Or maybe they just wanted some students- It's probably not a big gig or anything so maybe they thought a more experienced singer wouldn't want to take it? Who knows?
so the fuck what if he/she wants young singers? why did there have to be some derogatory term ("ageist") for someone who is looking for young singers? WHO GIVES A SHIT!!!
deal with it! if you're too old for something/someone, that's life. some people are too young for some stuff, and THAT is life, too. Quit making everyone pussyfoot around so that no one's feelings get hurt.
I say more power to the OP. If he says "I want young singers" then he gets everything that comes with that---younger LOOKING, younger ACTING, and yes, possibly less experience and lower quality. You get everything, the good and the bad.
I did not respond to this initially, but I really feel the OP is getting a bad rap here.
Let's be honest: these kinds of party gigs are not the be-all and end-all of career-makers, they usually don't pay that much, and they're an IDEAL opportunity for an advanced student or just-starting-out singer to sing some arias and pocket a little pin money. These are typical "paying-your-dues" gigs, IMO.
THEREFORE... I seriously don't think any offense was intended, simply an assumption made that more established and likely older singers wouldn't be interested in this kind of a gig.
Unfortunately, responding to the original post somehwat aggressively means these types of quickie jobs probably won't get openly posted. And then singers will be frustrated that they never hear about these potential giglets.
So, can we all just try to keep this in perspective? I know the musical world is crashing around our ears (believe me, I know this better than many since I seem to be lying underneath a great deal of operatic rubbble just at the moment, and I'm not seeing signs of a rescue squad yet) but I don't see any point in biting hands that are trying to feed us, even if they're looking to feed a starving student instead of a starving mature artist. It's all good.
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"If you only look at what you left behind youll never be able to focus on what lies ahead." - Gusteau
what she said.
In addition, I have recently encountered singers who are bitching about fees when work is offered to them, when we are in a terrible environment for the arts right now.
I think we all have different ideas about what is a decent fee. I have plenty of friends who complain about not having enough gigs and not making enough money at the ones they have and they are doing way better than I am (but they are not doing as well as some in their circle...see it's all relative).
Houndentenor
"Get the trash off the street and back on the stage where it belongs." -- Bette Midler
So I wasn't an "advanced student" until I was about 32. Now in my books that's still young. But the idea of "young" for most people who go out of their way to use the term "young" in combination with "artist" or "singer" is far more often 22 than 32, and certainly NEVER 42 (unless the singer is a Wagnerian Heldentenor).
That's the fundamental question. So you started singing at 27; awesome! If you're a great singer at any age, then that's great. But because you started at 27 doesn't mean they need to change their request for "young" singers just because you started a little later than some other people. You may even be a better singer than those 25 year olds. But that's not the point. It shouldn't be a problem that you may be too old for whatever this person wants---that's just how it is.
You did a great thing when you complained about Opera New Jersey and they eliminated their age limit.
With this particular request, what I thought was that maybe the party was for young people, like college students or early 20s and they had requested "young" singers because they would fit in with the group who were at the party.
this person is probably just thinking that an older (more experienced singer) wouldn't be interested in singing the sort of gig he is planning. Really, let's just cool off. This just seems like a bit of an over-reaction and your reply is frankly pretty insulting to someone who is looking to HIRE A SINGER.
...because it implied that younger and less-experieneced singers are welcome to apply. It's a welcome change to see it in writing instead of the typical applying for a gig and realizing they only want people with B house experience.
Not everything is geared towards the younger and inexperienced. Some of us look forward to these posts.
It's sad that the OP had to have so many people jump down his throat over it.
Re: young opera singers to sing at small private party in manhattan
June 16 2009, 7:14 AM
to Dan - the OP - have you had any replies directly? If not, please email me with details and I am sure I can help you find somebody to perform at this function!
