The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-07
Now an Important Member of
an Opera Company
SUCCESS AS A PROFESSIONAL
Some Good Advice for Those Ambitious
to Become Singers
Features Of the Ii Of an Opera Singer-The
Attractions and Discomforts r1et
With-fiis Experience

Tom Rowan. jr., son of the amiable ex-
Mayor of the city, is here as BARITONE of
the Calhoun Opera Company. He has
been a professional for something like a
year, and has met with great success.
Last night he had no opportunity to show
his improvement, as he only had the part
OF deaf and dumb person, but on Friday
evening he will have an important role
and will be heard to advantage. Here is
his account OF his experiment:
Joined the Calhoun Opera Company.
May 18th, 1894, at Kansas City, Mo-, with
my head very much swelled. l had the
idea that l was the only barytone in
America, but, alas! l soon came to the
conclusion that there were Others :"
operate work, found, was quite differ
ent thing from singing pretty love ballads
in parlors and upon the concert platform.
| realized that ! needed to learn over
again what | supposed l had previously
acquired in some mysterious manner.
How easy it appears l said to myself,
II can do that but when tried to
what an awkward person l was. My
hands seemed to be in every
place where l did not want them. And
when | sang my voice would sink into
my shoes and refused to utter even a
sound. thought on my first appearance
that every one would greet me with wild
applause, instead of which no recognition
came from an audience which l supposed
to be unappreciative. | was not among
friends and acquaintance at this moment.
Then it was that | learned the lesson
which all amateurs must learn sooner or
later, that applause and the congratulation
OF sympathetic friends are no guarantee of
q nf an orf,c f xyho he 70 yps
his talent into the open market.
The work connected with the comic
opera stage is probably unknown to the
general public. How easy it is and how
easy it looks, but how deceiving are APP
pearances Travelling all night and part
performance, in cold, dreary weather,
does not tend to make the average opera
singer sweet-tempered person. The
voice being very delicate organ, the dis
comforts OF the journey are as wearying to
it as to the body. The public does not
think OF all this when something goes
wrong.
The Calhoun Opera Company is like a
large family joined together by a bond
that is solidly welded, but this season has
been especially pleasant, each member of
it having been ready at all times to help
the other on to success. TO me they have
been very kind and whatever advance
largely to the assistance of my fellow
artists.
am happy to say that closer acquan-
lance with theatrical people has revealed
to me these characteristics. They are a
generous, happy, loving crowd in spite
frequent distress incident to their precar-
ious calling. There exists no more lenient
creditor than the much abused opera
singer; to this hundreds of bankrupt
managers can testify.
To correct the erroneous impression
generally held as to the free-and- easy, 60
as-you-please life of opera singers, l will
say that no stricter discipline is main
tanned in military barracks than is in
sisted upon by thoroughly competent
manager. Instead of intemperence
found sobriety and less vice than in some
higher social Spheres
Advice, we all know, is frequently asked
for and seldom followed. However, being
pressed for some, 1 will say to all those
contemplating the stage as a profession,
that it would be well to weigh the pros
and cons before plunging into the
business. Take no ones advice, but first
consiuer your ability as compared with
Others do not over innate your educa-
ton in music, and when an opportunity
presents itself, then grasp it. Let the
manager seek you-not you the manager.
Be sure that your salary is secure. as it is
in the Calhoun Opera Company, and then
it is better to begin in a small way and
rise slowly.
My trip through the North, the North
west and down the Coast, has been grand.
At times, of course, the travelling on the
cars has been hard. but the grand scenery
that have seen has truly repaid me for
all the discomforts. In some of the
smaller cities audiences were found that
were far more appreciative than those OF
larger places.
l may say, though, while thoroughly
approaching my trip, am more than
glad to find myself again on the
streets of the most beautiful city l have
yet seen, and with keener appreciation
of the value of home and friends than
ever before.