Just passed by Rent Open Calls

[billyboyA]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:29pm

Just passed by the Rent open calls... and there in line, waiting to audition for a MUSICAL, are people SMOKING...

God, I hate it when amateurs are invited to play in the professional world...

Put out the G.D. cancer sticks, people (or take them AWAY from the line!!). There are dreams hanging on the line for some of these people who are going to NEED their effin' vocal chords to be fresh when they get into the room.

There must be something in the nicotine that kills common sense, common decency and consideration.

[dreaming]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:35pm

This is insane. We now know smoking kills you (and ruins voices). Geez. Hope the casting people who work outside see this and take it into consideration.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:35pm

Have mercy - most of the great luminaries of the theatre from Ethel Merman to Patti LuPone were smokers at the height of their careers. And most of Hollywood smokes like a chimney. Not advocating it, but somehow equating smoking with being unprofessional is about the strangest comment of the day.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:38pm

And I doubt anyone in line outside of the theater is going to be affected by the smoke. I would worry about exhaust more than cigarette smoke.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:42pm

RENT cast members I have personally seen smoking:

Adam Pascal
Jesse L. Martin
Amy Spangler
Carrie Hamilton

3 out of 4 of them are still alive. All are/were professionals.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:43pm

I used to usher for the show back at NYTW. Almost the entire original cast smoked.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:47pm

As a WORKING musical theater professional, I am here to tell you that YES, smoking WILL affect those non-smokers around. I had the misfortune of sitting near smokers the other night, and not wanting to move my group and make a stink, I just dealt with it. The next day, I went to rehearsal and I was raspy and my top two notes sounded like crap.

Smoking DOES affect people around you. Period. End of story.

And I would tell Lupone, Merman and ANYONE else who is standing IN A LINE with a lit cigarette in front of people waiting to audition for a MUSICAL in the year 2011 that they are being unprofessional and rude.

Oh, and I hope you haven't missed my point about it being 2011. Miss Merman was a smoker at a time that it wasn't considered a health risk. As for Miss Lupone, I'd find it VERY hard to believe that at THIS stage of her life and career, she would think it was ok to stand in a line of singers and light up.

And one last p.s.: I love me some Lupone for SURE, but in my humble opinion, if you listen to her recordings of "the Baker's Wife" and compare it to her voice now, the cigarettes HAVE taken a toll. She'll always have that power that we love. But some of the velvety purity of the sound has been lost. And I blame the cancer sticks.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:48pm

Um... I know MANY professional actors, singers, and dancers with pack-a-day habits. I can understand if you personally find it distasteful, but calling them "amateurs," well...

YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER! AND YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER!

THIS WHOLE MESSAGE BOARD'S OUTTA ORDER!!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:52pm

I have no problem with you saying it was INCONSIDERATE of people smoking in line at an open call, but lets talk about what professionalism in the theatre is.

A real professional should be able to find a way to hit those top notes regardless of whether they were standing next to smokers the night before, are singing at 8:00 in the morning or just flew in from the west coast and went straight to the theatre.

Not letting any outside condition affect your ability? Thats professionalism.
Updated On: 3/18/11 at 12:52 PM

[billyboyA]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:53pm

I know Jesse Martin, and every time I've seen him light up in front of people, he apologizes. And I can PROMISE you that he would not stand in a line of singers and smoke away. Take that for what it's worth.

And one last comment: Just because someone works professionally and has professional success, does not mean that they always act in a professional manner. That's like saying that because Paris Hilton is wealthy, she always acts with class.

And really all I'm talking about here is CONSIDERATION. Why are people ARGUING with me about being CONSIDERATE? Smoking affects people. It hurts people. It bothers people. And it can negatively affect people's vocals chords. People, I might add, who are trying to go in a sing for casting directors that can make their dream come true. As an equity member, do I really want to advocate bringing in a whole new slew of new members to the union to add to the competition? Heck no. We have enough actors. But as a HUMAN being, I wish the best for EVERYONE who has a dream. And I hate to see someone's dream potentially affected by the inconsideration of a cigarette. It doesn't affect me personally. I don't GO to open calls, I get sent in by my agent. But my heart goes out to the people who don't have that luxury.

Or should we just be inconsiderate in this situation because most of the original cast smoked? I suppose that's what you're saying.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 12:54pm

"And I would tell Lupone, Merman and ANYONE else who is standing IN A LINE with a lit cigarette in front of people waiting to audition for a MUSICAL in the year 2011 that they are being unprofessional and rude."

Prepare to get your butt whooped. This is still a free country and you can't tell a smoker who is outside what to do. I'm a non-smoker myself and this question was just addressed in Miss Manners column yesterday. It's not ok to lecture others in public and they are likely to retaliate so it's a risky proposition. Lots of actors and singers smoke-get over it.

You come across like a maniac, that is why people are reacting to you. The same way you would come across if you chastised a smoker. You'd look bizarre. Try mind over matter sometime.

Updated On: 3/18/11 at 12:54 PM

[billyboyA]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:06pm

I love it. This cracks me up. I'm being jumped all over so people can have their right to smoke their cancer sticks and subject other people to breathing in the carcinogens from their cancer sticks.

Cancer Cancer Cancer. Well, I guess it's a good thing. The earth is overpopulated anyway. Keep killing yourselves and feel free to take a few others out with you along the way.

I'm not talking about bad perfume or farting, which is just generally disagreeable... I'm talking about CANCER. Ever talked to a cancer victim? Having a lung ripped out of your body isn't exactly a lifetime highlight.

