I am coasting lately, but in a good way. I started rehearsals for my Fringe show last week before the Memorial Day weekend. "Diary of Self Help Boot Camp" by Holly Davis, a self-professed control freak. Her material and play is based on her experience attending a Budhist retreat at a New York hotel with a friend. My only fear is that it might be too didactic, but these preliminary readings and discussions make me think that it will be pretty entertaining. I play Guy, who is pretty much a multi-character, playing gurus, waiters and a musician that pops in and plays a Gershwin tune on the guitar to some parody lyrics. This will be the first time I've played onstage, so the pressure is on! Fortunately, I have a few months to practice and make perfect. It's also good to work with Dipankar Mukherjee (A.D. of Pangea World Theatre). He has some different ways of exploring the text, and respects the material pretty well.
Also have received my books to start a bit of research, trial and error for my possible long-term theatre project. I know that virtually no one reads this blog, but I want to keep it under wraps as to not get too terribly excited or dreamy about something I want to approach methodically. Call me crazy, because I know you do.
And to continue to the cryptic inner-dialogue going, I might be looking at another career altering opportunity this fall. Time will tell as I await a final decision. Of course, as always, more later...
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
New Thing II: Electric Boo-ga-loo
I'm thinking of starting my own company. Not exactly what you might think. More later.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Revelations 1:1
As I often do, I have a serious, out-loud conversations with myself on a frequent basis (so you know this post will be filed under "Mad Man's Mutterings").
Yesterday, my temp job supervisor pulled me into his office and laid down what was going on. The long and short of it was that I'd have to be going in the next few weeks, as the unionized county employee has definitely returned for good, and that there is no real heavy work for me to do as a result. Fine. But, he was very complimentary for my attitude and work ethic (hah!), and I returned the favor by thanking him for his flexibility with my matinees as of late. One of the other employees in the office was looking at a possible promotion into another department, however, but perhaps not until July. He wondered if I'd be interested in taking over as Executive Assistant if it worked out.
Hm.
Immediately, my stomach sunk deeper into my gut as the "don't sell-out for the man" actor instincts kicked in, but I said "yes, I'd definitely think about it, circumstances pending".
The ten-minute walk to my car was quite revealing after work. Slightly gloomy day, but my talking-out-loud started as I reflected on the pros and cons of possibly accepting a permanent job:
If I were to be a permanent employee there, I'd have the flexibility I do now, paid time off, health and dental, and a steady paycheck. While not an arts organization, the office has friendly people supportive of my current endeavors. This town is tough enough to make a decent living as an actor/artist, and I've had made it work by now if I was really that serious about it. I am not single and living in an apartment with 4 other roomates splitting the rent with no other expenses to complicate my life. I have responsibilities and things I want, like a townhome and new car.
So why fight it? Does it mean I've given up on the dream? No, not at all. This might be the gift I've been looking for while I pursue my craft and rebuild my reputation. Other prominent theatre folks have dayjobs, so why pretend to be anything other than that right now.
If I go Equity, and there's always that chance, then responsibilites change. But for now, why not do the kind of work I want to do and not beat myself up about whether or not I am making a living acting (I mean, I am getting paid a good amount for my current project)? Does this sound like I am convincing myself of something? Maybe, but there feels like a weight has been lifted in a sense thinking about it and writing about it.
Well, nothing is set, and I may struggle for a little bit longer, but I realize that most actors in this town (good actors, by the way) are in the exact same boat as me. They work a day job and finagle some time off over lunch break to audition for a commercial they will probably not get. But they keep on keepin' on.
Meanwhile, I have 2, perhaps 3, auditions this weekend in between shows on Saturday for projects and people that interest me enough to work on them. Backstage during a matinee last week I had the urge to make a bunraku puppet and to start pursuing that artform again. It's been awhile, but I think it might open something up for me again. I've been entertaining the foolish notion of starting my own theatre company. What that looks like I don't rightly know, but unlike my last affiliation, I'd want it to be more fulfilling than demeaning.
It's all good.
