We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christina Linhardt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christina below.
Hi Christina, thanks for joining us today. Are you 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?
Yes, i have been able to earn a full time living from my creative work, mainly because i have multiple employable skills. I remember in college (USC) the Chairman of the Vocal Arts department warning me not to have too many fingers in different pies. Early on, several well intentioned older friends warned me not to be “a jack of all trades, master of none”, however that is how i have been able to stay afloat. From performing at private parties, to corporate events, to writing for the California Philharmonic, to leading theater as therapy workshops with veterans in recovery, i have always managed to obtain weekly gigs. It started about a year after college, and back in those days, actually there were more gigs (especially because i also worked as a birthday party clown, which coincidentally turned into a brief film cameo in Movie 43. One of the producers remembered seeing me at his girlfriend’s house after a clown job). As far as speeding up the process, i might advise my younger self to not be shy, be willing to network, be wiling to say “if you need anybody for your event, i’m available”.
Christina, 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?
It is hard to say in one word what i do. i struggled for years trying to define it. So i have to break it down. I’m a cross-over classical singer, having received my degree in music, opera performance at USC. But straight opera was not my forte. So i sang Puccini arias with circuses and burlesque acts, i performed German Cabaret for the German Consulate and at the Grove representing the City of Berlin. i had grown up commuting between Los Angeles and Germany, Switzerland and Austria, so my background was a mix of SoCal New Age, and European Bohemian. I also sing with multiple groups, such as Oktoberfest bands, or The Celtic Consort of Hollywood which stemmed out of Angels of Venice. As an ethnic dancer i performed over a thousand Polynesian Lu’aus, as well as Irish dance shows. Right out of college i was associate producing at the Odyssey Theater, when one of my actors told me about the Imagination Workshop, a non profit which uses theater improv therapeutically with mental patients, geriatrics and PTSD veterans. I love the work! Not only does it help the clients, but it has helped me significantly.
What i’m most proud of are my two independently produced documentaries, and two indie albums. My short doc “Guantanamo Circus” (about traveling with a circus down to Gitmo) is available on Amazon Prime, Roku and Pluto, and was selected by the Library of Congress for its permanent selection, as well as receiving the Hollywood FAME Award. My second short doc “TROY! The Original Lady Boy” was chosen to open Heartland Film Festival Indy Shorts’ first ever Pride Stride. Its now on Tubi.TV for free. Watch it and learn all about the beloved, openly out, honky-tonk Queen Troy Walker. It is full of love and music.
Both documentaries were made guerilla style, on very low budgets. A story had to be told, so we grabbed cameras and with great love and compassion just kept shooting.
My 2 albums “Circus Sanctuary” and “Voodoo Princess” are available just about everywhere, but i always suggest music lovers to download the tracks from Apple (formerly iTunes) vs Spotify, to help the artists out.
As to what i can offer clients, i would say authentic interactive entertainment at their event or special occasion. (i also read Tarot cards, and offer inspirational, archetypal readings), one take recording, and writing (or filming) engaging human interest stories.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
Branding is essential. Fortunately, that came very organically for me. My childhood in Europe around composers and writers, combined with the Medicine Show ancestry on my American side evolved into a mix of Cabaret Circus with an erotic upscale twist. For example on my album cover, “Circus Sanctuary” i am whimsically in a suggested nude pose, with mimes. And branding is a way to reach out. Find niche markets. And then always keep in touch. Support people by attending their events. Respond to all comments on social media. Like all comments (no matter how strange they may be), text, always return calls, and try to remember special occasions or birthdays. Network, and in doing so always ask people about themselves. Ask them how they got to where they are. Respect their POVs. Listen more, talk less. And remember what they said.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Singing did not come naturally to me. In fact, i don’t think i was naturally musically inclined. I just started out in music to compete with my older brother who was a classical music geek. At USC my voice felt tight, i felt intimidated by the other singers, and i had pitch issues. Then, to top it off, my senior year i was violently attacked. Hiking in Topanga State Park, on a Saturday afternoon, i met an unhoused man living amidst the trees. He grabbed me, threw me down and started beating me first with his hands, then a trowel. Determined not to be raped i fought back as best i could, finally biting his tongue off. Which caused him enough pain to jump off me and i ran.
So from that experience, i was extremely hyper vigilant and developed performance anxiety. But i kept going. I feel it has informed my work with PTSD Veterans and at-risk youth. Also, not being cut out for a full blown opera career i discovered my circus-cabaret-performance art niche. The anxiety also has driven me to more self-care and experimental music and theater which can be very freeing and life affirming.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christinalinhardt.com or www.circussanctuary.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinalinhardt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christina.linhardt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-linhardt-bb4b027/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/lartp
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/circus-sanctuary/5947455 https://music.apple.com/us/album/voodoo-princess/259250403 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Linhardt https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qFJ3tcOdbcmFc96pP8meb?fbclid=IwAR2PsHCAXbjXxAyowkGGVEHKQILIKoouP-9kaFeN_vn_fVSQWdeIDPiN45Q
Image Credits
Mathew Caine/Digitrope, Justeen Ward, Russell Frazier, Rick Whitmore, John DiBona