book- "Making it on Broadway" — Page 2

Heh, I read this in my university library once because I was stalling finishing a paper.

Good anecdotal stuff, but obviously the negative stories are more interesting than a bunch of people gushing about how performing completes their lives. They respond to that in all the other media outlets, this book was the only place they could really let all out all the negative steam that they censor out of other interviews.

---

Rather would have brute honesty than fluffy lies...

---

I'm actually reading it for the second time now. It's one of the few books that I wish had kept going - I wasn't ready for it to end.

When I first read the section about how the "veterans" give the new people crap for being so enthusiastic and excited, it pissed me off. However, I realized that in my profession (education), you find a similar situation. You see the first year teachers coming in so thrilled and excited - flowing with ideas and hopes, etc. Some veteran teachers are thoroughly annoyed at the optimism and energy of the 'new people' - and often make remarks like "yeah, you keep up that enthusiasm, and we'll see how it holds up when you find out what it's really like." I've seen teachers be completely condescending with the new ones - all because they are basically pissed off that the motivated people make them look bad.

So while I still wish that the jaded attitude was different with some of the Broadway performers - now I at least kind of see how it can happen.

I didn't mean it to sound as though I'm "not passionate" about a career in theatre. My big problem right now is deciding whether or not I am enough to where I want to major in it in college, and risk not being able to support myself. I had just read the part about the veteran actors nto really being into it, and was upset that people in a Broadway show would actually act like that. Heck, I think having to get changed into factory worker costumes for Les Mis in a depressing setting is kind of neat since it's a depressing show. GO WITH IT! And I agree with what someone else said- I'd put a box over my head and be a part of the barricade to be in Les Mis. I know I could never live without musicals, I just don't know if I'd rather perform in them or be an obsessed audience member.

---