When we last spoke, I had just started my first ever placematting group classes—two groups, with seven singers in one and six in the other. We met in a New York restaurant to try group placematting, not knowing whether it would work. It was a huge success. The group energy was high, the humor was infectious, and everyone was ready to work. The diversity in the groups was wonderful and helpful to everyone. The singers talked and shared common challenges, and also shared what made this process individual and different for each of them.
Two were still in college. One had just graduated and was finding herself rudderless, in terms of goals and studies. Two were in grad school. The rest were out of school and at all levels, from young professionals to more proficient professionals, and finally to working professionals.
It was amazing how each group jelled, although only a couple of the singers actually knew each other. Each found his and her strengths and challenges. As we worked, it was surprising to see the development, once I explained about placematting and how it can be invaluable to weekly, monthly and yearly plans for the working singer.
Here’s a brief review of what placematting involves [for more details see “Success Is Only a Place Mat Away” in the February 2006 issue]. First, we created a calendar for each person. Most people prefer a vertical calendar, listing projects and plans per day. Others have created a calendar based on a normal monthly horizontal calendar, with days and dates for the week, and eventually, for the month. (I still receive placemats from many former students.) In the class we worked on a three-month plan.
Next, I asked the participants to put in all their have to’s: work, commuting, cooking, shopping, time with kids, cleaning, travel time, etc. These everyday activities get placed on the calendar first.
Third, the singers list their want to’s.
As the singers began to map these into their weekly activities, they got excited about finding more time to do everything they would like to do. They even found time for accomplishing new goals as well: translation and preparation of arias and whole operas, coachings, lessons,
warmups, exercise, body work, being directed in their arias, rehearsals for performances, reading, listening to CDs, watching videos of great singers, etc. Through placematting, we begin to expand the day and hours available for coaching, studying, rehearsing and performing.
If you are brave, you can find and create little pockets of time for yourself every day. For instance, you can find three 10-minute slots per day for warmup, study, translation, singing little sections, and finally, whole acts. Or find a place to practice at lunchtime, and find time to exercise, which warms the body and voice. Once you do this, you will begin to find yourself making double goals for the coming week, or day, or month.
You can also make time to create a personal database and merge it with opera companies, orchestras, choral groups, etc., for mailings. You can create a cover letter—or if someone can write it for you, all the better. Networking amongst singers has become incredibly advantageous for all concerned. Where before it was “secret,” now people share their information more readily, so that all can benefit.
Or how about creating time to find workshop and performance possibilities? You could participate in a summer program, a workshop, a concert opera—or even put together a group of singers and do a “read” of an opera you all want to learn with a coach (you can even find a young director to add into the mix).
The possibilities are endless, and it all begins with you and your placemat.
Start with between one week to one month, then expand to another month. You will learn and know much more about yourself and how you use your creative time. Creativity, personal courage, and willingness to look at your time management and commitments all increase.
Here are five basic questions you can ask to help you in the placematting process.
1. What are your biggest challenges to success?
2. What are your 2-5 most immediate goals?
3. Realistically, how much time can you give each of those goals (arias, operas, auditions, body work, memorization, competitions, recitals, mailings, etc.)?
4. What did you accomplish? What worked easily?
5. What didn’t happen, and can you accomplish that in the
coming month?
Set time aside to placemat. I have found it works best on a weekly basis. Have paper and pens (even colored ones!) ready. Remember that nothing is carved in stone. It can be changed, modified slightly or completely redone. Try setting up an accounting system with another artist or colleague. At least three times a week, exchange ideas and placematting suggestions.
At the end of three months, re-evaluate what you have done and look at your accomplishments and successes. Then move ahead with new and daring ideas for the next three months!
