In partnership with GROUPMUSE FOUNDATION
Young Concert Artists is thrilled to launch the YCA Career Catalyst. This series distills the comprehensive services that YCA offers to roster artists in the form of Tuesday night sessions, bringing great speakers to address critical issues for working musicians. How can you harness the power of social media for self-promotion? Why is it important to craft a compelling artist statement? What equipment is best for producing your own content? How can you contribute to a more inclusive future in classical music? How can good personal finances maximize artistic output? How can you design your best life as a freelance musician?
Each session is $5 – or attend the whole series of 9 sessions for only $25.
Join us for this exciting new series!
SESSION 1:
Social Media and the Freelance Musician
Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00 PM
In an increasingly digital world, harnessing the power of social media has become a vital skill for freelance musicians. Which platforms are the best suited to your personal style? What should you post, and when – and how can you achieve maximum engagement with your audience? Unison Media Founder Andrew Ousley kicks off the YCA Career Catalyst with a deep dive into this vital topic.
SESSION 2:
The WholeHearted Musician: Learn the Most Important Aspects to Design a Life in Music
Tuesday, March 23 at 7:00 PM
Design the life you want for your musical career. What are your goals, both musical and non-musical, and how can you set priorities and overcome the biggest obstacles to career success? Join Dana Fonteneau of The WholeHearted Musician who will share how to cultivate a growth mindset by approaching your art holistically.
SESSION 3:
Video Recording at Home:
a DIY Guide to Producing Your Own Content
Tuesday, March 30 at 7:00 PM
Principal Clarinetist of The Albany Symphony and CEO of Skillman Music, video guru Wei Wang joins Career Catalyst to bring practical skills and maximal results into your home recording studio – even if you only have a smartphone! Wei will teach you to bring high-production-value to your content by mastering the basics of audio recording, lighting, editing, and the basics of a two-camera setup. Daniel Kellogg, President of Young Concert Artists, joins Wei for this discussion. Daniel approaches photography and videography as a serious amateur. Throughout the pandemic he has helped many artists and patrons grow more comfortable with technology.
SESSION 4:
Changing the Narrative – Moving the Inclusion Needle
Tuesday, April 6 at 7:00 PM
Where do we go from here? How can musicians contribute to a more inclusive future in classical music? Join us for a roundtable discussion led by Weston Sprott, Dean of the Preparatory Division at the Juilliard School and a trombonist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He’ll be joined by violinist Randall Goosby, Gary Padmore (Director of Education & Community Engagement at the NY Phil), conductor Lina Gonzalez-Granados, and Kerrien Suarez (Director of Equity in the Center).
SESSION 5:
Tell Your Own Story! Self-Promotion
Tuesday, April 13 at 7:00 PM
How do you authentically capture and share your own story? Learn from Beth Stewart at Verismo Communications as she discusses effective self-promotion. Topics will include writing bios, cultivating an online presence, and creating a personal brand.
SESSION 6:
Put your career in place by starting with an Artist Statement
Tuesday, April 20 at 7:00 PM
The Artist statement is a 3 to 4 sentence statement that answers these questions: Who you are, what you do, what kind of musician do you want to be, what do you stand for and what do you love? Learn from David Srebnik, from All Art is Personal, how a good artist statement will bring greater focus and joy to what you do on and off stage.
SESSION 7:
Money and the Working Musician
Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 PM
Good money skills will maximize your music making. Financial literacy is essential for success. President of Young Concert Artists Daniel Kellogg discusses important steps to take control of your finances – from budgeting and cashflow projections, to creating an emergency fund, to planning for the future. Learn simple structures and principals that can make all the difference.
SESSION 8:
New Online Opportunities for Freelance Musicians
Tuesday, May 4 at 7:00 PM
ThatViolaKid, Drew Forde, will discuss building a brand and presence online. How to go far beyond posting the occasional video to cultivate a strong audience and create new opportunities. Christos Vayenas will then discuss how Groupmuse allows musicians to host their own concerts online while also getting paid. Learn about the real success hundreds of musicians have enjoyed through this platform during the pandemic.
SESSION 9:
Streaming Rights and Licenses for Musicians
Tuesday, May 11 at 7:00 PM
Though born out of the COVID crisis, more and more venues, presenters, and artists have discovered that streaming—live streams, virtual performances, and showing archived footage of previously recorded concerts—can be an effective way to connect with audiences as well as reach new ones, along with being an additional tool for artist entrepreneurialism. However, this continues to be unchartered territory for many, particularly with regard to required rights and licenses. Brian Taylor Goldstein of GG Arts Law will discuss basic issues, common misconceptions, and what you need to know.