Work is going well. I am tired. It has been over two years since I have gone to "work" two days in a row! I can't believe people do this everyday! It's crazy! Definitely not a fan but I am grateful for the work so I will stop complaining.
I did find out that one of the cute old ladies that I work with is the aunt of a famous movie star. This is kind of cool. Then I found out that my roommate did the genealogy for this same movie star. Small world. Naturally, I asked the aunt if she had any advice for me. She said that this niece doesn't let the rejection bother her, she just figures, "they weren't looking for me" and keeps on going. The aunt said her nephew has also pursued acting but he doesn't take the rejection so well and hasn't been as successful. So I need thick skin and confidence. Good advice. I'll work on that. I bet I will have lots of opportunities to develop attributes! Looking forward to it.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Acting Class: Full Frontal Nudity, yes or no???
Acting class last night was amazing! I had such a good time. I actually got to be on stage rather than just watching. I loved it. The first little skit I did was an improv with another student. I was to come in and try to convince her to go on this double date with me even though her previous blind dates weren't very successful. Be selfish and manipulative in order to get what I want? Done. I am really good at that! It went well.
Next it was my turn to recreate three minutes of my life. I chose to wash the dishes and then make a grocery list to take to the store. It went alright. I was nervous, wondering if I was boring the audience but we aren't supposed to worry about entertaining others so I tried to go about my business. It is actually not that easy when there are 30 people watching you!
Then it was my turn to improv. My teacher set up this scenario, he had a guy pretend to be a producer for a play that I auditioned for and he loved me! The director and author loved me too! He was coming over to offer me the job, which is great because I am the starving actress who hasn't had any work in the last three years. There is only one hitch, the part requires me to do a scene in full frontal nudity! Meanwhile during the skit I am supposed to continue on with my tasks of washing dishes and making a grocery list. The improv went well. The producer came in and we sat at the table and talked about the job. I completely gave up doing my "tasks" as I would in real life if a producer came over to give me a job! Then he broke it to me, the requirement of full frontal nudity. What?!? I tried to understand why and what I was going to do. When I needed time to think I returned to my task of washing dishes. I just didn't know what to say, should I do it? I really needed the money. What would my parents think? All of this was running through my head. I just stood there in silence for a moment. My acting teacher loved that, explaining that silence can be powerful and is often not used in improv. A big shout out to my acting coach in Vegas, Rhonda Carlson who taught me the value of using silence in monologues and singing. Also I just didn't know what to say! I was speechless. The wheels in my head were turning as I considered whether or not to take the part. So I did what I would do in life, put off the decision! I asked the producer how long I could take to decide. He asked me to call him by the end of the day. I told him I'd call him by midnight. That's the end of the day, right? As I showed the producer out of my pretend house, the acting teacher yelled, "take the job!" That was the end of my skit. Everyone laughed. It was rather funny. They liked my honest performance. I guess that is the advantage to playing yourself, you know how to act. Now the trick is to make every character just as "real." I must find myself in each character to make every role I play just as believable. Oh and I need to get a role. Minor things really.
I do love the acting class! It is so fun, such a high! I went to bed last Monday night at 1:30am just because it takes me so long to come down from the high. The moral is: don't take acting class until 10pm! And how can there only be a one a week! I can't get enough!
Next it was my turn to recreate three minutes of my life. I chose to wash the dishes and then make a grocery list to take to the store. It went alright. I was nervous, wondering if I was boring the audience but we aren't supposed to worry about entertaining others so I tried to go about my business. It is actually not that easy when there are 30 people watching you!
Then it was my turn to improv. My teacher set up this scenario, he had a guy pretend to be a producer for a play that I auditioned for and he loved me! The director and author loved me too! He was coming over to offer me the job, which is great because I am the starving actress who hasn't had any work in the last three years. There is only one hitch, the part requires me to do a scene in full frontal nudity! Meanwhile during the skit I am supposed to continue on with my tasks of washing dishes and making a grocery list. The improv went well. The producer came in and we sat at the table and talked about the job. I completely gave up doing my "tasks" as I would in real life if a producer came over to give me a job! Then he broke it to me, the requirement of full frontal nudity. What?!? I tried to understand why and what I was going to do. When I needed time to think I returned to my task of washing dishes. I just didn't know what to say, should I do it? I really needed the money. What would my parents think? All of this was running through my head. I just stood there in silence for a moment. My acting teacher loved that, explaining that silence can be powerful and is often not used in improv. A big shout out to my acting coach in Vegas, Rhonda Carlson who taught me the value of using silence in monologues and singing. Also I just didn't know what to say! I was speechless. The wheels in my head were turning as I considered whether or not to take the part. So I did what I would do in life, put off the decision! I asked the producer how long I could take to decide. He asked me to call him by the end of the day. I told him I'd call him by midnight. That's the end of the day, right? As I showed the producer out of my pretend house, the acting teacher yelled, "take the job!" That was the end of my skit. Everyone laughed. It was rather funny. They liked my honest performance. I guess that is the advantage to playing yourself, you know how to act. Now the trick is to make every character just as "real." I must find myself in each character to make every role I play just as believable. Oh and I need to get a role. Minor things really.
