Dear Artists,
You already know that the Met, Chicago, and San Francisco have all canceled their fall seasons. The regional companies either have already canceled or aren’t far behind. We are simultaneously dealing with an insanely mismanaged and ongoing pandemic, a federal government that’s doing its best to become an autocracy run by oligarchs, and we’re all either in an ongoing battle for the right to be treated like a human being or being forced to face up to systematic racism and what it’s going to take for each one of us personally to help dismantle it.
The world is a mess. No question.
And that is precisely the time that art is needed the most.
We all deserve to mourn our lost opportunities, income, and status that we’ve worked so very hard to attain. But we also need to fight to move forward. We need to acknowledge and begin to dismantle the deeply flawed, dark side of our industry —- plagued by gatekeepers, abusers and abusive behavior protected by the system, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and elitism.
Now is the perfect time to lean into that work.
Now is the perfect time to reinvent our careers.
Sure, you may have to pick up a side hustle to put food on the table, but this business has always been about the ups and downs, and percentage-wise, there are very few of us who don’t have multiple income streams. Maybe you thought you were past that. A lot of people did. It’s okay to be angry and sad and even depressed about it —- no matter what someone else’s experience has been, you have the right to mourn your losses.
But let’s talk about what we, as an industry, can be doing right now.
STOP SINGING/PLAYING FOR FREE. Your work is valuable and you deserve compensation. You don’t have to get paid in money, but you need to get paid. Those arts organizations that didn’t pay our your contracts and now are asking you to donate your work and streaming broadcasts they’re not paying you for can damn well spend some time promoting ALL their artists, not just the big stars. Posting features on them and links to their websites. Reminding the audiences that without artists there is no art. And look —- you don’t have to get paid a lot, because nobody has money right now —- but you can get paid something, Start a Patreon. Publish a video of your singing, put a donation button on it. Anybody who can buy a coffee can afford to pay you $5, and that adds up.
CREATE SOMETHING THE WAY YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IT. The classical music business has a lot of rules. Now is a great time to break’em all and do whatever you want, without fear. Now is the perfect time for the walls to come tumbling down. You’re an artist. GO MAKE SOME ART. Who knows what you will find?
EXTEND YOURSELF TO FELLOW ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG’UNS. When you’re successful, you may truly desire to reach out to your community, but it’s hard to find the time. Well, now’s the time. Don’t let fear or inexperience stand in your way. Just talk to people. Just share your experience and what you know. They will be grateful and you may find something important that you didn’t even know you were missing.
When the first round of shutdowns hit, and the cries of despair became so loud and devastating, I decided to create an online program for the young singers who had lost their spring productions and recitals and summer programs or gigs. A distinguished faculty of experienced and successful artists practically knocked me over to volunteer their services (everyone got paid). The results of the program and the community we formed were profound for faculty and students alike. Many people found their voices and the will to sing again. Many people began to explore and take risks. Many rediscovered hope.
Because of the success of this program and at the request of the participants, I’m continuing our business of singing classes and mentorship groups. I’m also putting together something very special for the fall —- Firebird Conservatory, an online conservatory open to anyone. All of these programs offer at least one low-cost or pay-what-you-can option.
If you’re a distinguished singer or conductor/coach/pianist looking for work, I’d love to hear from you. If you’re a singer at any level of development who would be interested in continuing to hone your craft, I’d love to hear from you. Find your community and build whatever comes next for you.
Today is not the day the music dies, my friends.
