Q&A Part 3 - The Business

Hey everyone, welcome to part 3, where I talk about different aspects of the business, getting into it, and managing your way through it. My journey is pretty common: I graduated college with a performance degree in 2005 and went into a big young artist program for 3 years before beginning a professional career, which I’ve maintained for about a dozen years. I have had to make some major personal journeys of self-discovery and growth so that I could pursue my dream.
ADVICE: 1:06
What to work on when you’re still in school and conservatory. What are the most important healthy habits to build, and taking advantage of those years in a safe setting to experiment and try new things. Finding the best practices both technically and personally, which will serve you better in your career when you start working full time.

LANGUAGES: 5:28
The benefits of investing time into serious language study; you’ll be better at practicing and learning music and you’ll have more colors at your disposal. It’s one of the weaknesses Americans tend to have, and if you want a European career it will help you immensely!

THE CAREER: 7:54
Here I talk about some of the realities of the real talk. The business is very cutthroat and it’s good for you to be sure this is what you really want before you start diving in. It’s important to build your foundation of strength to deal with the challenges. Everyone has a struggle of their own.

AFTER SCHOOL: 10:35
What to do when you’re preparing your next steps as a fully trained singer. Decide what’s best for your current desires and level of ability. Perhaps a big move? Probably a young artist program or maybe a professional chorus?

COMPETITIONS/AUDITIONS: 11:20
Preparing a good package that showcases you at your best. Auditions should make a statement of who you are as an artist. Competitions, because they are for money, should showcase you at your best and most unique. If you’re a common voice type, find what you can bring that is individual or exceptional. It is important also to be careful with what you wear, invest in tailoring that flatters you and presents you favorably.

FEEDBACK: 18:51
Figuring out which feedback is helpful and which feedback you can dismiss. If you are hearing something repeatedly, take heed. If you’re getting polarized advice, take what you feel is right and forget about the rest. Remember that these people giving you pointers aren’t interested in anything but being honest. Differentiate objective comments from subjective ones.

MANAGEMENT: 21:01
Managers know who you are if you’re already working in the performance circuit. In fact, you are not anonymous, you are absolutely being judged when you are a young artist, and in every single engagement you are a part of. The opera world is very small and managers have their feelers out from the time you are very young and starting out. Be on your best behavior always.

YOUR INTERNET PRESENCE: 25:58
It is incredibly important to manage your internet presence; nowadays we cannot deny its importance, and the more you can curate your output, the better. Keep your YouTube videos current and your social media professional and positive.

CAREER CHALLENGES: 27:38
It’s important to keep a positive attitude at work, even if you aren’t having a good time; vent at home, or to a close friend or partner. But don’t put it on the internet, and leave it at the door when you get to work. Directors and conductors, as well as companies and colleagues, will sometimes prove to be challenging to deal with. You may be asked to change your interpretation to suit a director’s point of view, and your artistic choices to suit a conductor’s desires.

RESPONSIBILITY: 31:20
Try everything once, even if you think it’s not good at first; you might change your mind.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU: 34:40
Every production is a collaborative effort. We are all in this together, so be open. If you are problematic in rehearsals, you may burn bridges and regret it later.

REJECTION: 35:12
Dealing with the answer “NO,” and finding out why, exactly. See if there are some changes you can make, and get to work on them. Make changes to your life if necessary, and they might have to be big. Start financial planning as early as possible and try to save money by working extra jobs so that you can have cash on hand to book yourself a flight to sing a competition or buy a new outfit for an audition. There are lots of different financial situations we all deal with, and you won’t necessarily be in the same boat as your more well-off colleagues.
Chapters:
00:00 Q&A Part 3 - The Business
01:06 Advice
05:28 Languages
07:54 The Career
10:35 After School
11:20 Competitions/Auditions
18:51 Feedback
21:01 Management
25:58 Your Internet Presence
27:38 Career Challenges
31:20 Responsibility
34:40 It’s Not All About You
35:12 Rejection

Видео Q&A Part 3 - The Business канала Lisette Oropesa