I do love the acting class! It is so fun, such a high! I went to bed last Monday night at 1:30am just because it takes me so long to come down from the high. The moral is: don't take acting class until 10pm! And how can there only be a one a week! I can't get enough!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Cattle Call!
Last Tuesday I went to the auditions for the national tour of Addams Family. They said they needed tango and flamenco dancers so I thought I might venture. Online it said it was a singing audition so I got all dressed up nice to sing. When I got there I found out we were dancing first! Usually that is done at callbacks. I had 25 min. to go home and change. I knew I wouldn't make it but I figured they would start late because there were hundreds of girls there, a true "cattle call". I arrived at 1:30 and added my name to the long list and waited for my turn. They were taking 30 girls at a time, then 45, and then because they were running out of time they took the last 70 all together. They taught us 12 counts of dancing, let us dance it three at a time and then the choreographer said "you and you stay and you thank you for coming." It was crazy! I was told thanks for coming. And the competition begins! So all that work for ten seconds of audition time! Ah, I love this profession! That is ok though there are tons of more auditions to come and I will be ready with music AND dancing shoes!
Sights, Sounds and Smells of NYC
I have seen some weird things since I have been in NYC. I thought it would be fun to keep a running list. So here are the ones I remember so far....
1. Rats chasing each other on the train tracks. Ah, how sweet!
2. The rumble of an oncoming train. If it's above my head it sounds like a NASA rocket about to lift off. I like to count backwards and imagine I'm on it about to shoot into space! If the noise is coming from a train I'm about to board I plug my ears because it is so loud!
3. Something I like to call subway or train turbulence. At times the ride is very smooth and other times, most other times I wonder if we are on a track at all or just richocheting from side to side as we speed through the tunnel. I love the subway. I feel like I am riding inside a huge earthworm as it plows through the dirt.
4. The loud noise of the subway down below my apartment window that I didn't think would bother me because I am a heavy sleeper but does keep me awake at times.
5. The man I passed in the park as I was jogging. He was casually smoking weed as he walked through the park.
6. The endless smell of cigarettes. I am not in Kansas anymore.
7. I am amazed at how high the smell of cigarettes can climb. We opened our window the other night to enjoy the clean, crisp fall air and sure enough got some second hand smoke along with it. Yum! Then the other night it was a little different smelling...
8. Brenda, my cousin, saw a woman vomit in the train tracks. Sorry I missed that one.
9. Then there was a man peeing in the streets as he was walking. I guess he didn't think anyone would notice because it was raining? Brenda and I braved the rain to get some Chinese food. On our way back we noticed this guy walking in front of us, with a little more rain on one side of him than the other. I don't know how else to say it. All of the sudden he zipped up his pants and it stopped. Nice to know this is not just water we are sloshing through in our sandals. We just both looked at each other and said, "really? Did he just do that?" I am not sure if this is a Harlem thing or a NYC thing but it's pretty gross. I have heard the homeless do this but this guy didn't look homeless but who am I to judge? There are sides near the greenery at the base of the trees that say "Curb your animals" that means don't let them pee here, right? I am pretty sure it's not the animals we need to worry about!
10. I have also noticed that men do not casually glance at women as they walk by but stare at them. They do the full head turn, follow the woman for several seconds as she passes them. I know I am not in Utah anymore or Kansas for that matter but come on. You can't make it anymore obvious than they do! It's a little creepy. Once again, is this a Harlem thing or a NYC thing, I am not sure.
11. Watched a man try to squeeze into a subway car that was already full of people. The door started to close but he was determined. A man outside helped by pushing him in as the door was closing. Sure enough, he was able to fit. It reminded me of how you try and stuff your suitcase while packing, zipping it up and poking the clothes in with your hand so you can finishing zipping it. It was very funny, made me laugh!
12. This happened in Hoboken, NJ but close enough. As we were walking through the park we saw some parents help their son pee in a plastic bag which ok is weird but not unheard of but imagine our surprise as watched the parents turn him around and hold me so he could poop in the bag! What! I am sorry I know I'm not a parent but that is a little weird. It gave us all a good laugh!
13. The other night we were walking home from a church activity and a trash bag started to move. Something was inside! Probably a rat. It was very creepy.
14. Saw a man playing the violin in the subway a week or so ago. The classical music was beautiful. He was being accompanied by a recording. It was so fun to watch the people around him. Their bodies were facing him, they formed a circle around him. The mood was peaceful and calm. People were quiet, listening. It was quite a contrast to the loud inappropriate rap music that some sing and dance to in the subway. People ignore them, wish they weren't there. The feeling is anything but peaceful. Music is so powerful! It can definitely draw us closer to our Heavenly Father, even in a subway station!
