No Shade Intended, but how many of YOU have jobs in a Broadway Musical Right NOW????- Page 3

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:08pm

"When will we all just accept that

1)Everyone has an opinion.
2)Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
3)Not everyone's opinion will be the same."

Probably around the same time everyone accepts that all opinions are not equal...that some have seen, done and lived more, making their opinions far more informed.

I've thrown my share of shade around here. I've stopped aiming it at my fellow performers and theatre workers. We're all just trying to get a job.

I like to now throw shade at the posters here. It's far more fun.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:09pm

i think lil venus mckay from the legendary house of Pendarvis -- Elliot has been traumatized by all that waxing.

a pie in the face comes with the job, suguh.

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:51pm

He said from the beginning he wasn't intending to be mean. Having said that, is anyone going to actually answer the question?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 7:25pm

When will we all just accept that
1)Everyone has an opinion.
2)Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
3)Not everyone's opinion will be the same.

True some are nastier than others. True that some are more educated than others. True that honesty can only come out in a nasty way to prove a point. Also true that most nastiness is useless.

PEACE, I am too guessing that you are in Hot Feet. Expect that by the end of a Broadway season, most of us in the industry, and fans of the industry, make guesses and state opinions based on early reviews, early buzz, and noting trends and statistics. Often beyond the nastiness is a shred of truth. Tarzan and Lestat been attacked because many of us had high hopes. On the other hand, there are handfulls of us that have to take a stand when we love a badly received show (Taboo, Bombay Dreams, etc.).

And yes, many of us have made statements regarding Hot Feet based on early reviews, early notes from cast and crew members and general buzz. But I have been proven wrong before, and while I cannot speak for all, I do hope I will be proved wrong and your efforts will be well-received.

And finally, not many of us have had, or will ever have, jobs in a Broadway musical. Many people that are in a Broadway musical will also never be lucky enough to be in another Broadway show. But then again, what does having a job on Broadway have to do with anything?

Updated On: 4/19/06 at 07:25 PM

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 8:20pm

Not that I endorse bashing of actors, etc.:

By purchasing a ticket to a show, buying a cd, one reserves the right to critique what they have paid for.

As well as by being an actor, one has put themselves up to a life of being critiqued and told they aren't good enough, too tall, too short, too fat, too ugly, too pretty, have weird hair, or just fail at life.


This is coming from someone who has put themselves up for such a life, and who pays lots of money each week to view and listen to theatre and musical theatre.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 8:51pm

Hold it, hold it!

"Not that I endorse bashing of actors, etc.: By purchasing a ticket to a show, buying a cd, one reserves the right to critique what they have paid for."

Well, no, by purchasing a ticket for a show or a cd, one gains access to those performances. It doesn't make you a critic, though you may be critical.

"As well as by being an actor, one has put themselves up to a life of being critiqued and told they aren't good enough, too tall, too short, too fat, too ugly, too pretty, have weird hair, or just fail at life." All the rest I can just maybe get, but what does "failing at life" have anything to do with acting?

Actors owe nothing beyond a performance.





Updated On: 4/19/06 at 08:51 PM

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 12:03am

I have found from my experiences, the more professional theatre that you do, the more respectful, and nicer people are in general. I don't know if it has to do with professionals just knowing how to hide/repress their true feelings very well, or the fact that as someone else said, they are not secure enough in their own careers to be foolish enough to start criticizing their peers.

Trust me when I say that it IS a very small community and at times can be very cutthroat. You have to be VERY careful what you do and say. (As in any profession, anyway.) That's why I feel that people shouldn't have to come to a message board to be exposed to constant negativity, especially when a majority of the people who post on this board probably don't even know what it is like to have to do this for a living, and to put yourself out there to be judged. I have always been disgusted with SOME posters blatent rudeness, and negativity, and have stopped posting here, like I used to, so this isn't something that has just come out of the blue. So I can understand Peace's point of view, entirely. Even though you should know to take the high road, and ignore negative comments, and have a thick skin, its hard to ignore vicious comments sometimes.

And now, I will step off my soapbox. Just wanted to share my 2 cents.

Cheers,

The Balladeer

[lildogs]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 11:43am

What a ticket buys, ghost, is a service from a performer and if the buyer feels that he has not received full or proper value for his money, he is entitled to redress his grievances in the town square, or in this case, bww. Of course, we have more than our fair share of b!tches up in here, myself included, but the arts draws people of strong opinion-what can you do? It's a blessing and a curse. And if you think theatre folk are all sunshine and lollipops, go to an all-female audition sometime.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 11:49am

As an actor, if you are smart, or lucky, or both, you learn at a young age to lie your face off. I have worked with people I couldn't stand...but you would never, ever know it. I saw two college-age actors feud like they were Burton and Taylor in the revival of PRIVATE LIVES. It was ridiculous because 1) it affected the show and made backstage a minefield and 2) they were both 22 years old and had no business acting like that in any way, shape or form.

