1. A long long time ago a wise friend of my parents advised me to be "in" the song I was singing -- meaning to actually immerse yourself in the time and place the song portrayed. This lends remarkable conviction and passion to songs, especially those that are built on strong images of past times.

2. Singing -- when you are stretching a syllable, stretch the open vowels, not the consonants -- this makes the sound carry and have anopen tone to it. Dylan's nasal tones (ths is mah sonnnnnnnggggg) are a marked contrast to this guideline,, and I've never heard anyone compliment his singing voice except for its built-in passion (see rule 1 above).

3. Learn triads (tonic, subdominant, dominant) all over the map when you are learning to play a guitar. Then play with ways to transition from one key (e.g., D-G-A) to the other (G-C-D, for example). Then add sevenths and minors. Bear in mind you can play the vast majority of American folk songs, blues, cowboy, calypso etc with just three or four chords so throw yourself into it and have fin.

4. Do what Rick says above for your right hand.

5. Find the perfect person in the back row and sing out to 'em. Look them right in the eye. It will help win the whole audience.