The Past Week

So, over the past week, I started auditioning in NYC again! It's been on hell of an intense week doing 40 hrs at work and auditioning plus travel to and fro. Basically, I get home to Actoria and pass the f*$% out.

Monday I went to the South Pacific dance call- so much fun! It was not hard at all! It was in fact a basic movers call, I would say, and I had such a good time. It was a required call, so if anyone books it long term, who's to say, but here's hoping.

On Monday I also went and auditioned for Follies at the Kennedy Center, which is starring Bernadette Peters. How beyond amazing would that be for anyone to be a part of? It went really well, and awaiting my call ;)

My final Monday audition was for H2$ on Broadway, and there were soo many people. It was quite a bit of a cluster-f*%k initially. And unfortunately the audition got cut down to 8 bars. Fortunately, my 8 bars went wonderfully, and the people in the room had a wonderful energy and vibe. Good times. At this point, though, I know they're looking for a cast, but I think it really just depends on what type you are and such... cause in 8 bars they're not really looking for all that much skill. It's only enough to hear that you can sing, and if you look right then perhaps you'll go farther.

Tuesday I auditioned for a production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." It went so well and I got an instant callback for the next day with high appreciation and compliments... Wednesday had a really fun callback with an amazing scene partner and was asked to stay and sing some more. They told me to check my messages... and as much as I'd like to be optimistic (and I am) you never know with this business. It's such a risk to anticipate so much. They may have wanted to hire me and then came in a girl who was much more what they were looking for... so if I don't hear by mid this week I'm moving on completely from the possibility of doing it, I guess.

But, that's alright. I feel like I've had great auditions this week.
I also auditioned for American Idiot on Bway this past Thursday- it went really well. It was lovely to see familiar faces in the room. I felt really great about how I did, but in retrospect I should have sang a much rockier and punk song... my choice was too musical theater.

I'm glad this week was so busy, though, because I really got to just jump back on the audition bandwagon and get myself back into "the grind" of it all.

Coming back to NYC I feel really confident. I know what roles I'm right for, what I'm not, what I should go in for, and all of that. And I know that I can compete for these roles. However, sitting in the waiting area hearing other people perform threw me back a bit. I'm now in a different league. I'm competing with some people who are currently on Broadway, some who have been in the business longer, some who have really strong connections and great networks, and some people that are really stupendously talented. It's a real fight to get a role, and it's much more visible to me now that I'm back. I do not feel like I'm a shoe-in for anything here. I may be "right" for a role, and I may be skilled to do it, but it's not always enough. And, I'm hoping that in time (sooner rather than later, please), I will be successfully booking consistent work and making a happy living doing what I LOVE to do.

Doing my 40 hr/a week hotel job is not living. It's so bizzarre to me that this is the systematic way we lead our lives. I want to be working for something of a greater good. Customer service- not so much my thing. I feel comfortable doing it. It's easy enough. It's mindless... thus quite boring. I need to feel like I'm really doing something efficient and helpful. I am not receiving any helpful motivation where I'm at right now, and I don't think I will within this industry.

I'm planning to do something wild in March/April if things aren't working as I'd like. I'll relay this information in the future, as I don't want to plan it for certain. It's only a back-up. A fun one, but one I'd rather do if I'm not leading the life I want right now.

peace and love and optimism,
Tal

The Brilliant Sites I've Found:

Whilst at work, let's just say I have some leisure time.

I'm lucky enough to work in an office that lets me peruse the web and chat with people when not under a high work load. Thus, I have learned about some fantastic sites.

The first is Dear Blank, Please Blank:
http://www.dearblankpleaseblank.com/index.php?&page=11
It's pretty self-explanatory once you open it up. Check it out! Highly enjoyable.

Second, 27b/6 is:
http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p2.html
This guy, David, basically posts email conversations that he's had with people... and well, he's an asshole. But they're pretty darn addictive to read. Highly enjoyable and mindless.


Enjoy! :)

I'm BAAACK

Here I am, back in NYC!

I'm residing in Astoria, which from here on forth shall be known as ACT-oria. I moved in a week and one day ago to a lovely two-bedroom apartment (pics to follow in a future post) with a lovely roommate, Laura, a fellow actorian.

So far, things have been going well but in a rocky fashion, I would say. Once I got here on Tuesday, the magical Laura had already moved in and the apartment was fairly set up with a couch, tv's, some kitchen supplies, blinds, and such. The one thing it was lacking, which in the monstrous heat everyone wanted, was air conditioning. Since the weekend, and the supposed Hurricane Earl, the temperature has dropped substantially, however, and the need for ac has decreased. We've been using fans when necessary and just keeping the windows open for a breeze.
I didn't have a bed until Monday night. That was a tough one. Boy, do we/I take beds for granted! I slept on the couch for the first night, which was unfortunately, uncomfortable (but for all those of you who may come to visit, don't worry, we'll be getting an air mattress soon enough). After one night on that, we got a borrowed air mattress from Laura's friend, who also gave us a bunch of free furniture, including my now bed.
This weekend I started to put the bed together. It was quite a task- pieces were missing, I was lacking the proper tools, and I had never built such a huge IKEA piece on my own before. Well, I got my "laundry day clothes" and my sneakers on, put on some Joan Jett, and built that baby from the ground up. Sunday I had a treacherous evening at Ikea, where everything was just falling to pieces: they were out of white fitted sheets, they sent me all over the place to get a missing piece, waiting in absurd lines, and then the best part- it was so late when I was done that the ferry was no longer running and I had to lug all my new stuff on a bus, to the subway, only to transfer a second time. A trip that should've taken an hour and half took about 4.
Monday night I picked up the mattress, a nightstand, and a coffee table, also from the same friend of Laura's, with a really cool guy I hired to move it for me. Then, I completed the construction of the bed, and put my room together... and it's HEAVENLY. I am so relaxed when I get into it, and it makes a WORLD of a difference. It's just clean and white and pure. And I'll get some decorative items in the coming weeks.

But, first, I need to make money. Which brings me to the new job I have! Very fortunately, I was lucky to get a job after being here for two days! Unreal, I know. A huge thank you to Mr. Jacob King. I'm working at The Gershwin Hotel in the Flatiron District as a front desk/guest service agent. In fact, I'm at work as I write this. I'm working in the reservations office right now, which is beyond lovely. The people are great, I've got a basic handling of the hotel system, and it's flexible with my audition schedule (which looks like is getting hectic next week.)

So, in general, things are looking up! I can't believe in one week of getting to NYC, I have a job, a fairly settled into apartment, already seen a bunch of friends, and am back into the swing of the city! It has been a bit more difficult this time around. After living in Southern California all summer, with its perfectly weathered luxury, coming to NYC I initially felt cramped and frustrated. I still do feel grossed out by certain things that didn't use to bug me as much. But, I'm here for a reason. And, I must go forth and enjoy the things that I love about NYC- my friends, the art, the theater, the vivaciousness of the buildings around me, the constant change, and the fact that I'm one step closer to achieving my goals.