Are you what you do?: Recent Episodes
Jan Capinski
“What do you do?” is not always an easy question to answer. How does a portfolio career influence how you self-identify? Join me, an opera-singer-turned-videographer, as I talk to other job-straddling creative-types about how we got to where we are.
patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
And so we reach the end of Season 1! Enjoy the rest of the Finale, some more musings from former guests on the question of work/life balance (among other things).
If you want to be among the first to receive episodes of Season 2 as they’re recorded (rather than wait until I’ve amassed a set of 6), then support the show on Patreon! Otherwise, I’ll see you when I unleash the new episodes on the world at large ;)
patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
It’s been a phenomenal 5 months of conversations, and to round off this chapter of the podcast I decided to follow up with a few of my past guests. This resulted in a mammoth episode that I’ve decided to split into 2 parts. It was a chance to explore the central question of the show, as well as talk about one of the most difficult aspects of freelancing in the Arts - how to resolve clashes between your personal diary and new work opportunities.
patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
How is singing like professional wrestling? Christopher Dollins talks us through the parallels between sportspeople and musicians, why a portfolio career isn’t necessarily a good way to go, and the importance of regularly asking yourself difficult questions.
Chris’ stuff: https://www.br-chor.de/
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
This week I catch up with Jennifer Clark - singer, writer, editor, teacher, project manager. Jen has embodied the portfolio-career lifestyle for years, while pursuing her dream of becoming a full-time, full-income, freelance opera singer. She was told to hide the fact that she had more than one string to her bow, though, a strange bit of advice that we try to pick apart in this episode.
Jen’s stuff: www.jenniferclarksoprano.com / Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-clark-41224b52/
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
When the pandemic takes away what you do, how do you cope? Is there a silver lining? Is it a chance to become more than what you do? OK, that last one is a bit unfair to my guest, Joshua Owen Mills, who has always strived for balance in his life. Nonetheless, the pandemic stopped his singing career in its tracks, so we talk about how he’s found other ways of earning money, and a hobby that gives him both a sense of purpose and of community.
Joshua’s stuff:
The Art of Money Saving: Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSevvDFfVP3vzQRs6HSpb2w / Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1010941 (Spotify, Google and Itunes + more) / Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theartofmoneysaving / Twitter - https://twitter.com/theartofmoneys1 / Website- https://www.theartofmoneysaving.com/social-media/ ;
Joshua Owen Mills Tenor: http://joshuaowenmills.com/ / Professional Facebook Page -https://www.facebook.com/joshuaowenmills/?ref=bookmarks / Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joshuaowenmills04/ / Twitter - https://twitter.com/JoshuaMills04
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
Helen Anne Gregory has been many things - administrator for Siemens, singer, recruiter, software tester, scrum master, photographer, maker of things on Etsy, life coach, mental health blogger, writer… Find out which of those labels still apply and why she hates the core question of my podcast ;)
Helen’s stuff:
Instagram & Twitter: @helengregory / Linktree: https://linktr.ee/helengregory / Mezzo Soprano: http://www.helenannegregory.com/ / Coaching: http://www.helengregorycoaching.com/ / Blog: https://helengregoryblog.wordpress.com/
patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
Singer, director, librettist, producer, artistic director of Charles Court Opera… John Savournin is a busy man. We talk about how he balances all the above, his love for G&S, how to deal with having to say no to an opportunity, and more.
John’s stuff:
Website: johnsavournin.com / Charles Court Opera: charlescourtopera.com / Twitter: @jsavournin / Instagram: @john_savournin
patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
Soprano, singing teacher, workshop leader, and animateur, anyone who’s worked with her knows that Abigail Kelly is a force to be reckoned with. Her work ethic may put others to shame, but it’s her infectious laugh and spirit that lights up any rehearsal room she’s in. We talk about her career path, how one finds ones identity and niche in the creative field, the future of opera, and the industry’s problems with racism.
Abigail’s stuff: abigailkellysoprano.com / Twitter: @AbigailKellySop
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
From singer to producer and commissioner of new opera, Hamish Mackay talks about the founding of The Opera Story, the future of the art form, creating new works in lockdown, and more.
Hamish’s stuff: The Opera Story: https://theoperastory.com / Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd2J7rM24NLuPDetSqgf6s2XocR7w0vTF / Pandora’s Box: https://youtu.be/wv0UjcEV37k / ENO: https://eno.org
Laura Attridge wanted to be an opera singer since she was a small child. She got quite a long way on the path to making that dream a reality, but then she changed tack. She still works in opera, but as a writer and director. We talk about why she left singing behind, her relationship with what used to be her dream, the future of opera, and also the moment she introduced herself to people as something that felt authentic and true to herself.
Laura’s stuff: www.lauraattridge.com / Twitter: @Laura_Attridge / www.murphyattridge.com / British Youth Opera: https://www.byo.org.uk/ / English Touring Opera: http://englishtouringopera.org.uk/ / The Writing Squad: http://www.writingsquad.com/ / ’Staying Home’ project: http://www.writingsquad.com/staying-home/ / Laura’s poems: BIRD (http://stayinghome.squadsite.uk/portfolio/bird/), YOGA (http://stayinghome.squadsite.uk/portfolio/yoga/) and PHOTO BOOTH (http://stayinghome.squadsite.uk/portfolio/photo-booth/)
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
I met Suzanne Fischer when we both sang in Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Patience’ for English Touring Opera. Back then she was a freelancing soprano, holding down a variety of side hustles alongside her singing career. She recently became a permanent member of the chorus at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and we talk about what prompted the shift from freelance life into regular employment.
