Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!

Alexander Simpson & Helen Daniels
  • 3.0 (2)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • SERIES

A classical music podcast inviting you backstage for those conversations which only really take place behind dressing room doors. Two young singers discuss the world of classical music and what things are really like behind the scenes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    LIVE EPISODE: Mental Health in the Opera Industry

    Where’s My Freaking Dressing Room?! hosted their first ever live episode recording as part of Opera Prelude’s OperaWorks conference day. This episode focusses on mental health in the opera industry, however, before getting into the heart of that discussion, the podcast wished to address the controversy surrounding diversity and inclusion and the OperaWorks conference. You can read the pod’s full statement here. As promised, we wished to promote the work of Music Master’s Diversity Audit Tool: I’M IN and we also wanted to re-share our podcast research episode on the opera industry, Coronavirus and the 2020 resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. AUDITIONSVisualisation The adrenaline that kicks in during an audition process can negatively impact mental health conditions such as anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. To combat this Alex and Helen often use visualisation techniques. In the days leading up to an audition they will sit in a quiet room and run the audition process in their heads in great detail. Visualisation offers you the chance to experience as close as possible to the audition experience beforehand, allowing you to regain a sense of calm and control over the situation. Journalling For those with low self-esteem and depression rejections can be incredibly hard to handle. Alex and Helen suggest journalling straight after every single audition experience. In writing down exactly what happened and how it happened, you have a frank and objective account of the audition. In having written about the audition experience, when the result comes through (good or bad) you have an account of that day you can refer back to.   CONCERTSPre-gig Often the hype of the dressing room before a concert can be difficult to process for those who are neurodiverse. Alex and Helen have learnt to take time for themselves before going onstage. In this alone time they practice small physical exercises, breathing exercises, and they run through the main musical/dramatic aims they hope to achieve for the oncoming performance. Not dissimilar from visualisation, this alone time allows them the chance to focus which results in a better concert experience overall. Post-gig For those who suffer with distorted self-image, paranoia and insecurity, post-performance can be a nerve-wracking time as you worry that you haven’t lived up to people’s expectations. Alex and Helen recommend trying not to critique yourself until you’ve seen or heard a recording of the show. There’s no doubt that in this industry how we feel on stage and what people actually see and hear are two wildly different things.    SOCIAL SETTINGS   Take a breath For those with social anxiety, the various social engagements one is required to attend as a singer can be challenging. Alex recommends taking a moment for yourself before entering such an event, and asking how it is you wish to present yourself? In taking a moment you offer yourself the mental clarity to decide how you wish to behave. Episode edited & produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    S3 Episode 2: Breakdowns

    With a brand new season comes a lot of new changes: We are really specialising now, talking to that core audience (of approximately 2 people?!) about the world of OPERA and what things are like backstage. Episodes will be coming out EVERY WEEK!We’re delighted to be introducing a brand new podcast segment, ‘Breakdown of the Week’ where we share something that’s not gone quite as we planned and how we dealt with it. To ease us into that, we thought we’d start the season proper with a whole episode on breakdowns. In this episode we discuss what we call three ‘red flags’ which are signs that we’re heading for a breakdown, and offer some tips and support as to how we can stop that from happening. Unable to restOften we find that when our responsibilities are piling up and the to do list keeps getting longer it’s incredibly hard to rest. Any time we try to take a break our mind is filled with all of our unfinished jobs, all the worries we have for the future, and we can’t seem to sit still. When we’re unable to rest, this is a ‘red flag’ that a future breakdown may be on the way. How can we address this? Schedule in your weekly diary restorative downtime and hold yourself accountable to this commitment.We have to be as disciplined with scheduling downtime as we do with scheduling practice and all of our other regular commitments. Restorative downtime means taking a proper mental break; more often than not, this means no screens. You could go for a walk, cook a meal, read a book, go for a run, or even have a nap. In this day and age every element of our lives can be found on our phones. If your restorative downtime is watching a Netflix series while you’re on your phone messaging colleagues about rehearsals, scheduling room bookings or checking your emails, it’s not really downtime. 2. Communication issuesFor both of us, if our communication styles rapidly change it’s a sign that things are not going well and a breakdown may be on the horizon. For Alex, he finds himself unable to speak. For Helen, she develops an incredibly short temper. How can we handle these changes? Practice self-awareness and find a sense of inner calmBoth Helen and Alex are big advocates of meditation and mindfulness. These practices teach us how to be aware of ourselves and how to notice when significant changes occur. This means when our communication styles change because we feel stressed, under pressure and close to burnout, we are able to step outside of ourselves, see what is happening, and manage this pressured behaviour. When we realise we are not coping well, we then try and practice good self care, prioritising things such as a healthy diet, a good sleep routine and regular exercise (Of course, all of this is a lot easier said than done!) 3. Physical symptomsBoth Alex and Helen find that certain physical symptoms highlight when things are not going so well. Alex becomes unusually over-emotional and Helen often experiences stomach cramps and heart tremors. Of course, each person’s symptoms are unique and personal, but how can we deal with this? Listen to your body and communicate with those around youDepending on your physical symptoms, our advice is simple: treat it! If you have stomach cramps, make yourself a ginger tea and adapt your diet to include gentle and soothing meals. If you have heart tremors, perhaps practice familiar breathing exercises. If you’re feeling emotional, be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to express your feelings. If you feel it would help, tell those you’re working with that you are going through a difficult time. More often than not, those around you will support you and want to prioritise your mental and physical wellbeing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    S3 Episode 3: Standing up for yourself

