A singing career is like a roller coaster- full of ups and downs. One year you have so much work you never get to see your friends and family, but the next year you don’t know what to do with yourself because all of a sudden you’re out of work and at home. So what do you do now? How do you fight feeling down when you’ve suddenly come to a grinding halt with nothing on the horizon?

We’re athletes. Imagine what would happen if NFL football players got depressed at the end of their season and quit practicing. What about the Olympians who have to wait every four years to compete? Instead of falling into the slippery slope of “woe is me,” try following these steps:

1. Keep busy. Find a way to make money in the “off season.” Teach voice lessons, take a church gig, direct sales, or coach fitness online. The possibilities are endless. Be creative and think outside the box. Maybe you’re lucky enough to keep that job while you’re away.

2. Eye on the prize. Even though you’ve found another job, keep your thoughts focused on your ultimate dream. This will help you keep your priorities clear when it comes to how you want to spend your money. Investing in yourself is the best way to keep your career growing.  Every voice lesson you teach or job you work is money in your pocket towards your own voice lessons.

3. Exercise. This is important not because we all should look like supermodels. On the contrary, it’s not about how you look. It’s about how you feel. The more you exercise the easier it’s going to be to sing a full role on stage while doing all the staging. Being an opera singer is an athletic event. A huge amount of breath support and physical activity is required to sing. Every time you work out, it makes the role that much easier. Check out Modern Singer's fitness guru for great workout tips.

4. Eat healthy. You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: our bodies are our instruments. Set yourself up for the best success by taking care of yourself. Eat a well-balanced diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, etc. Try Modern Singer’s recipes if you’re looking for some smart, fast, easy choices.

5. Practice. Singing is what makes us happy or we wouldn’t be pursuing such a challenging career, so sing everyday! Not only will it improve your singing, but it will also keep you happy. Choose a few projects and set goals and deadlines. Maybe you want to plan a concert or produce a one-act.  Maybe you want to learn a few more roles or arias. Do it!

6. Study. Take lessons and work with a vocal coach. Work with people who know what you’re capable of and challenge you to be better than even you can imagine. Work with people who encourage you to think and to be a good musician. Take this opportunity to learn a language or to perfect one you’ve already studied. Read books about opera or books that operas are based on so you can do a character study of your dream role. Rent DVDs of operas. Take this opportunity of down time to learn.  

8. Research. Look into opera companies. Who should you be auditioning for? Who are companies hiring? What kind of productions are they producing? Look up agents.What singers are on their rosters? What types of experience level do they have? Listen to singers. Who is out there having a career right now? What are they doing really well? All of this information can help you formulate a plan. Think about your own strengths and weaknesses and what you want to improve. Then take action to improve yourself. It is your job!

9. Lastly, take time to spend with your friends and family. Cherish the moments.Put in 40 hours a week to your job, and take a couple of days off to enjoy life and the people who are special to you.

If you take your job seriously, you will have serious rewards and will always be ready for that next opportunity. Be grateful for past experiences and the ones to come. Be happy for your friends and colleagues, wherever they are in their careers, because we are each other’s support system. Who else better understands everything you’re going through?