THE STOCK MARKET.

In a blog written back in May 2010 I spoke about my frustration with the financial industry and the fact there didn’t seem to be a way for creative folk (ie: people like ME who can only seem to speak in metaphors... with hand gestures.. and possibly a song) to connect with the seemingly unintelligible world of INVESTING. Sorry, I’m generalizing, but *honestly* if I asked you to define:

IPOs * ETFs * EQUITIES * OPTIONS * & * MERs

...I’m sure you (insert me projecting my instincts onto everyone who reads this) would resort to hand gestures as well! No? Yes? Back to my date...

#1 on my list of requests was to have STEVE introduce me to my bank’s

PRACTICE INVESTMENT SITE.

Here I would have an imaginary $100,000 to play with, and could familiarize myself with how the stock market works - minus the risk. More importantly it would be an excellent way to gage my comfort level around:
losing
gaining
patience
and the root of it all...
fear.

Steve told me that the secret to the stock market - really - was to have a crystal ball at the ready (!!!!!) If you don’t have one of those, well, practicing to see how the market really works is probably your next best bet.

#2. I wanted answers, REAL ANSWERS, or COLOURFUL DEFINITIONS to the thousands of acronyms that litter each page or graph. With every answer from Steve I would counter with a statement that sounded like,

“So....this one is like putting all of your eggs in one basket and, this one is like buying one egg at a time from individual chickens on different farms? Got it.”

Please don’t ask me what he was referring to...I have since forgotten and can’t read my notes...

#3. After my 25 minute tutorial - turned into 1hr 15min - I discovered that the STOCK MARKET could be summed up as a very expensive popularity contest. If the market (the people) don’t like what they see in the press about the CEO of a company, POOF! The people sell their stocks (insert: we don’t want to play with you anymore) and the company can financially disappear. Add a positive mention from Ellen or Oprah, POOF! The stock value goes up and that CEO buys a Porsche.

Similarly, if the demand for one resource goes up (Mr. Wheat) then wheat’s friends (farming related products) will all have to act accordingly and meet the demand. If you’re savvy and can see the circle of friends that support Mr.Wheat (check his FaceBook wall) you can make smart choices and “friend” them all into your investment page before the the cost is too dear.

#4. A question from STEVE:

“How did you become interested in the stock market? I
don’t see many opera singers hanging out down at Bay and Front St.”

My answer was that since it would seem that money - quite literally - makes the world go around, isn’t it in my best interest to figure out what that ACTUALLY means? When you visit a foreign country don’t you, at the very least, want to know how to say,

“Where’s the bathroom and how much are these beautiful shoes?”

I want the language of money to be right up there with my knowledge of English and French-ish. Since I already have a good grasp of how to fill up my shoe closet in both of Canada’s official languages, (not to mention being able sing about Magic Flutes in German, or a locket with my lover’s face on it in Italian) I’m thinking that the *money speak* could prove to be equally practical.

Over the next few months I will PRACTICE with my PRETEND $100,000, let you know how I do, and see if the site can really convert an “oh so right brained artist” into a money making GENIUS!!!!!

Wish me luck!

practice investment site: Check out your internet banking page for something similar to RBC’s practice site & free investment consultations.

*as always, a reminder that my money musings are for entertainment purposes only.
Please see a licensed financial professional when making real decisions about YOUR money.

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“Yay!”

...I said to myself, shook his hand, and prepared to get out of the room before I did something stupid and lost the gig. In my excited flurry, gathering up my music, he said,

“...by the way, have you ever sung...VERDI....?”
(Uh oh)

“Why yes I have...umm...just a wee part, though....”

“Hmmm.....I’d like you to take a look at this and tell me
if you’d consider that as well. I think the colour of your voice would suit it perfectly.
You don’t have to tell me today.
Call me in a month after you’ve sung through it a few times.”

Saying NO

As a singer (any age, any level): When do you know WHEN to say NO?

We all want to build up the resumé, meet the right people, and perform amazing rep....but,

What has the potential to hurt you more?

1.Saying YES to something you’re NOT ready for or,
2.Saying NO and possibly losing out on a “big break”

We’ve all done it! And, fortunately, if you don’t learn from the first disaster, most likely (ding!) opportunity will come knocking again. I once said,

“Sure, I can do the two soprano songs for the last 4 shows...it’s not that high...”

For those of you who know me, a soprano I will never be, but as a 20 something mezzo looking for a break, I thought I might lose the gig all together if I wasn’t agreeable. Trust me, by the time the gig was over (insert tears after every show) I think everyone would have been happier if I had said NO.

