Five Lessons We’re Carrying Into This Season (And Why They Matter for Performers)

 We’re back for Season 4 of the Broadway Vocal Coach Podcast! After a whirlwind summer of projects, family milestones, and some big changes behind the scenes, we sat down together for our season opener to reflect on what we’ve learned—and how those lessons can serve you as you build your own fulfilling life as a performer.

Here are five takeaways for musical theatre performers:

1. Your career is a long game.

Chelsea spent the summer coaching on Masquerade, the new immersive Phantom production in New York. That opportunity came years after she thought she’d stepped away from Broadway coaching for good. It was a powerful reminder that when you do good work, nurture relationships, and keep showing up—doors will open in surprising ways.

👉 Lesson: Stay the course. The work you do now may plant seeds that bloom much later.

2. Guard your energy like it’s a luxury item.

We all juggle competing priorities, and the temptation is to say “yes” to everything. But as Warren Buffett suggests: identify your top five priorities, and avoid the rest “like the plague.” Pair that with Taylor Swift’s wisdom—“your energy is a luxury item, not everyone can afford it”—and you’ve got a powerful strategy for avoiding burnout.

👉 Lesson: Protect your focus. Every “no” makes space for the right “yes.”

3. Laughter and play fuel creativity.

Cynthia’s highlight was music directing Hello, Dolly! and teaching at Kristin Chenoweth’s summer camp, where she was reminded of Gavin Creel’s phrase: TCTCTS—The Courage to Conjure the Silly. Sometimes the best work happens when you give yourself permission to laugh, play, and not take it all so seriously.

👉 Lesson: Joy isn’t a distraction. It’s essential fuel for an artistic life.

4. You don’t have to be perfect to start.

Chelsea shared about stepping back into singing and auditioning after years away. Spoiler: she forgot lyrics in a concert and survived to tell the tale. The bigger point? You don’t need to wait until you feel “ready.” Start before you’re ready, mess up, and learn along the way.

👉 Lesson: Don’t gatekeep yourself. Progress happens when you do the thing.

5. Seasons shift—and that’s okay.

Between raising kids, directing shows, and new roles at work, we’re both in different life phases. What we’ve learned is that there’s no single “right” balance. Each season asks for different priorities, and each requires trade-offs.

👉 Lesson: Trust your season. Your “no” today doesn’t mean “never”—it may just mean “not right now.”

What This Means for You

Whether you’re auditioning for Broadway, performing regionally, or balancing theater with school or a day job, we hope these lessons encourage you to:

• Play the long game.

• Be ruthless with your priorities.

• Let joy and laughter fuel your artistry.

• Start before you’re “ready.”

• Trust the season you’re in.

We’re so excited for this new season of the podcast—packed with industry guests, practical audition tips, and plenty of encouragement for your journey.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: [LINK TO EPISODE]

This post is based on Episode 86 of the Broadway Vocal Coach Podcast: Masquerade, Hello Dolly, and the Courage to Conjure the Silly.”

Want to Put These Lessons Into Practice?

If these themes resonated with you, our brand-new BVC Masterclass subscription was built with you in mind.

Each month you’ll get access to:

• A Mix Voice Masterclass with Chelsea

• A Pop/Rock Masterclass with Cynthia

• An Audition Prep Masterclass with one of our BVC coaches

• (and with our Plus tier) exclusive industry guest classes with casting directors, agents, and Broadway music directors.

It’s training that fits your season—affordable, flexible, and designed to give you practical tools you can use right away.

👉 Join the Masterclass subscription here and keep building a fulfilling, sustainable performing career.