15. Discovered a new use for my umbrella (that you must carry with you at all times in NYC). I can stick it in the closing door of the subway instead of an arm or leg. This way the door reopens and I can safely enter. Often times I've wanted to stick a limb in so I can get on the train but I am kind of hesitant. What if the door doesn't open and the train starts to move? I don't want to risk a limb, I kind of like the ones I've got, but an umbrella? That can always be replaced!
1. Rats chasing each other on the train tracks. Ah, how sweet!
2. The rumble of an oncoming train. If it's above my head it sounds like a NASA rocket about to lift off. I like to count backwards and imagine I'm on it about to shoot into space! If the noise is coming from a train I'm about to board I plug my ears because it is so loud!
3. Something I like to call subway or train turbulence. At times the ride is very smooth and other times, most other times I wonder if we are on a track at all or just richocheting from side to side as we speed through the tunnel. I love the subway. I feel like I am riding inside a huge earthworm as it plows through the dirt.
4. The loud noise of the subway down below my apartment window that I didn't think would bother me because I am a heavy sleeper but does keep me awake at times.
5. The man I passed in the park as I was jogging. He was casually smoking weed as he walked through the park.
6. The endless smell of cigarettes. I am not in Kansas anymore.
7. I am amazed at how high the smell of cigarettes can climb. We opened our window the other night to enjoy the clean, crisp fall air and sure enough got some second hand smoke along with it. Yum! Then the other night it was a little different smelling...
8. Brenda, my cousin, saw a woman vomit in the train tracks. Sorry I missed that one.
9. Then there was a man peeing in the streets as he was walking. I guess he didn't think anyone would notice because it was raining? Brenda and I braved the rain to get some Chinese food. On our way back we noticed this guy walking in front of us, with a little more rain on one side of him than the other. I don't know how else to say it. All of the sudden he zipped up his pants and it stopped. Nice to know this is not just water we are sloshing through in our sandals. We just both looked at each other and said, "really? Did he just do that?" I am not sure if this is a Harlem thing or a NYC thing but it's pretty gross. I have heard the homeless do this but this guy didn't look homeless but who am I to judge? There are sides near the greenery at the base of the trees that say "Curb your animals" that means don't let them pee here, right? I am pretty sure it's not the animals we need to worry about!
10. I have also noticed that men do not casually glance at women as they walk by but stare at them. They do the full head turn, follow the woman for several seconds as she passes them. I know I am not in Utah anymore or Kansas for that matter but come on. You can't make it anymore obvious than they do! It's a little creepy. Once again, is this a Harlem thing or a NYC thing, I am not sure.
11. Watched a man try to squeeze into a subway car that was already full of people. The door started to close but he was determined. A man outside helped by pushing him in as the door was closing. Sure enough, he was able to fit. It reminded me of how you try and stuff your suitcase while packing, zipping it up and poking the clothes in with your hand so you can finishing zipping it. It was very funny, made me laugh!
12. This happened in Hoboken, NJ but close enough. As we were walking through the park we saw some parents help their son pee in a plastic bag which ok is weird but not unheard of but imagine our surprise as watched the parents turn him around and hold me so he could poop in the bag! What! I am sorry I know I'm not a parent but that is a little weird. It gave us all a good laugh!
13. The other night we were walking home from a church activity and a trash bag started to move. Something was inside! Probably a rat. It was very creepy.
14. Saw a man playing the violin in the subway a week or so ago. The classical music was beautiful. He was being accompanied by a recording. It was so fun to watch the people around him. Their bodies were facing him, they formed a circle around him. The mood was peaceful and calm. People were quiet, listening. It was quite a contrast to the loud inappropriate rap music that some sing and dance to in the subway. People ignore them, wish they weren't there. The feeling is anything but peaceful. Music is so powerful! It can definitely draw us closer to our Heavenly Father, even in a subway station!
15. Discovered a new use for my umbrella (that you must carry with you at all times in NYC). I can stick it in the closing door of the subway instead of an arm or leg. This way the door reopens and I can safely enter. Often times I've wanted to stick a limb in so I can get on the train but I am kind of hesitant. What if the door doesn't open and the train starts to move? I don't want to risk a limb, I kind of like the ones I've got, but an umbrella? That can always be replaced!
