If it feels like everyone you know is rethinking something right now—career, schedule, genre focus, income mix, long-term plans—you’re not imagining it.
The world is shifting fast, and the arts always feel it early. For singers, that often shows up as questions like: Do I double down? Pivot? Add something new? Let something go? Let’s be clear: This isn’t failure. It’s reality in a freelance economy.
Me first 😉
Lauri’s List is a good example. Twenty-three years ago, the email-based List looked nothing like it does now. Later, when I started the website and then this blog, I had a very clear picture of what I wanted it to be and how it might support working singers. Some of that vision came true. Some of it evolved. Some ideas had to wait—not because they were bad ideas, but because time, energy, and focus are finite resources. I have worried about these shifts from time to time, but they are simply a business truth.
What we’re seeing
Similarly, one of the quiet stressors I see among singers is the fear of how change looks:
- “If I stop doing this, does it look like I failed?”
- “If I start that, does it seem unfocused?”
- “If I shift again, will people stop taking me seriously?”
You must be real with yourself: professional singers already run complex businesses. This means managing schedules, repertoire, wardrobe, contracts, taxes, branding, relationships, and constant evaluation—often without a safety net, and all of that in addition to the other things in your life, like health and wellness, child or elder care, feeding yourself, and all the rest of the “little things” that keep life chugging along. Of course decisions feel heavy. Whether or not you think of it this way, your musical training leaves you attuned to being precise, self-critical, and accountable. Those traits make you excellent artists—and occasionally brutal CEOs of your own lives.
Embracing the ephemeral
So let’s say this plainly: most decisions aren’t permanent. They’re experiments. Adjustments. Next steps. You can choose something, learn from it, and choose again. That’s not inconsistency—that’s management.
What causes real damage isn’t making an imperfect decision. It’s staying stuck because you’re waiting for the “right” moment, the “perfect” plan, or external permission. Momentum matters more than certainty. I’ve been reading The Motivation Myth by Jeff Haden, which argues that motivation often follows action — not the other way around. That idea has been sitting with me, and we’ll post a deeper dive later.
When singers call or write to me—whether they’re thrilled, burned out, confused, or quietly panicking—the common thread isn’t lack of talent or discipline. It’s doubt. Everyone has it, even the people who look solid from the outside. The difference is what they do next.
If you’re at a crossroads, overwhelmed, or just tired of spinning your wheels, start small. Decide one thing. Test one change. Reclaim a bit of agency. You don’t have to solve your entire career this week. You just have to decide what comes next.
Cheering you on… always,
BTW, if you could use a quick chat, check out our new Office Hours calendar and book a session.