But you're right. People should do whatever the heck they want whenever they want to do it because it's all about me me me in this world and who cares if some sweet little girl from Kansas is standing on line hoping to be the next Mimi and has to breathe in your cigarette smoke.

What really amazes me is how SO many smokers and "free rights" advocates don't stop to just simply say "yeah, that sucks. it probably should be done OFF the line, and not in a crowd of 30 people".

But then again, I stood at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade this year watching a women chain smoke while holding an infant in her arms. And as much as people asked her to put it out, she kept saying it was a free country and she'd do what she pleased. And all of these people with little kids who had come into NYC from other places and gotten out at 5 a.m. to have this primo spot ended up having to move other lesser places to watch the parade, so that this woman could enjoy her "right" to do whatever she pleased. I hope she puts away money every month to pay for her child's lifetime asthma and chronic bronchitis that she will inevitably suffer.

Seriously - all I'm TALKING about here is CONSIDERATION. If you NEED to smoke, don't do it IN the line where people are getting ready to sing. Why is that SO outrageous? Because I called it unprofessional? Well, I think it is. I think it's unprofessional to engage in ANY activity that hampers the success of another actor.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:12pm

"I know Jesse Martin, and every time I've seen him light up in front of people, he apologizes."


So that's what this is about? Not apologizing? Maybe the people you saw smoking in line had apologized just like Jesse.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:13pm

Seriously, dude, just calm down xD It's not that big a deal, and if it bothers you that much, walk away.

How you seem to suggest that smoking means getting cancer is, however, somewhat laughable.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:21pm

At least they're not smoking pole outside the theatre.

[Teacup]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:21pm

"How you seem to suggest that smoking means getting cancer is, however, somewhat laughable."

So smoking doesn't cause cancer? wow.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:24pm

If by "cancer," he means "fun."

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:26pm

Um no offense, but I have been in shows for quite some time, and had many leading parts with very difficult notes to hit and being in my late teens I live at home with my mom...and she used to smoke like a chimney...and we lived in an apartment for a period of time while trying to find a house so I was around smoke ALOT and it never effected my voice onstage. It certainly can, if you don't take care of your voice in every way possible if you are in those circumstances...however if you were around a smoker for only a few short hours, I doubt it damaged your voice that much...you most likely had a cold that was agitated further by the smoke.

Smoking can and in the long run will damage your voice...but as many pointed out, a lot of old time singers/broadway stars did in fact smoke because it was not known back then the damage it did. And I'm sure even modern stars do it too. But most of them only do it once and a while and they know how to take care of their voices

[perfectliar]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:26pm

No, it doesn't ALWAYS cause cancer was probably what Clap was getting at.

I think it's unprofessional to engage in ANY activity that hampers the success of another actor.

So people should never audition? One person's success means another's failure, after all.

But seriously, why is this thread here?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:27pm

Sooo...this seems to be more about smoking and not being professional. And smoking does bother some, but not all people.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:28pm

I swear to God, I need a cigarette after dealing with some of you...

haha

I'm really not that heated up about it. I just wanted to put it out there in a bit of an aggressive way, in hopes that it might make some people think.

And admittedly, I have an issue in my apartment where I have a neighbor who smokes and it makes my place stink. I had to buy a $500 air purifier that runs now 24/7 just so I can stand being at home, which is a lot of out of pocket money for me (month after month after month) because of someone's habit. So yeah, I'm kinda hating cig's and smokers right now. And it really did burn me to see all of these sweet hopeful faces on all of these kids out there and then see the cig's lit in the groups. And I always go for protecting the underdog - and my heart goes out to the shy quiet types who will just take it and not say anything to the smoker.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed pile driving me from behind. I set myself up for it, for coming in with such a strong opinion and fighting words.

Now... where are my cigarettes...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:29pm

Smoking doesn't cause cancer, cigarettes cause cancer which are made by people who use tobacco which is made by your God. So obviously, organized religion is the real killer here.

[suechru]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:30pm

Going with what was said upthread you can NOT tell someone on a public street not to smoke/lecture them (at least without anticipating being told off in return.) You can nicely ask someone to stop if the smoke is bothering you but they're under no obligation to do so.

I'm not even going to bother arguing with the OP's logic that "professionals don't smoke" because it's one of the most absurd things I've seen today. Yes, if you sing for a living you probably shouldn't smoke but choosing to do so has nothing to do with your professionalism.

[mee.who]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:31pm

You're standing OUTSIDE in Manhattan of all places. If you're worried about breathing in carcinogens, you should probably move out of the tri-state area. A couple cigarettes in a line located outdoors are most likely negligable when added to the air pollution you're breathing in from cars and the industrial areas surrounding Manhattan.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 3/18/11 at 1:36pm

Jesus, read my words - I never said "professionals don't smoke". I said it was unprofessional to stand IN LINE at a singers audition and light up in the line, when it's common sense that second hand smoke DOES affect some other people. Why in the world is anyone arguing with that?

I need to get off of this subject and remind myself that people here would argue any point about ANY subject, just to enjoy sticking to another person with an opinion...

But that said, I'm honestly shocked that virtually NOBODY said "yeah, that's kinda unfair and inconsiderate that people were smoking IN the line at a singer's audition". Instead it was all about ramming me up the wazoo because of how I phrased it.

Thankfully we have posters like Jordan Catalano, who always seems to infuse these discussions with wonderful humor, and made my recent ramming a bit less painful.
Updated On: 3/18/11 at 01:36 PM