national tour vs. Broadway- preference for actors?- Page 2

[julesboogie]

Posted: 1/16/12 at 11:55am

It seems like touring is really geared toward the young. Or people who dont mind not having the separation between work and life. On Broadway people go to work and then go home. On tour, they travel together, stay in the same hotels, head to the theatre, walk home, eat, and possibly room together. You'd really have to love being with the same people day in and day out right?

I imagine the draw of having a steady place, separate friends, familiar surroundings, a family, and a life outside of work, would really appeal to someone more settled. Neither being a bad thing.

[junkyard]

Posted: 1/17/12 at 12:57pm

An actor is a 'journeyman'. He has to go where the work is. No actor (at least none that need to make a living) makes a conscious decision whether or not to tour. He hopes for the day (which to often never comes) when he might have the opportunity to have a stable life and not live out of a suitcase. I hate touring at my age, even though I have some fond memories, especially when I had to help move props off-stage, stumbled and broke my nose (didn't even miss a performance). An actor can not afford to be complacent. I have two sets of luggage, one set I use for when I vacation and the other set is old and has seen better days, which I used on the road. I still keep it around, I never know when I might have to use it again.....best wishes to all and if we ever come across each other on the road, please be kind to this 'ole guy'.......

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/17/12 at 2:04pm

As a veteran of 6 tours...I'd like to add a few tidbits.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...the bedbugs...the travel...the clubs...whatever. A tour is what you make of it, including what your living wage will be, union or non union. But on the bright side...

You get to see your own country for free...you spend down time sight seeing...Graceland...Mount Rushmore...a California sunset...SHOPPING at Mall of America...playing the same great stages across this country that every other rock star or living legend has played. There is a theater out in Palm Springs (Palm Desert?)that is COVERED in autographs of everyone from Liza, to Mancini to Bono. Playing that theater was a kick.

I also had the fortune of playing an out of town political fundraiser and have an Official White House photo hanging on my wall of my company with the Vice President. Pretty neat.

I think everyone should do at least one tour to say you've been. If you can do that, you can do anything. All of us wish we could have the perfect stay at home theater job but it's just not doable for most.