another sporadic blog for you all. the second week has come to an end here in new york. we opened our first show, which means a week filled with little sleep and lots of rehearsals. here's the adventures from my week.
monday (5.24): so i have discovered that i've been out of theatre for too long. and i have also discovered that, although this is a very challenging field in which i do enjoy, i am ready to change career path to where i really want to be. my dream is at my fingertips and it's difficult to keep motivated in ny when i know i'll get where i want when i get back to texas.
also, i'm naked. ok, hold on a sec. let me explain before your imagination runs wild. i took out my eye brow ring. i finally, and actually, did it. i've been saying that i need to, and i finally did. there's some scar tissue in it, so i have a little lump on my face, and i will have two little scars where the holes were. and i'm ok with this. on the plus side, i will be getting two more in its place (no, not nipples). i'm still a rebel, just grown up a little. it'll be a surprise for the parental unit.
tuesday (5.25): producer's run sucked ass. levels were all over the place. tech went better, until my mics died. i don't like children, i don't like mic-ing children, i don't like being in the same room with them. luckily they entertain themselves and don't bother me too much.
wednesday (5.26): thunder's a rumblin' inside and out. final dress. what a mess. haha. wow. it's been a long night. everyone was on edge today. not sure why. that's not true, i know why. everyone was stressing out, freaking out, and attacking anyone in the way. which sometimes meant me. and that occasionally put me in a bad mood. but i'm just calm and relaxed, not stressing, not fretting that we open tomorrow night.
thursday (5.27): well we finally opened our first show. that being said, where the hell did the week go?! i'm about ready to kill the choreographer, luckily he leaves monday. the opening went well, for it being the opening that is. there were some things that went well, others that went not so well. but it's live theatre, so it's bound to happen. i forgot that i'll be dealing with a huge pet peeve of mine every show. that being audience members who come up to me and give me their opinion on my levels. i have it set the way it worked for rehearsals, the way that i know works for the actors, and if there was a problem with it, why didn't anyone tell me during final dress? ok, that's what i thought. assholes.
i don't think the lady who signs the checks likes the way i run things, that might mean i'll be coming home early. so long as i get paid for the time that i'm here, and i have enough money to make it back, i'm ok with leaving early. second show's about to start for the day. and afterwards is tech on the deck, where we celebrate our (the technicians) hard work on the show and take a shot in our honor. following that is chatham house, where we drink and celebrate opening. i could use a drink.
friday (5.28): opening night went ok. accidentally turned off the orchestra during one part, oops. at least now it won't happen again. opening night party was meh. didn't get drunk. didn't really drink at all actually. i was too exhausted.
can anything go right? why do i feel like i'm doing everything wrong? i don't feel like i'm fitting in. it's just not going well. luckily this week has flown by, and i'm one week closer to going home. tonight is gala, where we get free alcohol from the people who contribute money to the theatre. i can dig this. it's been one hell of a week and i'm in a slump. hopefully things will get better sooner rather than later.
saturday (5.29): oh gala, how interesting you were. i should have learned my lesson at b rhyder shows to not drink excessive amounts of free beer. but i didn't. at least i know how to not be too terribly hungover from said free beer. i got cocked blocked last night. that was.. almost intense. i thought there might have been a bitch fight. i was just dancing, a guy was next to me, who i know, and am friends with, so we just started dancing together. then the whore who's sleeping with him had to come over and mark her territory while giving me the "don't-you-dare-try-to-get-with-my-man" look. seriously? we were just dancing. yes he is cute, but no i'm not interested. it's summer stock. i know how it goes, it's not my first rodeo. everyone sleeps with everyone, and i'm not down to catch anything from these whores. thank you, good night.
