I'm trying to reboot myself - which is hard to do if you're a human and not a computer. And Life won't let you actually SHUT OFF then turn back on - and take the necessary time you need to do so.
At any rate - basically I have come to realize I will not get work in the chorus of a regional theatre show. Why not? Because there are no union contracts. Which sucks. In fact - last night I was offered a NON-EQUITY contract to perform in the Music Man with the BROTHEr of the dude who sings the role of Gandhi in Satyagraha - but of course I couldn't take it because its FREAKING NONEQUITY! (straight offer - didn't even have to auction - director knows me.) So what I got to do is figure out how to make myself competitive with the girls auditioning for leads. And figure out HOW to audition for leads. It's a very strange process. I've learned a lot of strange things. For starters - my voice is "too good." Or too big. Apparently they want "lighter" soprano. I switched teachers, I didn't feel Mary was giving me what I needed. So I've gone to a new teacher, who actually accompanied to class series I did back in February. He plays many auditions (including Phantom of the Opera) so he knows what's up. He said I was always put in the "maybe" pile - because I walk into the room and have a "quirky ingenue" look, but have this GREAT BIG OPERA VOICE - and the casting directors get confused. He said it was better than the NO pile, but at the end of the day they'll have 15 "yeses" 15 "maybes" and the rest "nos." The maybe's will ultimately end up in the no pile. And the 15 "yeses" get called back. So - we've been working on "speaking" more than singing - and not scaring the poor casting folk in the ittttty bittttty room with my extremely LOUD voice. He also we through my book and got rid of all the songs I should NOT be singing, and gave me "replacement" songs that I should be singing, and roles I should be studying. (Some were from musicals I didn't even realize I should be thinking twice about! Such a Nunsense.) So this is an adventure - I hope it works.
I'm also auditioning for a master class series with a famous Broadway composer. A friend of mine suggested it - and I told her I didn't think I was good enough - it was mostly for Broadway performers (no joke - Tony winners in this class.) She pulled a few strings and got me an audition. I'm petrified but if I DO get in - it will be a remarkable experience!
I'm also taking a film/t.v. commercial class so I can actual make USE of that old SAG-AFTRA card. And I've joined monologue and song peer performance groups where we can try and new material and get feedback. Its actually rather exhausting! But hopefully there will be fabulous pay-offs.
All of this is while I"m trying to figure out how to piece enough jobs together to support myself - which is WAY more challenging than I feel it should be. It's a JUNGLE out there! I real jungle.
Not to mention on a wasted evening or two on bad dates. I give up on that. I'm going to marry a corgi.
