We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vincent Dore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Vincent, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have been able to earn a living as a working musician by remembering this is not just my passion but my business. When I started my career while still in college I would jump at low paying “major” roles on the hope of getting famous even though I would lose money being part of these projects. As I aged I realized the companies that paid me for my time were the ones that truly respected me as an artist. After I leaned that I was able to take higher paying work and pay my bills! So many small companies will give you pennies and require months of your time, that is a red flag to me. If we aren’t adding amazing effects, or really intricate staging we as true professionals should be able to do that with much less time required. I’m the early days I didn’t mind waiting tables and bartending to support myself. In fact, I’m proud I did those things. Those things made me a better person, but I was still learning how the business of performing works. Now I’m happy to say I’m a musician first.

Vincent, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I was little I was always singing. My grandfather was a musician who played the accordion and loved having a grandson to teach. I learned watching him and carrying his equipment to the VFW Hall or the senior citizen center, and the first things I learned were the old Italian opera classics. After years of high school musicals, concerts, semi professional performances under the direction of Patrick Henning and more, I went to school at a small liberal arts school to study under Dr. Jan Bickel. Those two teachers really pushed me to remember a music teacher is not someone who wasn’t good enough to perform, they are so good they choose to teach. I loved that. I felt so proud thinking of that as my life, working and teaching by day and gigging by night. From there I made connections with colleagues and friends who helped me learn the Chicago performer world and I began my career as a Chicago based singer and educator. That has helped me travel the world and sing all over the US, Canada and Europe.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to be better than I was yesterday and make sure I always put my audience first. My performances always have one goal: entertain the people buying tickets. Money is hard to come by, so if someone is giving it away to see you, entertain them.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I recently changed music programs. My previous administrative team was very happy just saying then had a music program and didn’t really encourage me to grow, set me up to succeed, it support me on my journey. The environment was so negative I assumed I should quit and it was my fault. I’m recently in a brand new environment where we are winning awards, showing measurable growth, and I’m being treated like a professional amongst my peers. If I didn’t change locations, I most likely would have changed my line of work.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Griffith Band and Choir
• Twitter: Griffith Band and Choir

Image Credits

Myself in Concert – Saint Xavier University
Vincent Dore Director’s Chair – Myself
Choir was Awarded Gold after our first year for the ISSMA contest (Indiana State School Music Association) – Myself
Middle School Choir at their Organizational Contest – Vincent Dore Directing
Street Busking in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival – Chamber Opera Chicago