i think things are starting to look up again. which is a nice change. it's been a horrible past couple of days. the last bad thing that happened was last night when someone turned off a mic backstage that's used in an offstage speech. not an important mic at all. (note the sarcasm.) other than that, the show went well. i had fun, from what i remember, at the gala. today is a two show day. and i have coffee house, which is were audience members have coffee and dessert while watching a few members of the cast sing random show tunes. i know, i feel the same way about it as you do. at least i'll get free dessert! elk is today as well. elk is a group of supporters who cook us a meal once a week. it's usually disgusting, but tolerable. it's a kind effort and thought. i appreciate them. i got my script for the next show (anything goes). longest show ever, i can't make it through the thing in one sitting. easy sfx, not many at all. that means i have less of a chance to screw something up and more of a chance to fall asleep on the job. lose-lose situation there, but i like what i do, i enjoy it. and that's what matters.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
week one at the mac : act 2 : smooth sailing ahead
so my first official work week is over! yay! 17.5 more to go. damn. i'll make it through. it will get better. just gotta get through this first show, then it'll be smooth sailing. we open on thursday. we move set in, i believe, tonight. tonight, however, i plan on making my mics work. i have 11 total, 3 sennheiser, 8 shure. i hate shure mics. love my sennheisers though. props keep getting added to the show. just when i thought i was done, i get 3 more added almost every day it seems. but like i said, i just have to make it through this first show.
let's see, what else. i, very much unfortunately so, must remove my eyebrow ring. i've tried to do what i can to keep it, it's just not working. my body has been rejecting it for a while now, it just never seems to heal. and i know i'll have a nice scar in remembrance of it. i am very heartbroken over my loss. my dad will be happy though. and since i'm losing my favorite thing that makes people remember me, i will be adding two more. i'm sticking with the ears though. i need to grow up some time. i must be able to find a steady job some place, and lots of places don't accept facial piercings. although, some places don't accept more than one hole in each ear. but in my field of work, i should be good. you're probably wondering what i'm getting pierced. here's some links. left ear- rook. right ear- conch. the slight loss a little bit of hearing is frightening though. i'll ponder than piercing for a while, maybe change it to something else.
oh how i have not missed summer stock. all these different personalities under one roof for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. i've already discovered that i do not like some of these people, our personalities clash. others get on my nerves, but are tolerable. and i am so glad i'm at a better point in my life this year, as opposed to last summer. i think there maybe 5-7 straight guys in all of the company (cast included). too many people attacking them because they're lonely. i'm not. i have a bed to go home to. i plan on staying with the boy until i find a place of my own in austin. we're getting to know each other while being a part. our relationship has not been normal since the night we met. (and please note, by relationship i mean friend based, nothing more.) i stayed with him a couple of times last time i visited the capitol. and he's not there half the week anyway. it'll be interesting. already is, but it might go to sh*t when i get there. or it could be amazing and i might not need a place of my own. who knows. all i know is (1) summer stock housing is preparing me to stay for an extended period of time with a boy. i live with 3 guys and 1 girl right now. (2) and i'm not looking for anything but friends while in ny. (3) and he is waiting for me to get back.
next topic of business. i love being told by people that they couldn't do what i do (theatrical sound engineer). mind you, not just by anyone, by sound engineers in the music field. they tell me that they couldn't handle it. i don't know why, it's not that difficult. but if i can make it in theatre, i can accomplish my dream. i can be a sound engineer in music. i can tour. i can do what i've wanted ever since i got into this. that is the coolest thing to me. hopefully my work in theatre will help me get a job in music. i won't know for another few months though. first have to get through this summer here at the mac. then it's smooth sailing back to texas.
let's see, what else. i, very much unfortunately so, must remove my eyebrow ring. i've tried to do what i can to keep it, it's just not working. my body has been rejecting it for a while now, it just never seems to heal. and i know i'll have a nice scar in remembrance of it. i am very heartbroken over my loss. my dad will be happy though. and since i'm losing my favorite thing that makes people remember me, i will be adding two more. i'm sticking with the ears though. i need to grow up some time. i must be able to find a steady job some place, and lots of places don't accept facial piercings. although, some places don't accept more than one hole in each ear. but in my field of work, i should be good. you're probably wondering what i'm getting pierced. here's some links. left ear- rook. right ear- conch. the slight loss a little bit of hearing is frightening though. i'll ponder than piercing for a while, maybe change it to something else.
