By AAAAH, back to school! Creatively, September is one of my favourite months of the year as we all get back into what we’re doing with a sigh for the summer gone, but also massive excitement for what’s ahead/ No other time is so alive with plans, projects and possibilities.
The flip side of that of course, is that it’s massively exhausting and can feel like you’re juggling too many balls before you even get into the year.
As I continue to balance on my tightrope of performing and composing whilst launching my first set of workshops (http://gemmastorr.com/workshops/), investigating a career as a West End MD, finishing my masters and raising to tiny children, this year I’ve been forced to acknowledge that sometimes it’s bad news when things are going well!
If every door you knock on opens with a smile, then suddenly you can find yourself spread very thinly and feeling pretty haggard (this alone helps me to fit in with all the other MDs….)
I’m in no way complaining about my suprisingly going like the clappers since I had kids, just recognising that it can take it’s toll personally and emotionally.
Having hugely supportive friends helps a lot, (who, right now are variously, baking a birthday cake for daughter 1 and out promoting my workhop for me) having a partner who genuinely shares childcare and emotional labour 50/50, and being willing to let a few things slide, such as having a filthy house and wearing the same clothes 9 days out of ten.
Highlight so far this month? Conducting masterclass at Royal Philharmonic with Alice Farnham. Absolutely illuminating.
GEMMA STORR
Musician