On this months podcast we welcome Josef Fuchs from Jokifu Coaching to talk about being an artist, finding your own voice and navigating the professional side of the performing industry.He shares his personal journey from Tirol Austria, where he discovered sound and singing as a medium of expression and experimentation to Salzburg where he dove into the classical music scene and found a new language to explore. Having been a singer, an agent and a casting director gives him a unique perspective on the inner workings of opera houses and music festivals.In his coaching and team-building capacity he strives to provide people an opportunity to discover their voice and develop their personality that feeds the artistic persona. An advocate of Work Sessions instead of auditions, he tries to provide an environment in which a singer can find his footing, experiment and show his personality. Contrary to old fashioned auditions he looks for unique artists and tries to unleash their potential and collaboration skills, focusing both on the needs of a musical piece and the dynamics a cast is built on.Authenticity is the core of his approach! He strongly encourages singers to abandon any preconceived notion of success and embark on a journey of self-discovery and excellence. Finding the right attitude to manage rejection and the complicated power dynamics of stage life are some of the core concepts of his work.We discuss the toll difficult pieces and stagings have on the soul of performers and touch on the sensitive issues of abuse, harassment and power games that are strongly being discussed in the art world since the 1950's. He provides clear guidance about how awareness, self-reflection, boundaries and solidarity with other performers can keep someone mentally healthy and safe. The communal side of music and the transcendent nature of music are in the core of his process. Providing transparency in the audition process and giving people an opportunity to showcase their abilities is key to creating a great production and a creative environment to work in.Josef has the ability to keep it light while addressing every aspect of theatre life and maintaining an objective critical approach on the performing industry. You can find more about his work on the Website of Jokifu Coaching!https://www.jokifu.com/