Learn to outwardly like everybody and learn to make everyone like you. Learn how to make the rehearsal process easier for everyone, not just yourself. THIS is the most important advice I can give to any actor.

[lildogs]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 11:53am

She's right, don't burn yer bridges...

[leadfootlouie]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 12:04pm

Another good rule: Never be real with anyone, least of all, yourself.

That's the smell that hovers around Schubert Alley.

Bull****!

Horse dung!

or plain and simple phoniness!

What most of the people kissing everyones asses and pretending they love everyone don't get, is how very transparent they all are.

What they don't know is, how anyone actually making it in the business, can smell the "love everyones" coming at about fifty paces.

Be Yourself! Try your best and for god's sake, never listen to anything said on a message board.
Updated On: 4/20/06 at 12:04 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 12:29pm

yes, be yourself, but don't be a bitch to anyone or make people's lives harder. word gets around fast in the theatre community, and will catch up with you sooner rather than later.

no don't be all sunshine and lollipops all the time, either, because that is just as bad as being a bitch. find that happy medium, learn to take people's crap, and don't piss anyone off in the process.

be real, be intuitive, be courteous, and be likeable.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:21pm

Pippin, and louie, I couldn't agree more. Pretending that you are nice, and kind to all, is VERY transparent. The best thing to do, is like you said, be yourself, be courteous, tolerant, and keep your mouth closed. Kissing ass never gets you anywhere in the long run. What it ulitmately makes you is a doormat to be stepped on, and used and abused, because people think you are a tool. And yes, take everything you read on a message board with a grain of salt.

And lildogs....just curious....what kind of all female calls have you been to? Non-Equity? Because, if so, I can agree that it is a little unpleasant...and not just with the females. Men can be just as bad. But most of the time, if not all...these are all recent college grads who don't know anything about professionalism, and how to conduct themselves. And this doesn't represent all of the Non-Equity professional actors, college aged actors, or the majority of working actors period.

So to judge working actors on that behavior alone, is not fair, or accurate. And I just have to say thank god the IPOD was created, so that I can listen to my showtunes, and block out the negativity at these calls.



Cheers,

The Balladeer

Updated On: 4/20/06 at 02:21 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:40pm

Just treat everyone in the building with respect and as your equal. That's one of the stunning things I have observed--huge stars like Cherry Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Donna Murphy, and Brooke Shields treating everyone with respect and as an equal and some chorus folk acting like snobs. Those snobs don't always work again or become big stars...

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:48pm

There have been plenty of people I've worked with that I just plain didn't like. And they never knew it. Because what's the point of bringing that into any kind of work situation? There's a huge difference between kissing ass and treating someone in a professional, friendly manner, no matter your personal feelings about them either as a performer or person.

I only worked with one a$$hole in my life that I couldn't even bother. There was not one likable quality about him on stage or off. I just avoided him as best I could.

The business is filled with many needy, emotional vampires and jackasses...just like life. There's no reason to get close. But there's every good reason not to alienate those you're working with.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:53pm

"The business is filled with many needy, emotional vampires and jackasses...just like life."

And just like Manhunt.

[leadfootlouie]

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:56pm

My fave is when the friends of the chorus folk act like snobs!

THAT'S a hoot!

I think it's easier in LA!

Everyone knows you are after something! Why, in gods name, would you BE there, if you were not!


Updated On: 4/20/06 at 02:56 PM

[Peace]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 12:37am

I am glad that so many people replied. I'm used to negativity, especially as a performer, but coming from a concert dance background, I was not prepared for...Broadway, at least not the back biting. It has a different type of shadiness than I'm used too. It's that "smile in your face, push you down the steps" sort of shade.

And of course I'm in Hot Feet. We had our first preview tonight and it was GREAT! Standing O and all!!!! Hope you can all make it.

Peace
_________________________________________________________________
"Broadway's not what I thought it'd be..."

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 7:36am

Peace? I have a vested interest in Hot Feet as my daughter is in the show.

Standing O? Hope it continues. I think the funny thing about what I have read here is how people write about shows as if the show commits a terrible crime against humanity, rather than being less than whatever expectations the audience member has.

I think the statistic for how many Equity members are working at any given time is something like 28% and that includes tours and venues across the country and Canada. Getting the job is very difficult, keeping it is harder.

Across the years, and I am old, the theater people I have met are just like everyone else, some wonderful, some not so much.

[lildogs]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 10:42am

Balladeer, I can only speak for myself, but most of the all-female calls I have witnessed be they equity or non, have an air about them not present when males are in the room. I think it extends well beyond the realm of theatre, but it is focused in this uber-competitive industry.