New York Life...
Election Day! It's a pretty big one folks so get out there and vote. I hope it all works out in the end.
Yesterday was the first touch of New York life. I woke up early to get prepared for my first 2 of many auditions this week. I got myself together and took the subway into town to make my appointment for the "Altar Boyz" audition that would be playing in Medea, PA. There were lots of slots still open when I got there so that was good. I made it for a noonish time and set off on my way to get my cheap versions of my headshots cropped right and to start the process of ordering reprints of the better ones from Reproductions here in the city. The cutting and stapling began. Again. Once I got that little job squared away, I headed over to the reprint company. Wow. I had never been in there. I go in to view my test shot today. That would be the one print they copy to make sure everything on it is correct. Then they start the order for the reprints. I started with 50 just to be safe. After dropping a wad of cash here I headed over to the location of my second audition just to find it and then to find Broadway Dance Center's new locale. I had some time and I wanted to acquaint myself with the area a bit again. It was now time to head into the audition. It was at the Actor's Equity Building (AEA) and the nerves began to appear. I got up to the lounge and I could hear the auditions happening. The jitters go to level 5. The monitor asks for all the noon appointments and then asks if we wouldn't mind going in early. It was a slow day I guess. Nerves up to level 7. He lines us up and I'm first in line for our group. Level 8 now. The guy before me finishes (and he was awesome) and the monitor goes in to present the next group. Now at level 9 and shaking. He comes back and in I go. I casually greet the Director and Manager and present my music to the Musical Director at the piano. He saw the piece and says he played it a hundred times or more. Ahh, level 8 again and a little eased off on the shaking. We set a tempo and I go out to my mark. I nod and he starts. He starts off fine and I've sung the piece several times ON STAGE in an intimate setting. I start out confident, but he starts to falter at the piano missing beats and chords and getting behind or ahead of me. He's really played this a hundred times? My focus goes everywhere and the directors are just staring at me. I now head up to level 10 on the nerve scale and I'm at full shake. How is this possible after performing for thousands of strangers in my past? I notice the shake in my voice and the tension in my body starts to climb. This could be trouble for the high notes. Halfway through the song I realize suddenly how long this song is and just want it to be over since the piano playing was just awful. I finish and just have to laugh it off. I hoped the second one would go better. The second one was for "Rent" on tour with Adam Pascal and the other original cast member from the Broadway show. I was ill prepared and didn't really have an appropriate pop song for this. I was scraping as it was. I showed up and a friend of mine was there, which eased my nerves a bit. It was a chorus call so I was in line with other cattle. I didn't have too long of a wait though. 40 minutes max. I was in and out and less painful than the first. The only high-tension moment was just before the door opened. I was using a new piece so I was more nervous about making an ass out of myself forgetting words than anything. I was glad to have this experience over and done. That evening I saw one of my friends perform with a group called Broadway Voices. It was an event at the Kaufman Center (part of Lincoln Center). It reminded me of the show "Inside the Actor's Studio" in a way since it was in interview format with songs dispersed in between. The guests of honor were Richard Maltby and David Shire of famed musical endeavors such as "Starting Here, Starting Now," "Closer Than Ever," "Big, the Musical," and "Baby." Excellent lyricist and orchestrator duo. The songs are clever and tell wonderful stories. I'm a fan of several pieces and most were performed that night. It was an honor to be in the audience and experience such an event. This was my classroom! The musical theatre history I never got in college. It was amazing! They not only performed some of the pieces themselves, but they (as writers) were able to give little insights into the songs and shows they put together. My friend performed with the group in one number and they were fabulous. It was good that the evening ended on a high note.
I came to thinking the other day about the business I'm in. You really have to INVEST in yourself and market yourself as a product. As an actor I am a small business. You HAVE to have money to be in this career or struggle through it. For one New York in the ONLY place to be for this kind of business. If you're more of a TV/Film actor, then L.A. is the place and if you're a variety artist of some kind there are several, but Las Vegas being a major hub. To reside in all these places COSTS big bucks. Once you have a place to live and a suitable secondary job (income must come in somehow when you're LOOKING for work in the business), you have to obtain your marketable materials. This includes headshots or reels, which can run into the 100s. If you're a singer/actor or variety artist a repertoire of singing material of all different styles should be put together. If you have your own show, thousands of dollars go into making charts if you don't possess that knowledge. Even if you're just a singer and need a song transposed, cut, found, or fixed it can cost you if you don't have the musical knowledge to do it yourself. Then there is maintenance. You MUST have an internet connection and a cell phone these days. There is no way to keep up without them. Inevitably this means something portable for the internet such as the new blackberry technology or a laptop. There are lessons to take whether it is acting, voice, dancing, or instrumental. You also have to stay in shape (for the most part) so a gym membership is necessary. You also have to look stylish and good so a variety in your wardrobe is a must. Your skin must be fresh and your hair must be up with the times. I was having this epiphany the other day as I was prepping for the week. Wow. I am my own small business. This is where, despite the hard times, I have to be thankful to cruise ships for the savings I have built up and the debts I have already paid. I know I don't want to see that arena again, but it is a way to travel and it is a nice temporary fix for a low bank account. I can't quite kick it yet until I know I'm too old for it. As far as my knowledge goes, I still have 10+ years for that venue to finally expire completely. After all it is just business.
