Shows
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!EMERGENCY EPISODE: BBC Funding CutsAlex and Helen have quickly jumped on the podcast to respond to the recent announcement that the BBC will be disbanding the BBC Singers, and the BBC Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra will face 20% role reductions.They discuss what makes the BBC Singers unique, what troubles them about the press release and, if possible, how we can look ahead with a positive spirit.Sign the petition to save the BBC Singers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-03-1021 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 10: Three things we're fighting forJust like that, we’ve come to the end of Season 3 of the podcast! From the live episode, to the Voice of Black Opera Mini Series, to episodes on boundaries, nepotism and perfectionism, it’s been a total blast. To see you out, this week Alex and Helen discuss the three things they’re fighting for in the future of the operatic industry.BoundariesIt would be impossible for us to talk about boundaries on this podcast any more than we already do. However, in this difficult time for those workin...
2023-01-2630 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 9: PerfectionismThis week Alex and Helen discuss the pros and cons of perfectionism.For many artists the desire to create perfection can be overwhelming. Perfectionism can have many benefits including producing work of a high standard, committing to a project with passion and motivation and inspiring others.However, perfectionism can also have drawbacks. Perfectionism can cause us to hold artists to unattainable standards, forgetting that real live performance can, in no way, be perfect. Such perfectionism can lead artists to becoming overwhelmingly self-critical which can cause issues with creative freedom and performance anxiety.
2023-01-1932 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 8: Fear cultureThis week we discuss the fear culture which pervades the opera industry and how we can take care of ourselves in these situations.Performance AnxietyWe are singers and performers because we love sharing the joy of making good music; however, in certain situations (such as high pressured auditions) we can become crippled by fear.Is there a way of us reframing this? Do the feelings we experience before our first night on stage at the Metropolitan Opera have to be fear, or could they be anticipation instead? Could they be excitement...
2023-01-1231 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Epiosde 7: NepotismWe all want to try and pretend nepotism doesn’t happen in the opera industry but, let’s face it, it does. So, how can you use nepotism to your own advantage?Make your own connectionsIf you’re in a room with someone you want to work with, what’s the harm in having a chat? You don’t have to directly ask for work, you don’t even have to directly ask for an audition, instead you can discuss an opera you saw recently, or something you read in the news, whatever! In making the initial conn...
2022-12-1533 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 6: Can we separate work from politics?This week Alex and Helen debate a big question which often plagues the arts: can we separate our work from politics?In this episode they discuss the three following questions:Can we put our opinions aside to perform music by people whose views we disagree with?Can we put our opinions aside to work with colleagues whose actions/views we disagree with?How are we able to reconcile our morals in the world of opera, an art form that is still plagued by misogyny, sexism, racism, homophobia and much more?
2022-12-0831 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!VOBO Mini-series Day 3: Chantelle GrantFinalist in the Voice of Black Opera Competition 2022, Chantelle Grant sits down with Helen and Alex to talk about the experience of performing in such a prestigious competition, how she feels performing Wagner and Strauss and what it’s like to walk onto the stage at The Metropolitan Opera.If you want to find out more about Chantelle check out her:WebsiteTwitterInstagramYoutube ChannelEpisode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-12-0217 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!VOBO Mini-series Day 2: Thando MjandanaFinalist in the Voice of Black Opera 2022 Competition, Thando Mjandana, joins Helen and Alex to talk about how he handles nerves, looking forward to the competition final, future roles he’s excited by and how he got into singing in the first place.For more on Thando, check out his:Agency ProfileInstagramYoutube ChannelEpisode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-12-0119 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!VOBO Mini-series Day 1: Vincent OsborneTo kick-start our mini series on the Voice of Black Opera (VOBO) 2022 Competition we were delighted to be joined by the competition’s founder, Vincent Osborne. In this episode we discuss what Vincent is looking forward to in the competition, why he established both this competition and the Black British Classical Foundation, what he hopes to see the opera industry of the future, and just how he ran the Time Out Bar of the Year, The Brixtonian!Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
2022-11-3023 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 5: Singers and instrumentalists with special guest Keval ShahAlex and Helen were delighted to welcome esteemed colleague and old friend Keval Shah onto the podcast to discuss the similarities and differences between singers and instrumentalists. Keval is an internationally recognised pianist who has worked with many world-renowned singers, making him a perfectly positioned guest for this week’s conversation. In the episode they discuss the physicality of singing vs playing an instrument; how instrumentalists could learn from singers and their use of text; how singers could learn from instrumentalists and their understanding of a musical score; and, most importantly, how we should all think of...
