Audacity Works

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This episode is by request, from my woman Rebecca, who asked, "When you're creating a larger piece of work (i.e. something longer than the standard 3-5 minutes), at what point do you ask others for feedback? At a rough draft phase or more of a pre-final phase? And if you're creating something that requires original music, at what point do you reach out to someone for that?"

Let's talk about it!  What you'll hear:

• Woo Corner's coming atcha next week!  Join in here (not selling things, just sharing functional woo):  https://rachelstricklandcreative.ck.page/
• Are you going to be in Charleston on June 20?  Come see The Monstrous Feminine and The Yellow Wallpaper!  https://www.eventcreate.com/e/yellowwallpaper  2:30
• Creating outside of your prescribed or familiar structure, and the lessons of the length of a pop song 3:30
• When should you reach out for feedback?  5:50
• CAN WE PLEASE LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTING VALIDATION AND WANTING FEEDBACK 6:49
• The absolute worst way to ask for feedback (do NOT do this to me) 10:00
• One tell-tale sign that what you're craving is actually validation 12:15
• Maestro's podcast on the consequences of outsourcing your thinking 13:35  https://themovementmaestro.com/motm-656-the-consequence-of-outsourcing/
• Questions that can be helpful to ask for feedback, just some thoughts to get you started 14:05
• Creating with original music, and how to navigate that with the musician (ie:  when to pursue the music) 15:00
• Midas is King (creating completely without music, music was created by Max Cooper to fit the film) https://www.rachelstricklandcreative.com/midasisking
• Two pieces I made in collaboration with Jym Daly (created in tandem):
  • Lion Skin (hoop solo) https://www.rachelstricklandcreative.com/lion-skin
  • Archetype (aerial loops duo) created with Anastasia Sauvage https://www.rachelstricklandcreative.com/archetype
• CliffsNotes for getting actually useful feedback when you're ready 20: 49
• Liz Lehrman's Critical Response Process for feedback (for the nerds) https://lizlerman.com/critical-response-process/ 22:31

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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What you'll hear:

• Me yammering on about vacuuming up leaves from the yard, and the shedding habits of live oak trees 
• Announcing my artist-in-residence-ness at ARC Take 2 Studios to show in a double billing on June 20th at Queen Street Playhouse 2:12
• A caretaking update on my dear ole dad's hip replacement surgery 4:00
• The Charleston Artists Salon took place this past Sunday, and it was dynamite.  If you want to start one in your area I talked about the process I used to create it here in Episode 100, around the 7 minute mark until the 12 minute mark. 5:00
• If you're local to Charleston and want to learn about future Charleston Artists Salons, please go here and sign up so I can let you know about it!  
• Product vs. Process based work, wtf is the difference 6:45
• How I realized we needed to talk about this, a lot of my students don't want to set choreography 13:35
• I think the answer lies in WHY we feel resistant to setting choreography (taking this route as it's often a "problem" I hear about)  16:45
• Is the resistance gremlin territory, or is it genuinely counter to your zone of genius?  
• One way to know if you're in gremlin territory or not is to see if your process of creating is counter intuitive to your objectives 18:30

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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This episode is by request:  "I was wondering if you’d like to make a podcast episode on living in the South. I’m so excited to return to the swamps but with the political climate I am nervous on how to navigate day to day life and not let the bastards grind me down so to speak." -Brandi

• Episode 91:  Love song to summer and why I live in the south 2:00
• What do I mean by The American South 2:45
• My response to "but the south is racist/misogynist" 4:11
• My adjustment period when I moved back here in 2018 9:30
• A summary of advice for my friend who wrote in 21:00

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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What you'll hear:

• There are two places left for Creatrix 2025:  May 13-18 and I would LOVE to see you there! 1:00
• A whole slew of updates about me and my life lol.
• The difference between perfectionism (in the way that I use it) and high standards of excellence.  Spoiler:  if it stops you from doing stuff, it's bad.  7:20
• Invisible Women by Caroline Perez 
• The original article (also by Caroline Perez) that inspired this podcast 9:20
• Episode 96:  Insidious Perfectionism and What to do about it, a past episode from August 2024 with some actionable ideas for you 12:40
• What follows is many minutes of diatribe where I agree with Caroline Perez and just urge you to not blame yourself for your rational responses to the world around you.
• Facilitating a sense of safety and GRACE in ourselves and in our communities can help us move OUT of this suppressive psychological landscape of needing to be correct all the time.  19:00
• What if the point isn't to be correct, but to be fully alive?  And what if being correct is not the way to feel that?  20:10
• ps. The Irish Aerial Dance Festival is open for bookings!  21:18

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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A two-pronged episode based on complimentary requests.  You could summarize this episode by asking the question:  why is it so hard to freakin be happy when you have good shit happening in your life?