Yesterday, my temp job supervisor pulled me into his office and laid down what was going on. The long and short of it was that I'd have to be going in the next few weeks, as the unionized county employee has definitely returned for good, and that there is no real heavy work for me to do as a result. Fine. But, he was very complimentary for my attitude and work ethic (hah!), and I returned the favor by thanking him for his flexibility with my matinees as of late. One of the other employees in the office was looking at a possible promotion into another department, however, but perhaps not until July. He wondered if I'd be interested in taking over as Executive Assistant if it worked out.
Hm.
Immediately, my stomach sunk deeper into my gut as the "don't sell-out for the man" actor instincts kicked in, but I said "yes, I'd definitely think about it, circumstances pending".
The ten-minute walk to my car was quite revealing after work. Slightly gloomy day, but my talking-out-loud started as I reflected on the pros and cons of possibly accepting a permanent job:
If I were to be a permanent employee there, I'd have the flexibility I do now, paid time off, health and dental, and a steady paycheck. While not an arts organization, the office has friendly people supportive of my current endeavors. This town is tough enough to make a decent living as an actor/artist, and I've had made it work by now if I was really that serious about it. I am not single and living in an apartment with 4 other roomates splitting the rent with no other expenses to complicate my life. I have responsibilities and things I want, like a townhome and new car.
So why fight it? Does it mean I've given up on the dream? No, not at all. This might be the gift I've been looking for while I pursue my craft and rebuild my reputation. Other prominent theatre folks have dayjobs, so why pretend to be anything other than that right now.
If I go Equity, and there's always that chance, then responsibilites change. But for now, why not do the kind of work I want to do and not beat myself up about whether or not I am making a living acting (I mean, I am getting paid a good amount for my current project)? Does this sound like I am convincing myself of something? Maybe, but there feels like a weight has been lifted in a sense thinking about it and writing about it.
Well, nothing is set, and I may struggle for a little bit longer, but I realize that most actors in this town (good actors, by the way) are in the exact same boat as me. They work a day job and finagle some time off over lunch break to audition for a commercial they will probably not get. But they keep on keepin' on.
Meanwhile, I have 2, perhaps 3, auditions this weekend in between shows on Saturday for projects and people that interest me enough to work on them. Backstage during a matinee last week I had the urge to make a bunraku puppet and to start pursuing that artform again. It's been awhile, but I think it might open something up for me again. I've been entertaining the foolish notion of starting my own theatre company. What that looks like I don't rightly know, but unlike my last affiliation, I'd want it to be more fulfilling than demeaning.
It's all good.
Monday, April 30, 2007
And we'll all have a really good tiiiime
Still having a pretty good time with the kids at Stages. The script can be a mouthful for some of them at times, but I am having fun. Signing our autographs on the kids programs the weekends is a kick too. A fair amount of mentally disabled kids and adults have made their appearances too. They get a charge out of our attempts at British accents.
It's uncommon to really relish in the experience of showing up and performing. Oftentimes you just want to finish a run and have it done with. But I'm thankful for 3 more weeks of "P and P". Maybe it's the youthful energy of the teens in the show that charges me up (I know it ain't everyone's cup of tea). I'm kicking myself for missing the CTC general auditions (whenever they happened), but I think I like the idea of pursuing more childrens theatre. I think, for good measure, I'll send my h/r over there regardless.
It's uncommon to really relish in the experience of showing up and performing. Oftentimes you just want to finish a run and have it done with. But I'm thankful for 3 more weeks of "P and P". Maybe it's the youthful energy of the teens in the show that charges me up (I know it ain't everyone's cup of tea). I'm kicking myself for missing the CTC general auditions (whenever they happened), but I think I like the idea of pursuing more childrens theatre. I think, for good measure, I'll send my h/r over there regardless.
Yo, Adrian!
Kudos to the Vikes for their 7th overall pick of Adrian Peterson, who will inject some excitement into the offense for 2007:
Badass RB will be the terror of the Midway. Rowr!
Also picked was youngling WR Sidney Rice from South Carolina (he'll turn 21 in September- no parties for you, sir!) in the 2nd Round. Not bad at all. B+ draft according to Mel "Hyper" Kiper for da Vikes (barring any injuries, knock on ethernet wood).
Badass RB will be the terror of the Midway. Rowr!
Also picked was youngling WR Sidney Rice from South Carolina (he'll turn 21 in September- no parties for you, sir!) in the 2nd Round. Not bad at all. B+ draft according to Mel "Hyper" Kiper for da Vikes (barring any injuries, knock on ethernet wood).
