Some things have been placed on my heart as of late and I need to get it out. If you are in the performing industry I hope you read this and you find some sort of solace in what I am going to tell you. I hope that we can band together and stop this business from being so gross sometimes.
I am an actress. I have been performing on a stage for nearly 20 years. I have been in over 100 productions and I love my life. I love the things that I have been blessed with and I love the obstacles that have been put in my way because it has taught me how to solve problems. It has taught me to see the way others deal with obstacles and decide for myself what I would do in those situations. I have always lived my life trying to be humble and kind. Sure, I am sassy as hell and my confidence can come off sometimes as though I am conceded. But don't get it twisted. I am truly one of the most humble and nervous people you will ever meet. When you get to know me you learn quickly that every success that comes to me is the largest surprise and graciously accepted blessing there is. WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, I AM NOT PERFECT. NOR TO A CLAIM TO BE THE MOST APPROACHABLE PERSON. The thing that has been on my mind so heavily lately is that this business can be a nasty one. You can be ridiculed for the way you look. For how much you weigh. For how you dress. So many petty things that don't matter at all. Sure these judgements happen in the work place from directors and casting but more times than not these judgements often come from your colleagues. People that you sit next to everyday in the dressing room. People that you smile at onstage. People you get drinks with after a two doe shay. And that is gross and toxic and not okay. We all decided to come into a business that is slightly superficial. We chose this because it's where our passion lies. You have to REALLY love what you do to put up with walking in a room and sometimes within 5 minutes being told that you are just too tall/short/thin/fat/dark/light/butch/feminine for a role. It's hard out here in the entertainment world. Whether you are still in school, working at a theme park, a regional theatre, or broadway. The judgement is always going to be there. So why after knowing good and well that we are walking into a judgement filled room everyday during audition season do we do this to other performers? Why are we tearing each other down? Why are we trying to sabotage each other? I cannot tell you how many situations I have been in where I have experienced nothing short of full-fledged bullying based on nothing substantial. It is painful and it is damaging. When your whole life is your job because you are on a cruise ship or on a tour you CANNOT be so petty. You just can't. I am sure I am guilty of doing this as well and it has become incredibly apparent to me lately that we have to make an effort to end this. I am so tired of mentioning my issues with bullying in the industry and being met with the statement "Well, people in this business are catty." Let's stop accepting that as fact. I was having a conversation with someone the other day and they called me out on something I said that sounded rude. She said "We have to support each other and stop thinking that everyone is competition." Wow. Yes. We do. Truer words have never been spoken. I know this is heavy, but many of you that read this blog are guilty of the cattiness. I am guilty. We are all guilty. But it's not enough to acknowledge that it's a thing. It isn't enough to admit our faults. We have to be better. There is enough negativity in the world and the only way to counteract that is to be nicer to each other. I like to view it as my job to give people a solace from whatever negativity is going on in their lives and when I have to come to work and deal with pettiness and judgement it feels counter active. Be confident in yourself and stop viewing everyone as competition. We are all in this together. If you meet someone who sings better than you go to a practice room and get your shit together. Cheer them on. Support your fellow performer. No one ever got anywhere happy and emotionally stable by being mean to those along the way. Don't just be nice to those behind the table. Be kind to everyone. Be confident in your abilities and route for your fellow entertainers. This business will eat us up otherwise. Sorry for all that. I 'm just really really tired of mean and negative people being in my space. It's not hard to be kind. It's the easiest thing in the world.
1 Comment
daddy and mama
11/29/2017 06:23:24 pm
daddy," I agree".
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AuthorMiki. 26. NYC. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical National Tour. Archives
January 2018
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