So many people were asking me for advice (W H Y ? I'd like to know...) that I finally just decided to put up some of my ideas here. I definitely don't have all the answers, and I'd appreciate input or new ideas... please sign your comments on my guestbook if you have feedback about these pages.
THIS IS BEGINNING OF DISCUSSION FLESHED OUT OF SOME COMMENTS I MADE AT A N.A.T.S. MASTER CLASS - by Laura Claycomb
I hope I don't sound too much like a know-it-all, because I definitely don't know it all. However, I think I've learned a few things so far. I think there are way too many romantic notions and a lack of sheer common sense about what you're going to do after music schools these days, and no one ever talks to you about these sort of things - - business and life decisions. All of you are trying to get somewhere really fast, but do you even know where? Start at the beginning.
Why do you sing?
I hope your answer is not "it's the only thing I know how to do!" That's a really lame answer, and it doesn't have the required passion to truly do anything with a career in music. Nobody wants to listen to just another empty, bad Italian art song. "Pretty" is not enough, either. You must have an overwhelming need to sing or perform or make music, and SAY something with it. If you've ever seen Cecilia Bartoli live, you will know that it's not just her technique that sets audiences afire - it's her continual communication with the public through every note of music, and the joy she has singing that one feels flowing from her. No one besides Pavarotti gets world-famous from this job. (Even Bartoli is only well-known to operaphiles.) And it sure as heck isn't glamourous. So if fame and glamour are your objectives, find them elsewhere - you'll just be frustrated in this career!
I sing because I want to make someone feel something bigger than his/her life, to transport someone to somewhere else with my voice, to move someone with what I've given them, if possible. So much can (and SHOULD!) be said in every kind of art, and I'd like to say something. Singing gives me a joy and outlet that I can't even describe. It also allows me the forum to experience new theatre, new people, and new ideas all the time. Singers that only surround themselves with opera, singing and "careers" are probably some of the most boring and boorish people I have met. Enrich yourself and your art form by getting out to see straight theatre, reading, and trying to develop yourself as a person spiritually and emotionally, in addition to as a singer! Help people out along the way.
There is SO much work involved to "success" (whatever that is) as a professional opera singer, that if you can do anything else in your life and be happy with it - - DO IT INSTEAD!! There is no easy road to great singing. Even great "natural" singers had to figure out some day what it was they were doing so naturally, study music really seriously, work on their acting, etc. etc...
There are some singers I know who knew they wanted to make music, but started out on an instrument before discovering that the instrument that was their calling was already inside them! I don't see why it could not go the other way, too. If you are making NO headway whatsoever with singing, and feel the need to make music, why not explore other ways to make music? There are so many other ways to make music!! Some people get fixated on "having a singing career," when actually that's not what they really want.
What aspects of a career in opera exactly draw you?
Is it the *performance* that turns you on?
Being in front of an audience?
Is it the sensation of singing?
Is it the compliments?
Is it the need to express yourself with music?
Is it the theatre part of it?
Is it the pageantry of opera?
Is it the idea of a whirlwind lifestyle?
Is it the travel?
Is it the snob appeal of it?
Is it being the center of attention?
Do you think singing is your only talent to make you the center of attention?
Maybe if you make no headway in opera, you could better fill your own personal needs in another venue. Ask yourself these questions, and see why you want to do this career, and if there's any other way to make you happy.
I know singers who are fixated on an operatic career, when they would be the greatest sensation on Broadway if they'd only put their mind to it. Others are great actors, not singers, but won't allow themselves to realize their potential on the stage if they're not singing. I know at least three great performers who travel the world's greatest stages, doing small, highlighted comprimario roles. They realized early on that either their acting talents were great and the competition in their voice category was too huge to surmount, or that they would rather shine in small roles and be highly respected by great conductors and directors alike, than struggle and maybe end up working with mediocrity for the rest of their lives in lead roles. They travel the world doing spotlighted small roles, and are very much needed in the opera world.
Even my agent in New York used to be professional singer, but decided that she would never reach the heights of a top-level career singing, which is what she would want if she sang. Instead, she decided to become involved with management. She now MANAGES the top tier of singers in the business, and uses her insight as a singer to know how to deal with people, as well as knowing about casting and repertoire.
I have recently received some wonderful thoughts from a chorister I got to know while he was in Houston Grand Opera's Chorus. He is now singing at Chicago Lyric Opera - in the chorus. Singing in the Chorus is an actual career, not a job you do until you "make it big!" It is a shame that voice teachers don't let their students know that this is a viable and satisfying career. It is not only musically satisfying, it is a great career with many benefits. Why do you need to be the soloist just because you have studied voice? This is a ridiculous assumption. You may be better suited to sing in a chorus. Its lifestyle and requirements may suit you better. WHY BE A CHORISTER? CLICK HERE TO HEAR A CHICAGO LYRIC OPERA CHORISTER'S INPUT.
