Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!

Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!

By Alexander Simpson & Helen DanielsArtsPerforming Arts
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Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?! episodes

  • Episode 15: Choral singing vs Solo singing
    We've gone niche this week and we discuss a divide in our industry that we are both acutely aware of: the world of choral singing vs the world of solo singing.

    As two singers who were raised in the choral tradition we both love performing in choirs and understand the variety of skills needed to be a successful ensemble singer. However, we are also two singers that have made the decision to pursue professional careers as solo singers because we also love the world of opera and song. 

    Today we take a look at the skills needed to be a good choral singer, the skills needed to be a good solo singer and how these two worlds often look down on one another. We question if there might be a better way for these two worlds to support one another, we discuss the conservatoire's fickle approach to choral singing and we look at some highly successful British soloists who take pride in their choral background. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  • Episode 14: Boundaries
    (Warning: strap in for this one. We had a lot of caffeine before we recorded so things move pretty quick!)

    Throughout the course of the pandemic we've been aware of friends and colleagues reflecting on their careers and re-assessing their lives in the creative industries. As a result of that, we've noticed people making different choices based on what we feel are their new personal boundaries.

    In this episode we discuss a few of the boundaries we've been coming across:

    - 'The Litmus Test' - i.e. deciding whether or not an offer of work is worth accepting

    - Social Media - deciding how and when to use social media, and finding a way to make social media work for you

    - Time - respecting your own time, not working all hours every day and appreciating the value of rest

    - Relationships - considering the boundaries in work-relationship environments, both in terms of how you treat others and how others treat you

    - Asserting Your Boundaries - considering how people react to those who choose to assert their boundaries in the creative industries



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  • Episode 13: The Portfolio Career
    In this episode Alex and Helen discuss the benefits of having a portfolio career. 

    Alex explains how he developed his career; starting off as a singer, building a stable career as a tutor whilst at music college and then launching his life coaching business during the 2020 lockdown. Helen talks about how her career has been the reverse; working in arts administration whilst recovering from injury, slowly building a body of work as an ensemble singer, and now about to finish her master's degree in solo performance.

    Alex and Helen chat about how a portfolio career gives you, as an artist, a sense of creative control which can feel immensely satisfying, but they also discuss how often the industry looks down on those who promote a portfolio career lifestyle. Yet, given the impacts of Coronavirus and Brexit, Alex and Helen aren't sure how they would have survived over the last year had they not been able to rely on their portfolio careers...

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  • Episode 12: The Roaring 20s

    We are BACK and this week we discuss what we think the future of the arts might look like as things re-open following our winter lockdown.

    To no one's surprise, Alex has compared this time to 'The Great Depression', worrying that with fewer organisations able to put on concerts and events, opportunities are becoming more competitive. He’s concerned that this climate, compounded with Brexit, has the potential to further damage the careers of many artists in the UK.  

    Helen takes a more positive approach and argues that there is the potential for a revival of the roaring 20s. She discusses how small independent arts organisations have the potential to quickly adapt to the changing circumstances and she believes that there are plans in place which will result in impactful and challenging work. 

    As well as this scintillating debate, Alex shares his new mantra 'go forwards, not backwards', encouraging us to take what we've learnt over the last year into our new working lives as opposed to slipping back into bad habits. 

    Finally, we talk about how excited we are to see and hear live music again!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  • Episode 11: Injury and Illness

    Alex and Helen tackle a topic which is incredibly important to them both.

    Injury and illness are inevitable in the career of a professional musician, however, the music industry can be known for adopting an insensitive approach when artists become unwell.

    Alex and Helen use this episode to share their personal experiences of illness and injury, to talk about the industry culture surrounding injury, and to sit down with Dr Alex who explains the basic illnesses most singers get and whether they are safe to sing on.

    Most importantly, Alex and Helen hope this episode will act as a campaign for change in the classical music industry's approach to injury. Injury should not end careers.

    Support organisations and voice professionals which are mentioned in this episode:

    • Help Musicians UK
    • BAPAM (British Association of Performing Arts Medicine)
    • Royal Society of Musicians
    • Mind
    • Declan Costello (larynologist)
    • Julia Selby (speech therapist)

    If you want to speak to either of us about anything following on from the episode, please get in touch.





    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • Episode 10: Who's your singing teacher?
    Alex and Helen both understand how crucial the right teacher is to any singer's career, no matter what stage. This week they discuss your experiences and stories (told anonymously, of course) with regards to the tricky world of singing teachers. They explore the cult-like behaviour which can surround some teachers, the precarious nature of the teacher-pupil relationship and how difficult it can be to change teacher.

    Thank you to everyone who sent in their thoughts and stories on this topic. Your opinions and experiences made for one of our most thought-provoking episodes and has given us a lot of material for the future! 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  • Episode 9: The Online Package

    Alexander and Helen have realised that being a classical musician in 2021 means having to face those things they've been desperate to avoid: 'The Online Package'. 

    This week Helen and Alex chat about how they curated their headshots, how they designed (or have avoided designing) their websites and how they approach social media. They share artists whose twitter accounts make them laugh, artists whose instagram accounts they find informative, and, as two cynics, they take a little time to question the social media machine.

    N.B. The sound quality of this episode isn't as high as we would normally like, but, it is a nationwide lockdown and we're doing the best we can with our ropey internet so please do bear with.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  • Episode 8: Auditions and Competitions
    This week Helen and Alexander dive into the world of auditions and competitions, in particular the new frontier of recording audition and competition videos. They talk about becoming audition video director, producer, sound engineer and editor and the new set of challenges audition videos present. 

    Of course, they can't possibly cover auditions and competitions and not discuss live audition difficulties such as what to wear, having to introduce your programme, working with an accompanist you've never met and the audition panel.

    N.B. The sound quality of this episode isn't as high as we would normally like, but, it is a nationwide lockdown and we're doing the best we can with our ropey internet so please do bear with.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  • Episode 7: New Year's Resolutions
    Alexander and Helen are back and starting the new year by sharing their New Year resolutions. No, they're not talking about losing weight or learning a new language, instead they discuss how they're trying to make the most of things in these difficult times.

    Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?! 2021 Resolutions:

    1. Let It Go
    Stop worrying, stop trying to control everything and Let It Go. Nervous about performing a difficult aria? Worrying and overly controlling will not help: Let It Go and just give it your best. Anxious about uploading a performance on social media? If you're proud of it then that's all that matters: Let It Go and share it with the world. 

    2. Get It Done
    If you're the kind of person that has to-do lists then this is one for you. If there are certain daily tasks (like going for a run or sending an email) that hang over you then schedule your day to work for you, decide to do those things first and simply Get It Done. If you know you practice best in the afternoon then organise your admin for the morning and your music-making for the afternoon. Set your day up so you can make the most of it, enjoy it, and Get It Done.

    3. Feed Yourself
    No, we're not recommending you eat all the leftover Christmas cake! We're suggesting that in these difficult and unusual times why not explore your hobbies, maybe even find new ones and feed the other parts of your life that bring you joy. It hurts not to be able to make music right now, but perhaps you can find enjoyment in the things that you are able to do, whether it's reading, painting, yoga or just a simple lie-in!

    4. Don't Make Resolutions
    IRONIC HUH? For our fourth and final resolution we recommend not expecting too much of yourself at this time. There is no doubt that we are all in crisis mode and the effects of that will be many. Setting yourself high goals and imminent deadlines at this time has the potential to set yourself up for failure and that is unhealthy. If you have targets, perhaps they don't have to have fixed deadlines? If you're keen to make progress, perhaps the goals you set yourself are small and can build week upon week?  Essentially we're saying now is not the time to tell yourself to learn every Brahms song by the end of February.  

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  • Episode 6: The Christmas Special
    An episode that needs no description nor introduction. Alexander and Helen love everything about Christmas: the mulled wine, the carols, the parties and of course, the Christmas cake! Join them as they talk about some of their favourite (and not so favourite) Christmas experiences.

    Don't forget to head over to twitter and vote for your favourite advent carol between:

    Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending
    and
    Of the Father's Heart  Begotten

    Make sure to tag us: @dressingroompo1

    Another highlighted piece this episode is Richard Marlow's Advent Responsory, make sure to take a listen. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

About Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!

From the publisher's feed

A classical music podcast inviting you backstage for those conversations which only really take place behind dressing room doors. Two young singers discuss the world of classical music and what things…