Achieving Work-Life Balance: Insights from James Barbour

Title: Achieving Work-Life Balance: Insights from James Barbour

Introduction:

In today’s fast-paced world, finding a balance between life and work can be a challenge. James Barbour, Broadway Star, Entrepreneur and #1 Best Selling Author of ‘The Artist’s Survival Guide’ shares his valuable insights on achieving harmony and success in both areas. In this blog post, we delve into practical strategies and tips that can help you find your own equilibrium. By implementing these techniques, you can improve your overall well-being and optimize your performance in all aspects of life.

1. Embrace Prioritization:

Prioritization lies at the core of work-life balance. James Barbour emphasizes the importance of identifying your core values and determining what truly matters to you. By understanding your priorities, you can allocate your time and energy more effectively. This enables you to focus on tasks that align with your goals, whether they are work-related or personal, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

2. Establish Boundaries:

Creating boundaries is crucial for maintaining work-life balance. James Barbour advises setting clear limits to prevent work from encroaching on personal time and vice versa. Learn to say no when necessary and avoid overcommitting yourself. By establishing boundaries, you create space for self-care, leisure activities, and quality time with loved ones. This allows you to recharge and bring your best self to all areas of your life.

3. Cultivate Effective Time Management:

Effective time management is a key skill for achieving work-life balance. James Barbour recommends utilizing tools and techniques that help optimize your time. Productivity apps, time-blocking strategies, and prioritized to-do lists can aid in organizing your tasks efficiently. By managing your time effectively, you can strike a balance between work responsibilities and personal pursuits, leading to increased productivity and overall satisfaction.

4. Practice Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a powerful practice that James Barbour advocates for work-life balance. Being present in the moment allows you to fully engage in both work and personal activities. Incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or journaling into your daily routine. These practices help reduce stress, increase focus, and bring a sense of calm and clarity to your life.

5. Delegate and Seek Support:

Recognizing that you can’t do it all alone is a fundamental aspect of work-life balance. James Barbour highlights the importance of delegating tasks and seeking support when needed. Trusting others and sharing responsibilities lightens your workload, allowing you to focus on what truly matters. Surround yourself with a supportive network that understands the value of work-life balance and can offer guidance and encouragement.

Conclusion:

Achieving work-life balance is an ongoing journey that requires conscious effort and self-reflection. By embracing prioritization, establishing boundaries, practicing effective time management, cultivating mindfulness, and seeking support, you can find harmony in your life and excel in both work and personal pursuits. Follow the insights shared by James Barbour and take proactive steps toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.

References:

1. [James Barbour – Official Website](https://www.jamesbarbour.com)

2. [Harvard Business Review: How to Successfully Balance Work and Life](https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-to-successfully-balance-work-and-life)

3. [Mayo Clinic: Work-life balance: Tips to reclaim control](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/work-life-balance/art-20048134)

4. [Forbes: Six Tips for Better Work-Life Balance](https://www.forbes.com/sites/janbruce/2022/04/01/six-tips-for-better-work-life-balance/)

Stage Door Questions

 

I ‘M often asked some pretty interesting questions about Broadway and theatre when I leave the stage door.   And as such I thought I’d start to share some of those questions and my subsequent answers here.

I’ll start with a great question I was asked the other night by a great family from Salt Lake City.  Paraphrasing, the question was:

“How do I keep the passion and drive new each night given the fact that we do the same show 8 times a week and have continual rehearsals?”

I found this a fascinating question and not one that is often asked by people seeing the show. Here’s a snippet of my answer:

When I was in school studying theatre I had an amazing professor named Dr. Richard Mason. My university training wasn’t in musical theatre in fact I think I only did two musicals while I was doing my undergraduate work.  I studied mostly classical and contemporary theatre while I was in school, the works of Shakespeare, Williams etc.

I remember one day when we were in rehearsal for Twelfth Night and Dr. Mason called the entire cast together.  He was a very insightful, playful and demanding director, by demanding I mean demanded that you do your absolute best, whatever that best was for you.  He challeneged us constantly to reach beyond what we thought were our limits.  A very valuable lesson that would stay with me always.