oh how i have not missed summer stock. all these different personalities under one roof for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. i've already discovered that i do not like some of these people, our personalities clash. others get on my nerves, but are tolerable. and i am so glad i'm at a better point in my life this year, as opposed to last summer. i think there maybe 5-7 straight guys in all of the company (cast included). too many people attacking them because they're lonely. i'm not. i have a bed to go home to. i plan on staying with the boy until i find a place of my own in austin. we're getting to know each other while being a part. our relationship has not been normal since the night we met. (and please note, by relationship i mean friend based, nothing more.) i stayed with him a couple of times last time i visited the capitol. and he's not there half the week anyway. it'll be interesting. already is, but it might go to sh*t when i get there. or it could be amazing and i might not need a place of my own. who knows. all i know is (1) summer stock housing is preparing me to stay for an extended period of time with a boy. i live with 3 guys and 1 girl right now. (2) and i'm not looking for anything but friends while in ny. (3) and he is waiting for me to get back.
next topic of business. i love being told by people that they couldn't do what i do (theatrical sound engineer). mind you, not just by anyone, by sound engineers in the music field. they tell me that they couldn't handle it. i don't know why, it's not that difficult. but if i can make it in theatre, i can accomplish my dream. i can be a sound engineer in music. i can tour. i can do what i've wanted ever since i got into this. that is the coolest thing to me. hopefully my work in theatre will help me get a job in music. i won't know for another few months though. first have to get through this summer here at the mac. then it's smooth sailing back to texas.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
"our finger prints don't fade from the lives we've touched"
ok, so the movie remember me was in theatres a month or two ago and it was one of those that it seemed as though i wouldn't want to pay to see it, so i'll wait till i can red box it. well, i just watched it online for free, i know, illegal, deal with it. the first forty mins i was bored out of my mind. but i hate starting a movie and not finishing it, i want to know what happens, and i don't want to stop and come back to it and have to start from the beginning again. so i suffered through some more of it. it got better. not great, but better, bearable i'd say. it was a decent movie. i was not fully invested into the movie or else i might have seen the ending coming. but oh my goodness gracious. the ending was phenomenal! my jaw was on the floor. i was shocked. i could have cried if i payed more attention to the entire movie. however, i will say that once the credits started rolling i then began to question the movie as a whole. but it was worth waisting 110 mins of my life. i'd say to you: see it, don't pay much to see it, but a little is fine. it's a decent movie.
"Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it. Because nobody else will. Like when someone comes into your life and half of you says you're nowhere near ready, but the other half says: make her yours forever."
"Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it. Because nobody else will. Like when someone comes into your life and half of you says you're nowhere near ready, but the other half says: make her yours forever."
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
week one at the mac : my summer life has officially began
so i'll try to post weekly updates for you all. we'll see how that goes. to start off, since i have the time, i'm doing a day-by-day update. this is the start of the adventure of my summer. enjoy!
night 0 (5/15): i'm going to need more alcohol for this
i've played catch up, seen some old faces and a few new. and now i'm ready to go home. i've had a few drinks, and this place is just as i remember. so far at least. and as i've said before, i'm ready to settle down, and not live this gypsy life. this place is fun and all, but i'm just in a different place in my life and i don't belong here.
night 1 (5/16): i'm might be the alcoholic...
