emilkang.substack.com: A few nights ago I was sitting at a bar in Chelsea before a show, waiting for a colleague, when another colleague walked in. We hugged. When I mentioned I was meeting our mutual friend, she said she had been with her the night before at a different performance. We laughed about it, the way you do when the pattern is so familiar it doesn’t even register anymore. We’ve been doing this for thirty years and we still can’t stop.
3 comments:
I appreciate the sentiment. Part of the reason I like the performance and production industry is because of its all or nothing nature. We work hard for long hours to get shows up in no time at all. I like this, but the vigor we must have for the physical labor of productions doesn’t necessarily need to translate into all aspects of our world. This essay touches on the idea that we shouldn’t be pedal to the metal at all times. My mom is a high school performing arts teacher and manager from the same generation as the author of this piece. I watch her constantly work herself to exhaustion through long nights of rehearsals, fund raisers, and outreach shows, always pushing towards the next thing. Because of her efforts, she has created one of the best high school performing arts programs in Massachusetts, all within the bounds of a public school. I think what this essay gets right is that pushing ourselves to exhaustion isn’t a personal problem but a systemic one in our industry. While I’m fine working long nights getting shows set up, 50 year old ladies like my mom shouldn’t be working themselves to the bone to just stay afloat. I personally don’t know what the solution to this problem is. If you asked my mom how she felt about the work she does despite its toll, she would say she’s happy, and I would respond similarly if asked about what I’ve done in the industry, but there must be some change we can make to ensure the longevity of the health of those working in this world. Maybe I’m not the one to ask about this.
What I love about the industry that I work in is that I am able to appreciate everything that I work on. Like the concept of work having an effect on the body really doesn't apply to something you appreciate doing. I think everyone should really aspire to be having fun doing their job. I actually for the longest time was thinking about pursing an entirely different career in something like business. However, I never did because of this exact idea. That I would never actually be having fun in my career choice. My future jobs would always be "work" and not "fun" which I found rather appalling in my personal opinion. I wish it was easier for people to pursue their passions and hobbies without consequences. Theres to much emphasis in the modern world on finding a job that makes the most money possible. It's never finding something that you would be statsifed doing for the rest of your life.
This is my favorite article that I have read all year! I think that it would benefit everyone involved with CMU Drama to read this article! I often feel pressure that if I am not in “GO, GO, GO” mode, that I am slacking off, or need to be doing something. However, this article has helped me realize that those moments of rest are what enable me to do that strenuous work. I do love this sort of chaotic energy of putting shows together, that you can only really find in the entertainment industry. I think this article is really just trying to emphasize the importance of recovery, which is something that the entertainment industry must incorporate similar to the sports industry. If it is not incorporated, then we will probably start to see less and less people wanting to go into this industry. Additionally, we will see people who are in this industry exit it at faster rates.
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