2022-11-2451 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 4: Being a singer is harder than it looksThis week Alex and Helen discuss five main points surrounding an age-old controversy: how being a singer is much harder than it looks.Encouraged to make it look effortlessSingers are constantly encouraged to make their performances look as elegant and graceful as possible (a particular gripe for upper voices!!). Perhaps audiences don’t want to know how much effort goes into singing a full 3-hour role on stage, but being asked to sing 28 bars of coloratura whilst looking like you’re enjoying yourself is not an easy feat.
2022-11-1736 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 3: Standing up for yourselfThis week Alex and Helen each share two personal stories where they made a decision to stand up for themselves in the industry. These stories discuss issues of pay, issues of respect/disrespect and issues of sexism. Alex and Helen hope that in sharing these stories, they can encourage you to stand up for yourself. Setting your boundaries and knowing when your boundaries have been crossed is very important in this industry. There are ways of stating your limits and expressing when things are unacceptable in a calm, clear and respectful manner. No...
2022-11-1042 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S3 Episode 2: BreakdownsWith a brand new season comes a lot of new changes:We are really specialising now, talking to that core audience (of approximately 2 people?!) about the world of OPERA and what things are like backstage. Episodes will be coming out EVERY WEEK!We’re delighted to be introducing a brand new podcast segment, ‘Breakdown of the Week’ where we share something that’s not gone quite as we planned and how we dealt with it. To ease us into that, we thought we’d start the season proper with a whole episode on breakdowns.In this ep...
2022-11-0329 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!LIVE EPISODE: Mental Health in the Opera IndustryWhere’s My Freaking Dressing Room?! hosted their first ever live episode recording as part of Opera Prelude’s OperaWorks conference day. This episode focusses on mental health in the opera industry, however, before getting into the heart of that discussion, the podcast wished to address the controversy surrounding diversity and inclusion and the OperaWorks conference. You can read the pod’s full statement here. As promised, we wished to promote the work of Music Master’s Diversity Audit Tool: I’M IN and we also wanted to re-share ourpodcast research episode on the opera industry, Coronaviru...
2022-10-2839 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!BONUS EPISODE: Interview with LarkhallAlex and Helen were delighted to sit down with new media artist, composer and pianist Larkhall to talk about his latest album: Say You’re With Me.Written during the arrival of his second son when Larkhall realised he was suffering from depression, Say You’re With Me explores his journey of understanding and caring for his mental health. From moments of meditative stillness to joyful exuberant climaxes, the album takes us through many of the emotions we experience in our every day lives.In this episode Alex, Helen and Larkhall discuss caring for...
2022-07-1434 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Mental Health Week Day 5: Distorted Self-ImageIn the final episode of our Mental Health Week Mini Series Alex and Helen talk about Distorted Self-Image and how they find ways to deal with this in their day to day lives.Being over-criticalAlex and Helen recognise Distorted Self-Image as not seeing things as they truly are. Oftentimes this can result in an intense over-criticism, not feeling anything is good enough and only seeing the negatives in our practice and performance. How can we combat this over-criticism?Make recordings. If we are in...
2022-05-1323 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Mental Health Week Day 4: Living in London with Helen LaceyIn Day 4 of our Mental Health Week Mini Series we’re joined by soprano Helen Lacey who tells us about her experience of moving to London after finishing her undergraduate degree at the Royal Northern College of Music.We discuss leaving conservatoire and the challenge of managing your own time. We talk about breaking into a new work and social dynamic, finding your feet in a city you don’t know as well as finding yourself both personally and professionally. Helen reflects on moving to London, how she coped with the size, pace and scale of the...
2022-05-1229 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Mental Health Week Day 3: DepressionOn Day 3 of this Mental Health Week Mini Series Alex and Helen discuss depression and three ways they find depression exhibits itself in their lives.Lack of MotivationAlex and Helen recognise that as two people that are often quite goal-focussed and driven, it can be scary to be in a period of depression when there is no desire to do anything. How can we handle this lack of motivation?Self-acceptance and self-recognition. Alex and Helen encourage you to recognise the place and space you’re in and to...
