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What if the freedom you crave onstage has less to do with the perfect high note and more to do with the state you bring to it? Today we sit down with mental performance coach and five-time national karate champion Christopher Wellbrook to unpack how elite sport principles can transform the lives of singers, musicians, and creative pros. Christopher believes fully that opera singers are elite athletes. From long rehearsal blocks to constant travel and high-stakes visibility, the mental load rivals any arena. Together we dig into practical, science-backed tools that turn pressure into presence.

We explore why outcome chasing rarely delivers fulfillment and how to replace it with a grounded, other-centered mindset. Christopher shows how tiny, identity-based habits—sleep routines, hydration, daily movement—build durable confidence and reduce the chaos of last-minute schedules. He walks us through visualization that embraces imperfection, so you’re not blindsided when nerves hit, and introduces anchors and box breathing to calm the nervous system in real time. You’ll hear how to communicate with creative teams without defensiveness, how to reframe burnout by raising the excellence of the room, and how to protect your identity when career turbulence hits.

If you’ve ever thought, once I win that competition, then I’ll feel worthy, this conversation offers a better path. You’ll leave with simple strategies, pre-performance steps, and a mindset shift that makes composure repeatable and joy sustainable.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.

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A vacant sub-basement in an affordable housing building isn’t where most people expect a new theater to bloom — but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, host Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman welcomes Jaime Martino, Executive Director of Toronto's Tapestry Opera, to share the story behind the new Nancy and Ed Jackman Performance Center, a flexible black box space that seats 100–150 and brings neighbors, artists, and first-timers together in one room.

Jaime walks us through how a modest rehearsal plan evolved into a full venue with a bar, box office, rehearsal studio, and shared offices — powered by community partnerships, city champions, and a clear mission: build access, not barriers.

We dive into the partnership with Nightwood Theatre and explore the decision-making culture that carried the project through three years of design choices, budget tradeoffs, and technical puzzles. Consensus wasn’t slow — it was strengthening. From tiered rental pricing and resident companies to opening traditionally “insider” events to the public, Jaime explains how a venue can become an ecosystem. Today, the space hosts indie rehearsals, mainstage runs, one-night concerts, and soon, commercial events that help subsidize artist use.

We also zoom out to confront the bigger questions facing opera and the arts today — shrinking corporate support, rising costs, and what belonging really means in a legacy-driven field. Jaime’s take is clear: small casts and chamber forces make intimate stories land; multidisciplinary curiosity keeps the form alive; and safety nets enable bold risks. Micro experiences — genuine welcomes, open rehearsals, human-scale venues — turn first visits into lasting relationships.

If you care about cultural infrastructure, community building, and the future of live performance, this conversation offers a practical, hopeful roadmap.

Come see the space, meet the people behind it, and help shape what happens next.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.

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What if your performing arts career was built to last—not just to launch? 🎭

In this episode, we sit down with Kaye Kelly—Berklee College of Music professor, singer-songwriter, and author of The Modern Creative: A Practical Guide for 21st Century Artists—to explore how today’s artists can build resilient, values-driven, and financially sustainable careers.

Kaye’s book doubles as a field manual and workbook, and together we unpack her prompts and practices for defining your artistic narrative, mapping multiple income streams, and getting grants within reach.

We trace how the creative landscape has evolved through streaming, the pandemic, and AI—and why artists now thrive by wearing many hats. Kaye shares what professionalism really looks like: reply fast, communicate clearly, show up prepared, and think strategically.

From teaching, arranging, and session work to licensing and arts leadership, we dig into building a portfolio career with both active and passive income. Then we go straight to the money talk—budgeting for unpredictable income, planning for taxes, and starting retirement early.

Community engagement emerges as both a compass and a growth engine. Kaye walks us through ways to connect with local cultural councils, public art initiatives, and small grant programs that align your work with community priorities while expanding your audience.

We close with the habits that protect creativity—silence, privacy, and device discipline—and small rituals like journaling to shift into creative flow.

Forget the starving artist myth. Choose alignment, guard your time, and let your creativity evolve across seasons.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.