Is it okay to have a different offering at every event? - My Carousel Summer
Hello Carousellers,
I'm getting back into the autumnal flow after a summer spent in festival fields. I realise my last 'monthly' newsletter was sent out on May 23rd, which was the week before the first festival. It seems fitting that I didn't try and write a newsletter when I was enjoying many an al-fresco boogie, although I now feel like there's so much to catch you up on, I don't really know where to start. But starting at all seems like the right first step...
If you're new to this letter (hello to the new subscribers!) here's a little bit about Carousel: I started this newsletter in 2019 as a place to discuss the highs and lows of living a multi-passionate, multi-hyphenate life. I am an ENFP, Enneagram 7, Manifesting Generator - maybe you are some of these too? Over the years I've come to realise that having a 26-tabs open at once type lifestyle is the way I'm wired. I am weirdly more relaxed and balanced when I am juggling multiple projects than when I'm focused on one. I need the inspiration from a new project to fuel an old one. I tend to follow the joy without a long-term plan and call it quits when it's not lighting me up anymore. It's been a real journey to understand this mindset, and it's not the narrative we're fed - so it can feel counter-cultural to say 'well, I do MANY things', when someone asks you your job title, or to write two paragraphs on an application form that asks for 'current profession'.
You might be here because you also identify as being a 'Carouseller', you might have stumbled upon this randomly, or maybe we worked together and you clicked on the link. Whoever you are and why-ever you're here - welcome.Â
In every newsletter I share experiences, reflections and tools for living life as a freelancing multi-passionate - and I believe that even if this isn't the way you roll, it can be useful to tap into other paradigms and decide, 'what, (if anything) of this resonates?', 'what really doesn't?' and 'who do I know that lives like this, who I can now understand a little more?'
I hope you enjoy the Autumn 2022 Carousel series!
Keep following those nudges of joy...
Sarah x
đŞÂ This summer I attended 6 different festivals and it was peak-Carousel.
In every festival I took a slightly different role and got to express the different parts of my personality and share my skills with the world:
I ran singing workshops, and collaborated with a Welsh composer to write and lead a full festival chant (with 2000 people) at Fire in The Mountain Festival
I organised and DJed the Silent Disco Closing Party in a castle on the Gower coast at Love Trails Festival
I coached celebrities and led meditations backstage at the Greenpeace Stage at Glastonbury Festival (my role was Artist Liaison but I also ended up DJing in the Rave Tree, improvising the ukulele with Drag Prov and performing in the sunken piano bar with a very recently created band at 8am on the final day)
I played the piano on the Atrium Stage at Wilderness with Sunday Assembly including performing a medley Iâd written during lockdown
I helped out on the Sustainability Team at Shambala, but also spent time performing Stand Up Comedy and running an immersive game experience âName That Tuneâ with some friends.
Doing oracle card readings (Practical Magic deck) with Self-Esteem was a festival highlight!
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Itâs been a summer full of things I love and no weekend has been the same. I know many of you reading this will feel pressure to specialise, or believe that these experiences only happen if you dedicate all your time to one thing and work your way up. But I'm finding, once again, that it's the energy I get from doing this variety of things I love that lead me to the right people and opportunities. If I had focused solely on DJing, for example, I would probably feel quite drained from doing one thing.
Sometimes I feel like I find loop holes eg. I always wanted to play piano on stage at a festival but I when it happened it was through a community group, rather than spending 7 years gigging with a band until I was noticed (which I used to think was the ONLY way to make that dream happen). So I really encourage you to keep following the things that feel energising, light and fun - they will lead you to where you need to be, sometimes unexpectedly!
I also noticed that despite me doing a range of activities, there were clear themes across the festivals: music, connecting, spontaneity, engaging big groups in singing, facilitating joy.Â
Q: When you look at your seemingly unrelated interests, what are the common threads that bring them all together? Who are you being in every setting, even if the output is different?
đ§đ˝ââď¸Â Sabbatical Coaching
Sometimes themes pop up with my coaching clients without me directly offering them. Recently I've had a number of clients, who have been working towards taking a sabbatical. It's felt edgy, scary and imperative for them.
Sessions have included:
- do I even deserve a sabbatical?
- what would I even do with all that time off?
- should I plan the time off or leave space for emergence?
- why do I feel so guilty about rest?
- what do I dream of doing in the space?Â
- what do I need to quit to create the space?
If you're reading this thinking 'oooooh, I think I would really love to take some time off but I don't even know where to start with making that happen', reach out for a chat with me or drop me an email.Â
đ Knowing When to Quit podcast is back!
I recently recorded 3 solo episodes for my podcast Knowing When to Quit, reflecting on my own journey with quitting since starting the podcast.
Part 1 is about the podcast itself - I take people through my Quitting Quadrant model to understand the different phases of a creative process, where I wanted to give up and what I needed to continue.Â
Part 2 takes the listener through two big post-pandemic life changes that I didn't continue with, despite feeling they were a full-body YES (namely, moving abroad and going back to university).
Part 3 is about Beautiful Endings and the importance of giving our projects a final flourish to celebrate what they have been. Here I talk about closing my comedy night after 7 years, and shutting down a community I created during lockdown.Â
đ Â What's on my Carousel?
I always end the episode by sharing the different projects currently 'at the front of my Carousel'. Right now my life is made up of...
Finishing my coaching training with Co-Active Training Institute and coaching my clients / Preparing for Series 2 of the Podcast / Cold-Water swimming in the West Reservoir (come and say hi if you swim there too) / Sunday Assembly - playing in the band, running the choir and being the main speaker on October 16th! / Dating :) / Power of Uke workshops are starting again in person, including a big contract with PwC / Day of Musical Joy this Saturday / DJing at friends' weddings
Hit reply and tell me what is resonating / ask any questions / say hi. I love hearing from you all!
Until next time
Sarah x
IG: @sarahweilersarah
www.sarahweiler.com
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