What is that phrase they always say? Oh yeah, “you can’t win if you don’t play!”
Many people are confounded regarding our choice to follow the classical singing career path in this modern age and terrible economy. There are a myriad of ways to look at the current situation. If I continuously focus on the negative aspects: opera houses shuttering, acerbic union negotiations, and declining ticket sales of course I would want to commit felo-de-se. We cannot control what happens around us and not a single person can singularly fix this gristly economic reality. What can we control? We can control our own actions and how we respond.
That is why day 11’s challenge is to put yourself out there.
Success is never a straight line. No one is an overnight sensation. It just seems overnight to those who are not familiar with all the hard work, money, and time put into the product. The slight silver lining of difficult times is that they force us to become more creative, more flexible, more drive, and more ingenious. We are entrepreneurial spirits; carving out a life for ourselves in whatever way life presents. You have put in considerable work over the last eleven days. You have your press kit materials ready to go. You have also been working up a fierce audition mindset and a good attitude.
Start today by joining Yaptracker, if you haven’t already, and start sending out those applications. As I have written before; this is one of the biggest technological advances opera singers have at their disposal today. The $55 annual fee is certainly worth it when you consider how many Musical America hard copies you would have to comb through to find this information. Now that more and more companies, series, and competitions are catching on it has become a warehouse of audition opportunities.
One of the best features of Yaptracker is the ability to simplify your organization and note keeping in the My Details section of each audition notice. It helps you track your deadlines, audition time and location, accompanist, repertoire, attire, etc.
What are you waiting for? Too many singers reach the gap between young artist/pre-professional and professional only to become discouraged and insecure about putting themselves out into the field. Get out there, divas! Show ’em what you got. As coach said back in the day, “we came here to chew some bubblegum and kick some ass… and we’re all out of bubblegum.”
