Songs For The Struggling Artist

American Health Care Horror Stories are all so abstract until it happens to you. Every time I heard about another failure of American health care, I was horrified anew – but because I was healthy, it was like reading about an atrocity on another continent – terrible but distant. I spent most of my 20s and 30s so healthy that I went without health insurance for the better part of both of those decades and got away with it. A couple of ankle turns and an X-ray or two and I got away with spending a whole mess of a lot less than I would have if I’d been paying for health insurance. Like, a LOT. When you’re a struggling artist, gambles like this make sense for a while. (If you’re lucky.) To read more of Health Care and the Struggling Artist go to the Songs for the Struggling artist.  This is Episode 48. Song: Push by Matchbox 20 Image via Pixabay To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Fa

What if no one cares about what you make? What if it doesn't sell?  Read it here: https://artiststruggle.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/no-ones-asking-for-your-art/  Song: Cathedral by me, Emily Rainbow Davis Like the blogcast? Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the-struggling-artist/support

On the Politically Reactive podcast, the guest, Michael Skolnik, described being on the train coming home from the Women’s March in DC. He said he’d never been on a train “where there’s such a disproportionate amount of one gender.” And I said, out loud, in response, “I’m sure that’s not true.” That is, I’m sure he’s been on the train with a single gender before, it just wasn’t women and so he didn’t notice. Why do I feel so sure he’s been on a train or in public somewhere with only men?  Read more of Single Gender on a Train on the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 46 Song: Pushing the Needle Too Far by the Indigo Girls Image via Pixabay To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follo

Last year, I received an award that was given to another person as well. We were both selected by the committee to receive the residency in question. I’m a white woman in my 40s from NYC and he’s a black man in his 20s from the mid-west. The residency was for emerging artists (see also my post on Can We Find Another Word for Emerging?) and I was surprised and delighted to receive it, even though I was pretty sure I wasn’t what most people meant when they signed up to support this award. Throughout our time in residence, I could feel comparison happening between us – sometimes in my favor but mostly not. I thought perhaps I was imagining this sort of outside judgment. And then I saw a post on a Facebook page about my fellow award winner and someone in the organization commented on it, saying, he was “the perfect candidate” and “a true {*Name of the award} artist.” To keep reading "A True Artist - the Perfect Candidate" visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog.  This is Episode 45 Song: In

I can’t stop thinking about that story about the employees who switched email signatures and how it revealed incredible sexism. (If you haven’t read it, start here to read the woman’s account and click through to the man’s Twitter thread.) I’ve seen a lot of responses to this story that can most easily be summed up as  “No, duh.”  A lot of people (of all genders) have said, “Not surprising.” But I will confess to being surprised. Not that there’s sexism, I suppose, but that it could be so plainly revealed. And in email, too! To read more of Sexism Can Still Surprise Me, visit Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 44 Song: Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House Image via Pixabay To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi:

No one was more surprised than me when I became a fan of Nashville, the TV show about country music stars. It happened after I read an interview with Callie Khouri, the show’s creator, in which she explained how much her feminism was informing the show. In 2012, there weren’t many folks in show business talking about their feminist work, so I sought the show out immediately. And I loved it. You can keep reading I'm Done Watching Nashville and It's Probably Not Why You Think on the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 43. Song: Undermine by Kacey Musgraves from the Nashville soundtrack. Image via WikiCommons To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  Instagr

In my own life it is f*@%ing ESSENTIAL to have music and theatre and dance and art right now. It was nice before but it is essential now. It occurs to me that a sign of our previous freedom was the freedom to think of art as a frill, to think it might not be necessary. We could think that because we could afford to. We can’t afford to anymore. For now. Art is vital right now. For me. For everyone I know. To read more of this post visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 42. Song: Two Little Hitlers by Elvis Costello  Image via Pixabay To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  Instagram and Pinterest --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.f

From the first time I heard “Tightrope,” I was a fan of Janelle Monaé. I was head over heels for her music and her aesthetic, as well. She was musically exciting and theatrical in her style. Seeing her in concert was an incredible ride. She took the audience on a journey, the likes of which I have rarely experienced at a concert. She is a consummate show-woman and a brilliant connector. I’ve heard her described her as a contemporary female James Brown. This is Episode 41. Image via WikiCommons To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  Instagram and Pinterest --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the-struggling-artist/support

I was at a conference. We were wrapping it up with a reflection session – talking about what had been successful and possibilities for the future. Towards the end, a man stood up to say he’d been to the Women’s March and that he’d been inspired and now wanted to recognize all the women in the room. He asked us all to stand and receive applause and appreciation from the men. We stood, as requested and received the applause. And don’t get me wrong, I love applause. But this felt so so bad. To read more of Sticky Benevolent Sexism visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. Song: The Other Shoe by Old 97s This is Episode 40. Image via Pixabay To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @era

Since the digital age really kicked in, I have watched a lot of things that were important to me fade away. In a world that values social media currency and digital art and so many things on screen, my analog skills of theatre-making, performance and presence have felt less and less valued in the world. While I have adapted as well as I can, I have at times felt like an analog girl in a digital world – a handwoven basket in a factory town. To keep reading The Resistance Will Be Handcrafted visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 39. The song is "Howie" by Kristen Hall To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  Instagram and Pinterest --- Support t

