Featured Artist: Alexa Rosenberg of Good Mischief

Alexa Rosenberg is a writer, opera singer, and production manager dedicated to the joys of storytelling. After earning her M.M. from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she moved back to Brooklyn to embark on what would turn into an eclectic, multi-hyphenate career. She is a sought-after writer for non-profits and arts organizations and a returning contributor to Classical Singer Magazine. As a singer, Alexa continues to be an interpreter of baroque music, standard operatic repertoire, as well as a frequent collaborator for world premieres and pieces in development. Previously, Alexa was Co-Chair of the New York Opera Festival, where she produced a two-month-long festival with over 50 participating companies. As a production manager, her projects have taken her from the United Nations to the Kennedy Center to the Catacombs of Green-Wood Cemetery. These co-careers continue to challenge and inspire her while ensuring that she is never bored. Her blog, Good Mischief, deals with “all things culture and introspection, with a dash of humor”.

Check out her Featured Artist Page!

Can you share the story behind how you started writing?

The funny thing is that whenever there was a writing assignment in school, I always dreaded the thought of writing. It was only several years ago that my perspective changed. I’ve always been a curious person and enjoyed researching and unpacking a wide range of topics. In graduate school, I had several courses that required a thesis paper by the end of the term. This was one of the first times I had the experience of choosing my own topic while being given the freedom to take the piece in the direction I wanted. Ever since, I’ve allowed my curiosity to pave the way.

How did your musical background influence your journey into copywriting?

From a practical standpoint, I was looking for a career path that could co-exist with my music career. The core of what I love to do is storytelling while providing value to people. I saw copywriting and marketing writing as creative ways to help organizations and brands that I admire spread their message. It’s still a creative avenue that allows for flexibility.

How do you pick topics for your articles?

Most of my ideas come to me at the most innocuous moments. An article usually comes from a passing thought that I might have as I’m grocery shopping. Sometimes I write these thoughts down, but oftentimes, they resurface again and again. Especially when it comes to my more introspective pieces. If there is something that I cannot stop thinking about, even if it feels silly, I take it as a sign to sit down and get writing.

Have you encountered any misconceptions or stereotypes about singers that you've had to address in your work?

This is interesting. There are many stereotypes about opera singers within the classical music world, but outside of it, people rarely know what to make of it. People still find it intriguing and classy (who is going to tell them that most of what I do onstage is run around in drag acting like a rascal?). I think my experience as a performing artist gives me more credibility since it’s understood as a creative field. 

Are there any particular authors or writers who have inspired or influenced your writing style?

I really enjoy David Sedaris, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and Shakespeare. Clearly, there’s a theme here. I love humor, and I enjoy unpacking serious issues with some levity. It makes things easier to process. I’ve also always been a fan of reading plays because the story needs to be told solely through dialogue and without much narrative. It’s a great lesson on what doesn’t need to be said.

What inspired you to start your Good Mischief blog? 

I was writing for several companies and research projects, but I realized that I didn’t know what my own voice was as a writer. Frankly, I didn’t even know what I would write about if given the freedom to do so. When I started Good Mischief, I was convinced I would mostly write about history and how it ties into today’s issues. Although there are whispers of this in my writing, I found myself diving into introspection and healing. It was a surprisingly vulnerable direction, but I’ve found it cathartic. I still write about history, current events, and politics, but I found that my readers respond more to the pieces that are about my own journey. The name Good Mischief is an oxymoron that Shakespeare coined. It felt like a good fit because I like to talk about discomfort and growth but with a bit of a wink.

What is some advice you would give aspiring writers?

Don’t overthink the process. This is rich coming from me, but there comes a time when you just need to do the damn thing. Sit down, and write. Don’t judge what comes out because you need to practice embracing that flow. It’s ok if it’s trash. We all write trash; we sometimes feel like trash. That’s life! It’s easy to get trapped into perfectionism through planning everything out and being incredibly methodical about each step of the way, but at a certain point, that’s procrastination. 

Both copywriting and singing can rely heavily on freelance and/or the “gig economy”. What are your thoughts on this?

The gig economy is only growing, and as things stand, it isn’t sustainable for most freelancers in the long term. Each time you score a gig or a new client, it feels great. The reality is that you will need to start that process all over again because no client or gig is guaranteed to be permanent. Even when you are overloaded and busy, you still need to search for the next opportunity. Landing a salaried job provides a level of security, whereas freelancers are constantly going through that interview process. So if there is a freelancer in your life that you love, give them a hug.

Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self?

Allow the path to unfold. I had this fiery intensity about pursuing everything that I dreamed of, and if it didn’t pan out, I would be absolutely devastated. A dear friend once told me, “Every setback is a set-up,” and she really knew what she was talking about. In my day-to-day professional life, I often find myself thinking that little Alexa couldn’t even dream up this situation. There’s a joy to ending up in a place you’d never expect to be, so let life do its thing.