2022-05-1124 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Mental Health Week Day 2: Inner Calm with Quintin BeerToday Helen and Alex are joined by Quintin Beer to discuss Inner Calm, in particular through the methods of Meditation, Nature and Therapy.Quintin talks openly about not necessarily searching for calm, but instead attempting to achieve a state of balance. Helen and Quintin talk about how they take medication to manage their anxiety and how they find it beneficial to stabilise the extremes of the condition.MeditationQuintin began meditating in January 2020 through a mantra-based practice course recommended by a mutual friend. In the first lockdown...
2022-05-1026 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Mental Health Week Day 1: AnxietyFor Day 1 of their Mental Health Week Mini Series Alex and Helen tackle the topic of Anxiety. As two anxious people, they discuss how anxiety exhibits itself most commonly in their lives and how they try to handle it.Over-practicingFor both of us over-practicing is a common way our anxiety exhibits itself. We always feel like there’s more to do, meaning we practice more than is healthy and do ourselves damage in the long run. How do we combat over-practicing?Be strict. Set yo...
2022-05-0922 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 17: Building your patchwork quilt careerFor the final episode in Series 2 (can you believe it?!) Alex and Helen are honoured to be joined by good friend and esteemed colleague, Richard Robbins. Richard is an in-demand tenor who has soloed with ensembles such as The Southbank Sinfonia and the Academy of Ancient Music; he is a City Music Foundation Young Artist for their 2020-2022 season and he has also been a young artist for Handel House, Leeds Lieder, Oxford Lieder, and Brighton Early Music Festival.Most importantly, Richard studied at the Royal Academy of Music for his master's degree i...
2022-03-1750 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 16: Working abroadThis week Alex and Helen have a laugh discussing what it's like to study and work abroad. Alex has extensive experience performing across Italy and in September 2021 Helen moved to Switzerland to join the Swiss Opera Studio programme. The pair talk language barriers, finding common ground, how mainland Europe approaches the opera industry and taking the plunge to move your life to another country. Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-03-0343 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 15: Image and the industryOpera as an art form requires our imagination. Whether we be entering into the world of Die Walküre, The Cunning Little Vixen or Tosca, each opera asks us to leave behind the every day and suspend our belief.Why is it, then, that singers often face visual discrimination? Time and again singers in auditions, rehearsals and even performances are criticised for their size, their age, and their 'beauty'. This week Alex and Helen talk about image in the operatic industry. They discuss size, age and beauty in opera; asking the industry to d...
2022-02-1748 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 14: Singing and Your DietThis week Alex and Helen mythbust some of the common misconceptions surrounding diet and singing.CaffeineA huge topic in the vocal world, there are many conversations about caffeine being a vocal irritant, drying out the cords and preventing healthy singing.Mythbust: It’s important to remember that nothing you eat or drink directly touches the vocal folds; that is a physical impossibility. Caffeine is a diuretic and therefore dehydrates the whole body. In understanding that we can combat the effects with caffeine by drinking a healthy amount of water throughout th...
2022-02-0332 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 13: Money. There. We said it.Nobody likes talking about it, Alex and Helen certainly don't like talking about it, but in this episode they get into the uncomfortable topic of money.Money is hard to come by in the arts. From the start of education to attempting to make a stable living, we all know how it feels to worry about paying the next round of exam fees/audition fees/rent(!!!). Alex and Helen discuss how money affects every area of a singer's life and offer a range of ideas on how to create greater financial security in his industry:
2022-01-2044 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 E12: January self-care packageNew year, same dressing room, and this week Alex and Helen have a double bill for you.To start, they discuss the seasonal nature of the career as a performer and how it often involves intense periods of work (like Christmas!) followed by intense periods of quiet (did someone say January blues?). They suggest using your off-season to reflect, plan and work on personal development as well as managing your on-season in order to avoid three months of chaotic work without a break.Following that, they offer you a January self-care package. With...
2022-01-0636 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 11: Time to hit the refresh buttonIt's our last episode of the year so we decided to take a look back at the New Year's Resolutions we made back in series 1 on the pod in January and see whether we stuck to any of them or just totally ignored them.Before we get started don’t forget to tag us on social media #AlexSimpsonFail and tell us whether you think Alex passed his driving test this week!Resolution 1: Let it GoHelen: 'I feel like I'm a lot better at letting go of bad rehearsal experiences, and ev...
