Cliché though it may sound, it takes money to make money. And nowhere is that more true than in the audition room. You may agonize over your piece for a YAP audition or a summer festival’s open call. Even more agonizing, however, is creating a memorable impression with your website, headshot, and attire. Even if you get a role, you may be paying off your audition dress or your photographer just as you’re getting ready to do the whole thing over again.
Learning what’s expected of you as a burgeoning professional may put it all into perspective. Reigning in your wardrobe, working with other up-and-comers for your Web and photography needs, and listening to what the companies want can minimize—if not eliminate—your expenses.
School Yourself
When it comes to a stellar website or sleek headshots, your best allies may still be in school. There are hundreds—if not thousands—of talented Web design and photography majors who are looking to build their portfolios before graduation. And, like many of you who sing for free in exchange for exposure (or remember doing so in the not-too-distant past), these designers and photographers are just as happy to get their work out.
“Charging high prices . . . just after graduation—even five to 10 years after graduation—is childish and immature,” says photographer and recent grad Maria Teicher. Teicher, who runs EverydayEros Photography in Philadelphia, often works at a reduced rate or barters with local singers and actors in need of quality headshots.
If you’re still finishing your undergrad degree and there are visual arts degrees offered at your school, start studying the work of your classmates. Begin cultivating relationships now: you’ll likely settle in the same city as that of your artistically minded fellow grads. If you’ve already graduated, research the arts and design majors offered in your area. Don’t be afraid to ask professors whose work they would most recommend and see if they can put you in touch with any of their favorite students.
If you are completely strapped for cash, offer a dinner or a six pack in exchange for a headshot session or an afternoon’s worth of website design. Make sure they get full credit and a link at the bottom of your Web page, and pass on their card to your singer peers. Write a letter of recommendation or a testimonial for their portfolio. Give a free voice lesson to their sister or sing at their cousin’s wedding. Do as much as you can to repay them without money—but do start paying once the work pours in.
Know What They Want
Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Plácido Domingo, and Magdalena Kožená all have extraordinary websites replete with multimedia players, interactive features, and flash-powered news and press scrolls. These websites are also, more often than not, powered and paid for by a singer’s record label. Having a much simpler website is not a crime—and for many artistic and music administrators, it’s actually a breath of fresh air.
“A lot of movement and graphics and things like that don’t matter so much as the résumé and, more than anything, MP3s to either download or stream,” says Florida Grand Opera’s Director of Artistic Administration Michael Lonergan, who says that video clips and a gallery are “also nice.”
You can cut many of your expenses here by hosting your videos on YouTube.com or MP3s on HoundBite.com and embedding them into your website. Administrators can find your performance clip from “Cosi” or your recital of French art songs from the host site as well as your own. YouTube links are frequently passed from administrator to administrator, company to company, giving you greater “viral” exposure for free.
Do It Yourself
For as little as $10 per year, you can host your own website with domain name on SmallBusiness.yahoo.com or WordPress.com. WordPress offers free, professionally designed templates for use from their dashboard. If you’re technically inclined, you can play around with the coding to make your website look less like a blog and more like a proper site. However, with smart tagging and categories, a blog can work just as well as a website. What’s more: regular blog postings (thoughts on opera, experience working with a role, reviews of what you’ve seen live, or photographs) give readers a reason to come back on a regular basis. But if you want a simple site and are not well versed in HTML, Yahoo’s Small Business website allows you to edit using graphics and text and does the coding work for you.
Classical Singer also offers an inexpensive DIY website, custom made with the singer in mind. It offers templates for your résumé and has ready-made pages for your headshot, bio, and sound clips. For more information, visit ClassicalSinger.com.
“Sometimes buying an extended domain contract for two years or more may be cheaper than renewing your domain name on an annual basis,” advises Elizabeth Blanckenberg of British interactive design agency Winter Red (Winter-Red.com).
If you’ve reached your design limits and are looking for a next-level website, Blanckenberg’s is the sort of firm that can be sought out through friends or Google to work within your budget. Like Winter Red, find a designer or design firm that is both artist friendly and budget friendly to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.
Economize in More Ways Than One
It’s amazing how the little things add up, such as the plethora of headshots that you order—and pay for—each year. Fortunately, you may not need to worry about this expense.
“I find the glossy 8×10 to be something of the past,” says Lonergan. “I really like when an artist has their résumé and usually an insert of their photo at the top of their résumé. I find it a much more economical use of space and in terms of the materials I have to fumble with.”
Like many other artistic administrators, a website gallery of photographs (both headshots and performance shots) is a much better memory and visual aid, one that was not available 30 years ago. Now that photos are digitized and a gallery can be as easy as a widget from Flickr.com, an expensive glossy is becoming less necessary. Good for the environment and good for your wallet.
Get the Look for Less
Believe it or not, most artistic directors and audition panels don’t care what you wear, so long as it’s clean and appropriate and it makes you look like you want to be there and meet them. In this sense, a $10 dry cleaning bill can be much more valuable than a $100 Macy’s bill.
“I’ve hired and borrowed gowns for concert attire,” says soprano Renee Salewski. “As for auditions, a nicely fitting dress or suit (depending on the role) which can be changed with accessories is key for me.”
Salewski also praises good-quality second-hand shops (especially when teamed with a good tailor). “I sweat a lot, and so the old school polyester type of shirt works better,” agrees singer Alan H. Green. “Plus I have a bit of a ‘look’ when I audition because the shirts are kind of retro. And I do not wear them in my ‘real life’ so they are always ready if an audition comes up.” Carefully selecting these pieces and keeping them specifically for auditions are key in making your wardrobe budget friendly. Your local Citysearch.com or Yelp.com site can help you find the best renters and tailors in your area.
