October 18th was established as World Menopause Day to raise awareness about the issues, experiences and challenges that this natural stage of life brings to a bit more than half the population of the world, yet is hardly spoken about and even considered a bit “taboo”. To contribute to this campaign, Millicent wrote an article for the Musician’s Union to shed some light over life as a menopausal musician. We invite you to read the full article on the MU website and share it with fellow musicians, no matter their gender: even if you don’t experience something yourself, it is always positive to be informed about it to know how to better support your peers and create good working environments!
Category Archives: Thought For Your Day
The Journey Of A Menopausal Musician
Femininity is cherished and exploited in the music industry. Producers make their fortunes by selling a version of feminine sexual perfection and we see this through comments such as ‘You sound ok but you just don’t have the right look’ which is mentioned in TV music competitions. The winner goes through a complete make-over with additional air brushing to personify ultimate beauty and achievement. But then, years later, what happens when the menopause hits?
In Need of Support? Check ‘Help Musicians’
Help Musicians is an independent UK charity created with the aim of providing support in times of need but also in times of opportunity, so every musician has what they need to reach their goals. We advise you take a look at their website to see what they are currently offering due to the pandemic and in general, as we believe some of you could find very beneficial programmes to get back on your feet now that the restrictions have been softened.
Betty Garcés: breaking the shell.
We wanted to share this story because Betty’s life is, in a way, a tale of breaking the shell, and about how support at the right time can change a person’s life.
The Show Must Be Paused
The Show must be paused in the wake of a very serious matter. You may or may not have heard about the appalling arrest of an unarmed Mr George Floyd in Minneapolis. As women in music we can’t ignore such a unjust thing.
Copyright Tips | Success Beyond The Score Ep. 11
Copyright is a subject that makes most people hesitate. It looks complicated, it looks bothersome, and sure, it is always better if you count with a lawyer who really knows about the acts and institutions backing it up, just to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered. However, the basics are not that hard, and knowing them will make a big difference.
Do you fancy a continuation to ‘Owning Your Spot’?
We would like to know what you think about Cafemnee hosting a continuation to the workshop “Owning Your Spot”
Introduction | Success Beyond The Score Ep. 1
Alright! A new podcast. A new adventure for Millicent and a new source of advice and resources for everybody interested in building a career in music. Intrigued? Allow Millicent herself to explain what this entire endeavour is about by listening to the first episode of Success Beyond The Score.
#CafemneeInspires: Stage Nerves
When talking about going on stage, there is a fine line between excitement and anxiety.
#CafemneeInspires: Experiences on stage
Interested in the stories others could have about performing in front of an audience, we reached out to some of our members, looking for anecdotes. This is what Carlene McKenzie told us.