What you'll hear:

• Part I:
• I just landed a contract I have spent the last two years dreaming about and I don't know how to process/deal with it. It feels like 'in the future' got here so quickly that I haven't caught up with myself yet and i keep swinging between "this isn't happening' 'they must have confused me with someone else" and "*confused static noises* -Helen
• What happens after your dreams come true? And why doesn't it feel BETTER?  1:45
• Storytime about my dreams coming true and how it sent me into a spiral 2:55
• Atlantic Center for the Arts Artist in Residency program
• How I ended up recording a 20 minute screaming rant while trying to "rehearse" Keep your eyes peeled on the Patreon if you'd like to see this rant, it was actually really good looking back on it now.  6:15
• "Pressure doesn't make good work, it makes good panic attacks."
• For the first time ever, I'm making Teeth public.  This is what I ended up making on that residency:  https://youtu.be/3LVHOqEUIn4  Content warning:  early loss.  8:46
• The Ego Gap:  why it can feel less than wonderful when you finally get what you want 10:55
• Part II
• A friend confided in me that she's avoiding doing her work even though when she actually does it, it makes her happy.  Why do we procrastinate on doing things we actually want to do?  12:30
• The Neverending Story:  sacred text  Auryn really called it.  13:51
• The real reason we procrastinate 15:30
• Brene Brown's quote about shame:    “If you put shame in a petri dish and cover it with judgment, silence, and secrecy, you’ve created the perfect environment for shame to grow until it makes its way into every corner and crevice of your life. If, on the other hand, you put shame in a petri dish and douse it with empathy, shame loses its power and begins to wither. Empathy creates a hostile environment for shame—an environment it can’t survive in, because shame needs you to believe you’re alone and it’s just you.”  Brené Brown, Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
• My take on why it's so hard for humans to be happy 20:00
• 
  

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Today buffet episode brought to you by the late spring that has FINALLY arrived!

What you'll hear:

• Question from a listener:  I was wondering if I could request a topic... I have been recently feeling a bit down due to a break-up with my aerial duo partner/best friend. I know this situation is probably pretty common but I am finding it hard to move on even though I know it is probably for the best.
• TLDR:  I have no idea.  I'm so sorry.  1:45
• Storytime from my own life about friend break ups 2:00
• Sometimes the end isn't the end (sometimes it is) 3:50
• Healing isn't attaining something, it's being free of something 6:00
• Question from a listener:  Podcast idea: how to navigate a show when your director gives you no constructive feedback, no direction, and has bad taste.  Asking for a friend.  6:32
• Mount Stupid on the Dunning Kruger Curve:  7:50
• Not every project is going to be awesome, which is a side effect of being a professional 9:15
• It is a role of director to solve problems in the pursuit of the vision 10:30
• Question from a listener:  Yesterday I had a chat with a student of mine who is over 60 about how /where she could perform, I know she is not the only one who found aerial later than what is normally considered for gigs and shows. So I thought I’d suggest the topic of alternative route la to performing for those “aged out” or other circumstances. 12:30
• My turn to ask for something...does anyone know a physical performer in their 60's who had found access to stages? 13:08
• Any questions you have about the intersection of art and activism, please do send them my way so I can ask an upcoming guest, Dr. Jess Allen!  14:20
• Long luxurious Patreon update!

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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An episode by request from a listener!  This is by extension, a part II of a question answered in Episode 116;  "how do you defend your creative boundaries" except this part II is a more advanced version:  "How to tell your friends “no”.  Like, kind wonderful people in your life want to collaborate/have you in a performance but it simply does not align with your goals OR you know that you will not work well together."

Let's hit it!

What you'll hear:

• You can listen to part 1 of this question here on Episode 116 1:00
• There's another Charleston Artist Salon happening in April!  Click here to add yourself to the local list to be kept up to date 2:20
• I'm applying to the SC Arts Directory  2:50
• I'm also ACTIVELY LOOKING for new creation/rehearsal space in Charleston, SC.  If you know of anything, please do reach out and let me know!  You can contact me through my website here. 4:30
• Why this part II is an advanced level boundaries question 6:28
• Storytime from my own life about friendship conflict 9:00
• You have TWO CHOICES when presented with an opportunity you do not want to take with someone you care about (almost everyone will take option #1) 11:04
• Why being brutally honest is a greater kindness 18:00
• Homework!  Ask for something in the hopes of being told no, just as an experiment 19:00

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Today for your listening pleasure, I have a true circus hero- physical therapist, circus artist, and my dear friend Dr. Jen Crane!  Jen's work has revolutionized circus training, and I know because I watched her do it, and she changed my life and saved the right side of my body (and many, many other bodies I know personally and professionally).  I am delighted to bring her on Audacity Works, please enjoy!