See, there are a few things we FORGET when THE WRONG GIG comes along:

1. YOU, and you ALONE are solely responsible for that “YES” so, you’d better mean it.

2. “GETTING THROUGH” a piece, simply isn’t good enough.

3. NOBODY will say, “Tsk, the CONDUCTOR should have known better”

4. THIS IS A BUSINESS! Don’t offer a product unless you really have the goods.

5. YOU and your AUDIENCE deserve a more enjoyable experience.


We all want to be LIKED (a blog topic unto itself). We all want to WORK ($$$). We all want to EXPAND our horizons to create our BEST VERSION OF THE SELF. Being honest, and trusting your instincts however, can be just as important (in the world of professional music) as bulking up the resumé. Be confident that the best version of your talent RIGHT NOW is the most reliable gauge to help you answer truthfully when you KNOW that NO is the only answer.

(back to our story)

After a month of agonizing, realizing that there was NO WAY I was built to sing the suggested #VERDIwaytoobigformetosingnow rep, I finally made the call. To my surprise, the conductor simply said,

“Yeah, I don’t blame you for saying no. You’re probably still too young for that.
That thing is a BEAR.”

Saying YES (too scared to say no) to the wrong gig in my 20’s (thankfully) made a big impression on the NO that needed to happen a few years later. Final conclusion:

Saying NO IS the new YES.
; D

Thanks for reading, and for all of the re-posts on twitter, and FB feeds. #flatteredblogger

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“Just say yes, to everything, and see what happens.”

Hmph....

just say YES....

TO E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

All right, pretty boy....(in a fictional show)...you’re on!

Now, it has only been a few weeks since I’ve tried to employ this mindset of saying yes to everything but, so far I have been pretty successful.

• One really good gig popped into my inbox the very next day (no brainer), YES all around.
• The following day was a super small but, “I’m going to do it anyway” gig which, at the very least, has since clarified exactly what I DO NOT want to have in my life (nothing like a little fuel for the fire).
• And the third was saying yes to an invite to a party, a networking party, called W.H.O.W.

“I am an artist/entrepreneur - mother - lover - fighter! That’s me. I have a desire to live my life like a hero, take it up a notch, affect some positive action and inspire others. I pledge to get women helping other women. Let’s do this!”

...gives you some idea as to the amount of positive energy that goes into these gatherings. To make a long story short:

• you arrive at her home with a small appetizer and your drink of choice
• you put your name on a $20 dollar bill (optional) and put it into the pot (to be drawn at the end of the evening for one of participants..maybe you!!
• After everyone has arrived (and has had some food and drink) each woman has 2 minutes to present:
• who they are,
• what they are passionate about
• what they NEED to fulfill the project that they are working on and!
• what they HAVE to OFFER to others in the room for their help, their connections, their time.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your PROJECT YES!
*P.S.
For inquiring minds: At the end of the W.H.O.W. gathering, as promised,
a hand went into the pot of $20 dollar bills and drew a name....
(drumroll please)
Yup.
You guessed it, I WON.
Saying YES to a party meant saying YES to opportunity,
and, literally, a handful of cash $$$.
W.H.O.W. is right!

For more information on the amazing women of W.H.O.W click here http://www.meetup.com/WHOW-Toronto/

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Tags: TORONTO ARTISTS, W.H.O.W

Can you imagine if we did that with EVERYTHING?

Actually WAITED until we were in a financial position to
DO or HAVE?

Ha! Can you imagine if the apple** store had a layaway plan?! ie: people actually WAITING to be able to afford something before they added to their arsenal? I’d pay money to see the visitor lineups for that. “Hi, I’m here to say hello to my phone.” But THAT would never happen.

Why?

Because, admittedly, our world is evolving so quickly, that by the time you paid something off, it would have already become obsolete, not to mention that we don’t do that, anymore:

WAIT.

But there are some things you just can’t wait for.

(This is the Cardinal’s Nest letting singers off the hook for spending money like water while they invest in their career.) It’s FALL, and it’s time for auditions. It’s time for gigs to get under way. Time to consider:

• food
• travel
• coaching
• lessons
• subletting
• renting
• searching
• spending

What’s your financial plan this FALL?

Did you SAVE for upcoming expenses to cover the onslaught of auditions
(insert: $4 iced latté remorse)
or will you DIP INTO DEBT and plan the payback in January?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this one. Y.A.P. auditions don’t have layaway plans, and gig opportunities wait for no soprano visiting her accompanist with $10 instalments. It’s gotta’ happen and it’s gotta’ happen now.

So, how will you do it?

