Friday, March 22, 2013
Things I Wish I Had Been Told in Theatre School
Callam Rodya / Creative Work + Commentary: Theatre school was great. It is great. But it can omit some of the more fundamental and important career lessons. School is, after all, a bubble. It’s not a natural professional environment.
So, with what little wisdom I have regarding a career as an actor, here’s a list of some things I wish somebody had told me in theatre school. Some of these lessons, I had to learn the hard way. Others simply would have saved me a bit of time.
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12 comments:
I feel like a good summary of this article could be "Grow up, you're not as special as you think you are". And I think that's a great message, and definitely very applicable to all students here at CMU. In our sheltered school environment where everyone is talented and whatnot, many forget that out there in the real world, there are just as many talented people who are going to be more hard-working and less entitled. It seems that this article has circulated quite a bit since it was posted; I've seen it show up on my Facebook newsfeed a few times. And that's great, the more people read this, the better.
Though this is definitely directed towards actors, there are quite a few things in there that apply to us that do the background work in theatre. Namely, number twenty-five- "You are replaceable." Especially in our first few years in the industry, we really are replaceable. It's really a reality check that everyone should have often enough to humble them. Yeah, maybe you made a really great project, but someone else might've been able to make that project. I've worked on shows where a stage manager was fired, and as an assistant I had to work with a new stage manager the following night. Even the people who seem the most important, can be replaced if they've screwed something up. And, CMU students have a tendency to think very highly of their abilities, and excel in school. But, frankly, the real world doesn't take mishaps very well, and one has to be humble and do their best instead of show off and expect that they'll be fine even though they messed up something.
While I agree that all of these things are good to know I am surprised that people feel they should be specifically taught these things. I think they are pretty much all common sense. A few of them could even be replaced with "dont be stupid" like the one about not showing up drunk or high to the job. I mean really? you need someone to sit you down in a class room and teach you this? Thats pretty sad.
I do think that the lesson from this article that theatre in school is not the exact same as theatre in real life is a very important one though. But at the same time I do feel like everyone should know that at least to a certain degree because its the exact same as with any other job and college major; the major is not the job, it only prepares you for the job.
I completely agree with Camille about this article. I agree that we all could use a lesson on how work together. No matter how many times the professors tell us theatre is not a collaborative effort it is never enough. I need to be reminded this every time I got into a group meeting. This doesn't mean that I just don't input anything either. You should submit what you have to give when it is appropriated. Although most of the advice applied to acting and actors the core message "you're not that special" I will still try and work towards that group effort.
To add to what Kelly mention about number 25. That does depend on who you are referring to, yes anyone can be replaced but most of the time uppermanagement does not want to replace certain people. the statement "You are replaceable" is in regards to the idea of i can find someone easily to do your job. there are hundreds of actors that can replace any given actor on a set. now the same can not be said about a good skilled stage manager. This is why I strive to acquire more skills and certification i.e. EMT Welding Drafting rigging. The more i can be useful the more i am wanted and the harder i am to be replaced. I think this tip can be used as a standard to carrying yourself in a work place. To make yourself irreplaceable.
I agree with april that a lot of these things seem like common sense. However, I think there's a huge difference in being told something and learning something. I for one have heard all of this advice at least once before but I don't think I've actually learned a single thing on that list for real. Yes, we're all replaceable, and I know that, but I've never experienced that. I also honestly think that the last bit of advice is the most important. If there's anything else in the world that you can do, you should do it instead of theater. this business is crazy. The things we do are insane and the deadlines are even more ridiculous. anyone in their right mind would never want to do this job and we joke about that all the time at school, but i have a feeling that in the real world, its not a joke. I think this article is really valuable in what it has to say, but I also think that the things on the list need to be learned, not just passed on like gossip.
I agree with Kelly. We're replaceable. Sean also has a very good tactic of gaining skills that would allow for him to keep his job. I think that's a smart thing to do, and an even smarter thing if you're in a position to be getting paid for all those certifications. I also agree with Camille that students fresh out of their college bubble will have to grapple for a while with the fact that they're not special. There's always going to be someone out there who's better than you in just about every capacity you consider yourself qualified for- better looking, more talented, more organized, better personality to work with, etc. Bottom line, being a real human being working in the real world is going to suck unless you keep yourself motivated and stick to believing in yourself and enjoying what you're doing.
I feel as though at CMU there is a certain amount of cockiness people get because of the program and the name it has in the industry. Basically, this article was a wakeup call to people who haven't realized that that cockiness and feeling of entitlement will kill their careers. Indeed, people are replaceable, especially people at the bottom of the food chain. Attitude really is everything, even more so for those of us in the design and technical fields. The most important thing in a job interview is to come across as someone who people want to work with. Whether or not you have the skills to do the job is important, but you could be the best person in the world at what you do, but if your attitude sucks you will get significantly less work.
Although this article is not really geared towards us as designers, I think it is. There are parts of this that are things that I would definitely like to learn in theatre school, and I feel like after reading this, I will now be more self-aware. The one that states "You are replaceable" is perfect and true. There are so many "perfect" designers for a show. There are so many "perfect" actors for a part. How many productions of HAIRSPRAY have you seen where there has been a different Tracy? How many different people have played Elphaba now? The answer is a lot. There are too many perfect people to live with the attitude that you are the best. Theatre school teaches people that...hopefully.
After reading these lists, I agree with what Camille regarded the summary as "you are not as special as you think you are." I think most of people can think that their position to be very important and crucial because a production is made only through collaboration of all sorts of things. However, after reading this article, the phrase of "you are replaceable" struck me very hard. I should have known that there are tons of designers, actors, and others to be hired and so willing to work. Just because you are hired, you should not be lazy or loose because you can be replaceable anytime. Like Kelly said, most of the things listed here are directed for the actors, but there are still important tips for me too. I feel like I should treat everything more valuable and also I should be more tough because this area is definitely a tough business.
as i sit here reading these comments i think more and more that the actors should also have to do these real world article comments. everything mentioned in this article is absolutely true. and something that you think would be common knowledge to any not self centered person. however thats not what theater is about. i think one of the most valueable things in any carrer and life is that no matter how good you are at something if people dont want to work with you, they wont. this is touched on in this article and i think way more people should pay attention to that fact and take it into more consideration.
To respond to what DPSag said, Yes my skills at times can be seen in by a piece of paper stating I have a skill but I feel that designers who might not necessarily have "Certifiable" skills can still have irreplaceable assets. A designer with a particular incredibly unique style can be irreplaceable because not very many other people can come up with their vision. Dan effros' lighting design for spring awakening could not have been done so well by very many other designers. I avoid using definitive statements because yes there will always be someone else out there who could do it and mabe even better. But my point from the start has been Make yourself Irreplaceable, once you treat yourself and others under the assumption that you cant be replaced is when you let yourself get to your head.
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