2021-12-1636 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 10: RejectionsIt's Christmastime, for many performers it's audition time, which also means it's acceptance/rejection time. Performers in the creative industries have to audition for opportunities in order to further their careers, and it's likely that for every ten auditions a performer does only one of those will be successful. Therefore, 90% of the time performers are facing, handling and processing rejection.Alex and Helen can't help but ask themselves why it is they were never taught to handle rejection?This week Alex and Helen get stuck in at the deep end...
2021-12-0246 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 9: Managing your Christmas diaryThe days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder and it's almost an acceptable time of year to be eating mince pies which can only mean one thing: Christmas is on its way! There's no denying that for singers and performers Christmas is an intense period of time including carol services, Messiah concerts, midnight masses and so much more. With that in mind Alex and Helen thought it was about time to offer you some tips, tricks and ideas on how to handle your crazy Christmas diary.For this episode Alex and Helen are delighted...
2021-11-1848 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 8: Crises of ConfidenceAlthough we don't care to admit it, almost all artists experience crises of confidence. From panicking during the final minutes before you go on stage, to experiencing a few weeks feeling slightly under the weather, crises of confidence can affect us in many different ways. This week Alex and Helen share strategies and techniques they've used in the past to help battle their crises of confidence.For the 'in the moment' Crisis of Confidence:Practice mindfulness backstage: notice your feelings, acknowledge them, do not judge them and try, if you can, to...
2021-11-0443 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 7: Auditions - what they don't tell youWith the Christmas audition season just around the corner Alex and Helen thought it was about time they revisited this topic. In this week's episode they discuss the advice they wish they'd been given before they started auditioning for music college. Alex and Helen talk about travel plans, how to handle seeing people you know, the dreaded rejections and a whole lot more in between.If you've got an audition coming up soon, this is the episode for you.Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast...
2021-10-2147 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 6: One Year Anniversary Dinner PartyTo celebrate the first anniversary of 'Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!' Alex and Helen decided to organise a dinner party and were delighted to be joined by their close friend and food and fine-wine enthusiast, Henrietta Gullifer. Having trained at Leith's Cookery School and worked at Berry Brothers & Rudd for over five years, Alex and Helen felt Hetty was the perfect guest for their dinner party.For their anniversary meal Alex and Helen curated a four-course musical menu, featuring four of their favourite operatic moments. They then tasked Hetty with delivering a food and wine...
2021-10-0734 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 5: PressureThere are three ps that come with a career in music and no, we don't mean pianississimo!Practice. Performance. Pressure.In every aspect of a musician's career there is an undeniable element of pressure. This week Alex and Helen dig into the different types of pressure musicians experience, from self-applied pressure to pressure exerted by colleagues and friends. They talk about both the bad and good effects of pressure, considering how in some cases performers can even benefit from a little pressure. They offer you their top tips on how best to deal...
2021-09-2242 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 4: New HorizonsEvery September Alex and Helen get that same ‘back to school’ feeling. For Helen, it’s a period of excitement as she buys far too much stationery and looks forward to getting stuck in to a new artistic year. For Alex, it’s a period of dread as he realises the summer is waning and winter is on its way. In this episode they explore what September, and the start of a new artistic year, means to both of them.During the episode they talk about hopes for the coming year, they take stock of the year jus...
2021-09-0833 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 3: ContactsThis week Alex and Helen discuss how to make the most of your contacts.The classical music industry is a small, small world. No matter where you go or what you do, everyone seems to know everyone! Alex and Helen talk about both the pros and cons of this intimate and well-connected industry, but more importantly they give YOU the tools to make the most of your own contacts. They offer some simple and effective networking tips and they encourage you to get out there and learn to network with confidence. Hosted on...
2021-08-2634 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 2: The Inner CriticAs musicians and performers we are trained throughout our careers to develop a critical ear, one that can assess the quality of a performance and decide what needs to be worked on in order to improve and progress. However, although this critical ear is a vital tool in our industry, it can also be our worst enemy. Present during practice sessions, rehearsals and even performances, the inner critic can often take over and attack our confidence and self-belief.In this episode we discuss how we've experienced the inner critic during private practice sessions, rehearsals with colleagues...
2021-08-1135 min
Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!S2 Episode 1: Things we learnt from the EurosMost people think that football and classical music have nothing in common. Alex and Helen are here to debunk that myth, opening series 2 of 'Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!' with an episode on the recent football-mania which engulfed England over the course of the Euros. Helen was exposed to relentless hours of football coverage, Alex saw none; but together they use this episode to discuss the England football team, manager Gareth Southgate, and lessons they think the classical music industry can learn from football.This episode sees them talk about:
2021-07-2837 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!How Coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement has affected the operatic industry in the UKSPECIAL EDITION EPISODE!This week Helen is taking over the podcast to present the research project she's been working on over the last year:"As I hope many of our regular listeners know, one of the main aims of Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?! is to provide an open and honest account of what it can be like to be a classical musician in the UK. Since September 2020 I have been conducting a research project as part of my master’s degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. This research project has seen me...