    This week Alex and Helen each share two personal stories where they made a decision to stand up for themselves in the industry. These stories discuss issues of pay, issues of respect/disrespect and issues of sexism. Alex and Helen hope that in sharing these stories, they can encourage you to stand up for yourself. Setting your boundaries and knowing when your boundaries have been crossed is very important in this industry. There are ways of stating your limits and expressing when things are unacceptable in a calm, clear and respectful manner. No one should be afraid of speaking out for fear of losing favour/future work/connections. If we want to see the opera industry improve and foster better working conditions for those in it, it is our collective responsibility to make that happen and speak out when required. Epiosde edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    S3 Episode 4: Being a singer is harder than it looks

    This week Alex and Helen discuss five main points surrounding an age-old controversy: how being a singer is much harder than it looks. Encouraged to make it look effortless Singers are constantly encouraged to make their performances look as elegant and graceful as possible (a particular gripe for upper voices!!). Perhaps audiences don’t want to know how much effort goes into singing a full 3-hour role on stage, but being asked to sing 28 bars of coloratura whilst looking like you’re enjoying yourself is not an easy feat. The practice problem To make difficult singing look effortless takes hours and hours of practice but, as we’ve discussed before, singers have to be incredibly careful with practicing. The voice box is a precariously balanced set of muscles and every singer has to know their own limits and how much they can practice without doing injury or damage. As we’ve discussed before, mental practice, libretto translation and repertoire research are all important parts of the practice process without tiring out your vocal cords. You can’t SEE the thing! It sounds pretty obvious but not being able to see the voice is another difficulty singers have to deal with. If you have a bruise on your leg, a swollen wrist, or an injured hand, these are things you can tangibly see which consequently helps you understand when things are getting better. With the voice, it is not so easy. In addition to that, an appointment to have a vocal scope check up often costs hundreds of pounds. As singers we have to rely on sensation and having a detailed understanding of how our voices feel. If something isn’t right, it’s vital we put ourselves and our voices first. Singing takes over every element of your life Lots of things affect the voice - sleep (or lack of), diet, exercise routine, illness, natural speaking voice and so much more. As singers we have to take all these external factors into account. It’s not an easy thing to do! Shelf-life Often singers feel as if they’re working against the clock, and if they haven’t established a significant career by the age of 30 then it’s not worth continuing. This is a horrid pressure to contend with alongside everything else which works against you in this industry. It’s crucial we remember that the voice is constantly changing, growing and developing. For some singers they might hit their stride in their early 30s as their technique and physiology are now working in tandem. What is more, the industry is not the same as 30 or 40 years ago. Singers are not scouted at the age of 18 to stand on the Covent Garden stage. In addition, what is required of singers is far more taxing, exhausting and demanding. To have the ability to withstand all of that takes many more years of training. Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    S3 Episode 5: Singers and instrumentalists with special guest Keval Shah

