Hey Divas!
By the time this letter reaches your screen, I’ll already be home from what I can only describe as my personal dream come true: performing in a castle in Hungary with my two best friends. But the version of me writing this is currently parked outside a flower shop café in NYC, iced coffee sweating on the table, to-do list open, and counting down the minutes until I board my flight!
The past few weeks have been blissfully filled with voice lessons, dress hemming, and the rarest of all: actually looking forward to practicing (shocking, I know!!). But now that I’ve stopped to think about it… is it really all that surprising?
I have no problem investing time, energy, and money into my craft when there’s something sparkly on the horizon. But when the calendar goes quiet?… No comment. While I know those slow stretches are inevitable in the life of any working artist, it doesn’t make them any easier to endure.
A couple months ago, I shared some of my go-to tools for handling the infamous “what’s next?” questions. Today, I want to chat about what happens after that moment. How to keep your creative spark alive when your calendar is empty.
So, without further ado, allow me to present:
A Diva’s Guide to Nourishing Your Sparkle:
- Redirect the Spiral
When you catch yourself imagining a world where you never book anything ever again, pause. What if you redirected that same energy toward artistic generosity? Like finding a smaller artist to subscribe to on YouTube or leaving an encouraging comment on a colleague’s video. You’d be surprised how quickly that tiny spark of outward kindness can burst into a flame within yourself.
- Play in Another Medium
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your instrument is to put it down for a second. Creativity is sneaky and loves to hide in unexpected corners. This is where combinatory play comes in (shoutout to Einstein, who used to play the violin when he was stuck on a math problem). Paint a candlestick. Take a pottery class. Bake cupcakes. By opening up a new mental channel, you give your inner artist a new way to play. Often, our voices come back stronger after letting another part of our creativity take the lead.
- Romanticize the Routine
When your calendar slows down, your rituals matter more than ever. Light a candle before you practice. Put on your cutest outfit to go to Trader Joe’s. Take yourself out on artist dates (Julia Cameron really was onto something in The Artist’s Way). Infusing beauty and play into the mundane reminds your brain and soul that your life is still art, even when you’re not on stage.
- Set a Low-Stakes Goal
Not every goal has to be career-defining or even career-adjacent. In fact, some of the most transformative goals are the ones no one else ever sees. Maybe it’s learning a jazz standard. Or finally organizing your iPad. It could even be going out to dinner alone. Let curiosity–not productivity–be your compass.
- Stay Soft but Structured
When your calendar feels more like staring into an abyss, it can be easy to let the days blur. A little bit of structure can go a long way in anchoring your week. I have been loving morning walks or workout classes, 4pm practice sessions, and evening journaling with a cup of peppermint tea. We must be gentle with ourselves. How you spend your days is how you spend your life. These structures are the support that allows you to move forward without burning out.
The quiet seasons do not mean you’re plateauing. In fact, I’d argue some of the most meaningful growth happens when we have the flexibility to play, reconnect, and rebuild. When you eventually land your next gig, you will thank yourself for how you showed up when no one was watching.
So here’s to all the divas currently in their quiet season: lead with curiosity, be gentle, and trust the spark has been with you all along.
With love,
Teddy ♡