However on this particular day I remember him saying to us all;

“What audacity do you have to stand in front of 1000 people each night and ask them to pay (at that time) $75 a ticket to watch YOU perform for 2 1/2 hours?”

He was challenging us to go beyond the “ego” of the actor and look at the responsibility we had as performers. This was a life altering moment for me.

It was at that moment that I realized that I had a responsibility that went beyond that of just “doing” a show because I liked it or creating a character because “I felt at home on the stage.” My duty, I realized, is to bring something to the audience in an effort to affect a positive change.  Even if only one person out of the thousands watching is reached by what we do and they leave the theatre thinking of life in a different way then they had before, then I feel I’m moving in the right directing with my art.

I’ve heard over and over again that actors are selfish, self involved and narcissistic. But when it comes down to it, this is not a selfish art form, for without the audiences we would be creating art in a vacuum with no one to see or hear it.  It’s tangible and thus needs a recipient for it to even have a purpose.

What is art without anyone to experience it?  A painting in a closet?  A script left on a bookshelf never to be read?  Art and specifically theatre is something that must be DONE.  There is action behind it and those who watch and partake in this action actually become part of that art form. They applaud and are moved by the emotion of a scene or song.  It’s interactive.  The audience is PART of the show.

Subsequently curtain calls for me are a way of saying “Thank You” for allowing us the honor and opportunity to perform for you and bring you into our world, to give you a glimpse into the story we are telling. Hopefully you’ve been moved by it in some way and will leave the theatre with a slightly different perspective on things.

That’s what keeps me going every night.  That’s what keeps the performances fresh despite fatigue and repetition.  I am truly honored and blessed to be able to do what I do.

 

 

 

Bring Me Giants

I’ve often been asked why it is was I chose the title and content for my last CD BRING ME GIANTS.  In fact it’s a question that I am continually asked so I thought it might be fun to explain it here.

BRING ME GIANTS is a song by Tony Award Nominee Frank Wildhorn and was written for his musical version of Cyrano DeBergac.  I felt the lyrics of the song spoke to me but moreover when I looked at the overall concept of the CD the song fit and thus I also found my title and here’s why.

The concept of BRING ME GIANTS came about as I was sitting with a dear friend of mine talking about my views on life and that of thriving in the face of adversity and obstacles.  She suggested that I record a CD with that message behind it. There are hundreds of great songs but why put them on a specific CD and what songs to chose? As I thought about all the potential songs I could have placed on a CD and ultimately why I would include them, one common denominator became clear. Thriving.

I looked at the various roles I’ve played in my career and they almost all had a similar through line.  Each character in some way faced and overcame adversity to reach a greater perspective on themselves and thus life in general. And almost all of those characters were based on a literary figure so BRING ME GIANTS was born.

BRING ME GIANTS comprises songs taken from musicals based on some of our greatest literary works with each song chosen for it’s specific content, popularity and overall meaning.  There is a quote on the inside sleeve of the CD:

       “I-I am going to be a storm-a flame- I need to fight whole armies alone; I have ten hearts; I have a hundred arms; I feel too strong to war with mortals- BRING ME GIANTS!” ― Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac.

I try to take massive action in my life for only with action can we actually accomplish things.  Otherwise we sit in stasis, not moving, stuck and nothing stays static forever. Action is the only way to make anything happen.  I chose this quote because I try to live my life with this outlook.  I take on life and live it to my fullest potential. It’s a journey that should be filled with adventure.  LIVE IT!  THRIVE!

You can find the full CD on iTunes by clicking here.

BRING ME GIANTS on iTunes

Additionally, I paired with an educational not-for-profit and a curriculum was designed to teach these literary works though music. You can find that information at www.BringMeGiants.org.

I’ve also written a stand alone musical concert that brings all of these great characters to life on stage.  We debuted this show at world famous Birdland Jazz Club in NY.  Our artwork is to the left.