• What do you project you will spend this singing season?
• What do you project you will earn?
• How will you account for the deficit or surplus?

*layaway plan: I don’t know if stores still have a layaway plans like the 80’s and 90’s...and if you’re too young to remember that term, don’t tell me. : )))

**apple: yes, I mention apple products a lot. I have never seen a retailer like them. The entire mall will be empty and there’s apple, packed to the rafters with people pushing their way in to be a part of that community, visiting their future

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“What would I have done?”

3 Cheers to the 3 brave singers/Canaries who walked out. I guess cookies at the break was not enough consolation for lost pay, schedule changes, conflicts with unions, disrespectful treatment, and alleged (that magical word) breach of contract by the producers who’s parting words were...

“For our purposes this is how we interpret the contract.
If you don’t like it, well, you don’t have to be here.”

(nice)

Imagine if all 80 singers had stood up for themselves walked out?

A tough decision for sure:

When to stand up for your principals,
and when to make sure that you can make rent.

(What would Beethoven have thought of his music being performed for something other than JOY?)

If you take the time to read the article above, let me know your thoughts. I know what I would have done in that situation, do you?

Thanks for reading and for all of your input!

p.s. Let me know about AWESOME GODZ (music producers) that YOU have worked with that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a successful, and fair outcome.
I’d rather be highlighting the good. : )

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MUSIC DIRECTOR: I was fired.
ME: WHAT??!!
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Yeah....ummm....
you might want to hold on to your contract.....

16 Hours of recording that spring had promised a nice paycheque for the summer. We were a small ensemble of professionals, and volunteers making a recording for an organization (let’s call them the GODZ) with whom we had all worked with before... and trusted. Once the last take was loaded onto the computer we headed out for a drinks to celebrate a job well done. Little did we know that we might need a few more drinks to get us through the following 2 months.

Our music director was promptly “released” the following Monday. We were given a speech about how sad they were to lose out on his great talent. It would be a loss for the GODZ....and we were about to be royally...

screwed.

(insert my hand flying up)

“Um, we were supposed to be paid for that recording by the end of this month.
Do you know when we will be compensated? Three of us are UNION so, it’s past due.”

(insert crickets chirping...blank stares...tumbleweed....)

“Yyyyyyyes...(pointed stare) indeeeeeed... well we don’t know anything about a UNION
but rest assured, this will be taken care of....”

To make a long story short, the singers with a union card & a contract:

*followed the rules
*contacted the right people
*made numerous calls, and emails
*were given countless assurances and promises

....only to be terminated with the final paycheque (minus all union penalties - again, they weren’t aware of any “YOOON-YON”). The union in question vanished into the background (once they realized that this was a no win situation) and the GODZ announced the loss of our great talent....

Now, if we hadn’t acted like a Canaries in a coal mine; sensitive to the poisoning of the air around us, ready to bring attention to the danger, we might have made it out unharmed (if a little out of pocket for that summer).

Could we have stayed knowing that we were being used?

Alas, no. That would have been a greater loss than any fee. So, my 2 fellow Canaries and I would expire once everyone else was safely accounted for....

(Admittedly, a pretty histrionic interpretation of the situation, but,
I felt a little dramatic interlude was only fitting. : )))

In my heart of hearts, I believe that 99.99% of music producers are honest and enthusiastic, ensuring a fantastic, artistic experience. If they can’t pay much, they are upfront and do their best to support your talent even after the job is done. There is a balance. There is art.

In the last few weeks, however, I encountered a few more Canaries who sensed danger, sent out warning calls, (a.k.a. tried to do the right thing) only to lose out on an opportunity to be a working performer.

GODZ #1: suggested the singer alter their name (when offered a role) so that the producers wouldn’t have to deal with all of the fussy, union paper work. Nice.

GODZ #2: counted on a singer’s “the show must go on” attitude and gave the performers 2 minutes to decide whether they sign off on last second recording wavers, therefore, giving up their right to residuals. As well, a suggestion of staging without the theatre union’s knowledge (officially scrapped when the union came calling the next day). One Canary said that they wouldn’t have minded signing off certain financial privileges if they had only been told in advance instead of at the 11th hour. Respect is just as valuable a currency as cash...too bad the GODZ didn’t seem to know that.

GODZ #3: a retired singer still sees posters (WITH HIS FACE ON IT) of a famous recording from which he has yet to see a DIME.

So, who stands up for the performer
who may be afraid to signal potential problems?

It’s simple:

YOU DO.

