About Brian Witkowski, DMA
Welcome and thank you for being here!
Long story short, I had some serious failures over the years trying to "make it" as a professional singer, actor, voice teacher, and more. I failed to put myself out there enough, I failed to stand up for my worth, and I failed to charge according to the results I delivered. Maybe I took on too many roles that involved dying on stage!
I lost most of what I had waiting around for the "perfect" and "secure" job I thought my degrees would guarantee, and I nearly lost everything else when I had serious imposter syndrome around selling to those I'm most meant to serve.
But not any more!
I did a LOT of personal development studying, pursued money mindset coaching certification, and worked with multiple coaches during a multi-year process in learning to prepare to be a coach and mentor for fellow artistic entrepreneurs and leaders where they really need help...
So I Founded The Lucrative Artist!
Entrepreneurship, or your next level of it, doesn't have to be hard. In fact, it shouldn't be hard, it should feel easy. But in order to make it easy, we all need help, no matter our level. So with a boutique blend of business and personal coaching, I specialize in supporting artistic leaders and business owners as they get to a new level of clarity so they can confidently offer what they are most meant to offer, as well as have a more empowered relationship with money so they can feel virtuous earning MORE!
To put it another way, I help those worthy of earning the "big bucks" transform their thinking so they confidently can master the art of earning more. AND they can master the art of teaching others to earn more too!
My Background
Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Arizona
Master of Music, Oakland University
Bachelor of Music, Loyola University New Orleans
Money Mindset Certification
Applied Voice Instruction
Academic and Career Advising
Mentor to First-Generation College Students
Musical Theatre Workshop
Audition Techniques Instruction
Adjudicator for NATS and Other Competitions
K-12 Opera Outreach Performing and Teaching
Arts Integration Seminars
Professional and Leadership Development Workshops
20+ Years of Music Ministry
Performance Career (20 Years and Counting)
Some Favorite Stage Roles and Solo Repertoire:
- Lord Farquaad in Shrek: The Musical
- Papageno in The Magic Flute
- Lancelot in Spamalot
- Charles Guiteau in Assassins
- Marius in Les Misérables
- Doctors in next to normal
- Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd
- Father in Hansel and Gretel
- Beethoven's An die fern Geliebte
- Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin
- Schubert's Winterreise
- Schumann's Dichterliebe
- Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn
- Fauré's L'Horizon Chimérique
- Ravel's Don Quichotte à Dulcinée
- Vaughan Williams' Songs of Travel
- Paul Bowles' Blue Mountain Ballads
- William Bolcom's Cabaret Songs
- J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata
- J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass
- Handel's Messiah
- Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass
- Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem
Recent Speaking Engagements, Conferences, etc.
2021 Self-Employment in the Arts Virtual Summit
March 2021
Graduating with an Arts Degree During a Pandemic - Now What?
2020 Self-Employment in the Arts Conference
February 22 & 23, 2020
Columbia College
Chicago, Illinois
Recent Podcast Guest Appearances
Choralosophy Podcast (June 23, 2021)
I was the guest on the 72nd episode of the Choralosophy Podcast talking about entrepreneurship for singers and the realities of academia and industry. If you want more insights into the lives of different kinds of choral directors and the different choral director perspectives on many of the issues all performing artists are facing, there are a lot of great episodes worth checking out!
Mindfulness of Singing Podcast (June 28, 2021)
Are you a voice teacher or professional singer looking to improve your relationship with money? I was on the Mindfulness of Singing Podcast to talk about the various money challenges we face! Check it out!
What Would Mozart Do? (May 28, 2021)
What would Mozart be doing in 2021? This podcast talks about the possibilities of the "real world" in the arts and academy, and I talked about the Lucrative Artist and being an entrepreneur as a singing artist. Check it out!
Relate Podcast (June 18, 2021)
How is your relationship with money? Do you hate it some times and love it at other times? Do you wish it was easier to bring into your life? I had the opportunity to talk about this and the money mindset coaching work I do on this episode of Relate Podcast!
Take the Stage: The Opera Podcast (April 9, 2021)
Take the Stage: The Opera Podcast is a new podcast dedicated to helping young classical singers achieve their artistic goals. In this episode, I opened up about some of my own experiences as a professional singer, we talked about money mindset, ideas for additional income, the importance of financial well-being, and more!
The Business Savvy Singer Podcast (March 31, 2021)
The Business Savvy Singer with Dr. Greta Pope offers weekly conversations with professional singers and industry professionals with a variety of experiences! I opened up about some of my journey and talked about The Lucrative Artist!
ActorCast (Feb 16, 2021)
ActorCast is a new podcast that broadcasts the work, advice, and insight of actors, writers, directors, producers, and other industry experts in show business. Patrick McAndrew and I talked about overcoming the "starving artist" stereotype, why money should be important to artists, and how to start creating a financially sustainable career.
The Self-Compassionate Professor Podcast (Feb 14, 2021)
The Self-Compassionate Professor Podcast supports academics and former academics in finding career wellness. I talked with founder and coach Danielle De La Mare about going into business for yourself to create your living beyond the usual job market!
Personal Finance for PhDs Podcast (February 24, 2020)
I was the guest on the February 24, 2020 episode of the Personal Finance for PhDs Podcast, where graduate students of all fields can learn more about finances, career options and more.