.  It’s been a while since my last newsletter.  Back in April, I went to Paris for my CD release show for C’est Si Bon at the Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadero Hotel. It was one of the highlights of my wonderful career.  I have been blessed to be able to do what I
love and share it with so many wonderful people. 

Since then, I have been working on some projects and traveling.  We have finalized the details for some performance events for next year and completed a couple of projects that I have wanted to do for a very long time. Stay tuned; I’ll be sharing these with you in the upcoming days.

My husband and I started our summer travel back in June when we went to Europe and then to the west coast in August.  I have been fortunate to combine my two passions, traveling and singing, as I have been invited to be a guest performer.  A few of those performances were in Switzerland, Portugal, Beaver Creek, Colorado and, the most memorable, in the Artic.   You can read more about our favorite places to visit on my blog Places To Make You Smile.

I look forward to updating you soon and I hope you do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Sending you a Smile,

Sylvia

Related articles

Gstaad is a Beautiful Place

Videos from Paris

I'm back from my trip to Paris where I celebrated the release of my latest CD C'est Si Bon.  The Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadero Hotel did an amazing job of creating a memorable event for everyone including myself. 

I was also lucky enough to have the crew from SmoothJazz.com Global Radio and Smooth Travel present and share this event with their listeners and viewers.

I have two video links that I want to share with you. The first link is a video of the event produced by the Renaissance Le Parc and the second link is a playlist of interviews from different must see locations from around Paris.

Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadereo Hotel Interview

Smooth Travel’s Sylvia Bennett Live in Paris Playlist

I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed performing and touring in the beautiful city of Paris.

Sending you a Smile,

Sylvia

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Paris Celebrates Sylvia Bennett's Release of C'est Si Bon

Sylvia's Back in Miami

Hi Everyone,

I am finally back in Miami after an extraordinary trip out of the country.  Even though I’m not traveling now, which is one of my favorite things to do; there is a lot to be excited about.  Janet and I are working on the release of my all-French language CD C’est Si Bon.  The release date is April 16, 2013 and we are celebrating it with a concert in Paris, France at the Renaissance Le Parc Trocadero.  There is a pre-concert dinner that is available for a limited amount of guests; you can get more information on our website www.sylviabennett.com.

We have started our radio campaign worldwide and are happy to report that we are getting airplay in stations here in the U.S. as well as in Australia and this is just the beginning.  The presale starts on March 4^th and the first single, La Mer, will also be available for download that day. You can find it online on iTunes, Amazon.com and Bandcamp.  You can read more about the album and listen to clips on our website. Click here to listen now.

In order to get ready for my concert in Paris, I have limited my singing engagements here at home.  However, I couldn’t say no to the Rotary Club so you will be able to see me perform at their sponsored Arts Festival event on March  16^th  on the Village Green in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Hoping all is well in your world so far this year.

Sending you a Smile,

Sylvia