As Annie Dillard wrote in her incredible book The Writing Life, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour and with that one, is what we are doing.”

In this episode we go over:

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Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands -- the ongoing process of establishing a prescribed image or impression in the mind of others about an individual.

In this episode, we'll go over the "Branding in 7 Words" exercise, some basic questions you can ask yourself to better identify your own brand, and crafting your elevator pitch.

Thanks to Juanitos for the music featured in this episode.

Show notes:

The opera field is fiercely competitive. It has been and will continue to become more competitive. Fact. Your electronic press kit (EPK) is a first impression in many cases. It is imperative to frame your accomplishments in a way that will read clearly, demonstrate that you’re a great match for the job, and stand out from the other singers.

Divas, I’m curious, what areas of networking feel great to you and which ones feel less than great? Help me zero in on the pointers you need in your best diva life. Hit me up on twitter - I’m @mezzoihnen

This is a shorter podcast episode but you should plan to take time by yourself to complete the exercise after listening. This is a 15-25 minute activity - without taking time here you can go to as many business of music classes as your heart desires but you won’t learn a darn thing.

Who's ready to discuss seemingly impossible goals?!

Are you a generalist, specialist, expert, or authority in your corner of the musical world? Not sure? I've invited my first guest, Rebecca Ihnen (yep, she's my youngest sister), on to talk about the different levels of your creative career and how to advance from one to the next.

What's the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation when it comes to singing?

How can we use the ritual of setting intentions before our practice sessions to have more agency in our development as singers?

In this episode, I outline 12 points of my practice plan plus a few bonus memorization techniques.

Hope you enjoyed this plan - now, it’s your turn to tell me your favorite techniques

The praise and recognition of your talents are not achieved by deception, a congenial personality, or simple good luck. Divas, for our Studio Class assignment for this week, I want to you to prepare yourself for success.

Show Notes:

Greet the audience members with warmth and appreciation. These people took the time and effort to attend your concert. Be gracious. Remember >> This is not a time to analyze your performance nor dismiss their congratulations for you. Accept their compliments with a simple “thank-you” or “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Thank them for coming!

Show Notes:

Erica Sipes - Beyond The Notes: http://ericaannsipes.blogspot.com/2009/12/follow-up-thought-about-greeting.html

Come say "hi" to me over on Twitter - I'm @mezzoihnen.

Today’s Studio Class assignment: create a singing team.

Gertrude Stein, during her salon years in Paris, cultivated a entourage of thought leaders. She was inspired by them, encouraged by them, and motivated by them. She may not have thought of them as her team. But, those are exactly the kind of relationships we’re talking about when I encourage you to create your own singing team.

The impact of peers on productivity and decision-making has been studied in diverse range of settings, from workplace productivity to migration decisions. Conceptually, the peer group can affect the individual in various ways, including creating positive external influences and allowing the individuals to take advantage of creating products or services within their community. These benefits are also present in the production of music: musicians can learn from observing one another and sharing performance slots can increase exposure.