2021-07-151h 29Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 17: AgentsThis week Alex and Helen tackle the mysterious topic of classical music agents. They discuss the unusual aura which surrounds agencies and artist agents, in particular how difficult it can be to contact them. They talk about the need to be shrewd when entering into a contract with any agency, considering things such as the artist roster you're joining, commission fees and whether you and your agent are on the same page. They recommend, as an artist, having a secure team of confidents surrounding you, in order to help you make the best possible decision.And t...
2021-07-0131 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 16: Life after music collegeWith summer fast approaching Alex and Helen discuss a topic very much on Helen's mind, life after music college.With Helen graduating from conservatoire this summer, in this episode she talks about her hopes and fears for the months ahead and Alex discusses his approach towards time management and self-motivation after he left music college. Alex and Helen encourage current conservatoire students to make the most of the regular tuition and facilities at their fingertips but they also consider how the conservatoire model only really works for a small proportion of students and they question the lack of...
2021-06-1738 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 15: Choral singing vs Solo singingWe've gone niche this week and we discuss a divide in our industry that we are both acutely aware of: the world of choral singing vs the world of solo singing.As two singers who were raised in the choral tradition we both love performing in choirs and understand the variety of skills needed to be a successful ensemble singer. However, we are also two singers that have made the decision to pursue professional careers as solo singers because we also love the world of opera and song. Today we take a look at the skills ne...
2021-06-0328 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 14: Boundaries(Warning: strap in for this one. We had a lot of caffeine before we recorded so things move pretty quick!)Throughout the course of the pandemic we've been aware of friends and colleagues reflecting on their careers and re-assessing their lives in the creative industries. As a result of that, we've noticed people making different choices based on what we feel are their new personal boundaries.In this episode we discuss a few of the boundaries we've been coming across:- 'The Litmus Test' - i.e. deciding whether or not an offer of...
2021-05-2037 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 13: The Portfolio CareerIn this episode Alex and Helen discuss the benefits of having a portfolio career. Alex explains how he developed his career; starting off as a singer, building a stable career as a tutor whilst at music college and then launching his life coaching business during the 2020 lockdown. Helen talks about how her career has been the reverse; working in arts administration whilst recovering from injury, slowly building a body of work as an ensemble singer, and now about to finish her master's degree in solo performance.Alex and Helen chat about how a portfolio career gives y...
2021-05-0634 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 12: The Roaring 20sWe are BACK and this week we discuss what we think the future of the arts might look like as things re-open following our winter lockdown.To no one's surprise, Alex has compared this time to 'The Great Depression', worrying that with fewer organisations able to put on concerts and events, opportunities are becoming more competitive. He’s concerned that this climate, compounded with Brexit, has the potential to further damage the careers of many artists in the UK. Helen takes a more positive approach and argues that there is the potential for a revival of...
2021-04-2240 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 11: Injury and IllnessAlex and Helen tackle a topic which is incredibly important to them both.Injury and illness are inevitable in the career of a professional musician, however, the music industry can be known for adopting an insensitive approach when artists become unwell.Alex and Helen use this episode to share their personal experiences of illness and injury, to talk about the industry culture surrounding injury, and to sit down with Dr Alex who explains the basic illnesses most singers get and whether they are safe to sing on.Most importantly, Alex and Helen hope...
2021-03-1147 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 10: Who's your singing teacher?Alex and Helen both understand how crucial the right teacher is to any singer's career, no matter what stage. This week they discuss your experiences and stories (told anonymously, of course) with regards to the tricky world of singing teachers. They explore the cult-like behaviour which can surround some teachers, the precarious nature of the teacher-pupil relationship and how difficult it can be to change teacher.Thank you to everyone who sent in their thoughts and stories on this topic. Your opinions and experiences made for one of our most thought-provoking episodes and has given us a lot...
