UselessNews

  Sleep No More… Planes, Delays, and the Latte That Saved My Sanity.                                                                                           Parramatta      It all started out perfectly. Our bags were packed with snacks and lunches, we arrived at the airport on time, checked our luggage, and breezed through security in under ten minutes. To celebrate how smoothly everything was going, we grabbed pints of Guinness and relaxed in anticipation of the adventure ahead. Then—our flight was delayed. The plane was coming from Winnipeg and had left late for reasons unknown. We only had a one-hour, forty-minute window to connect to our Qantas flight in Vancouver. When I asked WestJet staff abo...

Opera, Oceans, and Waiting for Godot Long-haul flights always feel like theatre of the absurd. Endless hours breathing recycled air, waiting for the meal cart, waiting for sleep that never comes, waiting just to wait some more. It’s a little like Beckett’s Waiting for Godot —except in my case, I’m waiting for Sydney. Great Ocean Road 2022.  In just two days, I’ll be on my way to Australia. I’m thrilled to get there… less so for the actual 21-hour flight. Last time I went, the trip was all about networking and laying the groundwork for relationships. This time, there’s real singing to do—not long after stepping off the plane. Which means juggling fatigue, dehydration, and jet lag. Not ideal, but definitely doable. Jet-Lag Eye Bags I’ve tried every trick to fight jet lag, but truthfully, there’s no magic cure for resetting your body clock. I’ve experimented with melatonin, napping across empty rows, and even alcohol once… never again. My most successful “jet lag hack” happened...

Dying of Consumption for Beginners; A Guide to Singer Health and Wellness.     It feels almost cruel when composers choose consumption as the cause of death — especially when you spend the entire rehearsal period killing yourself to stay healthy...      Nothing turns the hysteria up in a rehearsal hall more than someone saying "I'm not feeling well." For singers and directors, I would say it's the equivalent of saying 'bomb' on a plane. Sure, Covid may have elevated the anxiety, but singers’ sickness anxiety has probably been around since the beginning of solfege! I, like almost every singer I know, have experienced great anxiety over my health. I couldn't tell you how many times I became OBSESSED with a tiny tickle, a sniffle, a cough, or just basic fatigue. Many singers know the little voice-checking puppy whimper that all good voice teachers show you to check how well the cords are coming together... and every time I do it, my partner sighs and gives m...

Boarding Passes for Valkyries Singing is a great profession if you like to travel. I love planning trips, getting to the airport, meeting new people, and reconnecting with existing connections. It’s my favorite spice of life. I’ve even applied to programs and audition opportunities just for the trip — it's a major win if I know someone in that city. In 2018, I did Così fan tutte in Henfenfeld, Germany. After the production finished, I stayed a few extra days to vacation in Salzburg. One day, while having a coffee, I was scrolling Facebook and saw a friend of mine — who was traveling with his dad — posting from Hamburg. After messaging him, we realized our paths were about to cross! We ended up going to Esco Bar in Salzburg. What were the odds, right?                                                           Me in New ...

Nevermind the Why and Wherefore! The adventure of summer gigs in Ontario.      S ummer is always a mixed bag for most singers in Ontario. I’m not here to plug these events, but there are street festivals, some summer concert series, and a few larger music festivals where you can see the usual suspects from the bigger institutions sweating it out for the public—and doing some singing too. That list may sound like there's a lot going on for performers, but really, there isn't. Most singing teachers and répétiteurs become elusive creatures; they head to Europe to teach in summer programs and take a vacation as well.      Early on in my artistic development, I ventured to Europe twice, but I learned the most from Toronto offerings when I performed Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann and Semele in Semele with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. I highly recommend this program to singers at all stages. There is always room to improve your craft, and you don't need to go...