Dear Virginia Commonwealth University Artist,
This blog is not just for theatre artist but for all artists. I hope that this bridges the gap from Alumni Artists to current VCU Artists. This blog can be used to vent, to share, to relate, to get answers, to ask questions ….etc! Unfortunately, I am very bad at setting up a blog thingy, so if anyone wants to fancy it up a bit, PLEASE be my guest! Below are ideas/topics to talk about, other than that write about anything! This will get more organization, when there is something to organize lol. So lets see how this works.
* Audition/Interview Stories
* New projects or creations
* Apartment hunts
* Location Information ( loves, likes, and disloves about the location you are in)
* Life lessons
* Things in college that you thought didn’t make sense but actually make sense now
* Temporary Struggles
Anyway you get the picture! But yeah have fun! I hope this is beneficial to everyone in some kind of way.
Love,
Jasmine
This blog is not just for theatre artist but for all artists. I hope that this bridges the gap from Alumni Artists to current VCU Artists. This blog can be used to vent, to share, to relate, to get answers, to ask questions ….etc! Unfortunately, I am very bad at setting up a blog thingy, so if anyone wants to fancy it up a bit, PLEASE be my guest! Below are ideas/topics to talk about, other than that write about anything! This will get more organization, when there is something to organize lol. So lets see how this works.
* Audition/Interview Stories
* New projects or creations
* Apartment hunts
* Location Information ( loves, likes, and disloves about the location you are in)
* Life lessons
* Things in college that you thought didn’t make sense but actually make sense now
* Temporary Struggles
Anyway you get the picture! But yeah have fun! I hope this is beneficial to everyone in some kind of way.
Love,
Jasmine
Jasmine you are brilliant and amazing and I love you... that goes for all of you fellow artists too!
ReplyDeleteI'll start off with something I've learned:
Discovering who you truly are as an artist is a process; and although it can be slow, frustrating, confusing, and difficult - in the end it is more satisfying and empowering to know yourself and present your true and unaltered self to the world, rather than something that you're told to be. Think about how many people have changed the world by doing what OTHER people told them they should do... none that I can think of. You know you best. So stop worrying about what you're not, or what other people have, or what someone else's opinion of you is. Strive to be the best YOU that you can be... even if you don't fully know what that is yet [of course I'm right there with ya :)]... after all, finding out is half the fun, right? Be brave. You wont discover ANYTHING if you don't make a few mistakes.
a resource i have found VERY HELPFUL-
ReplyDeleteThe Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
I love this! Thanks Austin for posting things! I am so glad to hear that you are making the same discoveries as me. We must contact each other more because I think we are in the same area! :) Anyway yea I am discovering the same thing as well as the process of using all the tools that we learned in school, you do not need to use a hammer or a screw to close a lid, sometimes you got to just close it. get me? well anyway Ill write more later.. hopefully some people will join us..
ReplyDeleteFirst of all this is an awesome idea Jasmine my love!
ReplyDeleteI would love to always share my advice from Chicago. The ladies and I have been here for about 2-3 months and it has been exciting and scary all at once, but mostly exciting! I would say that thus far the best advice I can give/have received, is to take your time. I remember senior year I was made to feel that if as soon as I graduated I hadn't immediately moved and instantly started working on theatre, that I was a failure and would never make it. This was a fear of mine, but like good old Josh Chenard always says Fear is nothing but False Evidence Appearing Real. I highly encourage everyone to take your time. If that means you go and spend some time with your family for a month, or you stay in Richmond and make money do what you need to do to be happy. Just because you are not in a proffessional show the minute you get out of college in a major city does not mean that you won't make it. These things take time, and so should you!!
I have heard from many people like Josh, my classmates that have been in Chicago for a year or more, my parents, teacher,etc to also allow yourself to transition into the new city. Moving is a huge change it is always a transition, there are ups and downs of getting used to a different culture, WEATHER ASD;LKFJ, distance...but it is well worth it if it is where you are meant to be!
I have written a lot...I will stop now...Nicole Becky and I are about to watch phantom of the opera and carve pumpkins because we are just that cool.