What you'll hear:

• The Audacity Project, Cycle 28, is OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT!  You can read all about it here, or schedule a short, easy call with me here to see if we're a good fit for each other.
• How we met, and our shared dislike for being walked in on while peeing. :)  This would have been circa 2014.
• Why Jen is the reason the entire right side of my body still works
• Jen's wonderful protocols for recovering from top surgery, which you can find here.
• How Jen came to live in Portland, Oregon
• Questions from all of you!  "I am a 40-something neurodivergent circus performer.  I hear people talk about 'active rest' and I have no idea what that means.  Maybe you could ask Jen Crane?!"  Mission accepted!  
  • Active rest is an extension of training, not a substitute.
  • "You wouldn't cancel on a coach you had a lesson with, don't cancel on yourself when you have rest scheduled."
• What to look for in a physical therapist and how to find a good fit for YOU.  Questions you can ask:
  • Are you willing to pay out of pocket for a really good fit?
    • Bear in mind that out of pocket/network usually means a more specialized PT, and being able to have less visits overall
  • Are there dance/gymnastics/rock climbing/sports PT's in the area?
  • How long is each appointment time?  Out of network PT's generally spend more time (45-60 minutes) with their patients.  The first appointment time should really be 60 minutes.
  • What are the letters after their name (what trainings/education do they have?) Jen recommends they should have ONE of these in addition to PT:
    • ATC - certified athletic trainer
    • OCS - orthopedic certified specialist
    • SCS - sports certified specialist
  • What's the vibe?  (read their bios!)
  • Knowing what you want out of the relationship, such as more of a manual therapy focused clinician, or exercise based?
• WTF is dry needling and why does it work so well?
• On mango sticky rice in Thailand, and working with the Olympic teams in China (I promise these two things are somewhat related)
• How not to eat duck tongue
• Question from a listener!  (Hi Fallon!)  "tell us about the dogs:  names, breeds, ages, how you got them" :)
• Squees about Jen getting married!!  Squeeeeeee  How Jen and Tomara met
• The 5 Calls App:  for taking action- download and use daily!

You can follow Jen here on Instagram, or check out her website (and I highly recommend doing so!)

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
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Find me on Instagram
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What you'll hear:

• The Audacity Project, Cycle 28 is open to the waitlist!  It will open to the public next week
• Creatrix still has a place available and I'd loooove to have you!  Come learn witchcraft with me and sit uselessly on the beach for 5 nights
• I bitch about winter for a few minutes.  2:15
• This podcast inspired by sister-friend artist Kat Doherty, and alumni artist Alma Charlotte
• "I could never spend that kind of money on myself" 7:00
• Advice #1:  My own experiment with this, I gave myself a purpose which was just to write 8:00
• Shoutout to bangorang friend, filmmaker, and writer Adam O'Keeffe who gave me excellent advice on my first foray into a solo holiday 9:00
• Advice #2:  Give yourself a structure- How to structure your mini solo getaway 10:00
• The hardest part about going away on your own, and what to do to negotiate with it 12:30
• The second hardest part about going away on your own 14:15
• The proof that one truly believes lies in action.  It is a LOT easier to value yourself in theory than in practice.  
• How to fund this bish 16:30

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
Sign up here for monthly blasts and functional woo
Find me on Instagram
Support this podcast on Patreon

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is by request, on how to address the gremlin:  "No one wants to hire my work, it's too out there/contemporary/weird."

What you'll hear:

• Hop on over to the waitlist for Cycle 28 of The Audacity Project, enrolling to next week for early adapters! 1:15
• There's 1 or 2 places left for Creatrix if you wanna come get warm and learn witchcraft with me 1:48
• The nature of a gremlin:  they are all liars and are not based in empirical data  3:37
• EMPIRICAL DATA:  Weirdos who have had lots of success (just to prove to your lizard brain that the gremlin is based on lies, and weird things get success too):
  • me!  With Genesis, among others
  • Empress Stah with Stargasm
  • The Great Fleeky Flanco 6:29
• You can expect a 5-10% response rate from cold solicitations (emails to casting@___.com type inboxes)  13:15
• Please stop trying to sound professional 14:38
• That response rate number above increases by 20% if you get a personal recommendation/introduction 16:00
• Before we ask if we're good enough for them, how about asking if they are good enough for you? 17:15
• Add to your Brag Book! 20:50

Don't go back to sleep.

xoRachel
Sign up here for monthly blasts and functional woo
Find me on Instagram
Support this podcast on Patreon