Audacity Works

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What is ambient performance, and how long should a set be?  How many sets are enough?  How many are too many?  And how long can we really expect one person to do slow moving splits on the fabric in one evening?

And who actually wants to see that for hours and hours at a time?

• defining ambient performance, especially in terms of aerial performance
• my own spicy opinions based on my lived experience in the industry for 16+ years
• science-backed components to consider for the length of ambient sets
• Quotes from the great Scott Cameron of Intrepid Talent
• Exactly why 3-6 minutes is the range for a featured, choreographed act

If you want to get your shit together and have the tools ready for you to advocate for yourself in professional situations, the waitlist for The Audacity Project, Cycle 26 is open NOW.  We begin our work in March of 2024.

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Last year's December update:  Why I don't work in December

ps. Woo Corner shall continue in 2024!  Get in on that right here.

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Kasia Urbaniak's website:  highly recommend giving this woman a follow and subscribing to her newsletter

While you're at it have you subscribed to Woo Corner?  It comes out every month and I promise to keep the woo functional only. 

And because today's episode is about Instagram, if you're not already following the great Shante Colefield then look no further, she's the GOAT for all things Instagram related.  Check her out here:  https://www.instagram.com/themovementmaestro/

The meat of today's episode is by listener request:  If you don't want to share the new work you're developing on the Gram, what do you share??
The answer:  literally everything.
Photos
Video snippets of old performances
Asking questions
Posting quotes
Giving your opinion
Bits of things you've been doing for literally years, it's always new to someone
Stories behind/the history of a skill
Take a moment of something new and either speed it way up or slow it way down so it's unrecognizable, but still shareable without inventing new material
Repost something old (an actual post can be posted again, omg magic I love it)

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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This episode is dedicated to anyone who ever got their wish...then realized, "this kind of sucks."  It's my belief that this is actually a tremendously positive thing, dressed in a very disappointing outfit.  Here's my advice on what to do when you're ready to acknowledge something isn't compatible with your happiness- be it an artistic project or a job. 

Cheers to terrible first drafts.

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Ever felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion creeping in, making your day-to-day coaching job seem like an uphill battle? I know the name of that tune. In this episode I share my own experience with burnout, and outline three ways to change your coaching practice so it works for you and not the other way around.  

But first Imma overshare about my personal life a little bit, for shits and giggles.  

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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This episode is an exploration of the surprising power that comes from harnessing creativity in isolation, and how to stop being so damned isolated if you're tired of it.

Natural Wings Aerial Dance:  Dawn Pascoe and Ruth Battle duo trapeze at Toronto Busker's Festival 2013:  https://youtu.be/WODRXKb5cZ4?si=VOSxIQXUyLYgHbve

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Sign up for the newsletter:  https://rachelstricklandcreative.ck.page/

Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way:  https://juliacameronlive.com/books-by-julia/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity-audiobook/

This episode of Audacity Works pulls back the curtain on the often obscured challenges artists face, especially when venturing into unrestricted creative opportunities like residencies. From the weight of high expectations to the struggle to connect with their inspiration, we delve into the deep dark nasty of art-making.  The episode was inspired by the journey of a young artist I mentored during her residency, with her blessing.

We'll touch on the importance of surrender and humility in the process of art-making, the oft-unspoken acceptance of unexpected twists and turns, and the normalcy of emotions like grief and confusion that permeate the creative process. I'll tell you about a particularly challenging residency of my own, sharing how I had to confront and process a garbage fire of emotional baggage before I could do a single damn productive thing.  This episode is a sincere and thought-provoking discourse on art-making and creativity, urging artists to embrace the entirety of their journey, including the shadows.

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Sign up here for Woo Corner, and to get the lists of Pleasures and Restorative Practices:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WZQeNDDqtk0q95dQBZJzO7dW8My2TRVrIaScq6iW_4c/edit?usp=sharing

Article about the 7 different types of rest:  https://mindfulhealthsolutions.com/embrace-these-7-types-of-rest/


I'm on a quest to understand the critical difference between passive pleasures like binge-watching your favorite series and active pleasures that require your energy and focus. This episode aims to give you some tools to help you steer clear of burnout. We dig deep into the difference between pleasure and restorative activities, sharing our collective experiences with a comprehensive list of over 200 pleasures and almost 50 unique restorative practices (crowd-sourced!).

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Podcast episode on Samhain:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2070440/11594609

Sign up here for Woo Corner:  https://rachelstricklandcreative.ck.page/

The Movement Maestro's free resource on starting a podcast (this is what I used):  https://the-movement-maestro.ck.page/b53b33557e

Audacity Works website on Buzzsprout, including full transcripts from June 18 to the present:  https://audacityworks.buzzsprout.com

Who knew the potency of voicing thoughts aloud or the power hidden in a voice? We did.  In this anniversary episode, I reminisce about my experiences, the surprises, the lessons learned, and the growth that has marked this year long experiment. 

If you've ever been curious about the nuts and bolts of creating a podcast, this episode pulls back the curtain on the tools, resources, and platforms I use. Plus, we're opening up the discussion about future guests on the show, waiting to hear from you about who you'd love to hear. All of your actions have ripples.  Don't go back to sleep. xo

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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My Art-Haus aerial dance film, Midas is King:  https://www.rachelstricklandcreative.com/midasisking

Film of Blood Meal, collaborative piece with digital artist Katina Bitsicas:  https://www.rachelstricklandcreative.com/bloodmeal

Welcome to a conversation with myself about the purpose of submitting your work to film festivals. We kick off by rewinding to my aerial dance film, 'Midas Is King', which was hailed at four festivals and bagged two awards at the Women's International Film Festival. But is this all merely a quest for recognition and new audiences, or is there a grander scheme at play? 

Our discussion takes a turn towards the contentious issue of artist compensation in the domain of fine and performance art. Drawing upon my experience with 'Blood Meal', a collaborative piece with digital artist Katina Bitsicas, we delve into the challenges of national showings and installations. Simultaneously, I'll troll societal norms that stigmatize artists for pursuing compensation for their work. 

Should our art exist solely for its own sake, unburdened by the shackles of awards and publications? This is an invitation for all artists to introspect: is mere existence of your work enough for you? As you navigate your own artistic path, we encourage you to contemplate: what is your 'enough'?

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Support this podcast on Patreon