i've gained more confidence having actually been in the theatre and working now. i've been told that people are glad i'm the one running sound this year. i've also been told that i appear to be confident. good. i like that. because that's what i'm trying to do. and yet on the inside i'm flipping out going, "oh my God, what the hell am i doing?! i don't know how to do this! what does this do? how do i do ____" etc. i had no motivation to work today though. that sucked. and we had our meet and greet/intro meeting. it was nice. lots of new faces. some old. everyone has pretty much already segregated actors vs techies. awesome. that's a great start to what was last summer. and ps, i have power and importancey. but at the same time, little naive me from last year, with no clue of how anything is ran, has been replaced. i was the only painter. the only painter for everything. and now there are two others. two!! and people come to me with questions. and i'm put in charge of things. which is the coolest. but it's rather sad that i've been replaced. i do have responsibility. and i'm ok with that. sucky thing about this summer: a show opening every week. i'm sorry, what?! we have a few weeks to dip our toes into the summer mode, but then once children's shows hit, it's boom-boom-boom, show opening every week. that's going to suck the worst for me. i'm not going to get a break. i'll be designing nonstop. i don't know how i feel about this. but this is also why i'm ok with me being replaced, means i won't have to spend a lot of time in the shop, i won't have to be down there painting all the time. and for the first show, there is no props person. so b thought it'd be a great idea to put me in charge. i don't like props, i don't do props, i made the mistake of doing props years ago when i started college. and now i'm the one in charge. ...i have sound to design. and i haven't even been given a script. hell, there's no cast list! how the hell do you expect me to do all this?! the td is gone for the first official work day. the mc is gone for the whole week. how is this going to work?! are we sure we're going to open on time?! so i'm in charge tomorrow of making sure the sound works for rehearsal tomorrow. and making sure the shop has things to do. and starting the design. awesome. this summer is definitely different. but i'm thinking it's a good different. we shall see.
day 2 (5/17): first day at work
more people, now higher ups, are telling me they are glad i'm back and doing sound this season. awesome. i've been put in charge of props. fml. HATE props with a passion. did it once my freshman year (i think) back in college. i have no idea what i'm doing. and i currently have no help because the play has not been cast yet. we open in nine days. and the play is set in 1870. makes it more difficult. boo! i will say that that i do need to work on my priorities. we were stooping it up last night. everyone called it an early night, understandable, everyone's exhausted from traveling. i had to get up early this morning to come in before everyone else to set up personal monitors for the keys. and i know nothing about virtual drums. keys are easy to set up and get working. vds, not so much. could have done this days ago, or even yesterday, but i had no motivation. so i need to work on my priorities for sure, get the job done first, then worry about hanging out and getting to know everyone. i knew i'd have different work hours later on, just not this week. and i'm still playing the game of pretend i know what i'm doing with confidence. working great so far!
end of day wrap up: omg, too many responsibilities!!! i was in a production meeting for THREE HOURS!!! why, why, why was it three friggin hours?! trying to finish making sure everything works AND doing props, not working out so well. i don't know what is more important. i hate props. i have no motivation to do it. and it's making me put off what i think is number one priority, which should be sound. that's what i'm getting paid to do. that's why you hired me. whatever. i'm off to start reading the script that i just got today, and the cast list was given out today as well. things are getting done last minute. i guess that's normal. day one complete. 4 more months to go. then i travel back to dallas. followed by my move to austin. that is the light at the end of the tunnel. :)
day 3 (5/18) : miserable rain
fairly good day at work. motivation still lacking. starting to be happy with being here. not so much, "i miss home" "i'm moving to austin, i want to move now" etc. yes, it's still all true, but for now i know this is where i need to be for the time being. it's raining. no surprise there. it always rains. and there is not much of a design on paper, so we're still just bullsh*tting with work. i have confidence that the sound will be ready for sunday. props, meh, whatever, i just have no care for them at all. no one does. this is why we need a props person here and now. whatever. i took the evening off to spend away from the theatre, to look at my script, get ideas on sound and props. so yeah. motivation will come soon. until next time....
note:
the next few days might be a little crazy, so i'll update you guys about those at some point after they happen.
night 0 (5/15): i'm going to need more alcohol for this
i've played catch up, seen some old faces and a few new. and now i'm ready to go home. i've had a few drinks, and this place is just as i remember. so far at least. and as i've said before, i'm ready to settle down, and not live this gypsy life. this place is fun and all, but i'm just in a different place in my life and i don't belong here.
night 1 (5/16): i'm might be the alcoholic...