    Alex and Helen were delighted to welcome esteemed colleague and old friend Keval Shah onto the podcast to discuss the similarities and differences between singers and instrumentalists. Keval is an internationally recognised pianist who has worked with many world-renowned singers, making him a perfectly positioned guest for this week’s conversation. In the episode they discuss the physicality of singing vs playing an instrument; how instrumentalists could learn from singers and their use of text; how singers could learn from instrumentalists and their understanding of a musical score; and, most importantly, how we should all think of ourselves as musicians first and foremost. Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min

  6. EPISODE 7

    S3 Epiosde 7: Nepotism

    We all want to try and pretend nepotism doesn’t happen in the opera industry but, let’s face it, it does. So, how can you use nepotism to your own advantage? Make your own connectionsIf you’re in a room with someone you want to work with, what’s the harm in having a chat? You don’t have to directly ask for work, you don’t even have to directly ask for an audition, instead you can discuss an opera you saw recently, or something you read in the news, whatever! In making the initial connection it’s about making simple conversation and making an impression on said person. Make connections in a way that works for youPerhaps you’re not used to making conversation with people you don’t know, or perhaps you’re a socially shy person; if that’s the case then maybe you can use social media to your advantage? Sending a tweet to a casting director or agent in an attempt to make contact can have a lot of value. Form connections in the way that works best for you. You should never have to feel uncomfortable when making connections. Use a business brainBuilding relationships with people takes time. As with business relationships, you have to prime people in order for connections to prove fruitful. Take your time - calls, emails, tweets, meetings - it all contributes to the end outcome. Create your own luck!Based on a book Helen read over the summer, here are five ways of thinking that could improve your own luck: Be more relaxed (ha!) If you’re open to the situation in front of you, rather than desperately trying to achieve one single thing, you can be more open to new situations and ideas, and form new connections.Be open to new things and new experiences. The more people you meet, the more things you do, the bigger your chances are to create your own luck.Build and maintain a social network - create new connections, sustain old ones. (N.B. this can be tiring so make sure to schedule to appropriate rest time in response to this kind of work.)Expect good luck. Many people walk into auditions telling themselves that they WILL get this role. Can you do the same? Often people that expect good luck are able to turn difficult situations on their head and see the positives - is that something you can try? Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  7. EPISODE 8

    S3 Episode 8: Fear culture

    This week we discuss the fear culture which pervades the opera industry and how we can take care of ourselves in these situations. Performance AnxietyWe are singers and performers because we love sharing the joy of making good music; however, in certain situations (such as high pressured auditions) we can become crippled by fear. Is there a way of us reframing this? Do the feelings we experience before our first night on stage at the Metropolitan Opera have to be fear, or could they be anticipation instead? Could they be excitement at having the opportunity to connect with an audience through powerful music? Could they be adrenaline, gearing you up to give the performance of a lifetime? It’s worth reminding ourselves that a performance on stage or in an audition needs something more than what we deliver in the practice room - could that be this adrenaline, excitement or anticipation? Fear towards our superiors The opera industry is a complex one, one in which we are all trying to impress our superiors in order to secure another gig, another casting or perhaps another audition opportunity. Not just this, oftentimes when we are working with colleagues we admire, we are fearful of what they think of us. In situations like this it can be helpful to consider yourself five years ago: who were you afraid of? Who did you look up to? Whose opinion did you worry about? It’s likely that five years on you’ve come to realise these worries and fears were not as important as they seemed at the time. Often the arts talk about being more open, caring, sharing and collaborative. That works both ways. We need to be less fearful of those in positions of power, but also the people who hold these positions need to make themselves more approachable, more accessible, more human. Fear for our career securityA common fear discussed on the podcast is how to make a sustainable career in the arts. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the portfolio career allows musicians the flexibility to remain financially solvent whilst exploring and developing creative projects. The combined effects of Brexit and Coronavirus have throttled the classical music industry and the government’s continual arts cuts act as a reminder that the UK does not value the arts in the same way other countries do (taking Germany and Austria for example). The realisation that a career in the arts is financially insecure is painful, however once you’ve come to terms with this you can make choices to develop a flexible career that works for you. Combine the skills you have in order to provide yourself with a portfolio career that offers a steady income and room to be creative. Fear in the creative spaceIt’s sad to say it, but many music-making groups are guilty of creating a culture of fear, whether it be the fear of making a mistake, the fear of not sounding beautiful, the fear of a memory lapse, or the fear of misreading a gesture. Environments like these require us to regain some sense of control, and we can do this by making a choice: You can choose to stay, recognising it is just a job and you feel able to handle this situation.You can choose to leave. You know your boundaries and you’re not prepared to work in such an environment so you make the decision to move on.In sports such as cricket and basketball, players are trained to withstand trash talk, learning to give their best in a high-pressured, fearful environment. Perhaps opera should do the same? Much of the operatic industry is based on a culture of fear, meaning we need to learn to protect ourselves. It is our personal responsibility to become robust and resilient enough to manage these difficult situations, remembering that if it becomes too much, it is okay to walk away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  8. EPISODE 9