Acting class #2
Acting class last Monday was alright. There were so many people there and still several who were auditing. I don't like big classes. I wonder if it will be like that all semester, people coming in and out. We all had to come prepared to do this one exercise, our homework but of course because there were so many people we only got through maybe seven people. This is going to be a long semester. Hopefully, I will be able to do my exercise this Monday. It was good I got to see others perform theirs so I can make necessary corrections before doing mine. I have completely changed mine. We have to recreate three minutes of our life on stage. We can do the dishes or clean or eat, just be ourselves on stage. Well make an entrance and an exit with the activity. Then the second time he will throw in an obstacle, another person that needs to talk to us but we must continue to try and complete out task. Improvisation makes me nervous. Give me some lines! They are a great security blanket. Hopefully, it goes well this Monday.
Why does everything have to be once a week? Tap class, acting class. It's not enough! A week is too long to wait for the next class. Maybe I should just do it, go to acting school, then I could do it everyday! And could progress that much faster.
Why does everything have to be once a week? Tap class, acting class. It's not enough! A week is too long to wait for the next class. Maybe I should just do it, go to acting school, then I could do it everyday! And could progress that much faster.
Tap Classes
I have always wanted to learn how to tap dance. Unfortunately, that was one type of dance I never took as a kid. Big mistake, especially if you want to do musical theater! At the time I didn't know that's what I wanted. Needless to say I am playing catch up now. Monday morning I took a Basic Tap class at the Broadway Dance Center. Basic is supposed to be even slower than beginners so I thought I would be ok. Nope! Wow, it was hard and humiliating! I have never felt so uncoordinated in my whole life! I know I looked retarded too! I muddled through. The teacher was nice but wow, I don't think that was a basic class. I think I need the class with the six year olds in it. I tried to have fun and not get discouraged. I wanted to take a ballet class afterwards just to boost my ego back up.
But I thought I would just try a different studio so Tuesday night I went to the Alvin Ailey Extension and took another basic tap class. This one was much slower. The teacher was amazing! I understood everything she taught, doesn't mean I could do it but I could try! I actually did alright. It was also a lot more fun. I think I have found my class! We did this whole long routine that I could get about 75% of, not bad for the second class. At the end of the class we did these walks across the room. For some reason they were so hard! The teacher kind of looked at me in shock, unable to believe that I couldn't do them. It was awful but very funny at the same time. I felt like talking to my feet saying, "I'm telling you what to do! Why can't you do it???" It was embarrassing. But I think I will leave right after work and do my best to make it there next Tues. I can't wait to take the class again. I will learn to tap!
But I thought I would just try a different studio so Tuesday night I went to the Alvin Ailey Extension and took another basic tap class. This one was much slower. The teacher was amazing! I understood everything she taught, doesn't mean I could do it but I could try! I actually did alright. It was also a lot more fun. I think I have found my class! We did this whole long routine that I could get about 75% of, not bad for the second class. At the end of the class we did these walks across the room. For some reason they were so hard! The teacher kind of looked at me in shock, unable to believe that I couldn't do them. It was awful but very funny at the same time. I felt like talking to my feet saying, "I'm telling you what to do! Why can't you do it???" It was embarrassing. But I think I will leave right after work and do my best to make it there next Tues. I can't wait to take the class again. I will learn to tap!
Work has begun!
Last Wednesday I had my training for work at the Met Museum. It went well. I was the only student in the training class, which I love! I am kind of an attention hog so anytime I get private lessons I am happy. The cash register seemed pretty easy now I just have to remember it all.
Thursday I went to work. All of my co-workers were really nice and helpful, explaining everything I needed to know about the shop. It wasn't too busy which is good but also boring. We have to stand all day. I think I will like it better during the holidays when it is busier, then time will speed by and my feet won't hurt! I worked yesterday too. This time I got to work until closing. I had to close out the register and count my money. Thank goodness I didn't come out owing anything!
The customers are lovely. They have been really kind and patient as I explain it's only my first or second day. I do love the little old ladies that come in and want to buy jewelry or stationary. They are on occasion the business men who come in to pick out a piece of jewelry for their wives. Yesterday a couple was in and the wife said she liked a bracelet. As she was walking around the store he quickly bought it while she wasn't looking. So sweet!
So it's been going well so far, one week down many more to go. I am also grateful to have today off! Time to relax and catch up on things!
Thursday I went to work. All of my co-workers were really nice and helpful, explaining everything I needed to know about the shop. It wasn't too busy which is good but also boring. We have to stand all day. I think I will like it better during the holidays when it is busier, then time will speed by and my feet won't hurt! I worked yesterday too. This time I got to work until closing. I had to close out the register and count my money. Thank goodness I didn't come out owing anything!
The customers are lovely. They have been really kind and patient as I explain it's only my first or second day. I do love the little old ladies that come in and want to buy jewelry or stationary. They are on occasion the business men who come in to pick out a piece of jewelry for their wives. Yesterday a couple was in and the wife said she liked a bracelet. As she was walking around the store he quickly bought it while she wasn't looking. So sweet!
So it's been going well so far, one week down many more to go. I am also grateful to have today off! Time to relax and catch up on things!
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