Haines His Way

One of the really hard things about all the trials of this biz is that Civilians don't get it - that includes most family members and lovers, too - the other day, my own sister Tami said I was probably pinching myself over my "good luck" in getting these two upcoming gigs

I was excluded from that statement-yes?
Have you been telling Tami the same stories you have been telling me?  If so, I can't comprehend how she doesn't get it.

Back from luncheon.  Ready for ACTION.

One of the really hard things about all the trials of this biz is that Civilians don't get it - that includes most family members and lovers, too - the other day, my own sister Tami said I was probably pinching myself over my "good luck" in getting these two upcoming gigs... for one of which I've been haranguing the producer to put on, for 16 months; and the other I've been campaigning for during the last 5 months... it looks to the Regular Folk like we just fall into these "Good Luck" jobs. Selling a product or service -- ours, included -- is Marketing, just like in the Real World. But cuz it looks so fun and easy, "They" can't know what we go through to be allowed up there in the light when the curtain opens...

I don't think those "civilians" are so terribly off-base in congratulating you on your good luck.

It's certainly true that landing a gig takes a lot of hard work, work that "regular folk" might not be aware of.

But go watch a celebrity interview (as regular folk often do) and you're very likely to see some star attribute his success to luck, in some measure.

I believe that, in auditioning (as in poker), there is always a certain element of luck involve.  You can give the greatest audition ever given and, if you don't match the director's vision of what the actor playing the part should be, you won't be cast.

That's why there's nothing wrong in saying that Jason had bad luck -- being too small for the role he tried out for.  If he got the role, we'd congratulate him on his good luck (of being the right size).

Of course, you have hard work to do, perfecting your audition, and marketing yourself for a gig,  but there's an element of luck in every aspect of show business, and I don't blame "civilians" for acknowledging it.

Thanks td and WEL for the info regarding Wicked.  It was quite informative!  I never knew!  Anyway, I checked my library (where I work) and it turns out that I had requested the novel by Gregory Maguire about a month ago, and I still haven't gotten it.  I'm next on the list and one of the copies is overdue, so I should get it fairly soon.

So thanks (also) Jennifer for the offer, but WEL sent me the "surprise ending" info and td sent a very complete synopsis.  

I must listen to this CD again this weekend.  It's at home, otherwise I'd get it out right now!

Apparently all degrees of separation end at HHW.

I am one chapter away from finishing BLACK NOTICE and then I go right into WICKED. Can't wait!

Bernie Rothman?  I believe I lunched with him last week.  Didn't I?

Wasn't it Mark Rothman?  (No relation BTW)

Tomovoz we just received a beautiful post card from Melbourne.  It was sent by my mother’s cousin who is visiting her sister in Australia.  Twice I have stayed at my cousin’s house on the Isle of Man but have never met her sister.  One of these days I hope to make it to your part of the world.

I wonder if your mother's cousin is now addicted to Oz Chocolate like DR Jose.  Is this a cousin by marriage or is the Melbourne connection a cousin of your mother's as well.

Be it in show business or just plain business or life, I am of the belief that people in large measure create their own luck.  If someone is in the right place at the right time, that means that person dragged himself or herself from bed to be in that place.  (Unless, of course, the right place in my hypothetical example is in bed, but that's not the kind of lucky I'm talking about.)  

If people network/audition/make connections/gently or aggressively nudge potential casting agents or prospective employers or people who know a casting agent or employer, they are likely to be much, much "luckier" than those who wait at home for fortune to arrive at their doorstep.  Creating that "luck" is HARD WORK!  But to someone who did not witness said hard work, but just the outcome of it, he or she could be easily led to believe that the person was "lucky."

This is a mantra that I used with my clients in all the years I did career counseling, one that I use on myself, and clearly one that is at play with all you denizens of the theatuh.

To add my bit to the auditioning process... When I was acting, most of my work was in the theater for not great money. So getting commercials seemed like a life-saver. When I first started auditioning for them, I wasn't terribly successful and finally thought, "Screw it, it's never gonna happen." So I totally gave up on the idea of commercials. Right after I made this mental leap, my agent sent me for a commercial audition. As I didn't care, I was totallly loose. I walked in and faced the long table of suits and read my three lines. They said thank you and dismissed me. At which point I said "What? That's it? Don't you want me to sparkle?" They looked up like I'd just awakened them from some deep audition slumber and actually smiled. I smiled back and left, thinking, that's that. Well, you guessed it - I got the job. And about five in a row after that one.

Having been on the other side of the table for many years now, I know that when the auditioners smell desperation (and by that I mean just WANTING it so much) it works against the person auditioning.
So there's the dilemma -- how do you not care about something that means more to you than almost anything in the world? I have no answer to that one.

Been meaning all day to comment on Ann  Miller's tap number "It" in DEEP IN MY HEART. It's a lot of fun, but then all of the guest star numbers in this and all the other MGM fictitious composer biofilms were wonderful. The plots may be from hunger, but they sure had the performing talent or knew where to go to get it. My favorite other number in DEEP IN MY HEART is the rapturous dance that Cyd Charisse and James Mitchell do to "One Alone."

Did any other DR's have a stuffed monkey made out of brown and white work socks?

A sock monkey, yes! Well, no...my neighbor in Medford, Scott Adams, had one, but I never had one myself.

Ain't it the truth!

I am watching "Burn Witch Burn" with Janet Blair!

With Polly Bergen in a bra!