The bulk of my writing practice is dedicated to getting myself primed to write with the most focus I can manage. The practice is dedicated to finding a kind of flow. In an ideal session of writing, I will not stop the pen. I just go. And go. I’m sure that I look busy when I’m writing. I’m 100% sure I don’t look like I want to talk with anyone. And yet. And YET. To keep reading If My Pen Is Rockin', Don't Come A-Knockin' go to the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog.  #writing #CreativeProcess #WritingProcess #Interrupting #privilege #sexism #WritingInCafes This is Episode 38 Song: Mash-Up of Passionate Kisses by Lucinda Williams and Real World by Matchbox 20 Image via Pixabay To support the podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review!  Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emil

My company’s auditions for our project were meticulously planned. I did a group audition because I care about how people work together. I started with drawing, because it’s a script-flipping task that tends to calm jumpy actors down and it tends to signal that we’re doing things differently. I did a bunch of low exposure group acting explorations to get a comfort level going in a room full of strangers and then I had them play with materials to take everyone out of the context of performance and into creating. Then I took a break. A long one. Because I wanted the group to have some time to chat and get to know one another without someone controlling their experience. It’s useful for me to see people with their masks off for a minute while they talk about their cat, or whatever. As in rehearsals, a lot of the art actually happens in these cross-pollinating moments. But. In my recent auditions, this whole plan went completely off the rails at this point - If you'd like to keep reading Devices in Auditions and R

For years, I have been dreaming about emigrating to Europe, where so many of my favorite theatre companies are based. I fell in love with Cheek by Jowel when I saw their (all male) As You Like It. I idolized Improbable and their three man Artistic Directorship. I drooled over Complicite – and the one man genius at the center of it. Oh, how I wanted to move to England so I could make work like my heroes! To read more of Where in the World? visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog.  #WorldTheatre #InternationalTheatre #InternationalSexism #Sexism #feminism #theatre #search Song: Hard Life by Nanci Griffith Photo via Pixabay To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the

At a recent festival, the audience favorite was a show that re-told a fairy tale – one that featured a king reckoning with his power. It won an award, people loved it so much. But it made me furious. To keep reading The Kind of Story I Never Want to See Again visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. #king #storytelling #theatre #patriarchy #democracy #resistance #CollectivePower This is episode 35. Song: "The Day Between the Kings" by Bright Red Boots (You'll hear me tell you that it won't be at the end and that you should just look it up but ignore that - I've found a way to put it up on this re-uploading!)  To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the-struggling-

At the Women’s March on the 21st, I saw a sign that said, “Girls should be told that their voices are valuable.” And it stuck a chord so deep in me that it took me days to unpack it. I don’t disagree. Girls should, of course, be told that their voices are valuable. But it’s not enough. Not even close. Being told your voice is valuable means zero if you’ve never been shown that your voice is valuable. Telling is useless. To read more of How to Value a Voice go to the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. Song: SuperBaby by Emily Rainbow Davis To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the-struggling-artist/support

In addition to making my own, I listen to a lot of podcasts. In my feed consistently for the last 7 or 8 years has been Marc Maron’s WTF, wherein he talks with people – mostly from the entertainment biz. I’ve learned a lot- but one major thing that I don’t think I would have known without this medium, is the way male entertainers talk to each other. In most of these conversations, at some point Maron will ask his guest “Who were your guys?” He’s asking who inspired his guest…who they idolized, who they looked up to.  To read more of The Guys, visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. Episode 33  Song - Luck by Emily Rainbow Davis  To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  --- Support this podcast: https:/

The patriarchy won big time on November 8th, 2016. Enough voters and enough Russian hackers wanted the patriarchy to win. Enough people were like – “Yeah, the primal expression of the patriarchy is for us!” and voted for it. It’s pretty fucking awful but the patriarchy won. And I hate it. It made me cry big sloppy tears. And I was paralyzed and horrified and ready to hide in a basement for as long as was necessary. To keep reading My Hagification Has Begun go to the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog.  This is Episode 31. No song this episode.  Photo via Pixabay To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the-struggling-artist/support

I should have been crying. The music was telling me that’s what I ought to be doing. And I cry at commercials so it is not usually hard to push the tears button in an emotional moment on a TV show. But I was not crying. I was flailing my arms in fury. My boyfriend looked at me and asked, “What?” I explained that I needed a minute to deal with my rage. It didn’t take him long to work out what had made me so mad. It was (WARNING: SPOILERS for Sherlock Season 4 Episode 1 ahead) not just that they’d killed off one of the only complex female characters in the show to forward the story of the two male leads (a trope that happens so often that it has a name. It’s apparently known as fridging.) It was that in her dying moments she said to her husband, John Watson, “You were my whole world. Being Mary Watson was the only life worth living.” To read more of The Sherlock Fridging go to Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/

Ever since I read Marge Piercy’s Sex Wars: A Novel of Gilded Age New York, I have been obsessed with Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president. I’ve read numerous biographies of her and her sister, Tennessee Claflin. Despite there being no shortage of plays, stories and movies written about them, I have been unable to resist writing my own version of their story. (It’s either called Public Women or Hamlet, Without the Ghost.) To read the rest of We Almost Had It go to the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog.  This is Episode 29. Song is Redacted.  To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/songs-for-the-struggling-artist/support

London. 2016. The day after the Brexit vote. The city was in shock. I was visiting and that day I saw multiple friends, coincidentally all of them born in other countries but residents of the UK for well over a decade. One of my friends proposed a response to all the immigration hysteria gripping the UK. She suggested organizing everyone who had emigrated/immigrated to the UK to pick a day to not go to work. The country would inevitably grind to a halt – and everyone would see what a vital contribution immigrants make. I thought this was a brilliant idea. To keep reading A Day Without Immigrants go to the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog.  This is Episode 28 Song: "The Only Word I Know" by Emily Rainbow Davis To support the podcast: Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/  Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis  Or buy me a coffee on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis Follow