Being a Canary in the coal mine SUCKS; you lose something in the end, no matter what. Usually, the thing you gain is a little self respect; no question- a tough thing to measure in the heat of the moment. So why do shady music GODZ still get away with treating performers poorly? Because (quite frankly) we LET THEM. More often than not, we support their illusion of power instead of
STANDING UP FOR OURSELVES.

WHY?

My money is on FEAR.

• Fear of not being liked
• Fear of appearing to be weak
• Fear of losing income
• Fear of rocking the boat

BUT!

FEAR fades... REGRET sticks around for the long haul.

After (thankfully) only a few rounds of dealing with music GODZ, I only regret the times I didn’t ACT on my gut feeling; if only to avoid the bad energy that comes from working with shady folks.

It’s just not worth it in the end to give more value to the GODZ than to your SELF.

Thanks for reading!

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(Hullo? I was 23)

In hind sight, however, I’m kinda’ glad they didn’t. I don’t think I would have found out how resilient I really am, or how fear can often be the corner stone for success. That’s code for:

“If I don’t figure out how to do this on my own, who will?” *

One of my money buddies recently told me about her writer friend who, after living in the U.K. on her parent’s dime (apartment, food, clothing...) was now – officially - CUT OFF. In her thirty years, she hadn’t been given the opportunity to struggle, or figure out how to survive on her talent alone. Once the familial financial plan was gone, so was her art. She couldn’t see how she could possibly survive as a writer and gave it up completely for something more stable, and lucrative. Might she still be a writer today if she had been given the benefit of the doubt that she was capable of building her own artistic empire? I guess we won’t ever know....

We each have our own personal cutting edge, and once we slip back from it into some kind of complacency where experimentation and struggle are no longer necessary, we may as well hang it up. (W.Criswell)

In truth, I don’t think the word struggle should be so commonplace in an artists’ vocabulary. At some point, the well earned rewards should come but, there’s a balance to consider. I guess, my question is:

Is there really any comfort in being cradled
after leaving the nest?

How does one build their financial muscles if
someone else is lifting the weights?

On the flip side:

Can artists reach higher ARTISTIC HEIGHTS
if they can keep their eye on the PRIZE instead of their WALLET?

Being an artist in the 21st Century definitely has it’s challenges and to be completely fair, I’m fairly certain I would have JUMPED at an opportunity to live worry free under some version of the familial financial plan, NO QUESTION. I would have been first in line at the condo show room, then off to IKEA, “I’ll take one of everything.”

I don’t think, however, that I would have felt the need to start saving in my 20’s (or would have seen how valuable that choice was by my early 30’s) if I had been too comfortable living under someone else’s wing. There was always some form of motivation staring me in the face to push me to create a bigger, and better version of my life. Believe me, if eating cereal for dinner with 4 roommates, and working 40hrs of retail per week isn’t enough motivation for you to reach for higher goals, I don’t what is.

Time to fly solo?

What motivated you to leave the nest
to start flexing your success muscles?

If you have stocks in the familial financial plan
what goals, or timelines have you set for the eventual
solo flight?

Thanks for reading.

*note to all of my familial supporters: thanks for always knowing what would make me stronger (insert picture of me flexing my success muscles).

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Tags: Canadian Musician, leaving the nest

“I think that we should wait to put the cupcakes on the table.”

(insert stunned silence)

My two hostesses looked at me like I was crazy, defiantly popped a mini cupcake into their mouths, and promptly put the offending mini desserts on the table with the wine & cheese. (!!!) It was a gathering to celebrate my upcoming wedding and sure enough,
I was standing in the way of how much goodness would be
passed around at one given moment.
My co-hostess said,

“....Aren’t you cute? WAIT for the cupcakes. (insert a pat on my head)
We’ll put them out nnnnnnow.”

It would be putting it mildly to state that I’m big on discovering the root causes of why we do, or don’t do certain things; even the small things that seemingly have little meaning. The relationship that people have with success and abundance (those who have, and those who have not) in my opinion, shows up most in the our daily sequence of actions and intentions that bring us to our current position in society.

My recent search for a savvy, young investor’s book (insert FAIL) led me to literature that had nothing to do with money, but certainly shed some light on a slightly different currency: society’s perspective on giving and receiving, and why we let things in or push them away. The light bulb moment for me was when best selling author, Geneen Roth talked about two different personality types:

The Permitters and The Restrictors.

