Happy Valentine’s Day, divas! Often when playing Monopoly, you are surrounded with people you love. Or, usually love when you’re not playing a board game… We devote hours to a game, rolling the dice, buying and selling, joking with each other, laughing, and bonding.
During game play we learn about each other. We learn each other’s level of risk tolerance. We also learn each other’s strategic strengths. Perhaps you even learn your sibling’s tell for when they have an artful deal up their sleeve. Or, their gifts for hemorrhaging Monopoly money. When those nearest and dearest to you around the game table are down on their luck, you learn one another’s capacity for generosity.
Sometimes you have to give some away so people you like can stay in the game.
Your 29 Days to Diva – Day 14 Challenge is to Make an Opportunity for Someone Else.
Sometimes you have to give some away so people you like can stay in the game. Let’s face it: this game is not as worthwhile without the people we really like continuing to play. No matter what stage of game play, or your career, you are in you can make more opportunities for those around you.
There are two overarching ways to make opportunities for other people and you already know what they are — money and time.
How we spend our money is how we desire the world to look and behave.
Money
- Starving artists no longer, divas. How we spend our money is an investment in how we want the world around us to look and behave.
- When you see your friend’s Kickstarter pages, throw a few dollars at them if possible. You believe in those people and you believe in their visions. You want to live in a world where the musicians you know are successful and prosperous.
- Actually buy tickets to events.
- Encourage other people to buy tickets to events.
- Be on a board.
- This is a time and money commitment, but you can work out the details that best fit your life. If you know of a non-profit organization whose mission you strongly support, contact them and let them know that you are interested in being considered for their board.
- Brainstorm ways to bring more money into the classical music economy.
- If we all took a personal responsibility for bringing more money into our system rather than just passing around the same bundle of bills, can you imagine the positive effect it would have on our field?
- Think about your under- or un-used resources.
- Try to connect those resources with the people you love who may also need them. People will not know unless you offer. You cannot always wait for someone to express their need to you. It does not hurt to offer.
Actually buy tickets to events.
Time
- If you cannot spend your hard-earned dollars on the projects you want to support, think of ways that you can spend your time to help instead.
- Get in touch with the organizers of projects you like and volunteer your skills. They do not have to take you up on it. Just let them know that you value the work they are doing and would be happy to be involved. List your skills that they might find useful and leave it at that.
- If you are worried about volunteering rather than performing, remember that volunteers get access. Access turns us into friends, if you are doing it right.
- Help your singing team take action.
- Call, text, or just generally check in with the people in your musical life that mean a lot to you and see what they are doing and if they need help. You know they would do the same for you. That is why they are on your singing team.
- Have a platform?
- Offer it up for others to amplify their voice. In fact, I do that here on the Sybaritic Singer. Are you looking for contributing opportunities? Want to try writing in the classical voice field without creating your own blog? Or, have a blog and want to cross-post? I want you to be able to express your ideas and get credit for them! Contact me and we’ll make it happen. Or, post your articles on Medium.
- Know someone whose ideas need a larger audience? Write to them and encourage them to take that next step.
- Be an information hub.
- You are constantly consuming information. Not all of it is useful to you. However, there are people in your network that need that information. Be their source!
- Speaking of being the source, recommend the people you like for gigs.
- I cannot tell you how thankful I am for those people in my life who have asked their directors, “Do you, by chance, need a mezzo?” I have returned the favor as often as possible and will continue to do so.
- Furthermore, remember that platforms aren’t just digital. Do you have, or are you closely connected to, a festival, series, conference, or workshop? Connect people who should know each other.
People remember who helped them in their time of need. Unfortunately, we often get too wrapped up in our own operations or our own next big thing to see those needs. Our best relationships come from being able to humble ourselves enough to help others. Be that person who strengthens your field and keep the people you truly value playing the long game.
Our best relationships come from being able to humble ourselves enough to help others.
Wise Men Say…
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[…] Yesterday’s post was about giving some away so that people we like can stay in the game. Recommendation letters are an extremely positive way to do this. If you have people in your musical circle to whom you would give a glowing recommendation, feel free to tell them. If you are already communication on a regular basis, which I hope you are, mention that you would be happy to provide recommendation letters for them in the future. Your letters of recommendation can be the link between your current diva status level and the next. Put your processes in place now to make sure you have letters that stand out from the pack. […]