Suzanne’s stuff: www.suzannefischer.co.uk / Instagram: @suzannefischersop
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
Frazer Scott has made a round trip from singing to being cabin crew for British Airways and back again. We talk about what forced him to quit singing, how and why he has managed to come back, how losing one career prompted him to pursue a childhood dream, and more.
Frazer’s stuff:
Website: frazerbscott.co.uk / Abingdon Summer School: abingdonsummerschoolforsolosingers.co.uk / Orchestra of St John’s: www.osj.org.uk / Dimbleby Cancer Care: http://www.richarddimbleby.org
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
Rhiannon Llewellyn is an operatic soprano, singing teacher, but also online money-tip sensation ‘The Vicar’s Wife’s Frugal Life’. We talk about her path from considerable consumer debt to house-deposit-level savings, her financial coaching business, the opera industry in general, and specifically how it treats pregnant women and mothers.
Rhiannon’s stuff: Instagram - @TheVicarsWifesFrugalLife / Youtube - The Vicar’s Wife’s Frugal Life / Twitter - @RhiannonLlew / Websites - rhiannon-llewellyn.co.uk ; themoneymasterclass.co /
Other stuff: SWAP’ra - swap-ra.org
Like the podcast? Support the podcast! Here’s some bonus material from this week’s guest Georgina Thomas, that didn’t quite make the cut, as the main episode was getting a touch long. Also, I’ve launched a Patreon… so if there are ever any more choice nuggets of content, I’ll be releasing those to my backers on there to say thank you.
www.patreon.com/areyouwhatyoudo
This week we break out of the world of classical music and dip our toes into the pool of comedy. Georgina Thomas is a comedy writer and performer and we talk about what that world is like and how compatible it is with also holding down a day job.
Georgina’s stuff:
Thick ‘n’ Fast (physical comedy about getting a foot on the career ladder): www.thicknfast.com ; Twitter: @fast_thick ; Instagram: @thicknfast
Accomplished Ladies (period drama sketch comedy): Twitter: @AccomplishedLa1
Where’s Geoff? – Comedy Night in Brixton: Instagram: @504Arch
What do opera singing, lieder, academia, the corporate world, audiobooks, and voice-over have in common? Find out from Simon Gfeller - tenor and accent management coach among other things. We discuss the things he does, how he found them, the impact of not living in London, and the ‘contrasting aria fallacy’.
Simon’s stuff:
Singer: https://musicint.co.uk/opera-performer/simon-gfeller-tenor/ / Accent management coach: https://www.accentreduction-cambridge.com/ / Person: @simon_gfeller (Twitter)
While most opera singers are stuck at home recording homemade singing videos (or making podcast episodes) to distract themselves from the work they’ve lost, Alex Aldren has returned to his pre-singing job as a doctor and is working in A&E for the National Health Service. We talk about his transition from medicine to music (and back), the difficulties in turning a beloved hobby into your main profession, and more.
Alex’s stuff:
Website: https://www.alexanderaldren.com / Twitter: @Doctor_Opera / Instagram: @doctor_opera
Saying Sophie Gledhill is a cellist might be a contender for ‘understatement of the year’. Yes, she plays the cello, but the number of projects she is involved with, places she plays, styles of music, and ventures she has planned herself boggles the mind.
Sophie’s stuff:
RippleTank - https://www.rippletank.org
Blog - http://redkitechronicles.com
Global Leaders Program - https://globalleadersprogram.com
Banff Centre - https://www.banffcentre.ca
Toki School (Easter Island) - https://tokirapanui.org/en/
PE with Joe - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Instagram - @sgleds
Twitter - @SophieGledhill
What does ‘Associate Artist (Learning & Participation)’ actually mean? Find out what Bradley Travis does now, what he used to do before, and what he hopes to do more of in future. We also share our thoughts on music college, younger audiences, and discuss some traumatic encounters that have left us scarred for life. Ok, the last bit is an exaggeration.
Bradley’s stuff:
Twitter: @BradleyETO
ETO: http://englishtouringopera.org.uk
Shoe size: 11
Singing, teaching, living - which comes first? Tom Humphreys is a baritone, singing teacher and my frielleague (it’s all explained in the podcast). We took a walk in Christchurch Meadow, Oxford, before the advent of social distancing, and talked about… well, a lot of things, but mainly about how our priorities in life have changed over time.
Tom’s stuff:
Thomas Humphreys - baritone
Twitter: @thomashbaritone
Claire Eadington works for the government, sings, blogs, gives TED Talks, runs marathons, and most importantly is on my pub quiz team. We talk about time/energy management, church singing, music making in lockdown, and more.
Claire’s stuff:
Twitter: @marathonshine
Instagram: @claireead
Northern Power Women
St Paul’s Knightsbridge
Brabant Ensemble
Which is better - a PhD in physics, or a Master’s in opera singing? My guest has both! Join us for a frank talk about the life of a 30-something (going on 40-something) in the world of opera and online tutoring.