Permitters (loosely paraphrased)

• don’t like rules
• avoid conflict
• feel the need to indulge
• store up the bounty before it runs out
• merge with chaos...”and have decided that it’s best to be blurry, and numb, and join the party” *
• “I don’t need to be concerned about the future because I won’t be aware of it” *
• may thrive on denial

• love rules
• love lists
• believe in control
• chaos is imminent so they take action now to prevent it
• less is more (there is safety when there is less to lose)
• may thrive on deprivation
• “are constantly trying to contain the wild energy stomping to be released”*

What does this (or cupcakes for that matter) have to do with a self employed musician who may have taken the time to read this far?

Well, Geneen Roth was referring to other aspects of people’s lives (mainly health and nutrition) but for me, her definitions only served to enhance a much broader picture.

Quite simply:

You are who you are; how you treat one aspect of your life (career, money, dessert) may also determine the type of success you will allow (yes, I said allow) to be present in your life at any given time. I don’t know about you but, I think this kind of awareness is key for anyone whose product is: themselves.

....3 guesses which one I am: trying to figure out how the self employed, creative types gain control and become aware of how actions today affect one’s future..... Yup. BUSTED. I’m a restrictor, hands down. I want to figure things out. Get it right. Write a list. Check things off: have things go in the order that they should. The only time I will go to the “dark side” (willingly) and become a permitter of unlimited proportions is when I have an audience. “The more the merrier” I always say. Controlled chaos: 101. Welcome to my worrrrrld....

No surprise: I surround myself with PERMITTERS (all to varying degrees). The life of the party, they do not control (well, not like I do, anyway). They are open. They will even be daring and put the cupcakes out on the table WAY before the the first course has been served. (shocking, I know!)

There are plusses and minuses to both personality types as well as degrees of intensity. I realize that the way it’s presented here is pretty black and white. Many people fit into the grey areas on any given day, or may swing from one extreme to another. All of the traits listed above have value when used in the proper context. Both personalities can get you in trouble, or create a wind fall of success.... it’s all up to the intention behind the actions, and how many actions you will allow yourself to take.

We ask ourselves, “why does my character do this?” when learning a role. Sometimes, asking the person who is playing the part the very same question can be beneficial too.

Awareness, and Balance: knowing yourself. That’s all I’m trying to get at here today. The moral of the story? Take the cupcakes when they’re passed. Enjoy the bounty, and always remember to share a little goodness when you can.

Thanks for reading!

References: *Geneen Roth - Women, food, and God & Lost and found - Food and Money
please refer to www.geneenroth.com for further info on her best selling books.

How much of where you came from influenced where you are at right now?

How can we all come from the same place and still have such amazingly different, complicated, and yet perfectly constructed paths?

Some of the cast are just at the very start of their careers; wide eyed and bubbly, fresh voices with top notes to burn. I love being reminded of the world of possibility that my first contracts inspired at the same age. It has been a personal challenge of mine to:

make sure that each rehearsal is a fresh start.

One leading lady juggles the stage, a University position, two children, a husband, and her own production company. It is a wonder how she does it all, cool as a cucumber. Note to self:

you can always find a way to make it work.

One of our home grown talents has built a major career for himself in Europe, and continues to make vocal study a priority even after great success; another lesson for the books:

the learning never stops.

The director on this particular show was my very first opera director (waaaaay back in the day when the earth cooled).* On that first gig, (when I was frustrated with myself and -ultimately - slowing things down) he reminded me that if I didn’t get it on the 32nd try (I was putting up a tent while singing an aria) we’d do something else, until then “just take a sec’ and try it one more time.” 15 years later, same - thing: “Let’s just wait til’ we get to the theatre; we’ll work it out then.”

only with (a lot of) patience will you have a chance at perfection.

Last, but certainly not least, the comedian of the group (who inspired this blog) reminded me about not getting caught up in the void of negativity. It’s an easy place to go to when you are twiddling your thumbs in between gigs, or are surrounded by its veil of influence from colleagues who are no longer inspired by this crazy journey. He conducts himself with humour, humility, and professionalism.....except when playing a game at a dinner party - he’s in it to WIN! Watching his amazing performance in the first run through (honestly, this guy is so funny and engaging; I look like kid at a Dora the Explorer concert just waaaaaaiting to see what he’ll do next ) I was happily reminded that:

there is always room for more joy. there is always room for more play.

The moral to the story, I suppose, is that there is no one destination, no singular definition of success, no limit to the things you can learn in your own back yard.

Thanks for reading!!!

Please click on comments (just below) to voice your thoughts on the blog page and share your experiences with other readers.

FB Like or DisLike can also be found in the comments section. Let me know if I’m on the right track. I’ll do my best to expand the ideas so that they are relevant to a wider audience.

*when the earth cooled: we’re not actually that old. : ) I just love that particular saying and have been waiting to use it for a while.
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