Just passed by Rent Open Calls

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.

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.

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

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!!

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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.

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.

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.

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

So smoking doesn't cause cancer? wow.

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

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

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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.

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.