Bigger than both of us

Alas, here I am again, a month after the last post. Strangely enough, it has been a busy summer, so I suppose that is really my only excuse. Out to California twice, up to Hudson twice (once for a week long gig) and in August, driving through New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island all in one day. Oh, and starting a relationship. Yup, I said it, a real relationship. But that's all I'll say, for now. Suffice it to say, it is GOOD. What a concept to have someone actually GET you!
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I started that last paragraph about a month ago. Needless to say, I'll leave it at that since it sort of speaks for itself. The relationship is still going and is currently trying to survive the lives of two singers dating each other. Phew! It's hard, but I think it MAY actually have a chance...hell, more than a chance. It certainly takes two strong people, so that's a good thing that we happen to be that. After all the years I bitched and moaned about never wanting to date singers, the moment I decide to open myself up to anything goes...look what happens. And I'm not complaining about it. In fact, I'm entirely enjoying it, which is even weirder. I like the fact that two people can understand each others lives so much. Although that can also be the downfall, we're learning nonetheless.
Anyway, enough of that. The reason why I'm learning now is that I've been away from NYC for about a month for a show in Baltimore. We just opened last weekend and I have to say that this company (Opera Vivente) is remarkably professional, organized and fun! Companies three times their size need to watch and learn. The cast is good, easy to work with, the rehearsal schedule was efficient and professional and most of all, it has been a blast so far. I could not have asked for better. (and I'm not just saying that just in case JB happens to be looking :) I really am impressed, which brings me to a larger point.
Why should I have expected so much less? Why shouldn't I expect this of EVERY regional opera organization in the U.S? I'm not sure... Is it because, like any business, you get a lot of people who are passionate, decide on a whim to start a company, and then just don't understand business? Or is it because they need more funding? Or do people just not know how to get funding? I have lamented this fact before, both for myself and other companies I've worked with. In this day and age, (and maybe perhaps even in the past) it isn't enough to just have the passion, although it IS a necessity. You MUST know or teach yourself how to run a business, whether the only employee is you or a staff of a burgeoning new company. I'm not saying I do it perfectly, by any means...it took me years to learn that I need to market myself as a full package, not just a voice. The way I learned was from taking time off and getting into wine sales. I wish I knew it coming out of college, but c'est la vie. As much as I sometimes moan about having to have a day job, I cannot stress how much I owe to the wine business in teaching me how to market myself as a singer. Because fundamentally what we do in auditions is not only selling a product that includes our musicianship, our vocal talent, our language talents, etc, etc, but, but also our personality. In fact, I would even argue that a HUGE part of it encompasses selling our personality. And I certainly don't have it down...maybe if I did, I'd be singing at the Met by now. Hah!
What I wish is that more schools would teach this...I mean, really teach business. Not just the completely useless "business of music" classes that seem to crop up in some places. Teach sales techniques, teach alternative ways of making a living in this business, teach the economics of it. How to run a business...I could go on, and on, and on. But I guess that's my rant for the day. For now, I'll enjoy the efficiently run company I am having the privilege to work with and try to learn something from them. More shows this weekend and then back to the grind in NYC before the next one.