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.

AUDITIONS

Visualisation

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.

 

CONCERTS

Pre-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.

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