It’s that time of the year again.
I am reprising the mezzo role for “The Messiah” and I need to pick a photo and a biography to send to the director by Sunday.
This is the head shot I used last year.
I like it, but I’m wondering if I should use one where I’m not smiling.
How about this one?
I’m not sure about it because my mouth looks tight and funky.
Or, should I just try to shoot a different one altogether?
As for the bio, I always hate writing them. They make me feel silly. It’s probably a good thing that I don’t do things that require them more often, because I would be in a constant state of nausea and hive break-outs. I also just don’t dig talking about myself in the third person.
After I write a biography and re-read it, I can’t help but think that everything ends up sounding like this:
“Loralee is highly accomplished and superior to everyone. You should feel lucky to be in Loralee’s presence because when Loralee sings angels and gold dust are shooting out of her ass and you all are unworthy to witness the experience. You should kiss the ground that Loralee walks on. EVERYONE wants to be Loralee, so neener-neener. ”
If I had my way I would just use this and be done with it:
“Loralee has performed various opera roles which can usually be divided into the following categories: Witches, Men, Vamps, Alcoholics, Step-Mothers, Nuns, and Bitches. She is also adept at playing Whores who end up sleeping with/and or murdering, Witches, Men, Vamps, Alcoholics, Step-mothers, Nuns, and Bitches.â€
Fortunately, I compiled a fairly good bio last year that is straightforward and not too self-important. I have only done one production since the last performance, so I can just tweak a little.
Yay.
Now I just need help with the photo.
So? What do you think?
Smiling photo? Non-smiling photo? New photo?
Help?!
Stumble it!
Filed under: 
I love the smiling one. It’s beautiful!
I think the first one is friendly and approachable and more easy-going whereas the second one, though lovely, has a faint whiff of disapproval about it, like you’re contemplated the tragedy of someone’s breath or outfit or inability to properly appreciate opera. (Which, now that I think about it, may make #2 EXACTLY the right photo.)
Yep – its thumbs up for the smiling shot!
Smiling, definitely!
Use the first one!
I also think you should use the first bio ;)
I vote for a new photo, but I always love new things . . . and shiny things . . . wait, what were talking about?
I think you should use the smiley one. It’s stunning.
And you should put both of those bios you wrote above together and give it to them. Now, that would be a freakin’ cool bio! :0)
If you decide to use the bio you “think” you sound like…. the one about being a Witch, Man, etc, than use the Perturbed photo (non- smiling), if you use the bio where it makes you sound professional and accomplished, like you actually ARE, then use the beautiful smiling one!
P.S. I covet your long hair.
well llc
the smile gets my vote
Definitely smiling!
Smiling. I’m assuming you’re gonna be pretty straight-faced while you’re singing The Messiah, so you oughtta let people know you aren’t that serious all the time. You know? Give ‘em the best of both Loralees! (Not that you’re bipolar. I mean I know you had issues with being diagnosed bipolar. I don’t think you are. {I’ve never met you in person, but you seem pretty blog-normal to me. (but who am I to judge?)})
Ahem.
Smiley picture gets my vote.
Non-smiling! Dang girl. I couldn’t take a picture like either of those on my best day. I don’t think you can go wrong with either, to be honest.
(I also see that I’m in a definite minority with choosing the non-smiling photo. Sheesh! So much for taste. ;) )
Found you through Angella’s website!
I love the first one; the smiley one. Or, there’s always the ‘angels and gold dust’ photo option. That would get their attention.
Are you trying to be sweet or sultry? You have two sides of the coin here – but both great shots. I’m no help at all…sorry!
I’m for the smiling one. :) Yeah…bios are weird and I only had to do them for high school plays.
the first is absolutely gorgeous…and this will probably sound absolutely ignorant times a trillion, but i love when i go to performances of the same play/musical/whatever and recognize the photo in the program from some other time that i’d seen it…and a stunning photo like that? i’d be one of the folks in the audience going, “ohhhhh, i remember her from last year!!” then i’d be looking for you onstage….ok, actually, maybe that made you suddenly wish for a picture with a bag over your head so the crazy stalker types wouldn’t recognize you….shutting up now… :D
Smiling. Definitely.
