Make your own d*** YAP!
It all begins with an idea.
Hey All!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and definitely Happy New Year!
2020 has been…a year for the books so to speak. We have gone through a pandemic, lost lives to said pandemic and just lives in general, suffered through financial loss and debt gain and much, much more. I for one can say that 2020 was the year of the apocalypse.
However, even with some of the bad, came some good. For me personally, I was able to sing with several opera companies, both known and unknown via various social media and internet outlets. I maintained my “muggle” job, saved like crazy, practiced my craft and made connections. Most of all, I’ve learned a heck of a lot more about me.
This morning, the last day of 2020, I had the audacity to wake up to news that not only disturbed me, but rather made me default to antagonizing my self-worth; my last denial in 2020 from a YAP. To say that I was hurt is an understatement. I was darn near distraught! The precious and coveted YAP-Tracker notification came through my email updates and, I froze. After settling down and looking at the short but well tempered email body, I let out an exasperated sigh, sat down on my couch and simply palmed my face between my hands.
“You are born an artist or you are not. And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a fireworks. The artist is always there.”
Yet another opportunity gone. Yet another YAP who’s favor I did not earn. Yet another moment where I question if this is what I am meant to do with my life.
Now, for those who read this blog who are in the arts, I know you can relate. This season in particular was more difficult than others. Financially we were all over the place, emotionally, we were taxed and physically, the notion of crawling up in a ball was simply obligatory. In short, Sis, ’twas a STRUGGLE!
So, after sitting and twiddling my thumbs together, I said, “F it!.” For the last few weeks, I’ve been working on being as productive as possible. Carving out time between my job and my passions, to work on being better as both an Artist and simply Victoria. From taking early morning walks for a fresh dose of Vitamin D to scheduling and planning out my meals for the day, I learned and designed a simplistic schedule for myself and my overall life.
So in my awesomeness, I decided to make my own YAP. Specifically, MY OWN D*** YAP. For the last several years, I like many others have been preparing for the “work force”, via YAP’s (for those of you who are unfamiliar with what a YAP is, it stands for Young Artist Program’s). These programs, were created to help young singers forge ahead in honing their skills. Usually, this would include, language study, role preparation, movement classes, operatic history and some sort of stage experience. Coaching’s and voice lessons would happen weekly, if not daily and of course, it is up to the Young Artist to use all of these “tools” to their advantage.
While I may not have the privilege of being apart of a Young Artist Program this year, I do have the privilege of having a wonderful team who backs me in all of my endeavors, including this one. Over the next week or so, I plan on sharing how and why I am choosing this route. And as this is the first blog on my website, I hope that you’ll enjoy the candor, conversation and quite frankly, the on-going rants of a 21st century Opera Singer. You may hear/see (we all know we talk in our heads) some “choice” words when describing my plight. You will also see the truths, my truths in written form as I go on this journey. Of course, feel free to comment and ask those questions - I love a good internet convo! In any case, ta-ta for now!