I believe you can accomplish just about anything if you work hard enough and well enough at it, and want it enough. However, you must first realize your limitations, character and personal needs and be honest with yourself about your possibilities and goals. Do they match up?
Some of the greatest singers of yesteryear (Birgitt Nilson, etc..) were told they were not made out to be singers. Nevertheless, some voices require so much work that I doubt if the singer could get his/her act together in time for even retirement, so why bother? Unless, of course, it's just a personal goal to sing well... I'd never want to be the one to tell someone he/she should quit; but the many singers who are pouring their energy and money and lives into what is a difficult instrument, with insurmountable technical, interpretive and musical difficulties, hoping to have an operatic career make my heart hurt. Schools and teachers only encourage them unjustly, in their own interests. Horrible feedback from everyone *JUST MIGHT* mean that you should consider doing something else with your life!! :-) Just because you studied voice in college does not mean you have to have a career as an international opera star!!
Are you willing to sacrifice to get to sing?
Is it that important to you? And what constitutes "making it" to you?
Fame should NEVER be a goal, because it ain't gonna happen unless you decide to sing pop music. But even Madonna has busted her behind to get where she is!
What do you want to do with your life?
Sing, you say?
First, what do you envision as your "ideal" life?
Picture it; what does it entail?
Marriage?
Children?
The normalcy of a fixed daily life?
Being with your family for every holiday?
A close circle of friends?
Having dinnerparties with your friends, holding opera/theatre subscriptions, teaching some, taking classes on the side, or doing charity work?
Really get a good idea of what is most important to you. Of these things, which is absolutely essential for you, and which is something that you'd like, but that you'd be able to feel fulfilled without? Be HONEST with yourself. There is nothing more tragic than someone who has talent, and feels that he/she wants to do this career, only to discover that he/she really doesn't like the lifestyle years down the road. Just because you CAN sing and have the talent does not mean you HAVE to sing. You do not "owe it to your gift" to have a crazy opera career. You owe it to yourself to be happy and fulfill yourself however you can.
I don't believe it's impossible to have a free-lance operatic career and have some of these things; but to expect to have all of them, and when you want them, is unrealistic and downright delusional. The reality of the lifestyle is much different than what you may expect, and it's better to be forwarned than spend all your schooling learning to do something that you'll either burn out on quickly, become disillusioned about, or both. There are compromises, and there are endless ways to deal with the difficulties. Or there are different ways to structure a career - you can concentrate on whatever period or style of music really lights your fire, and do concerts. Baroque music tends to provide more concerts than operas, for example. Or modern music!! There is a nice niche in singing contemporary music, also. Whatever your passion, study and do intensive research with experts in the field; really specialize - don't just say "that you like it." Remember that there ARE other things than singing the same old Puccini onstage!
What are YOU passionate about? Discover your passion in music, and follow your artistic nose! Quit looking for a "vehicle" for your fabulous voice, and see what YOU can bring to the world of music instead. We all need to quit worshipping the same old so-called masterpieces and discover the other 90% of written music and *new* repertoire. Just a few generations ago, singers were still doing more than 50% contemporary music. We need to come back to this "tradition!" The "golden age of singing" is now - we have the knowledge, passion, training, and only lack the courage to have some personality and some ideas.
The reality of life is that your operatic career is a business like any other, and some aspects of it must be treated as such. Work breeds work. If you're not in the "market," you will most likely not get many other offers. If you're working a lot, most likely, you will get more and more offers and even have to turn down things. In order to have a big career, you have to work! So forget the idea in the beginning of "I'll just do two gigs a year and teach and have babies on the side." It sounds like a perfect compromise, but A) performing usually takes you away from your great teaching job just when the students need you and B)if you're only doing two things a year, everyone's going to forget who you are, (unless you established a great name for yourself first) and the performing work will dry up. Let me be very simplistic and OVERLY pessimistic. Everyone thinks he/she is the exception to the rule. There are few exceptions to the rule, and one has to work really hard in order to earn the distinction of breaking the rule! Usually the exceptions busted their hineys for at least ten years, establishing themselves, and then decided to stay more in one place. More power to whomever is managing both careers, but I have yet to see someone who juggles both jobs of international performer and teacher perfectly.
There are possibilities in some German-speaking houses of getting year-round "house singer" contracts, called a "fest." This is a steady job. A house singer can definitely have a real life outside of singing, because he/she doesn't travel all the time. If you are hell-bent on having a traditional home life, and making your living singing, this may be the niche for you. There can be drawbacks of fest contracts, too, such as possible pressure to sing the wrong rep outside of your fach , or lack of upward mobility, or others, but that's why I said to imagine what is MOST important to you in my first paragraph! For an article about some singers' experiences with a fest contract, CLICK HERE
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