2021-02-2549 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 9: The Online PackageAlexander and Helen have realised that being a classical musician in 2021 means having to face those things they've been desperate to avoid: 'The Online Package'. This week Helen and Alex chat about how they curated their headshots, how they designed (or have avoided designing) their websites and how they approach social media. They share artists whose twitter accounts make them laugh, artists whose instagram accounts they find informative, and, as two cynics, they take a little time to question the social media machine.N.B. The sound quality of this episode isn't as high as w...
2021-02-1142 min
What Would Mozart Do?033 - Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Today I am talking to Alexander Simpson and Helen Daniels who are both classical singers and presenters on the podcast “Where’s My Freaking Dressing Room?!” In our chat we talk about a variety of topics regarding the impact that the pandemic has had on young singers and how a shift in time management has revolutionised the way in which Alexander and Helen approach their work.British countertenor Alexander Simpson is a versatile young singer who enjoys performing a wide range of repertoire and styles.Recent operatic roles include Nireno Giulio Cesare (English Tourin...
2021-02-0349 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 8: Auditions and CompetitionsThis week Helen and Alexander dive into the world of auditions and competitions, in particular the new frontier of recording audition and competition videos. They talk about becoming audition video director, producer, sound engineer and editor and the new set of challenges audition videos present. Of course, they can't possibly cover auditions and competitions and not discuss live audition difficulties such as what to wear, having to introduce your programme, working with an accompanist you've never met and the audition panel.N.B. The sound quality of this episode isn't as high as we would normally l...
2021-01-2842 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 7: New Year's ResolutionsAlexander and Helen are back and starting the new year by sharing their New Year resolutions. No, they're not talking about losing weight or learning a new language, instead they discuss how they're trying to make the most of things in these difficult times.Where's My Freaking Dressing Room?! 2021 Resolutions:1. Let It GoStop worrying, stop trying to control everything and Let It Go. Nervous about performing a difficult aria? Worrying and overly controlling will not help: Let It Go and just give it your best. Anxious about uploading a performance on social media? If...
2021-01-1334 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 6: The Christmas SpecialAn episode that needs no description nor introduction. Alexander and Helen love everything about Christmas: the mulled wine, the carols, the parties and of course, the Christmas cake! Join them as they talk about some of their favourite (and not so favourite) Christmas experiences.Don't forget to head over to twitter and vote for your favourite advent carol between:Lo! He Comes with Clouds DescendingandOf the Father's Heart BegottenMake sure to tag us: @dressingroompo1Another highlighted piece this episode is Richard Marlow's Advent Responsory, make sure to t...
2020-12-1045 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 5: Practice // 'We're sorry if you find this boring.'Helen and Alex couldn't make a podcast about being musicians without tackling the big bad topic of PRACTICE. In this episode they discuss ideal schedules for practice, the awkward experience of listening back to yourself, the hours they've wasted doing pointless practice and strategies for mental practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-11-2627 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 4: Good Performance Experiences // 'I am never upstaged, darling.'Having delved into the depths of their bad performance experiences, it's only right that Alex and Helen now sit back and celebrate their good performance experiences! From enthralling operas to exciting concerts, Alex and Helen discuss what it is that made their top performance experiences unique.In an industry where we're criticised at every turn, Alex and Helen encourage listeners to celebrate occasions where you feel you've given your best. As musicians we must be able to critique ourselves and recognise areas for improvement, but we also need to be able to congratulate ourselves and recognise our achievements.
2020-11-1334 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 3: Bad performance experiences // 'Where's my freaking GIN more like.'Alex and Helen delve in to the world of bad performance experiences, discussing concerts where they feel they haven't given their best, concerts where others have affected their performance experience, projects where they haven't felt comfortable in themselves, as well as that all important question of when is the best time to eat before a performance?! Most importantly, they talk about how best to turn a negative performance experience in to something you can learn from. They find that it is often in their toughest performance experiences where they learn the most. Hosted on Acast. See ac...
2020-10-3036 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 2: Coronavirus // 'My neighbours definitely hate me.'Alex and Helen waste no time getting down to the nitty-gritty stuff. In this episode they chat about the impact of Coronavirus on their careers; what it feels like to practice at home, what they miss about live performance, how Coronavirus has forced them both to slow down and potential positives (if there can be such a thing!) that might come out of this seismic shift in the classical music industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-1644 minWhere's My Freaking Dressing Room?!Episode 1: Meet the StarsIt's time to meet the team behind this brand new podcast series. Join Alex and Helen for this taster episode as they reveal who they are, how they know each other, and why they've made this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-0312 min