Singer’s Self-Management Questionnaire©

Learn how you stack up in just five minutes. How do you balance the business aspects of the career with the artistic? How much time and money do you spend managing your singing career?


General Questions
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
1. Own your own computer?
2. Have professional headshots?
3. Subscribe to Opera News?
4. Subscribe to Classical Singer magazine?
5. Make your own recordings?
6. Have your own website?
7. Have a separate singing email address?
8. Use any email client such as Outlook, Entourage, or Apple Mail?

Goals & Organization
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
9. Use a to-do list to stay organized?
10. Have a working mission statement for your career?
11. Periodically compose a goals list?
12. Periodically write down your strengths and weaknesses?

Singing Journal
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
13. Keep a journal of your auditions?
14. Write in a journal after public performances?
15. Make notes after lessons (what you worked on, lessons learned)?

Auditions
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
16. Subscribe to YAP Tracker?
17. Have a reliable method for keeping track of application due dates?
18. Keep a photocopy of completed application forms for your records?
19. Send post-audition follow-up thank you notes?
20. Maintain past versions of your resume?
21. Maintain past versions of your bio?
22. Send cover letters for typical auditions?
23. Make a record of phone calls or mail sent to a company?
24. Research company budget levels (in Musical America)?
25. “Google” other singers who have been accepted previously?
26. Ever apply for grant money?

Repertoire
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
27. Maintain an audition repertoire list?
28. Make a record of what repertoire you performed at an audition?
29. Periodically compare your results with the repertoire you performed?
30. Keep a list of works you have performed (recital, scenes, etc.)?
31. Print sheet music from your computer (using Scorch or from PDF)?
32. Transpose songs using Finale or other notation software?

Professional Contacts
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
33. Maintain an address book?
34. Flag your contacts with categories (VIP, colleagues, local contacts)?
35. Print address labels from your computer?
36. Send emails or letters to your local contacts to promote your shows?
37. Send periodic career updates to your VIPs, friends, and family?
38. Raise funds for projects or solicit other donations from your contacts?
39. Make a record of monetary or in-kind donations?

Finances
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
40. Keep track of professional expenses?
41. Summarize expenses by category?
42. Track automobile expenses or use the government reimbursement rate?
43. Use the domestic per diem rates for deductible meals?
44. Record income received?
45. Flag income with categories (opera, chorus, church/temple, teaching)?
46. Keep track of which students or organizations owe you payment?
47. Maintain a personal budget (using Quicken, Excel, or Mint.com)?
48. Calculate how much you are paid per hour when offered a lump-sum?

Calendar & Planning
Do you… Yes, I do. No, but would be beneficial. No, and don’t care to.
49. Keep a calendar or planner?
50. Use any shared calendaring (such as Google Calendars)?
51. Periodically count up your lessons (in the last month, semester, year)?
52. Periodically count up your public performances?
53. Periodically count up your auditions?

General Information
Name
Email* (required for results)
Artist Level
School / Company Name
Website / Facebook Link