1) I would Pick a genre, language, or composer and specialize in that rep. I found that streamlining my profile to offer mostly German repertoire has been more effective in booking work. Early in my career I specialized in Mozart.
2 )I would create a budget and decide if you’re willing to go over that limit. This is actually something I did at the very start of my career and it served me well. This career is extremely expensive and it’s okay to invest in yourself, but we also need to be WISE. Eventually you also want to build a life for yourself outside of work, and that will require a solid financial plan.
3) I would find a mentor! Today it's easier than ever to find someone who has gone before you and benefit from their experiences. I am extremely honored that many of our community members view Norman and me as their mentors, but it's even better if you can find someone in your local community too. There's nothing quite like sitting down and treating your mentor to a meal and gleaning of their wisdom. It's a privilege and an honor and very few people have the opportunity to do so.
4) I would take better care of my mental health sooner. Full stop.
5) Social media wasn't as big a thing as it is now when I started, and it was definitely looked down upon by the industry!! Just being real!! Build my social and professional network. When I started there wasn’t social media. If I had this tool I would have been building relationships worldwide to get a picture of what the industry was doing, as well as creating a support system.
There are many paths to booking those first gigs, and lots of ways to break into this business. Don’t be afraid to forge your own way!🙏�
