Career Shift and Funding an Equitable Workshop

The story/intro video transcript (feel free to skip to the next section if you already watched the intro video):

Hi, my name is Adam W. Sadberry! I’m a professional flutist, an educator, and student (getting certified in the Alexander Technique) based in Saint Paul, MN, and I’m starting a GoFundMe because I could sure use your help right now.

My last full-time job was playing in the Memphis Symphony as its principal flutist, and I left that job over a year ago to pursue a career in holistic education, to honor my ancestry in my work, and to break out of the classical music bubble because I realized that I wanted to offer the world a lot more than I could in that position. I’ve been supporting myself since then mostly through freelance performing and teaching around the country, including playing a debut concert in NYC and doing residencies at colleges. I was even fortunate enough to be featured in The Washington Post earlier this year as one of 23 Musicians and Composers to watch in 2023.

A couple of weeks ago, my financial situation changed dramatically. Support I was expecting to get for the next few months turned out to be only a fraction of what I thought it was, so now I’m hustling even harder, working on grant applications, and applying for jobs I never imagined (like being a gameshow host??) while I build steadier income streams.

That being said, I’m starting this GoFundMe not just to seek financial support for my life - I’m also starting it to fund a free, equity-based workshop I started developing several months ago called Feelin’ It: Tools to Help Musicians Expand Their Humanity.

Its purpose is to share wisdom and knowledge with young musicians who identify as Black, Latine, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, queer, and/or neurodivergent so they can unlock their potentials and overcome problems that commonly obstruct people from underprivileged backgrounds. It dives into aspects of music-making including connecting with ourselves, connecting with others, and overcoming mental health problems. The workshop has been inspired by holistic practices like the Alexander Technique and Buddhism, and it’s already gotten the seal of approval from a panel of esteemed leaders in the arts from around the country.

Receiving your financial support would help me not just get out of a financial rut but launch me into a career of supporting others.

I would be so grateful to receive any financial contribution you could offer to my GoFundMe campaign. $5 is helpful, $20 is awesome, $100 is amazing, and $1000 would be tremendous and would get me to return the favor with a personal thank you in the form of music. I would be equally grateful to you for sharing this campaign on social media and directly with anyone that might be interested in helping. Everything that gets poured into me will allow me to pour into this workshop and my communities. Trust me - this is only the beginning for me.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration! Be well.

This rest of this page includes the following sections:

Workshop inspiration

Workshop budget

Video of me pitching the workshop to a panel of arts leaders

Thank you

Workshop inspiration:

I live a unique life with unique benefits and problems. I've been able to become a successful flutist and educator because music and learning have been two of my salvations. They helped me find purpose and peace while growing up as a Black, queer, and neurodivergent only-child in a predominantly-white area. The difficulties that I faced have been invaluable to me because I'm been able to gain substantial life experience and wisdom from them. Now, I want to share what I've learned with others, especially Black, Latine, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, queer, and/or neurodivergent people. Equity is essential to me, so along with targeting underserved communities, this workshop is completely free to all participants.

The workshop's growth-and-healing-oriented work gives participants an opportunity to heal themselves and overcome life’s pressures including those that derive from capitalist, white supremacist, patriarchal, and imperialist structures. The program is designed to give participants a newfound sense of freedom, courage, and authenticity both onstage and off.

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to simultaneously fund this workshop and to financially support myself while I transition into an educationally-oriented career. With the turn of events with my financial situation, I know that I'll be ok financially until the middle of October. I'm picking up flute students and whatever other work I can in the meantime.

Getting your support right now would be life-changing.

^Eric, Laura, and me outside of their community arts space, The Hive Collaborative, after they agreed to host my workshop there.

Workshop budget (presenting it 3 times in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area):

$10,000 - Professional Services ($100/hr for ~100 hours of work)

$2,100 - Day-of Assistance (2 assistants for each of the 3 workshops)

$1350 - Facilities Rental (The Hive Collaborative)

$1050 - Catering

$1,000 - Videographer/Photographer

$500 - Program Booklets

$258 - Breathing Bags (practicing breathing during the workshop)

$32 - Noteflight Subscription (music notation software)

$16,290 - Total

Workshop details and pitch:

Below is an in-depth video of me pitching the workshop to a panel of leaders in the arts. The pitch is followed by a thorough Q&A facilitated from the panel. *Please note that the budget in the below video is different from what I'm asking for in this campaign. If you'd be interested in having me do this workshop in your community (in-person or online), please reach out, and I'd be happy to work out the details!

Thank you:

Your help means everything right now. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for contributing if you're able.