Hi Erda:
I’m looking for advice about networking with other singers. I live in a small town and I’m not close to New York, Chicago, or any other big city. I’ve just started singing, and my teacher suggested that I talk with other singers about where to get experience and what it’s like to be a professional today before I start applying to music schools, just to make sure this is what I want. What should I do?
—New Singer
Dear Erda:
I have decided to accept an offer from a smaller grad program because they’ve offered me a good scholarship, and I felt I really clicked with the voice teacher I’ll be working with there. This is great, and I’m very excited! But there’s a problem. This school is in a very small town, and I’m afraid that I’m going to be missing out on a lot of what I’d learn if I were in a larger, more artsy city. How can I stay in touch with what’s going on in the world of opera?
—Small Town Singer
Dear Singers:
Good news: big cities have a lot to offer artists, including access to the top singers, coaches, conductors, and directors in the industry, but they aren’t the end-all or be-all. Smaller towns and cities can be a great choice as well. Often you have a better standard of living for a lot less money, and while you’ll rarely find the “star cluster” you find in a big city, many people who are just as talented and knowledgeable are out there flying under the radar. The trick is to find out who they are and hook up with them! So make sure you go to as many musical events in your community as possible, and talk with people there. (That’s all networking really is; talking and listening to other people.) Get to know who’s who, let them know who you are, and show your interest. You may get invitations to perform!
Besides establishing yourself in your own community, it’s important to keep on top of events in the larger industry. I urge you to explore the possibility of spending your summers at a quality training program in a different part of the country, or even overseas. These programs (also known as pay-to-sings) are each unique, but many offer opportunities to work with famous artists, teachers, coaches, and conductors, special training in languages and culture, and most importantly, stage experience. You can find out about them right here in Classical Singer. The wonderful website Opera Stuff, www.operastuff.com, also has an extensive listing of training programs.
Another great place to connect with other singers and industry professionals is the Classical Singer Convention, set this year for May 24-26 in San Francisco. You can attend classes, audition for opera companies, strut your stuff in a Spotlight Recital, and have a great time networking. Check the website for more information. Opera America also offers a variety of workshops for singers throughout the year at various locations around the country. Visit www.operaamerica.org for more information.
Publications can be a great way to keep on top of the industry. Every young singer should be familiar with Opera News and the Musical America directory. Opera America offers a variety of publications, including the Career Guide for Singers and a newsletter called Voices. Classical Singer is the only publication by singers, for singers that also addresses singers in all classical genres and levels in the profession.
Finally, the easiest, cheapest, and best resource for educating yourself and staying in touch is right at your fingertips—the Internet! So much good information is available if you know where to look.
I have always maintained that the best source of information about the singing profession comes from other singers, and fortunately, the Internet includes some wonderful, supportive communities of singers. Each one has its own personality and quirks. Of course, there’s the Classical Singer Forums, found on the magazine’s website; it’s been around the longest and in its current incarnation is very focused on singing technique and issues for emerging artists and late starters. The New Forum for Classical Singers, www.nfcs.net, has also been around a while; posters there do not pull their punches but are also very generous with advice, information, and support.
A new board I really like is Bravura, at www.bravuravox.com. It has a supportive atmosphere focused on career issues. It also offers monthly columns, a professional directory, music news, and a list of online resources. If you read German, you can check out www.gesang.de, the board for German classical singers. There’s also a fairly new resource called Classical Lounge at www.classicallounge.com—not specifically devoted to singers, but to all classical musicians. Blog sites such as LiveJournal and Blogger also have supportive communities of singers.
Other great online resources include Operabase, www.operabase.com, which has a public site listing opera companies and performances worldwide and various searchable databases; the aforementioned Opera Stuff, which has extensive listings of all kinds of opera-related matter; and various blogs. Personal favorites include the insouciant Opera Chic (www.operachic.typepad.com), the classic and often naughty Parterre Box (www.parterre.com), and especially useful for young singers, the Wolf Trap Audition Blog (www.wolf-trap.org/opera/audition04blog.html). Each of these sites is a treasure trove with inviting paths radiating from the center. Explore them and you’ll find yourself wandering from room to room in a mansion filled with singing-related gems!
Good luck to both of you as you set your feet on the road to a career in singing. Networking and staying connected is a vital part of our profession and it’s never too early to start. As singers in small towns, you needn’t be isolated from the singing community at large, although you may have to make some special efforts. Fortunately, with so many resources readily available, those efforts aren’t too onerous. Good luck!
—Cindy
