starting out…

A good friend once told me, “there’s nothing to a career in opera, you just have to hold onto the tree longer than the other monkeys. If you’re still there when they’ve all fallen off, you’ve made it!”

It sounds simple right? Well, sadly it isn’t quite accurate. There are lots of things an early career artist needs in order to forge a successful career, not least of all, a bit of luck. Perseverance (holding onto the tree for dear life) is certainly a must have, but by sharing some of my experiences, I hope I can be a little bit helpful and offer a up a few more!

contacts

It’s not what you know - it’s who you know.

While this shouldn’t still be the case in 2021, it most definitely is. It is one of the reason that there are still classical music dynasties today - families of successful classical musicians. Good for them! But how can the rest of us make the contacts that will help us get ahead, or simply keep us sane?

The most obvious answer is - education. Whether you go to a big name college or a night course, make as many friends among your peers and your teachers as you can. The most successful artists I know are those who go the extra mile to forge real relationships with those they learn from and study with.

It isn’t always easy - particularly if you feel daunted by those you are working with or for; scared of putting a foot wrong, BUT try and to remember that your dream is to become one of these towering figures. Have enough confidence to speak freely with them and share your passion, and enough humility to keep your ears open and take in all they have to offer. Do everything you can to build and maintain these contacts.

There is also social media. It can be quite a weak platform, but you would be surprised how open people that are helpful to know might be.

Think about the auditions you want to do and the competitions you want to enter (and win). Find out who is on each audition panel and approach them for lessons or coaching. Do as much as you can to build a rapport with the people at whose mercy you may feel that you are or will be, for the first years of your career.

I lied…it is what you know…

You need to spend time studying. Studying and practicing. Studying with the right teacher and practicing in a focussed way.

Yup, it might be tedious, but the only way to master your craft and feel totally settled in every audition is to work, and work hard.

It isn’t always a case of singing for hours on end. Watch other singers. Go to concerts and watch YouTube videos. Learn what you like. See what works well and what doesn’t. Spend time really understanding what repertoire suits you and getting to love it.

know what you are

This takes some real honesty.

Think about 1) your voice 2) your look 3) your temperament.

When you walk into an audition what role are people automatically going to see and hear you in?

This may sound very reductive and pigeon-hole-like, but when you are just starting out and the world doesn’t really know you, you want to show them what you do best all the time. Sing the repertoire that you know you can knock out of the park; the stuff your teacher thinks is perfect for you. Go in with roles that suit your look and your age. If you’re a really tall slim woman, think about some trouser roles. Companies really struggle to cast these - you might hear a casting director’s audible sigh of relief. If you look like the hero, audition for the hero, but if your temperament and personality scream more “character role” go for the comic parts.

You don’t have to stay in these boxes forever, but making yourself super easy to cast early on is a great way to get a foot in the door.

make sure you really want it…

I will level with you…

…a career in the arts isn’t easy; it’s often under paid; can be soul destroying; means constantly being judged etc. etc. You need to love it.

If you don’t love what you do, and if you constantly imagine yourself in some other career (we all do by the way, but I mean you do this ALL the time), then maybe the opera singer path isn’t for you. If you do not really want it, there is no way you will hold onto the tree as it’s constantly shaking in the hurricane of rejection, struggle, disappointment, stage fright, audition anxiety etc. etc.

finally

Talk to people. Make sure that you have a good group of people around you that you can share your ups and downs with. Don’t feel you are alone. Talk about the best bits as well. Just make sure you keep engaged in what you do and how you feel by speaking to those you love and trust.