Monday, April 23, 2007
"This is your new thing now"
I feel slightly blissed out today. Amy comes home tonight from L.A., there's money in my bank account, and I opened a show this weekend. I'll also be doing another show for Exposed Brick next Friday afternoon, which is good. The Vikings will hopefully draft a kick-ass offensive player this weekend. Life is pretty O.K. right now.
I dunno, I guess I go into funks and feel excluded on a semi-regular basis. I didn't get the artist's initiative grant, I didn't get into the MN Fringe Festival (couldn't make a BYOV work either), I didn't get cast in at least 5 plays I wanted to be cast in. I quit the theatre company I was involved after 2 years of several trying experiences to make a cohesive and rewarding environment (I saw that I was removed from the Wikipedia entry). I made it mean that I was intentionally edged out because of some failure on my part. Not necessarily true. I mean, we actors can generally sense when we've "nailed" an audition; felt good about the monologue or the cold-read we had for the director. I had that feeling for all 5 of the auditions mentioned previously (save for the one that I know sucked ass: the Jungle), but to no avail. But that's everyone's story, right? And I really don't feel so bad about it. I mean, I am not defined by any individual or entity like that. The Popularity Contest that pervades this town is a fleeting and everchanging beast. And it matters diddlysquat in the long-run.
I think I want to start my own thing. I tried once, but it fell flat. Probably because I had no base, design or support to it. I just wanted to "do my show". I mean, I'd like a venue or means to do work that I want to do. Work that I think needs to be addressed. I don't know what it looks like, but something new would be a welcome change. There's just that whole "trust issue" thing to navigate around.
I dunno, I guess I go into funks and feel excluded on a semi-regular basis. I didn't get the artist's initiative grant, I didn't get into the MN Fringe Festival (couldn't make a BYOV work either), I didn't get cast in at least 5 plays I wanted to be cast in. I quit the theatre company I was involved after 2 years of several trying experiences to make a cohesive and rewarding environment (I saw that I was removed from the Wikipedia entry). I made it mean that I was intentionally edged out because of some failure on my part. Not necessarily true. I mean, we actors can generally sense when we've "nailed" an audition; felt good about the monologue or the cold-read we had for the director. I had that feeling for all 5 of the auditions mentioned previously (save for the one that I know sucked ass: the Jungle), but to no avail. But that's everyone's story, right? And I really don't feel so bad about it. I mean, I am not defined by any individual or entity like that. The Popularity Contest that pervades this town is a fleeting and everchanging beast. And it matters diddlysquat in the long-run.
I think I want to start my own thing. I tried once, but it fell flat. Probably because I had no base, design or support to it. I just wanted to "do my show". I mean, I'd like a venue or means to do work that I want to do. Work that I think needs to be addressed. I don't know what it looks like, but something new would be a welcome change. There's just that whole "trust issue" thing to navigate around.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
"Tick-Tock Tick-Tock, Clarice..."
Still waiting to hear from St.Croix. I must say I'll be disappointed if I am not cast in any of the shows, as I really would like to be up there in some capacity this summer. I had a good time last winter doing "Hans Brinker". The trip is not as bad as one might think.
I hate the tiny angst of waiting to hear about an audition. Even after doing this for as long as I have, the butterflies still come, as I am sure they do for all actors in this place. But I feel invested somewhat, having been a cast member of the "new regime" since the last winter show. I'd like to see the theatre continue successfully, and to be a part of that.
I dunno. I have nothing else lined up for the rest of the year. I have had really good solid auditions for several shows these last few months with nothing to show for it. Oh, well...
I know, Remarkably Succinct Talking Baby, I know... we've been down this road before.
I hate the tiny angst of waiting to hear about an audition. Even after doing this for as long as I have, the butterflies still come, as I am sure they do for all actors in this place. But I feel invested somewhat, having been a cast member of the "new regime" since the last winter show. I'd like to see the theatre continue successfully, and to be a part of that.
I dunno. I have nothing else lined up for the rest of the year. I have had really good solid auditions for several shows these last few months with nothing to show for it. Oh, well...
I know, Remarkably Succinct Talking Baby, I know... we've been down this road before.
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