81: How to Create Your Own Work
A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Work You Love, the Work You’re Meant to Create, and Getting Paid
By DAVID SREBNIK
You or your ensemble do not have to wait for a phone call, text or email to get work in the classical music industry. As one of my early radio mentors told me, “No one is going to knock on your front door and ask, ‘is there anyone here who wants to get into radio?’”
For this three-week session, there are 4 things to think about, know, and acknowledge.
The work you’re doing is important. People will miss it if they don’t know it’s out there and available. There is an audience for what you want to do.
How is what you do different from others in your field? How do you stand out and apart from the rest? You stand out by doing what?
Performing is hard… really hard, and rightly so. But starting a project, that means something important to you, can be relatively straight forward. I will show you the steps to take.
“I show up where I’m needed.” (Composer Maya Miro Johnson)
Most importantly, who is the audience for what you do? Where can that audience be found? Whom does this project serve? Where is this project needed?
Consider the following aspirations. Do any resonate for you, and are they aligned with what you want and love to do?
Do you want to change the universal “stuffy” reputation of classical music? What traditions should we keep, which should we refine and which should we stop doing entirely? This is the way to reach new audiences, and perhaps help the traditional classical music concert goer discover something new.
But how do you connect with people who might never consider going to a classical music concert?
Do you enjoy introducing school age children to the joys of all musical forms?
Besides the public and private schools and community youth centers, where else can you reach younger potential music lovers?
Can you create and develop a flexible curriculum? One you can tailor to each audience and meeting place?
How about a curriculum for children and their parents? One that creates a shared family experience that they also do at home – a “family musical hour.”
Do you want the art you create to serve your community? Are you dedicated to “giving back?”
Is there a charitable organization you support and fully believe in the work they’re doing? The ASPCA, American Cancer Association, and other organizations such as St. Jude Hospital, National Alliance to End Homelessness, or the World Wildlife Foundation etc.
How can you show up and serve them through your music? In the short term, initially, you may be donating your services, but over time you will create paying events and meet new, engaged audiences who think like you do.
Would you like to be an artist in residence at a traditional (academic) or nontraditional setting. How do you get residency invitations from music schools, chamber music series and with a local orchestra?
In the end, creating and getting your own work, on your own, comes down to these critical factors, each of them well within your command.
Your identifier: a clear understanding of who you are, and the creative work you wish to offer as a performer, composer or educator.
Determine your audience(s). Know whom to contact; learn their priorities and values.
A clear description of your project – one that can be briefly and clearly presented by you, and easily processed by your intended audience(s). Then, briefly detail how will your project serve or benefit that audience.
You don’t need charts, graphs, bullet points or a power point presentation (yet). You do need a story. It almost all comes down to this.
You are also in the storytelling business. And, every artist, ensemble and project has a compelling story to tell. The audience you wish to reach certainly wants to know the financial logistics, but first they want to hear your story.
Who are you, why you’re doing this, and how they will benefit – meaning, why should they care.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and hearing your story.
And then getting started.
Register now for David Srebnik’s 3-part course, MAKE YOUR OWN WORK,
Beginning this Wednesday February 7, 2024*
***reduced tuition is available on an as-needed basis. Please email careercatalyst@yca.org for more information***