Are house is always an open place for anyone to stay and we miss you all!!!!
ps Chicago is AWESOME!
yesss! it can also be helpful to find other artists that you admire- talk to them, hear their stories, see their work!!! I felt frustrated for awhile because I was seeking an "alternative" path and couldn't figure out how to get started. I suggest studying with theatre companies you enjoy and overall truly SEEKING opportunities for yourself. obtaining skills that you not only enjoy, but ones that you might not enjoy so much at first to broaden your scope. I am currently working with Maureen MoMo Freehill. She is a butoh dancer, and my mentor. if you are interested in this type of thing check out: butohdancening.com
ReplyDelete:) keep breathing- & know that you have support!
To go off of Ryan's post...after graduating and moving back home, I did feel like this great big loser for not being able to move to New York or Minneapolis, or Chicago. There are some who will put you down for not making the transition right away, but you have to do what is right for you. I now know that I am doing the right thing in taking the time to save money.
ReplyDeleteIt really helped me to talk about my frustrations to J.Ro. She reinforced that my decision was a smart one and now I don't regret staying home for a few months. I have the monetary resources to make my next transition: to ITALY!
Even though I was home, I took advantage of every audition out there in the cities that I really wanted to move to. Minneapolis is one of them, and with every audition that was posted on Minnesotaplaylist.com that sparked a great desire and interest, I asked if I could send it an audition reel. Since I was unable to physically be there, I figured there was no harm in asking if I could send in a video instead. Surprisingly alot of the theatre companies said that I could. I actually got cast for a three week tour from my audition reel. (It turns out that I was unable to do it for various circumstances...) but still don't be afraid to ask and also if you're not in the city you wish to be, there are ways to be there for an audition. That's the great thing about this digital age we live in.
P.S. Jasmine, I can help you snazz up the blog. Totally. :)
It is so refreshing and encouraging to read your stories! I feel a bit more sane about graduating!!!
ReplyDeleteThis actually helped me out a bit!
ReplyDeletei did just graduate but i feel kind of down and out about not making major moves like a lot of people in my class. I will say that fear is my biggest obstacle and disappointment (fear's brother lol) seems to smack me in my face from time to time. Its waayyy easy to get discouraged that's why its so good to keep in touch with your theatre VCU buddies to give you a nice wake up call. To tell you that everythings ok, and this is transition, and to not be afraid! One of the most comforting things post graduation has been my cell phone because it connects me to the people that will keep me motivated and keep me in check. Many thanks r due.
being out of school is a huge transition. I mean just think about it, youve been in school for almost 16 years or more. for me, losing the structure of the classroom was/is difficult. I do thrive in academic settings because they have a written journey (aka syllabus) and real life isnt so structured. The lack of structure can make u artistically and spiritually lazy so do whatever you can to stay on top of your artistry.
Lastly, Ive been struggling with the fact that I dont "eat sleep breathe shit" theatre 24/7. Strangely enough I like other things lol. And even more foreign was that I wanted to take a short break from theatre after the summer was out and just be "normal" for a month or two. I was told that this is not a negetive feeling. It does not mean I wont be successful. It does not mean I am not passionate or will fall by the wayside. And It doesnt mean I'm not a legitimate artist. It just means I'm tired, I'm drained, and I need a break. It's ok to take breaks. It's ok to not to be "the eternal actor always dressed in black doing a narrative" lol. ITS OK. Look at it this way, Jay Z released his "last album" in 2003, but he sold 1.8 million records off of a new album in 2009. That album went on to b the 4th best album released in that year. I make the Jay reference to say that a hiatus can be a good thing, not everyone can be a Cal Ripkin (no days off lol).
k im done
Thanks JAZZ!
SO, I was waiting to be impelled...
ReplyDeleteand I am so my turn..
TOPIC IS : SHARING
QUOTE: " Stay conscious of the quality of your thoughts and the company you keep" -Phylicia Rashad
Please excuse grammar because I am going to write freely and most of the time certain symbols mean different things than they normally do -lol.
Okay so at first I was very timid about starting this blog because I was like "how am I gonna ask other people to talk about what they are doing and etc if I am so cautious and careful about who I talk to and what I say about my craft path." Then I decided that I do not have to ask the same way I feel others ask.
