In the midst of networking, resume building, website designing, marketing, and all other business aspects that come with being an opera singer, we often forget one very important thing: ourselves as artists! It can feel like the two things are completely incompatible. We often end up stuck in a survival job with little to no energy to devote to our art, let alone the minefield that is career planning. Lucky for us, there is a solution called The Lucrative Artist! Founded by singer Brian Witkowski, The Lucrative Artist is a coaching and consulting program for singers designed to help them take control of their careers. The Lucrative Artist program has three phases: Finding Your Empowerment, Being Your Own Artistic Director, and The Financially Empowered Artist. Modern Singer sat down with Brian Witkowski to discuss his business’ unique goals. 

Why did you found The Lucrative Artist?

As I was teaching private voice lessons, I started offering academic advising and career services for singers. I found myself helping others get jobs they didn't really want so they could at least afford to continue auditioning. Sometimes they even took auditions they didn't really want just to try to get consistent work. I was used to simply blaming the various institutional powers that be for all the talent that goes unnoticed or unpaid in the world, but much of the blame goes to a set of disempowering, limiting beliefs that are too prevalent among too many singers. We get so consumed in trying to do what others expect, we rarely try to do something new and different that allows the world to see the authentic artists within us. In addition to wondering why so many other singers are not performing what they really want to perform, I also had to ask myself the same question! 

I've discovered that many in the arts are dealing with a combination of a deeply ingrained set of limiting beliefs and a lack of entrepreneurial knowledge, and this disempowerment can inhibit our ability to create the opportunities we actually wish to have. So after working with a coach myself and doing a lot of research and reading, I wanted to create something new to help fill the gaps in our educational and apprenticeship system and combat the "starving artist" mindset prevalent in so many artists, and I ultimately became the founder of The Lucrative Artist. 

What is the goal of The Lucrative Artist?

The goal of The Lucrative Artist is to help artists become empowered to have the artistically fulfilling lives and careers they truly want and deserve. It’s possible for absolutely anyone to create dynamic and lucrative career opportunities for themselves while carrying out or supporting their most authentic artistic desires. It is just a matter of not being afraid to listen to your heart, being open to new ideas, discovering where your talents and passions intersect with what the world needs, and taking the decisive action to gain the additional knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make it happen. 

How does The Lucrative Artist achieve this goal?

The Lucrative Artist is comprised of three 90-day phases of weekly or bi-weekly virtual coaching sessions, outside exercises, and other opportunities. The goal of the first phase, “Finding Your Empowerment,” is to empower yourself with a new belief system, realizing all your capabilities, brainstorming ideas to fulfill your offerings, and refining your niche and purpose. The second phase, “Be Your Own Artistic Director,” aims to get you comfortable with being an entrepreneur and acquire the skills needed to start putting things into motion. The third phase, “The Financially Empowered Artist,” includes money-mindset coaching to help you earn what you are truly worth as well as financial literacy skills so you can confidently envision your path to financial freedom. 

What makes The Lucrative Artist unique?

Traditional degree programs and summer programs do not offer much, if any, entrepreneurial learning, and while there are many other opportunities to learn outside the educational system, not many cater specifically to artists’ needs. Each phase of The Lucrative Artist, which is currently being offered as a one-on-one program, is customizable to fit the needs of each client, regardless of their age or artistic level. Moreover, while there are many exciting business coaches out there to choose from, I can offer artists a wide variety of empathy from having performing experience in many genres and countries, multiple degrees including a Doctor of Musical Arts, teaching experience in K-12, collegiate, and other settings, and even corporate and non-profit work experience. 

Why is The Lucrative Artist useful to a Modern Singer?

The Lucrative Artist program is designed to give modern singers the tools they need to take control of their careers so they can live more fulfilling lives carrying out or supporting their highest artistic desires. If you are not interested in or passionate about teaching lessons, directing ensembles, or doing any other traditional singer “day jobs,” that’s OK! Whether you are just out of college or many years into your career, this system will help you determine what you could do instead and you could potentially earn even more while you’re at it! 

The number of existing institutional or establishment singing opportunities will never keep pace with the increasing number of singers competing for them, and even when singing is the job, the authentic artist within rarely gets to sing what it truly wants to sing. So rather than put all your efforts into pursuing extremely competitive opportunities where you are singing for someone else’s artistic decisions, why not invest in creating something new and dynamic where you can give yourself a 100% chance to sing what you actually want to sing? 

If you want to find ways to increase your income so you can more easily survive between gigs, or if you are worried about your current job, tired of a job you hate, or can't even get a job, this program can help you determine your unique path to a better, freer place in life. Being an entrepreneur is the only truly secure "job" you can permanently guarantee yourself. The fate of anything else, even with tenure, ultimately rests on economic, political or natural forces beyond our control. With The Lucrative Artist, you will learn how your ability to make a living does not have to be solely at the mercy of someone else's decision making. You will receive personalized instruction in a safe, open-minded environment where all of your ideas will be welcomed in confidence, and you can discover many new ways in which your unique qualities and talents can make the world a better place. Everyone has something special to offer the world and the world needs it.  Entrepreneurship is the best way to guarantee yourself that chance while allowing the true artist within you to arise and shine!

More information can be found at The Lucrative Artist’s website, and Brian Witkowski can also be reached at brian@thelucrativeartist.com. 

This is a sponsored article, paid for by The Lucrative Artist.