Additional Cast announced for DRACULA concert!

Additional Cast announced for The Music Of Frank Wildhorn’s DRACULA in Concert!

Los Angeles

Thursday Oct 30, 2014

James Barbour – as Dracula

Brandi Burkhardt – as Mina

Darren Ritchie – as Jonathan Harker

Tracy Schell – as Lucy

Danny Stiles – as Renfield

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Announcement!

This Saturday we’ll be making a pretty cool announcement at the LA concert in Hollywood.  And those in attendance are going to get a special offer which is only good for that night.

Saturday August 16th 8pm

Here are a couple a couple of hints:

Frank Wildhorn

Halloween

Don’t miss this concert not only for the great talent that will be onstage but also for the announcement and the chance to participate in an audience only incentive

Get your tickets HERE

James In Concert

Saturday – August 16th – 8pm

Lick HERE to get your tickets!

or call 800-838-3006

I’ll be joined by members of the Critically Acclaimed La Mirada Theatre production of Les Miserables

Celebrity Centre Garden Pavilion

5930 Franklin Ave – Los Angeles, CA

Laughing In Heaven

I have been touched in my life by some amazing people and some of those amazing people became part of my life and I count myself blessed to have become part of theirs.  

One such person was the incredibly talented actor Meshach Taylor.  I had the honor of sharing the stage with Meshach in Beauty and The Beast on Broadway.  He played “Lumiere” to my “Beast” and to Toni Braxton’s “Belle.”  

And was he ever luminous!

Meshach and I became fast friends and pretty much inseparable during our time in that show.  We shared stories, dinners, lunches walks through the city and in depth talks about everything in life.  There was rarely a time when he didn’t have a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.

He taught me so many great things but perhaps the greatest gift he ever bestowed on my was the gift of laughter.

He has been taken away too soon but I know that the angels are counting themselves grateful because I’m certain he is making them laugh in heaven.

To you my dear friend, you’re smile and laughter will live with me always.

Production photos from Beauty and The Beast were taken from the Playbill.com vault.

Photo of Meshach, myself and Toni Braxton was by Aubry Ruben

Photo of Meshach alone by Lia Chang

 

Barry Moss

There are moments in life that define us, moments when events occur and are marked forever on the timeline as prominent parts of the journey.

One of those moments in my life was when the late Barry Moss cast me in my first Broadway show. I will never forget the feeling I had that day.  My dream had in fact become a reality.

The show was Cyrano The Musical and it was truly an incredible experience.

Over the years Barry Moss became a true friend.  He was one of my most ardent supporters both on and off stage.  He always welcomed me with a generous warm smile and a hug and that spirit permeated the room.

Barry also cast A TALE OF TWO CITIES and during that time we became even closer.  People such as Barry are few and far between.  His commitment to the artist was pure and his heart warm, open and eager for you to be the best that you can be.

I will miss you my friend. You made every life you touched better.

 

Les Miserables – Opening Day

 

Well we’ve opened Les Miserables at La Mirada Theatre and I could not be more proud of this cast and creative team…and of course the crew.

To pull off a show of this scope and magnitude in such a short time is truly a testament to the dedication and skill of the wonderful people I have been fortunate enough to be working with over these past couple of weeks.  And that’s the crazy things…it’s only been a couple of weeks!

I think we have a pretty great show and now we get to settle in share it with audiences.  So far…the theatre has been packed.  From what I’ve been told ticket sales are through the roof and that makes me happy.  Out producers McCoy/Rigby Entertainment (for whom I also did Camelot in 2007) really know what they’re doing and it is an honor for me to work with them again.

 

I’ve had discussions with our director Brian Kite about how the La Mirada Theatre, in my mind, is fast becoming the new destination for shows that want their out of town try out done in a supportive and enriched venue.  (I kinda don’t want to word to get out too much because it’s such a hidden gem right now).

I encourage any of you within flying distance (that’s all of you) to come and see the show before we close on June 22nd.

Here’s a link to try and get tickets: Les Mis Tickets