Final Five Questions with Elaine Romanelli
Singer/songwriter talks about not being good enough and finding her tribe.
Elaine Romanelli is a performing artist and activist whose passions have led to delightfully varied projects. Recently, she has produced a non-traditionally cast play and published an inclusive Musical Theater collection composed by women. Elaine also hosts an improvised streaming show and has performed Off-Broadway in a Tony Kushner premiere and on the WFMT Chicago ‘Midnight Special’ radio show. She was even the subject of an episode on the reality TV series What Not to Wear. Currently, she and her music can be heard Sundays at NYC’s Church of St. Matthew & St. Timothy, where she is soloist and Composer-in-Residence.
As you can see Elaine stays very busy. But even success and constant work can’t keep bouts of self-doubt and criticism from affecting her drive and motivation. And so like many artists, she puts her thoughts into song by combining personal storytelling with music and theater. As one review said of her album The Hour Before, “The ability to draw an audience into the subject rather than sing at the audience is what makes a successful songwriter. Elaine has that talent in abundance.”
In a recent interview with Why I’ll Never Make It, Elaine explores her journey from singer to songwriter with hopes of returning to theater again soon. And here she answers five final questions about “making it” and lessons she’s learned along the way.
1. What job within the arts do you feel is the most undervalued and why is it so important?
Performer and writer / composer probably vie for most undervalued. Performer, because we are very last in the line in the creative process to be even thought about, much less hired, and that can feel like we are interchangeable or disposable. Writer/composer, because everyone else gets paid. Creators get paid last, if at all. You can have a show on Broadway and still end up paying for things out of pocket that are not recouped later.
2. What does success or “making it” mean to you in your life and career?
‘Making it’ to me can be a number of things; money, fame, status, respect from colleagues, having a following, being able to do creative projects that light me up. Mostly it has not manifested as I’d like. But I’m working on it, in what feels like for me is a fresh new way.
3. In what ways has the industry changed since you first started?
All the tech I’ve had to learn to maybe, sometimes be able to sing live in front of a paying audience. Or even in front of a not-paying but paying-attention audience!
4. Describe a personal lesson that has taken you awhile to learn or one that you are still working on to this day?
Working on letting go of fear of other people’s judgment. I had a great new experience recently where I got to sort of watch myself feel judged, and make a choice not to engage with the judgment, and instead be confident and have fun.
5. What’s the most useful advice you’ve received AND how did you apply it to your life or career?
“Don’t write anything you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the New York Times”, my journalist mother used to say. So I strive to keep my professional interactions professional, even when high emotions are swirling all around.
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Host/Producer
