Working with Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Kristin! Advice?

[1cronus11]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 8:57pm

Hi friends! I'm new to the boards here, but I thought this would be a good place to post a question I have.

This weekend I'm singing backup for Kristin Chenoweth in concert! I'm very excited. Her music director is the one and only Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and I'm so excited to work with her! I just graduated with my acting degree and in all honesty, I'm chomping at the bit to meet MMC and hopefully connect with her. Obviously she's a big deal of a pro but she also seems like a genuinely cool person!! My question is basically: How does one talk to a Broadway music director and make a good impression so that they might remember you! I'm hoping to move to NY soon so I thought maybe to ask her for advice, or about her recent projects, or just chit-chat! I'm not the most eloquent when it comes to "networking" (the word itself is so cold...) so any advice is super appreciated! I wasn't sure if this fit better here or on the student board but I put it here because I thought you guys would enjoy it, and I'm also no longer a student! :P

Updated On: 5/18/16 at 08:57 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 9:40pm

Act normal, like a professional. If you act like how you write, she will be terrified of you. Take it down about twenty notches. That's my advice. 

Updated On: 5/19/16 at 09:40 PM

[rcwr]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 11:16pm

I chatted with her when she did Finding Neverland in Cambridge, and I was just an audience member. She's nice. Be professional and calm, don't be fannish, and you'll be fine.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 5/19/16 at 11:11pm

I hope that you didn't expect to receive a dozen posts full of good advice and friendly encouragement.

The people here really know their theater, and probably many have as much or more talent than others who have had more success in their careers. But not many would accuse them of being warm and friendly.

[LaneBryant]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:40am

Let your work speak for itself, period. Be on time, know your stuff, and do what is asked of you - that's how you get remembered. MMC is an awesome chick but she does a million of these things and there won't really be hours of time for you to kick back and shoot the breeze - you'll be working, she'll be working. If you want to send her a nice thank you email after the event, cool. But you gotta play it cool, don't come across as desperate, or as if you're expecting her to "put you on". 

[MISH2]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:47am

1cronus11 said: "Hi friends! I'm new to the boards here, but I thought this would be a good place to post a question I have.

This weekend I'm singing backup for Kristin Chenoweth in concert! I'm very excited. Her music director is the one and only Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and I'm so excited to work with her! I just graduated with my acting degree and in all honesty, I'm chomping at the bit to meet MMC and hopefully connect with her. Obviously she's a big deal of a pro but she also seems like a genuinely cool person!! My question is basically: How does one talk to a Broadway music director and make a good impression so that they might remember you! I'm hoping to move to NY soon so I thought maybe to ask her for advice, or about her recent projects, or just chit-chat! I'm not the most eloquent when it comes to "networking" (the word itself is so cold...) so any advice is super appreciated! I wasn't sure if this fit better here or on the student board but I put it here because I thought you guys would enjoy it, and I'm also no longer a student! :P

 

Talk less.

Smile more.

Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for.

(Slaps self in face!  Snap out of it!)

(Much excellent, serious advice given by everyone above.  Congratulations on such a great gig!)

 

"

 

[leefowler]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:01am

Having worked with both of them, I can say you will never work with more lovely, brilliant, talented people in your life! You've hit the niceness jackpot.

 

Performing on Broadway is way easier than regional or amateur in a lot of ways, actually. You're working with people at the top of their game, who know exactly what they're doing.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 11:52am

And become familiar with the charitable organization she heads, Actors Striving to End Poverty.  www.astep.org.  Perhaps make a contribution in honor of your gig, and if you get a chance, talk to her about that.  It's what keeps her going with 3-4 hours of sleet a day.