    S3 Episode 9: Perfectionism

    This week Alex and Helen discuss the pros and cons of perfectionism. For many artists the desire to create perfection can be overwhelming. Perfectionism can have many benefits including producing work of a high standard, committing to a project with passion and motivation and inspiring others. However, perfectionism can also have drawbacks. Perfectionism can cause us to hold artists to unattainable standards, forgetting that real live performance can, in no way, be perfect. Such perfectionism can lead artists to becoming overwhelmingly self-critical which can cause issues with creative freedom and performance anxiety. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that music is a living, breathing entity. It is not supposed to be perfect. Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  9. EPISODE 10

    S3 Episode 10: Three things we're fighting for

    Just like that, we’ve come to the end of Season 3 of the podcast! From the live episode, to the Voice of Black Opera Mini Series, to episodes on boundaries, nepotism and perfectionism, it’s been a total blast. To see you out, this week Alex and Helen discuss the three things they’re fighting for in the future of the operatic industry. Boundaries It would be impossible for us to talk about boundaries on this podcast any more than we already do. However, in this difficult time for those working in the creative arts we think it’s more important than ever for us to feel safe and capable of asserting our boundaries. If you’re not sure what your boundaries are, perhaps take some time to think about it and consider how, if required, you could communicate your boundaries to a colleague. Moving opera into the 21st century Many of the episodes this season have discussed the modernisation of opera - be it turning nepotism on its head, understanding the relationship between politics and opera, asserting boundaries and our mini series on the Voice of Black Opera Competition. Alex and Helen are also passionate about modernising opera in its own right; it would be exciting to see more contemporary opera at the forefront of artistic seasons and it would also be exciting to see more new young opera stars taking to this country’s greatest stages. Often opera revels in how it is a relic of the past. That doesn’t need to be the case any more. Solidarity When Alex and Helen first began this podcast in 2020 it was to create a community of like-minded musicians that would support each other as they developed their artistic careers. The podcast’s first live episode in October 2022 was a reminder that this community is very much real and filled with singers and musicians committed to looking out for one another. In order for us to create lasting change in our industry we can’t do it alone. We have to work as a team and support one another. The podcast has your back, and we very much hope you have ours too. This episode was edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Our thanks goes to Daisy for her positive upbeat energy, her creativity and her social media prowess throughout this entire season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min

  10. EPISODE 11

    EMERGENCY EPISODE: BBC Funding Cuts

    Alex and Helen have quickly jumped on the podcast to respond to the recent announcement that the BBC will be disbanding the BBC Singers, and the BBC Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra will face 20% role reductions. They discuss what makes the BBC Singers unique, what troubles them about the press release and, if possible, how we can look ahead with a positive spirit. Sign the petition to save the BBC Singers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
See All Season 3 (10)

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
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About

A classical music podcast inviting you backstage for those conversations which only really take place behind dressing room doors. Two young singers discuss the world of classical music and what things are really like behind the scenes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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