Guest Blogger: Micah Young - Page 2

Have you ever been to a performance, and wondered what everyone else is listening for?  What do they focus on and what are they hearing?  I ask because after sitting through a performance recently, it seems as though everyone has similar, yet different experiences.  Everyone sees and hears something specific.  

If only we knew what people wanted, life would be easier, right? If we could read each other's minds and anticipate every step along the way in work and personal related matters, what a world this would be. Yet, we do try to do just that, and it ends up in second guessing decisions.

We talk about networking like it's this ubiquitous thing that is a part of everything concerning our businesses.  That is the macro-level; on the micro, personal level, networking is the small meet-ups, the coffee-dates and happy hour drinks.  Networking is wherever we meet, and however our paths cross; the more organic and less orchestrated, the better.

When I was a teenager I played tennis on the school team. I wasn't particularly advanced, and whenever we played the other middle school I was always paired with the more outstanding player. It comes as no surprise that I lost. A lot.

In many circumstances we are taught to believe that failure is not an option.  When we lose at sports or don't finish in first place, we fail.  Anything less than perfection is unacceptable; I've seen this in the performing arts.  The problem is though, we are not nor will we ever be perfect.

It can be difficult to create long lasting relationships and a sense of community while living in a city.  Most performing artists, among other professionals, find themselves thrust in the middle of the urban jungle, and with so many moving parts, feeling centered is a balancing act.  I think we all crave a community in one capacity or another. 

It seems that in theatre, there is more value placed on being an extrovert than an introvert.  Being outgoing means more parties, more dinner and coffee dates.  More exposure to the people that 'matter.'  This is all true.  You don't get seen staying home in your apartment. 

For every theatre production there is usually more than one round of auditions.  There's the open-call, the invited call, the callbacks, each time actors come in to sing the same song,  or something new, or songs given to them from the show.  

Artists rarely choose to be artists for the money.  There are some who make a huge amount and the success from that can propel them into great big careers.  For many of us, we survive from gig to gig.  Regardless what the money turn out to be, or whether we get all the things we want from a contract, it's important to know what you're worth. 

Give me a melody.  Arguably the measure of a show's success lies in its melody; can you walk out of the theatre humming the tune?  If you can, it's sure to be a hit.  That's the test, right?  There are shows that leave the melodies in us, whistling and singing them for days after seeing the show.  That's what commercial theatre is all about; having a good hook, and staying with us, wanting to hear it again and again.