i've gained more confidence having actually been in the theatre and working now. i've been told that people are glad i'm the one running sound this year. i've also been told that i appear to be confident. good. i like that. because that's what i'm trying to do. and yet on the inside i'm flipping out going, "oh my God, what the hell am i doing?! i don't know how to do this! what does this do? how do i do ____" etc. i had no motivation to work today though. that sucked. and we had our meet and greet/intro meeting. it was nice. lots of new faces. some old. everyone has pretty much already segregated actors vs techies. awesome. that's a great start to what was last summer. and ps, i have power and importancey. but at the same time, little naive me from last year, with no clue of how anything is ran, has been replaced. i was the only painter. the only painter for everything. and now there are two others. two!! and people come to me with questions. and i'm put in charge of things. which is the coolest. but it's rather sad that i've been replaced. i do have responsibility. and i'm ok with that. sucky thing about this summer: a show opening every week. i'm sorry, what?! we have a few weeks to dip our toes into the summer mode, but then once children's shows hit, it's boom-boom-boom, show opening every week. that's going to suck the worst for me. i'm not going to get a break. i'll be designing nonstop. i don't know how i feel about this. but this is also why i'm ok with me being replaced, means i won't have to spend a lot of time in the shop, i won't have to be down there painting all the time. and for the first show, there is no props person. so b thought it'd be a great idea to put me in charge. i don't like props, i don't do props, i made the mistake of doing props years ago when i started college. and now i'm the one in charge. ...i have sound to design. and i haven't even been given a script. hell, there's no cast list! how the hell do you expect me to do all this?! the td is gone for the first official work day. the mc is gone for the whole week. how is this going to work?! are we sure we're going to open on time?! so i'm in charge tomorrow of making sure the sound works for rehearsal tomorrow. and making sure the shop has things to do. and starting the design. awesome. this summer is definitely different. but i'm thinking it's a good different. we shall see.
day 2 (5/17): first day at work
more people, now higher ups, are telling me they are glad i'm back and doing sound this season. awesome. i've been put in charge of props. fml. HATE props with a passion. did it once my freshman year (i think) back in college. i have no idea what i'm doing. and i currently have no help because the play has not been cast yet. we open in nine days. and the play is set in 1870. makes it more difficult. boo! i will say that that i do need to work on my priorities. we were stooping it up last night. everyone called it an early night, understandable, everyone's exhausted from traveling. i had to get up early this morning to come in before everyone else to set up personal monitors for the keys. and i know nothing about virtual drums. keys are easy to set up and get working. vds, not so much. could have done this days ago, or even yesterday, but i had no motivation. so i need to work on my priorities for sure, get the job done first, then worry about hanging out and getting to know everyone. i knew i'd have different work hours later on, just not this week. and i'm still playing the game of pretend i know what i'm doing with confidence. working great so far!
end of day wrap up: omg, too many responsibilities!!! i was in a production meeting for THREE HOURS!!! why, why, why was it three friggin hours?! trying to finish making sure everything works AND doing props, not working out so well. i don't know what is more important. i hate props. i have no motivation to do it. and it's making me put off what i think is number one priority, which should be sound. that's what i'm getting paid to do. that's why you hired me. whatever. i'm off to start reading the script that i just got today, and the cast list was given out today as well. things are getting done last minute. i guess that's normal. day one complete. 4 more months to go. then i travel back to dallas. followed by my move to austin. that is the light at the end of the tunnel. :)
day 3 (5/18) : miserable rain
fairly good day at work. motivation still lacking. starting to be happy with being here. not so much, "i miss home" "i'm moving to austin, i want to move now" etc. yes, it's still all true, but for now i know this is where i need to be for the time being. it's raining. no surprise there. it always rains. and there is not much of a design on paper, so we're still just bullsh*tting with work. i have confidence that the sound will be ready for sunday. props, meh, whatever, i just have no care for them at all. no one does. this is why we need a props person here and now. whatever. i took the evening off to spend away from the theatre, to look at my script, get ideas on sound and props. so yeah. motivation will come soon. until next time....
note:
the next few days might be a little crazy, so i'll update you guys about those at some point after they happen.
