Franchise gives singer and vocal coach the next step in her career

Katarina Melling is the Principal of Razzamataz High Wycombe. She took the leap from being a freelance vocal coach to owning a theatre school and is enjoying this next challenge in her career.

Background

I got my first job playing piano at a ballet class when I was a teenager and spent my whole career in music and teaching. I worked at Razzamataz Marlow as a singing and drama teacher and have worked professionally in a number of different roles. I went to the Royal College of Music Junior Department to study as a singer and also graduated from Goldsmiths College with a degree in Music. Performance roles include singing at the Glyndebourne Academy in conjunction with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Oliver!, Fiddler of the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun and Bugsy Malone. I’ve also been lucky enough to perform in venues all over the world including the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican.

Why Razzamataz

I went to a theatre school as a child but what really stood out to me as a teacher at Razzamataz was the diversity we offer compared to similar theatre schools. This really appealed to me because I’m someone who loves classical music, musical theatre and many other styles.

Transferable skills

As a freelance singer and teacher, I’ve had to become adept at running my life like a small business. So, I’ve built up a number of skills sets such as how to negotiate contracts, how to market myself and the accounts side too. If you are freelance, then you are doing many of the things needed to run a business, just on a smaller scale.

Lifestyle

When you first launch, life is very busy but it is a really good fit for where I am in my life right now. Running your own business is like you own baby so you want to nurture it and create something very special and with Razzamataz you can make the work fit in around your life and other commitments.

Adding value

The students really add value to my own life and it is wonderful to see the journey they go on. Some come to us clinging on to their parents and it is hard to imagine that within a few months, their confidence can be so changed. Parents regularly tell us how their lives have been transformed and how their child can now confidently say their line in a class assembly, often for the first time.

Training and support

The training you receive at Razzamataz is very intensive during the training period but it is a great way to learn. After the initial training, there is always someone at Head Office or another Principal who will be there when you need them. In fact, Head Office can very quickly identify problems that you didn’t even know were potential pitfalls so this definitely saves us time and money.

What advice can you give

When it comes to working for yourself, it is sometimes hard to know where you want to go and can feel like you are standing still. If you are looking to grow your career, a franchise is a really good option because it offers you the chance to launch a business but with lots of support, guidance and training. I now feel like I’m always growing and learning and it has challenged me and got me away from the feeling of being stuck in a bit of a rut. There have definitely been times when I have found aspects difficult but I’ve already learnt such a lot that it has been a fantastic investment in myself too.

Join our network

Do you have the desire needed to run your own theatre school? Speak to our friendly Head Office staff and find out how you can transfer your skills. We currently have an offer for interest free finance for exceptional candidates for the main Razzamataz franchise and a 50% offer for the Razzamataz Early Years franchise. Call 01768213086, email: franchise@razzamataz.co.uk or visit: www.razzamataz.co.uk/franchise-opps/discovery-dens/

Scholarship legacy for Razzamataz students

Razzamataz Theatre Schools has been working with The Stage newspapers since 2008 to offer a full year’s scholarship to attend one of their schools across the UK. At the Awards event in London, the founder of Razzamataz saw first-hand how scholarships change lives.

Every school in the Razzamataz network offers a free place, worth circa £30,000 a year and goes towards the impressive total of circa half a million pounds in grants and scholarships raised since the beginning of The Stage partnership.

This year, MD and Founder of Razzamataz, Denise Hutton-Gosney, was invited to attend The Stage Award party and was able to bring two of this year’s scholarship winners: Neve Murphy, age 16, from Razzamataz Brentwood and Katie Francis age 13 from Razzamataz Bristol South.

West End stars

One of the most surprising parts of the day was bumping into a former student, who is now starring on the West End stage in smash hit musical & Juliet. Danielle Fiamanya attended Razzamataz Glasgow and accompanied Denise and three other children to appear on the famous episode of Dragons’ Den where Denise was offered the full investment from Duncan Bannatyne. After leaving Razzamataz, Danielle went on to study at Guildford School of Acting and has recently received the 2019 Stage Debut Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

“Honestly it has been such a mad year but I’m so grateful,” says Danielle. “Razzamataz was the first theatre school I stepped into and I just wouldn’t be here without you and my scholarships at the school. Completely indebted to you.”

Although Danielle didn’t receive The Stage scholarship, Robson Broad from Razzamataz Medway did in 2012 and it went on to also make a huge difference. Robson is currently in global hit Hamilton with another former Razzamataz student Peter Reid.

“Bumping into Danielle at The Stage party and remembering when I was last here with Robson has reminded me of the fantastic legacy that Razzamataz is creating,” says Denise Hutton-Gosney. “The scholarships are literally life changing and exposing thousands of children to the benefits of performing arts. Of course, not all children will want to take their performing to a professional level but they will all gain from the life skills that they are learning at our schools.”

Razzamataz was the first part-time theatre school to work with The Stage to offer national scholarships and it continues to be a very special partnership that Denise is very proud of.

“Children do not need to have any previous performing arts experience because we are looking for a spark of talent that we can nurture at our schools,” adds Denise. “The training that they receive will help them break into this highly competitive industry. By learning all three disciplines of dance, drama and singing and having lots of opportunities to perform, we are giving children an excellent education in the arts. So many now successfully go on to study performing arts at college or university and so many tell us that their inspiration came from attending one of our schools. I’m so proud to be part of the success of students such as Danielle, Robson and Peter and it is exciting to see how many more students will go on to be successful.”

Join our team

As a multiple-award-winning franchise, celebrating twenty years in business, Razzamataz franchisees come from all walks of life. They don’t need to have experience in performing arts because of the contacts that they can access through the network. All that is required is a passion for the arts, the willingness to work hard and learn and the enthusiasm to run their own business with the help, support and advice of the Head Office team.

If you have the desire needed to run your own theatre school, speak to our friendly Head Office staff and find out how you can transfer your skills. We currently have an offer for interest free finance for exceptional candidates for the main Razzamataz franchise and a 50% offer for the Razzamataz Early Years franchise. Call 01768213086, email: franchise@razzamataz.co.uk or visit: www.razzamataz.co.uk/franchise-opps/discovery-dens/

Audition tips from top casting director

With our very own in house showcase auditions around the corner at Razzamataz schools up and down the country and also Top Talent Agency auditions coming up in February half term (they also audition at summer too), we sat down with a coffee to ask Felicity French her auditions tips. Felicity is an award winning Casting Director who works for Cameron Mackintosh. Cameron produces shows such a Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Hamilton, Mary Poppins and much more, along with owning a lot of London’s theatres. Felicity trained at Laine theatre arts in Surrey before embarking on her own musical theatre career (in shows such as Singin’ in the Rain, Joesph and Buddy) before entering the world of casting, and is also the Wife of Razzamataz Barnet Principal, Michael French. Michael attended Performers College in Essex before spending 12 amazing years working in musical theatre as cast in shows such as: 42nd Street, West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain, My One and Only, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Babes in Arms and many more.

The casting process for any show is a very long one with lots of very intricate processes to go through before finalising a cast. Here are Felicity’s top 3 audition tips for any budding performer, Michael then adds his own personal audition and industry experience.

Felicity: BE PREPARED

Michael: If someone has sent you something to learn, learn it as best you can. Sounds obvious but the more off book you can be the easier it is to note you and see what you can bring to the material. Also – do a little research on the show, play, film, director, choreographer. It doesn’t hurt to know a little about the thing you’re auditioning for and the people you might be working with. Being keen, eager and willing to learn is only a good thing.

Felicity: RELAX

Michael: The panel want to get to know you as they could be working with you for the foreseeable future. Don’t lose your personality but don’t be over the top with jokes and stories etc – you can get to that in rehearsals – for now they just want to know that you’re nice and easy to work with. Remember, everybody on that panel wants you to do well, they’re on your side.

Felicity: BE ON TIME

Michael: Your audition time isn’t the time you get off the train, or even arrive at the audition venue, it’s the time you are due to walk in the room. Why stress yourself out rushing, you’ll only end up being flustered and doing a bad job. Always aim to arrive early so you can settle yourself before the audition. Personally I had a bad experience when my train was cancelled and I walked into an audition late, I never got a job from that choreographer again! In hindsight I should have got an earlier train and can only take the blame.

It’s always good to have words of wisdom from industry professionals shared with us. Good luck with any auditions coming up.