Yesterday was the first touch of New York life. I woke up early to get prepared for my first 2 of many auditions this week. I got myself together and took the subway into town to make my appointment for the "Altar Boyz" audition that would be playing in Medea, PA. There were lots of slots still open when I got there so that was good. I made it for a noonish time and set off on my way to get my cheap versions of my headshots cropped right and to start the process of ordering reprints of the better ones from Reproductions here in the city. The cutting and stapling began. Again. Once I got that little job squared away, I headed over to the reprint company. Wow. I had never been in there. I go in to view my test shot today. That would be the one print they copy to make sure everything on it is correct. Then they start the order for the reprints. I started with 50 just to be safe. After dropping a wad of cash here I headed over to the location of my second audition just to find it and then to find Broadway Dance Center's new locale. I had some time and I wanted to acquaint myself with the area a bit again. It was now time to head into the audition. It was at the Actor's Equity Building (AEA) and the nerves began to appear. I got up to the lounge and I could hear the auditions happening. The jitters go to level 5. The monitor asks for all the noon appointments and then asks if we wouldn't mind going in early. It was a slow day I guess. Nerves up to level 7. He lines us up and I'm first in line for our group. Level 8 now. The guy before me finishes (and he was awesome) and the monitor goes in to present the next group. Now at level 9 and shaking. He comes back and in I go. I casually greet the Director and Manager and present my music to the Musical Director at the piano. He saw the piece and says he played it a hundred times or more. Ahh, level 8 again and a little eased off on the shaking. We set a tempo and I go out to my mark. I nod and he starts. He starts off fine and I've sung the piece several times ON STAGE in an intimate setting. I start out confident, but he starts to falter at the piano missing beats and chords and getting behind or ahead of me. He's really played this a hundred times? My focus goes everywhere and the directors are just staring at me. I now head up to level 10 on the nerve scale and I'm at full shake. How is this possible after performing for thousands of strangers in my past? I notice the shake in my voice and the tension in my body starts to climb. This could be trouble for the high notes. Halfway through the song I realize suddenly how long this song is and just want it to be over since the piano playing was just awful. I finish and just have to laugh it off. I hoped the second one would go better. The second one was for "Rent" on tour with Adam Pascal and the other original cast member from the Broadway show. I was ill prepared and didn't really have an appropriate pop song for this. I was scraping as it was. I showed up and a friend of mine was there, which eased my nerves a bit. It was a chorus call so I was in line with other cattle. I didn't have too long of a wait though. 40 minutes max. I was in and out and less painful than the first. The only high-tension moment was just before the door opened. I was using a new piece so I was more nervous about making an ass out of myself forgetting words than anything. I was glad to have this experience over and done. That evening I saw one of my friends perform with a group called Broadway Voices. It was an event at the Kaufman Center (part of Lincoln Center). It reminded me of the show "Inside the Actor's Studio" in a way since it was in interview format with songs dispersed in between. The guests of honor were Richard Maltby and David Shire of famed musical endeavors such as "Starting Here, Starting Now," "Closer Than Ever," "Big, the Musical," and "Baby." Excellent lyricist and orchestrator duo. The songs are clever and tell wonderful stories. I'm a fan of several pieces and most were performed that night. It was an honor to be in the audience and experience such an event. This was my classroom! The musical theatre history I never got in college. It was amazing! They not only performed some of the pieces themselves, but they (as writers) were able to give little insights into the songs and shows they put together. My friend performed with the group in one number and they were fabulous. It was good that the evening ended on a high note.
I came to thinking the other day about the business I'm in. You really have to INVEST in yourself and market yourself as a product. As an actor I am a small business. You HAVE to have money to be in this career or struggle through it. For one New York in the ONLY place to be for this kind of business. If you're more of a TV/Film actor, then L.A. is the place and if you're a variety artist of some kind there are several, but Las Vegas being a major hub. To reside in all these places COSTS big bucks. Once you have a place to live and a suitable secondary job (income must come in somehow when you're LOOKING for work in the business), you have to obtain your marketable materials. This includes headshots or reels, which can run into the 100s. If you're a singer/actor or variety artist a repertoire of singing material of all different styles should be put together. If you have your own show, thousands of dollars go into making charts if you don't possess that knowledge. Even if you're just a singer and need a song transposed, cut, found, or fixed it can cost you if you don't have the musical knowledge to do it yourself. Then there is maintenance. You MUST have an internet connection and a cell phone these days. There is no way to keep up without them. Inevitably this means something portable for the internet such as the new blackberry technology or a laptop. There are lessons to take whether it is acting, voice, dancing, or instrumental. You also have to stay in shape (for the most part) so a gym membership is necessary. You also have to look stylish and good so a variety in your wardrobe is a must. Your skin must be fresh and your hair must be up with the times. I was having this epiphany the other day as I was prepping for the week. Wow. I am my own small business. This is where, despite the hard times, I have to be thankful to cruise ships for the savings I have built up and the debts I have already paid. I know I don't want to see that arena again, but it is a way to travel and it is a nice temporary fix for a low bank account. I can't quite kick it yet until I know I'm too old for it. As far as my knowledge goes, I still have 10+ years for that venue to finally expire completely. After all it is just business.
posted by Chris | 8:39 AM
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