Smiling. You look very pretty!
You look slightly pissed off in the non-smiling one. Unless that is the look you are going for.
If I had to choose between the two photos I’d go for the first, but why not just get new ones? That way you’ll have even more options.
My vote is for the smiling picture- great photo:)
I vote for the smiling photo – SO pretty!
definitely the smiling one ;)
OK, I think the second for some reason although, honestly, they’re both just lovely.
Unless you’re going for that ‘I’m sort of bored here and that color on you is making me a little nauseous’ look, I’d choose the smiling shot.
For the record, I love your Vamps, Tramps, and Bitches bio! It would totally rock to read something like that during the intermission.
smiling. DUH. the other one (and forgive me, forgive me…) makes you look kinda old. you look much more youthful in the smiling one.
plus, your smile is fab – one of your greatest assets.
Smiling. For sure. Yep. Smiling.
I love the one with the smiley eyes. And the smiley face. It looks like the happy person you are and makes someone who doesn’t know you want to know you. That might not be a good thing and you might have a stalker on your hands. I’m sure it wouldn’t be your first.
First off, damn you’re gorgeous! I could never be in anything professional because I’d have to have a head shot and it would most definitely not look anything half as good as yours. It would probably look more like a monkey eating a lemon. There’s a visual for ya.
As for which one, I’d say definitely go with the smiling one. You’re beautiful in both, but your face just lights up when you smile.
Okay, I’ll stop gushing about your beauty now before you get freaked out and block all my future comments. :)
You are a beauty! 1 vote for #1. I dont want to over load you with comments (you are getting quite a lot these days, yea you!) and leave one here and one on your last post, so let me just sum it all up and say for the millionth time, you have talent. I love your writing.
I prefer this one.
I vote with craig… /wink
Craig’s suggestion rocked my world!!!!!!!! It was the first thing that elicited more than a polite smile from me today… Oh, wait, you’re not trying to make everyone laugh? Well, why not? I also like the “tramps and whores” bio. Stick it to the man, especially since they stole part of one of your performances. Coming from someone who has absolutely seen you at your (almost) worst and best… any of them work. Do what brings you joy.
Smiling, definitely
I like the smiling…
Hmmm….hard to pick….I kinda of actually like the second one….the smiling one is nice too, but I like your hair in the other one more.
But really either one would be good!
I like the first photo. I want to read the real bio!!
I like the smiling one. But some new ones would be good too. Maybe we could vote for you if you took some new ones?
I love the silly bio. Though I don’t think attendees of this sort of concert would appreciate the humor!
*the* smile
no doubt about it
Vx
The smiling one and promote the hell out of yourself in the bio!
I vote the smiling one!
Yet another vote for the smile.
Hands down, smiling. Unless you are going for the role a villainess and in that case, I’d wear a witch’s hat.
:-)
You look like a hottie in the first pic!!
Maybe I’m too late (since it’s Sunday-your deadline), but I like the smiling one best for a bio. I like it when people look happy.
Smiley shot fo SHO. I want to read your real bio! Though I would ultimately vote for the first one. I brag about my gold dustings all the time and I don’t see anything wrong with that.
I almost peed my pants while reading this. Bwahahahaha! I soooooo know what you mean about bios. I vote for a new pic just because I think taking pictures is so freakin’ fun. But if you don’t have time to play like that then I vote for the smiling one.
Definitely the smiling photo. You have a beautiful smile; don’t hide it. Superstar!
I’m voting for the Smiley Photo. You look warm and welcoming, in a “I’m a Diva. I’m a PRO and I’m really good. You have to come and hear me ’cause you’ll be WOWED” kind of way.
Smiling one.
Thank you to everyone. I am going to go with the smiling photo. I am still fond of the non-smiling one, but the overwhelming majority of people that see it vote for the grinning picture.
:)
I know I’m, like, practically a week late…and you certainly don’t need a 51st opinion, but I LOVE the smiling picture…you look so pretty!
They’re both great. You have such fantastic lips. The thought of those lips wrapped around a bottle of coke… I’m gay, but it even gives me thoughts. Except you’re off Coke. And I fully support you in that decision. Even though I’m drinking Coke right now.