Debra Cowan has been a professional singer for nearly thirty years.

In this episode, we discuss:

-How Deb got her start as a professional recording artist

-Making the change from part-time to full-time professional singer

-From math teacher to singer - "leave of absence" that becomes permanent

-How great changes can come from necessity in hard times

-The importance of feedback from mentors for our confidence in making big moves

-Starting with "floor spots" in the folk world

-Festivals = get the most bang out of your appearances because the most people / fellow musicians are there

-Doing The Work - people don't just flock to you because you're awesome, you need to hustle and get out there

-Deb went to every open mic within 100 miles of her home when she moved to New England! 4-5 a week

-Different performance modes work with different audiences

-Cross-cultural contact and people appreciating your interest / being the novelty

-Performance visas

-Recording in a studio - you get feedback about what to work on, so you get better

-Self production vs working with a producer

-Working with a sound engineer

-Getting professionals to listen and provide feedback

-Both folk musicians and punk rock kids learn by the seat of their pants.

-Music theory knowledge, how and when songs and harmonies are written, etc

-Having Paul McCartney's go-to drummer Dave Mattacks produce Deb's record

-Just ask - the worst they can say is "no" - and if they do, you go on to plan B

-A tool that makes your work/life easier? The Internet! No more $1,000 phone bills or photocopied flyers!

-Being at the cutting edge of technological change

-The internet is crowded now - noise to signal ratio struggles

-Who is your competition? The Xbox, not my fellow musicians!

-Promotion tips: Put together graphics - learn some visual program - Deb uses Apple Pages, Heather uses mostly Photoshop

-Just because you book it doesn't mean people are coming. "We want people to come, don't we?" "There is that." So you have to (self) promote to make it happen.

-Provide the venue with the tools they need to promote the gig, have an agreement with them that they'll also do the work

-Don't make people (the venue, promoter, etc) do more work for you - make it easy for them and they'll have you back

-EPK - Electronic Press / Promotional Kit

-Communicate about how things are going with venues

-Your own website is important! You own it *and* it is your best billboard. Hire someone to make it if you don't know how to make it beautiful yourself.

-Deb's favorite thing about being a professional singer: It's The People.

After an accidental podcast hiatus brought on by work and technical difficulties, Making Life hosts Heather and Cate are back for a second installment of chats with others who create for a living, and what it's like to try.  As in the very beginning, they decided to kick things off by talking with each other.

A CORRECTION: In the episode, Cate mistakenly says that the John C. Campbell Folk School was founded by John C. Campbell. Thanks to further research, she's since learned that though the school bears John's name, it was founded by Olive Dame Campbell. Olive named the school after her spouse, and the dining hall there now bears her name. Apologies for the misspeak!

In this episode, we discuss:

Jeromy Foberg is the captain of the Rhode Island Pirates and Privateers, a historical reenactment group that has an official letter of marque from the state of Rhode Island. He also worked as a chanteyman aboard the 18th century tall ship The Formidable. In addition to these nautical endeavors, he is also a maker of accessories, costuming, and cocktails.

find Jeromy on:

In this episode, we discuss:

Jules Pieperl is a non-binary, NYC-based costumer for Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre as well as film and TV.  They have worked on Mean Girls, To Kill A Mockingbird and Carousel on Broadway, at New York Theater Workshop and National Queer Theater Off-Broadway, and on John Oliver, among others.

find Jules on:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/julespeiperl/

In this episode, we discuss:

-The differences between costuming for a Broadway show, versus a talk show

Alex Katz is a graphic designer, illustrator, and writer. In addition to being a meticulous and thorough creator of his own fictional world, he also spends time delving into and sharing worlds others have created, such as through his popular and high-level Harry Potter cosplay.

find Alex on:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/alex.r.katz/

In this episode, we discuss:

Connect with Lynn Feingold personally on: Instagram, Facebook

Episode highlights & notes:

Cate and Heather interview Gordon Riley, one half of G. Riley Creations, a creative marketing company that specializes in product and portrait photography, photo composites, logo design, and more. He received his certificate in photography from RISD (the Rhode Island School of Design) in 2020, and almost one year later, made the move to go full time with the business just last month!

In this episode, among other things, we discuss:

-Work as a professional independent creative – just a few months after making the leap to full-time

Here's where you can find Gordon and G Riley Creations on the interwebs:

Thanks again to November Party for providing our intro and outro music!

Cate and Heather interview Cindy Clifford, a freelance voice over artist who has worked in radio and currently hosts her own podcast, It's Me, Cindy. In addition to all of that, she also writes scripts, stories, and monologues. And yes - she is Cate's mom.

In this episode, among other things, we discuss:

Here's where you can find Cindy Clifford on the interwebs:

thanks again to November Party for providing our intro and outro music!

Heather and Cate interview Lynn Noel, a singer, songwriter, and storyteller of heritage traditions, and the mastermind behind her online folk club, The Mermaid's Tavern.

Show notes:

Giuliana's most recent gallery showing: