If you're in the Indianapolis area, and would like to hear me sing, stop by the Macaroni Grill in Carmel (on 116th street). That's where I'm putting 9 years of operatic vocal training to use. Seriously. I'm a singing server at an American-Italian restaurant, in Indianapolis Indiana.
In one sense it's demeaning - dammit, I'm a good singer and I should be doing something more significant with my highly-trained voice. In another sense though, it's exactly what I need at this point in time. I get regular practice, a solid income to save, and perhaps most importantly, a psychological kick in the ass. It (and my other various day jobs) are a reminder of what I'm missing in the "real world". And you know what? It turns out I can't really cope with the real world anymore.
Serving is one thing - at least you're constantly engaged, and every night is slightly different. But especially in the day jobs I've been working... Some part of me really can't believe that so many other people out there pass their lives doing this sort of thing. I couldn't handle it.
I couldn't handle going to the same job every day, doing the same repetitive task from 9 till 5, going home to watch the boob tube, then waking up to do the same thing over again... Every day. Every single day until you're 65. Maybe this is "divo" of me, but WOW is that hard for me. I know I used to be able to do it, but that part of me seems to have disappeared. On a very deep psychological level, I need more stimulation than that. I need to be doing something that engages me physically, intellectually, and emotionally with some regularity. And I'm fortunate enough in my life and my work that I'm used to making a living doing something so rewarding.
Side note: I know that there are plenty of people who get to do rewarding work outside of the arts. Running a business, or even most work at any kind of executive level, is intellectually challenging, fascinating, and the subject of many peoples' passions. But that's not the kind of job I'm talking about. I'm talking about the kind of work where you run the till at a gas station, or man a call center, or reset passwords all day. That's the kind of day job I've been taking, and I guess it's "elitist" of me, but I find I simply could not pass my life that way.
So despite all the hardship in the opera business... I'm ready to be a professional opera singer again. I'm ready to be auditioning again, getting PFO letters and offers, devoting my entire being to giving a perfect performance for 5 minutes in a studio somewhere in New York. I want to be travelling the country, living out of a suitcase in a homestay or on a friend's couch. I'm dying to get back to not drinking red wine because of the histamines, and being careful about speaking too much during the day, in case it affects my chords that evening. I'm ready to be an opera singer again.
I think I really needed this wake up call... Now I just have to meet my saving goals so I ditch the "real world" and get back to operatic fantasyland.
Sun, 2008-12-14 02:27
Why dont you promote yourself on youtube or get an agent to help. a wife and family can be a big hindrance or help towards getting a career started. i would flood youtube with videos. so some classic opera and some christmas classics.
good luck, waiting on tables sucks, i did it while getting my phd in mathematics. i preferred washing dishing to be frank.
- reply
»Sat, 2009-01-03 17:15
Youtube and an agent are great ideas - but it doesn't make sense for the level of singing I've been at.
Youtube is flooded with young artists making a reasonable stab at famous music. I don't believe that anyone watches those videos and goes "hey, let's hire that guy!" It strikes me as vocal masturbation in public. If and when I get new recordings that I want to publicize myself with, I put them on this website. Context matters too much to put them on youtube. On the other hand, enough teenagers have been videoing me with their cellphones that it's only a matter of time.
But I'm trying to get an agent this year. :)
- reply
»Thu, 2009-04-30 00:38
Actually, nowadays impresarios check out YouTube as a valid tool to hear what someone sounds like, looks like, performs like, if they can't hear them live. My agent has DVD clips of me, but in a pinch will simply send the YouTube link. It may not launch a career, but if the clips are good, they can be very useful.
- reply
»Sun, 2009-05-03 19:46
Either way, the video clips have to be production quality, not made with a webcam in a practice room. And either way, that's what I'm trying to arrange. :)
- reply
»Wed, 2009-05-20 20:39
Hi, Campbell - I met you and your wife once at Macaroni Grill in Carmel, I was very impressed with both of your voices. I understood that you two were off to France to continue studies. I am so jealous! Can you tell me, someone told me that 'some opera singers' from France were going to be preforming at Macaroni Gril on Thursday, May 21st, WOULD that be you and your wife? If so, I do hope to come and hear you once again. If not, Im' sorry to have bothered you, but ALL BEST wishes in your career ... that would have been my dream life, to be an opera singer. As it is, I'm the best opera PATRON I can be!
Aguri,
RONizetti
- reply
»Thu, 2009-05-28 23:17
Dude, I can't believe you have a Masters degree and have to wait on tables to make money. Oh wait, it's a Masters in voice performance or some musical shit, isn't it?
Man, I'm sorry to tell you that you have wasted valuable time and money to get an education that is worth shit! Where were your parents when you made such a stupid decision??
Had you studied business or something useful you would be making good money right now. Your life must suck. On top of that you are not even good enough as a singer to think that you can make a career in Opera. No agents are intersted in you so far... So dream on and keep on singing in bars as you wait on tables for a few bucks to pay for your top ramen meals.
- reply
»Fri, 2009-05-29 14:14
Sometimes people make decisions that actually aren't based on how much money you can accumulate. It seems you have a very narrow view on what gives life quality and value. I doubt Mr Vertesi thinks that his education is worth shit and that his life sucks.
- reply
»Fri, 2009-05-29 15:48
George,
Actually, my point is not how much money he makes. My point is precisely the quality of life of singers like him. And let me be clear, this is nothing personal with this particular singer.
Yes, singing can contribute to quality of life. But, if at the end of the day after your recitals you go back home to eat top ramen and live the rest of your life as if you were an eternal college student, I think that's a problem. Young singers may not see it or don't really care because they are young and have dreams and hope. But sooner or later, the dream balloon will pop and reality will strike.
Sorry I sounded harsh on my first comment. But to be a singer you don't need a Masters degree. He should have studied something else and continue with private singing lessons. Anyway, I better stop here. This is not my business anyway. I wish him good luck!
- reply
»Sun, 2009-09-06 08:08
No, you made a totally valid comment. It was pretty harshly worded, but I completely understand where you're coming from. I left a good job managing an IT department at a pharmaceutical company to study opera at university, and it was a considered decision. I don't consider either of my music degrees a waste of money, but the value is not in the piece of paper.
I did my Bachelor's for the opportunity to study voice with Giorgio Tozzi, and to get one of the best musical educations in the world. I still use a lot of the historical and theoretical knowledge I gained at IU regularly, in professional situations. Maybe it seems useless, but I find it much easier to learn modern music now that I understand serialism and can break it down. I understand Verdi much better now that I can read between the musical lines. No question that was a valuable program for me - including the unexpected lesson in dusting myself off after a particularly terrible professional experience.
I didn't want to do a Master's. I did it again, so I could study with a particular voice teacher (Kenneth Shaw in this case), and because the program convinced me that it was concerned with my artistic and musical development in a way I had not seen (and still haven't seen) anywhere else. They followed through on their promises, CCM taught me how to be an actor, how to be a professional, how to be an artist, and how to sing high notes. I ended up intentionally drawing out my time there, so I could continue having access to the fantastic faculty and resources there.
So no, I don't consider it a waste of money. Nobody cares that you have two degrees in music, it's true. But those programs were incredibly helpful to me in pursuing what I want to do with my life.
And yeah, it sucked to have to wait tables, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth it. Now I'm an opera singer in Paris, and I don't regret a moment of it.
- reply
»Tue, 2009-06-09 09:38
Yes, harsh is the word I would have chosen.
May I suggest a smooth alternative:
http://doublebassblog.org/articles
An pleasant mix of reality, humor and just good writing.
Campbell wouldn't you like an instrumentalist's link on your list? You can skip the instrument tech stuff easily enough.
- reply
»Sat, 2009-06-13 17:26
to add to my comment:
Not only agents will be needed but also promoters, managers and many many people to successfully carry out all those functions.
What they suggest on those articles is ridiculous.
- reply
»Sat, 2009-06-13 17:18
I visited the link mentioned above and read some of the articles and the info there. I get their point but what they suggest is both delusional and ridiculous. They want to reinvent the wheel or what??
I'll cite a couple of paragraphs from those articles that caught my eye:
"Creating their own performance organizations and setting up as a not-for-profit, writing grants, taking care of marketing and publicity, working with government agencies and arts advocacy agencies at the local, county, state, and federal level, booking and managing tours, contracting, internet-based aspects of the music business, working with outlets to sell your own recordings, setting up supplementary businesses relating to your art…"
"training in business, accounting, marketing, negotiating, public relations, and communications"
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??!!! And you still want me to be an excellent performer on top of that??!!
You cannot expect a performer to succeed in all the activities involved in creating his own opportunities and still be an excellent performer. I mean, you can create a few work opportunities for yourself but creating the opportunities that will build a successful performing career would take all of your time and energy. You cannot do everything yourself and still be an excelent performer.
Sooner or later any performer will have to have someone else to take care of all of that so they can focus on their art. EXACTLY, AGENTS!!
So why try to reinvent the wheel??!!
- reply
»Sun, 2009-09-06 08:11
haha - it's true, and lots of people think this is why we don't have many truly GREAT singers anymore. Nowadays we ask performers to do twice as many shows, twice as much travel, and all of their own management besides. I agree that it's probably not possible to do an outstanding job at all of these things, particularly if you want to eat in the meantime. IMHO the trick is to do them all well ENOUGH, then get a good manager/agent so you can focus on your art.
- reply
»Fri, 2009-07-03 19:23
There are a lot of promotion opportunities you should probably look into to expand your business.
- reply
»Post new comment