Friday, May 14, 2010
home is where you are
so i might have made a mistake.
it's too early to say for sure.
they say to follow your heart.
but i didn't listen.
normally i do,
but not this time.
and that's where i might have made the mistake.
i might have walked away from something good.
from someone who likes me for me.
someone who is genuine,
a total sweetheart,
and someone who i could have been severely close to.
but i walked away.
for a job, you see.
i listened to my head.
not my heart.
and i might have made a big mistake.
but it's still too early to tell.
i thought this would be great for the resume.
get me back into the subject i studied in school.
but i could have found something near him.
i might have made a mistake.
we won't know for sure for a while.
the summer hasn't really started yet.
give it a month.
let me get through the first show.
let's see how the summer goes.
let's see what happens at the end,
when i go home,
when i go see him again.
maybe he'll come visit me.
then i'll know.
i might have made a mistake.
but it's too early to say for sure.
******
I shed a lot of years and tears
In this broke down used up town
Bled my heart on these city streets
As strangers lay their money down
I'm home
I've never known a love
My soul was searching for
Now I look into that great big blue
Feel nothing I've felt before
I'm alone
So I'll shake some hands
Chase that calling star
I'm gonna drive so fast
I can only drive so far
Gonna lay my bricks
And park my car
Gonna sow my seeds somewhere
But home is where you are
See your washed out faded smiles
When I look back on this place
All that held me as a child
Is begging me to stay
But I'm gone
So I'll shake some hands
Chase that calling star
I'm gonna drive so fast
I can only drive so far
Gonna lay my bricks
And park my car
Gonna sow my seeds somewhere
But home is where you are
I'll follow that blinding sun
What I can't see past
Knowing I can always go back home
So I'll shake some hands
Chase that calling star
I'm gonna drive so fast
I can only drive so far
Gonna lay my bricks
And park my car
Gonna sow my seeds somewhere
But home is where you are
It's where you are
-"home" by eli young band from the album "jet black and jealous"
it's too early to say for sure.
they say to follow your heart.
but i didn't listen.
normally i do,
but not this time.
and that's where i might have made the mistake.
i might have walked away from something good.
from someone who likes me for me.
someone who is genuine,
a total sweetheart,
and someone who i could have been severely close to.
but i walked away.
for a job, you see.
i listened to my head.
not my heart.
and i might have made a big mistake.
but it's still too early to tell.
i thought this would be great for the resume.
get me back into the subject i studied in school.
but i could have found something near him.
i might have made a mistake.
we won't know for sure for a while.
the summer hasn't really started yet.
give it a month.
let me get through the first show.
let's see how the summer goes.
let's see what happens at the end,
when i go home,
when i go see him again.
maybe he'll come visit me.
then i'll know.
i might have made a mistake.
but it's too early to say for sure.
******
I shed a lot of years and tears
In this broke down used up town
Bled my heart on these city streets
As strangers lay their money down
I'm home
I've never known a love
My soul was searching for
Now I look into that great big blue
Feel nothing I've felt before
I'm alone
So I'll shake some hands
Chase that calling star
I'm gonna drive so fast
I can only drive so far
Gonna lay my bricks
And park my car
Gonna sow my seeds somewhere
But home is where you are
See your washed out faded smiles
When I look back on this place
All that held me as a child
Is begging me to stay
But I'm gone
So I'll shake some hands
Chase that calling star
I'm gonna drive so fast
I can only drive so far
Gonna lay my bricks
And park my car
Gonna sow my seeds somewhere
But home is where you are
I'll follow that blinding sun
What I can't see past
Knowing I can always go back home
So I'll shake some hands
Chase that calling star
I'm gonna drive so fast
I can only drive so far
Gonna lay my bricks
And park my car
Gonna sow my seeds somewhere
But home is where you are
It's where you are
-"home" by eli young band from the album "jet black and jealous"
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