Singer Spotlight: Agent Edition!

https://www.stratagemartists.com/

Today, we hear from Zoey Preston from Stratagem Artists!

Tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from? What is your educational and musical background?

I'm originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was a violinist for 15 years and started taking voice lessons when I was 13, hoping it would help me get a role in the school musical (plot twist: it didn't). I completed my undergraduate degree at the Manhattan School of Music as a soprano, but switched to mezzo at the end of my senior year. I decided to take a few years off before I auditioned for Master's programs to let everything settle vocally. I also branched out a bit during this time, working everywhere from restaurants to private events to social media marketing to advertising. I was really lucky to study with a wonderful voice teacher, who pointed me toward grad school at the Aaron Copland School of Music where I completed my Masters this past December. I really value my conservatory education and vocal experience in my role as an artist manager. Stratagem’s founder (and my boss) Justin and I are both singers, and I think it gives us a really unique ability to relate and empathize with our artists in a very important way.

What is one thing you wish more singers knew before auditioning for management?

This is a tough question, because we typically don't hear anyone in an audition unless we are extremely interested. This past year, Stratagem had over 300 singers reach out to us and we auditioned ten. One of the most important things to consider when reaching out to a manager is the importance of a personal connection. Do you have a mutual acquaintance? Have you met this person at a performance? Pointing out some sort of mutual relationship helps to garner a longer response and a more in-depth look at your materials. Additionally, it's extremely important to do your research. Read about the firm, look at the website, and check out the artist bios. Address us by name. Emails sent to "to whom it may concern" are also less likely to grab anyone's attention. In the audition itself, just try to remember that we're all humans. We always want you to succeed, and we all want to have a positive experience. The person behind the table is rooting for you!

Tell us about an obstacle you have faced during your career and how you overcame it.

A career in the arts often feels like a never ending obstacle course (especially right now), but I think one of the toughest adjustments for me as a manager has been learning to trust my own instincts and opinions. As a singer, it's very rare to be invited to offer your opinion on another singer's performance, repertoire, or career path (of course, some singers offer these opinions unsolicited, which is another issue altogether). It was initially very challenging for me to feel comfortable offering feedback to our artists, because I think they're all so amazing! Learning to offer feedback and suggestions was really tough and felt totally wrong at first. One day in the hallway outside an audition, Justin told one of our basses that I had some feedback for him. He smiled at me and said "Come on! You can do it!" Over this past audition season, with Justin's unconditional support as well as the graciousness of our roster, I've gained confidence in having my own opinion and my own seat at the table.

What is one show or piece you could listen to over and over and never get tired of?

The overture from Le nozze di Figaro ALL DAY. I played it as a violinist in high school, and Cherubino was my first role out of undergrad. Not only does this overture spark joy, but it totally slaps. Bad mood? Figaro overture. Gym? Figaro overture. In the club? Figaro overture. I challenge you to NOT headbang when this thing starts up.

If you could only give one piece of advice to a young singer, what would it be?

The opera industry exists because you exist. You have value. Young singers are taught to be so grateful for every opportunity that they often don't pay attention to whether it's the RIGHT opportunity. Assemble a team of four of five people you trust and listen to them. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Sorry that's more than one; I could talk about this all day.

What is a common mistake you see singers make?

Not following up. Fostering relationships is an invaluable part of a career as a singer. When young singers let emails go unanswered and don't jump at offers for extra advice and communication, I really see it as a wasted opportunity. Send follow up texts and emails. Write thank you notes. Be as tastefully shameless as possible. We love these types of messages and we want to hear from you! Developing long-term human relationships with people in our industry can only help you, and it drives me crazy when I see singers wasting those opportunities. Justin is amazing at this. He and I met on the subway seven years ago. I had a score open, and he came over to ask me about it. We found each other on Facebook, met for a few coffees, and now here we are. Follow up!

How have you pivoted over the last couple of months?

The past few months have been incredibly challenging for our industry and Stratagem has experienced the sense of loss and grief right along with our colleagues and artists. But crisis doesn't change who you are, it just amplifies it. And who we are is human beings. Over the last few months we've made an effort to look beyond opera to connect even more personally with our roster and our colleagues. We have weekly roster check-ins where we provide updates, moral support, and TikTok videos. This past week, we brought in a financial planner to give a presentation to our roster over Zoom, and we have a few more of these seminars in the works. We've taken a break from production photos, and used our social media platforms to share pets, spouses, cooking projects, and K Pop dances (for real, check it out). Right now we're working on a series of #artistsinresidence spotlights that highlight our individual clients and what they've been up to in quarantine (follow us on Instagram!) We've formed a managers' coalition, and we've had weekly meetings with our colleagues to discuss how we can better protect our artists during this time. We've been offering website and branding consultations with our roster, as well as weekly individual check-ins. We believe American Opera will be a large part of our post-COVID world, so Justin has been reaching out to our country's top composers and librettists to compile unique lists of arias accessible to our roster. We have a few other things in the works that we'll announce in the next few months. Though this crisis has been debilitating for our industry, I've never been more excited for the future of Stratagem.

Is there anything else you want to share?

The world of artist management is often shrouded in mystery, but it doesn't have to be. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have; we're always happy to answer. Stay healthy and safe out there, and we'll see you on the other side!