Back in November and December I was in the United States for a gig and had the chance to get some auditions in while I was there. It had been a year since I was doing any auditions in the States and the last time I had auditions they were in specific houses so the situation was a bit different. An idea kept coming to my head this time around and it was this...

Why has the process of auditioning not evolved with the way the world functions today?

It seems strange to me that those of us who spend our lives on stage are a very small group constantly vying for the approval of others. What other industry, besides entertainment, puts people through this? In some cases we become addicted to the process and can’t escape it. For years, I called myself a Professional Auditioner, because I had more auditions than performances, which means I started a streak of spending more than I make. That’s another story and reality for another day...

Trying to book your next gig on either side of the pond is stressful, time consuming, expensive, causes intense vulnerability and in the end either gives you huge satisfaction or dread. That said, for the time being we are stuck with the process, but what if opera companies modernized and made some changes?

We, as the performer, are expected to keep current audition recordings (both audio and visual) to send off and have on our websites, youtube, etc; have a social media presence and pull together a portfolio of our history of work visually as well as on paper; we are then also expected travel to auditions on our own expense with no guarantee of work coming out of it. We still do it, over and over again. It seems to me that opera companies can help out by doing things a bit more digitally or casting directors coming to see more emerging artists to cast their shows. What would this be like? Is it possible? It depends on how much we really WANT something and for now I am thinking I might only take on auditions for SPECIFIC roles on SPECIFIC projects, no more “general/informative” auditions… I’ve got enough material out there for a company to know if they like me or not - don’t waste my time and I won’t waste yours.

Just putting this out there as it’s been on my mind a lot and maybe others feel the same. Send me a message and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Enough of that, let’s talk about FOOD!

I’ve been on the road for the past few months (a week at home here and there) and I’ve been thinking a lot about eating on a budget and being creative with what I eat to stay healthy. I’ll point out that I absolutely despise eating out on my own. I am not one of those people who draws pleasure from sitting in a restaurant, surrounded by others, with a book or podcast or whatever and eating a meal (not to be confused with sitting for HOURS in a coffee shop working and sipping a filter coffee - this I do in spades). I find it much more enjoyable to cook for myself and chill out watching tv (what would we do without things like Netflix?) or listening to the radio. This also allows me to monitor what I eat, but also gives a sense of being at home and trying to lead somewhat of a normal life.

The past few months I have been trying out different things and here are some of my favorites...

Broccoli/Brussels Sprouts Ceviche

Well, it isn’t real Ceviche (no raw fish involved here), but the process is the same. Chop up the green veggies finely and then add a couple of diced garlic cloves (depending on my mood I can do 2-4). Season well with salt and pepper and then add the juice of one lemon (if you make a lot, you might need more) and mix well. Now drizzle with a bit of Oliver Oil (not a lot, just a light gloss on the veggies - you’ll be able to tell). Mix is all really well, cover it (I use a large Tupperware-like container) and put in the fridge for AT LEAST an hour. Stir it and enjoy. It is so good I can’t tell you, you just have to try it. (Recipe courtesy of the one and only Anne Cameron)

Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry

This is so delicious! I found it online and thanks to The Vegan 8 I have a new go to meal that is quick, easy, and packs a punch! I added chickpeas to the recipe for extra weight.

Here’s the website if you want to give it a go:

https://thevegan8.com/vegan-cauliflower-curry-soup/

Lyonnaise Puy Lentil Salad

This month I am back in Lyon, France and I went to a Bouchon with my colleagues the first weekend (it was not the greatest Bouchon I’ve visited but the lentils were great). I had forgotten how good it was and decided to make a version for myself. I based it off this recipe from The Splendid Table (one of my favorite podcasts all about food).

Here it is:

https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/french-lentil-salad-with-goat-cheese-and-walnuts

Food aside, the last thing I have been thinking about lately is about being a tourist in the city that you are working in. I generally don’t do too much sight-seeing, but I get a little in here and there. I love a good museum every once in a while and a visit to a park or garden is my favorite thing to do on a day off. If I am near water, that is even better. One of my favorite gigs was in Lisbon, Portugal and I took a couple of day trips to the coast, which did not disappoint.

The best thing about being a tourist on days you aren’t working is that you learn so much more about the city you are in. Take Lyon for example, I did not know it is the home of cinematography. The Cinematograph was developed in the 1890s by the Lumière Brothers and there is a wonderful museum (in their family Villa) to pay homage and educate about this incredible invention. Where would we be today without it?

The Triceratops Head from Jurassic Park (1994) that Sam Neill and Laura Dern stop to help out in the field while on their tour.

You can also find a cinema and miniatures museum in Lyon which is fascinating and full of real props and costumes from films and television. How could I resist when they have the actual Mother Alien from the Aliens movie (James Cameron 1986), yes, it is that good! Who knew?

All that to say, I think it is important to get out and about every once in a while and take in the culture and sights the cities you work in have to offer. You will never be disappointed.

Now for my TOP PICKS this month...

Album of the month: Natalie Merchant (Self Titled Album) - 2014

Natalie Merchant is my soul soothing artist. I will never forget the first time I heard her sing... I’m taking you back a long time now, I was 7 years old and my parents had just gotten a divorce. My sisters and I were on a weekend with my Dad and we were driving somewhere in our Jeep Cherokee (outfitted with one of the first car phones - remember the ones that were the size of a boombox and you had to plug it into the cigarette lighter and put it between the front seats? - anyway, we were driving and 10,000 Maniacs came on the radio with Natalie and the Maniacs rocking to a cover of Patti Smith’s Because the Night (1978). My sisters thought I was crazy because I kept singing the song for the next weeks... they ended up getting me the MTV Unplugged Album for my birthday (held at Discovery Zone) and I was over the moon with excitement. I’ve got great sisters!

Thoughts on auditioning in the modern day...

Now for my TOP PICKS this month...