The Business Savvy Singer with Dr. Greta Pope

NATSCast, the official podcast network of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, recently invited three more podcasts into the fold, including “The Business Savvy Singer” with Greta Pope.

NATS caught up with Pope to learn more about her and her podcast.

Tell us a little about yourself, and your journey in the world of singing.

I have been a musician for as long as I can remember. I began playing piano at 6 years of age, and then at 11, I added violin. I studied violin privately with Sigmund Effron, who was at that time, the concert Master of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Though I enjoyed singing for my own pleasure, I didn’t have any formal vocal training until college. Once I began taking voice lessons, singing quickly became my focus. I had wonderfully supportive voice teachers who encouraged me to learn operatic roles that were appropriate for my age and skill level. I became a member of the Richmond Indiana Opera Company, beginning my career there singing the role of Papagena in Mozart’s Magic Flute. I loved it and decided to continue my studies in opera. I sang the roles of Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Lucy in Menotti’s Telephone and many other wonderful roles. After graduating college and earning a master’s degree, I continued post graduate opera training with the great Metropolitan Opera Soprano Eileen Farrell. What a marvelous experience! 

Though I loved opera, I decided to pursue other styles of singing and I was encouraged by Eileen Farrell, as she was one of the first classical singers to experiment with jazz and blues. This exposure and her encouragement led me to leave the classical arena and pursue singing other styles of music professionally. 

I have had a wonderful career singing a variety of musical styles in a variety of languages. Music has taken me to many parts of the world and given me many fabulous opportunities.

After marrying and starting a family, I decided to go back to graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in business. I wanted to be able to help myself and help other singers avoid the potential pitfalls of the music business.

Today, I am very proud to be able to offer my PrivateMusicStudio.net students a well-rounded education. They learn music theory, excellent vocal technique suitable to a variety of styles, and I teach them useful business skills to help them understand how to build, brand, market and monetize their offerings. 

I began producing “The Business Savvy Singer” podcast in October 2020. I had wanted to start a podcast for several years, but my touring schedule didn’t allow for it. The pandemic gave me the time to plan, organize and begin producing the podcast. The podcast posts on Mondays.

I felt that it was important to create this podcast because I had come across so many wonderfully talented singers who were struggling with their careers. Some were not getting the caliber of work that they wanted. Some were not making enough money to sustain themselves, while others had given up and were working other jobs. They had abandoned their dreams. This was heartbreaking to me, because with the right knowledge and approach it is very possible to earn a good living as a singer. I’ve done it… and I wanted to help other singers do it. 

How do you define “business savvy”? And why is it so important for singers to embrace this quality?

Business savvy simply means being a smart about your business. It’s great to be talented and skilled at one’s craft, but we as creatives need more than that if we’re going to earn a living with our skills. We as performers have to recognize that we are a business. Many singers don’t want to do the hard work of branding, marketing, connecting with clients, etc. They just want to sing. That is unrealistic in today’s climate. No one is going to swoop in and hand us a career on a silver platter. We have to develop the business acumen to be able to build our own sustainable careers. 

In my book entitled Music, Money & You; Managing the Business, I share stories about my career, along with sage advice for navigating a singing career. It’s an easy read and within the pages, there is a lot to be learned about building a successful touring career.

The PrivateMusicStudio.net is my online school. Private voice lessons are offered there, in addition to a variety of business courses to help singers, musicians, producers and businesspeople of all types learn the skills to help their businesses thrive. 

Who have been some of your most memorable guests and why?

I have had many memorable guests, but I will cite three. 

• Michael James Scott is a wonderful singer who played the role of the “Genie” in Aladdin on Broadway and on other world-renowned stages. What a thrill! Michael talked about an exciting experience that he had as he received a full standing ovation on his opening night as the “Genie” in Sydney Australia. He also had wonderful career advice for singers.
• Tim Dadabo began his career as a singer, but has very successfully transitioned to working as a voice artist. Tim uses his talents in video games, commercials, cartoons, narration as well as station promo. He has contributed to Leisure Suit Larry and Red Faction since his career began in 1989, but by far his biggest contribution to the gaming world is as the voice of 343 Guilty Spark in the military science fiction Halo Franchise. Very cool!
• Dan Navarro is a legendary singer/songwriter. He penned the Pat Benatar Grammy-nominated song “We Belong.” He also has written for The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Dave Edmunds and others. Dan is also a voice actor and has been the voice of a character on "Family Guy" for 20 years. He also has had a voice role on "American Dad" since its inception. Dan has voiced commercials in English and Spanish for many years. In his two-part episode of "The Business Savvy Singer" podcast, Dan gives great advice for singers, including recommendations for sound equipment. Dan also sings his Grammy-nominated song “We Belong.” So exciting!

Can you give us a hint on upcoming topics or guests on the horizon?

I’m very excited about the up-coming episode featuring Opera Composer Michael Ching. Michael Ching is a composer, conductor, and music administrator. A prolific and eclectic composer, he is best known nationally as the composer of innovative operas, including his a cappella adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. His other major operas include Buoso's Ghost (1996), Corps of Discovery (2003), Slaying the Dragon (2012), Speed Dating Tonight! (2013), and Alice Ryley (2015). He has written the librettos of many of his own operas, and has done so for all of his operas composed after 2012. He is on the board of directors of the National Opera Association. 

What other podcasts do you enjoy listening to when you have time?

I enjoy listening to: 

• The Full Voice
• The Ziglar Show
• TED Business

Anything else you’d like to share?

This summer I’m featuring a new live online course entitled Summer Song; Music From the Broadway Stage. Participants are having a wonderful time learning the music and analyzing the scripts of some of the great Broadway shows of our time, including Come From Away, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and more.

I am also booking “The Greta Pope Trilogy” consisting of three individual 60-minute shows depicting the American Experience. The shows are:

Paris Noir…American Jazz in Paris
Paris Noir…American Jazz in Paris! celebrates American Jazz and the artists that took it to Paris during the early part of the 20th Century. Hear the songs of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Eartha Kitt, Nat King Cole and others.

Duke Ellington…The Man, The Music, The Legend
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was one of the great American Composers of the 20th Century. Songs like:

• Satin Doll
• In A Sentimental Mood
• It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing 
• Take the "A" Train 
• and Lush Life 

...Are all a part of this exciting show! Greta Pope is the daughter-in-law of Duke Ellington Vocalist Kay Davis and shares many wonderful stories of Kay's experiences with the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra. Great Music, Great Times, Duke Ellington!

Motown…Pride of The Motor City!

• Hear all of your favorites from the Motown Era, including:
• Ike and Tina Turner
• Elvis
• Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell
• Dusty Springfield
• The Supremes
• The Temptations
• Smokey Robinson
• Inez and Charley Foxx
• Sam Cooke
• Martha Reeves and The Vandellas
• Curtis Mayfield
• And so many others.

My contact information: Website, Blog, Podcast
Follow me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.