Should I be on here?
Should I be on here?
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#1Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:15pm
Don't get me wrong, I loved theatre and Broadway for years. However, almost every post I go to, there's a sense of accomplishment that I don't seem to have. Every forum post I go to, there's at least one person who's saying things like "John Cariani told me he's auditioning for Mendel in Falsettos", "I've been to private dinner parties with Stephen Sondheim, and he's a pretty cool guy." I'm an 18 year old acting major from Illinois whose only got a handful of community theatre credits to my name. I've only seen a show on Broadway once, and it was Wicked. Do I belong on this message board?
#2Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:16pm
Alex Kulak2 said: "Don't get me wrong, I loved theatre and Broadway for years. However, almost every post I go to, there's a sense of accomplishment that I don't seem to have. Every forum post I go to, there's at least one person who's saying things like "John Cariani told me he's auditioning for Mendel in Falsettos", "I've been to private dinner parties with Stephen Sondheim, and he's a pretty cool guy." I'm an 18 year old acting major from Illinois whose only got a handful of community theatre credits to my name. I've only seen a show on Broadway once, and it was Wicked. Do I belong on this message board?
"
Yes.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#3Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:17pm
i read the little bio on the bottom of your post, and I immediately felt better.
#4Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:19pm
I know you're being hyperbolic, and yes, this board is very NYC-centric and there are a lot of people who have connections. But that doesn't mean you don't belong. There are plenty of people here who've never been to NYC or took a long time to get there -- I was posting here for over a year before I even made my first trip. (Now I live here, but that's not really the point of this reply!)
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#5Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:21pm
LizzieCurry, Those two quotes aren't hyperbole. They're direct quotes from posts on here.
#6Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:26pm
I didn't mean what you were quoting. I meant when you said "Every forum post I go to, there's at least one person who's saying things like"... It's clearly not every post.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#7Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/12/16 at 11:52pm
If you value coherent conversation you may want to go elsewhere...
In all seriousness, the fact that I'm not an insider or even a NYC resident is one of the major reasons I do frequent these boards. It's my connection to the Broadway community from afar.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#8Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 12:15am
If you love Broadway and theatre, you belong here. Period.
Welcome!
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#10Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 12:46am
yes you should and welcome. ask, learn, contribute.
I've been at this since before you were born but if you want the best explanation of why, watch 6:05-20 of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=danBaPWT09A
#11Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 3:37am
while i'm slightly judging op for choosing Wicked as their first show on Broadway, i agree that he belongs here!
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
#12Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 3:57am
I feel if you have a hobby, interest, passion, whatever it may be, you belong here or at whatever forum that matches your interest in order to learn, broaden and contribute to reach your personal goals.
My husband started shooting digital photos with a Sony point-and shoot in 2001. After many photography forums and chat boards, today he has top notch equipment and captures stunning photographs of nature, landscapes and cityscapes. All from knowledge he gained engaging with beginners and professionals via forums on the internet.
I found this board because I was trying to get insight on the Hamilton Cancellation Line to feed my desire to enjoy Broadway this year. Six months later, I'm still here and I made very nice aquaintances. I found so many interesting threads and enjoy reading what people are writing about regarding Broadway. Openings, closings, cast departures... t's a great place to get insight about theater or just to read a debate and rebuttals on any given topic.
To sum it up, YES! you belong! And enjoy your stay!
#13Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 6:56am
gypsy101 said: "while i'm slightly judging op for choosing Wicked as their first show on Broadway, i agree that he belongs here!
"
If you are judging the op on this, then you are judging millions of people.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#14Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 7:09am
Yes, how horrid to choose a huge hit over some artsy, obscure show. The nerve.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#15Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 7:51am
There are people on this board who work in the arts. There are people on this board who don't work in the arts but represent themselves as if they do. There are people on this board who are just fans. It is (or should be) a place for everyone.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#16Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 7:55am
Alex,
Of course you belong here. The more appropriate question is (and will be), do you want to belong here? This site can provide a lot of information, but it also has more than a few rude, nasty, intolerant bullies. Many new people have come here and then walked away because of them. Learn who they are quickly, and use the ignore feature to weed them out of sight. Then if you find the place to your liking, by all means stay, and enjoy.
#17Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 8:28am
I saw this while having dinner with Christian Borle, and he said you should be on here.
#18Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 8:38am
haterobics said: "I saw this while having dinner with Christian Borle, and he said you should be on here."
A+
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#19Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 8:50am
gypsy101 said: "while i'm slightly judging op for choosing Wicked as their first show on Broadway, i agree that he belongs here!"
And I'm actually judging you for choosing to judge someone for something that has no impact on you whatsoever. A teenager from the midwest? God forbid the first show be something on a school trip or a family vacation.
And yes, you belong here. IN FACT, we need more people like you on here.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#20Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 9:20am
gypsy101 said: "while i'm slightly judging op for choosing Wicked as their first show on Broadway, i agree that he belongs here!"
I didn't pick it. It was a high school trip, and we put it to a vote. I wanted to see Les Miz.
#21Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 9:27am
As long as you have the passion to learn and discuss theater, you belong here. I do have a tiny bit of experience in it, but not enough to consider myself a professional. I also work in retail as my career right now. So, I consider myself mostly a fan. I think everyone is needed because it can give a lot of different and interesting perspectives and opinions.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#22Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 10:08am
ChildofEarth said: "gypsy101 said: "while i'm slightly judging op for choosing Wicked as their first show on Broadway, i agree that he belongs here!"
And I'm actually judging you for choosing to judge someone for something that has no impact on you whatsoever. A teenager from the midwest? God forbid the first show be something on a school trip or a family vacation.
And yes, you belong here. IN FACT, we need more people like you on here."
Who is "we?" Also, what do you mean by, "people like you?" Are you speaking on behalf of the entire Board? How presumptuous...
#23Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 10:30am
The board needs more people like the OP, young people with genuine interest and passion for theatre who will be the ones driving it forward in the future, and less warmed-over trolls.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#24Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 10:33am
If you want to be here, you should be here. There are people here in the business & not...old people, young people, nice people, rude people,...you know, life.
Everyone just needs to find their own niche here....and unless it's something you enjoy, do not get involved in some of the "drama" (no pun intended) in some threads. However, you should not feel the need to explain what Broadway show you and why you picked it.....
Everyone feels differently about everything - and you just stand up for what you want to say/see and don't let anyone bully you into thinking your opinions don't matter. Just because you are new and young does not make your opinion any less valid than anyone else's.
SueBee06
Stand-by Joined: 1/12/16
#25Should I be on here?
Posted: 9/13/16 at 10:41am
I mostly lurk, but you should absolutely be here as long as it's something that makes you happy. If it stops making you happy or being something you enjoy, then take a break and step away. Life's too short to spend on chat boards that don't bring you pleasure. Er, bad phrasing, but you know what I mean.
And I would take an awful lot of what you read with a grain of salt. Yes, several people on here work in the NY theatre community, but some people exaggerate their knowledge and connections. And yes, some are a bit bitchy and have knee jerk reactions to things. It comes with the territory of a chat board and is easy to shrug off once you get to 'know' the various people. Please try to remember, we've all been you at some point in our lives. Personally, I love seeing someone young who is interested in theatre and feeds that interest. It's an awesome reminder of everything I love about the theatre world.