I feel that a lot of people ( NOT ALL - but enuf to say a lot lol) when they ask " what are YOU doing, what have you DONE, have you done anything yet." It feels as if an answer is expected that is already been thought up in their mind and its more focus on how big the commercial was or if the theatre has any good credits or if you got your " big break" type stuff. ( Note: I am also conscious that some of those questions may be magnified to me because I put a lot of pressure on myself and I assume that people are putting the same pressure on me- which is not a good way to think so I am working on this.)
EITHER way I believe it is SO important to surround yourself with positive people who support the path YOU want to take for YOUR craft. And I have found that in doing this I protect my work, my focus, and my ideas ( especially the ideas that I am not able to articulate yet)
So anyway I hope everyone understands that I am not asking for details about peoples lives to judge you or to allow you to be judge, of course only share what you want to share. And it is not about how much you have done or what you have done, it is about how you discovered the balance for YOU and success is measured however YOU would like it to be. And my hope is that the readers will take it that way as well.
So moving on, that is one thing that I feel has helped me a lot since graduating- being cautious about what I share and knowing that not everyone will understand what I am doing and why.
AND ( this is a big AND) some of my issues of not sharing deal with the same feelings that everyone else has written about, thinking that I have failed for not living on my own right now and etc. I noticed I was a bit ashamed at first and that I would lay low when I was in town at VCU to see a show or something or a TCP ( The Conciliation Project- those of you who dont know what this is www.theconciliationproject.org ) meeting- and i would do this because I developed a fear of someone asking me what I was doing and being afraid that I would not meet their ideas of what I should be doing lol. and that they would think less of me. lol ( that sounds so dumb even writing it out)
TO BE CONTINUED..
SO anyway my biggest lesson right now is that certain things I dont NEED to share, but if you have developed a " ima be on the sneak silence tip cause I am ashamed" issue than it is important to conquer that so.. THIS IS WHY I AM SHARING WHAT I AM SHARING RIGHT NOW LOL..I really really hope all this makes sense
ReplyDeleteSo right now I am in Triangle, Virginia, which is back home.I am about 45min to an hour away from Dc. The commute is difficult at times and finding locations to do the "day job thing "that wouldn't complicate auditions in dc has been a bit tedious. It is all about balance though! so at first I was not too fond of being here cause I wanted to be in Nyc or just be on my own in a city.
HOWEVER I have realized that I am here for a reason and that it is important to ATTACK everything that I do because I am and always will be in training for my craft.
Example:
Right now I am a receptionist and a child care attendant at a Gym although these are jobs that assist with paying the bills, I seriously take pride in my work. I go above at beyond in every way that I can because to me it is almost like being in rehearsal. The way you rehearse is the way you will perform. Phylicia Rashad once said " Every opportunity is a change to perfect yourself"
That quote takes me very far. I do not take for grated the time I have with my family right now, the people I met everyday, and the auditions and performances I attend. I am so hungry and thirsty for this work you guys.. and to present the best of myself to the world. So right now the MOST important thing to me is receiving the gifts and ideas God is giving me. I believe in order to do that I have to be focused on my consistency with putting great effort and care into everything I do. Cherishing EVERYTHING I do.. whether I am performing in my driveway, performing in on stage, or taking a taking a phone call at the gym.
okay I am done for now..I hope this was helpful to someone.. and I PRAY it made sense cause Lord knows I talk in Ribbons and Green Crayons Sometimes ..
ENDING QUOTES " The more gifts God has given you the more you have to work on your personal character" - anonymous
I have to piggy-back off Kim's comment:
ReplyDeleteShe stated the difficulty of structuring yourself in the absence of a curriculum or syllabi.
In school it is particularly easy to know what's goin on (at any given time) because you have 4 months planned out for you already!
However, when one graduates...looks for employment, jobs, opportunities and inspirations----a planned syllabus dictating your work schedule becomes obsolete.
My biggest advice: Invest in a daily planner! List the things you'd like to do & achieve by the end of each week. Talk about these things with your friends, your significant other, your family about what you plan on accomplishing....(don't keep it to yourself) in a sense, hold yourself accountable by involving others.
My experience is that others will push you to reach toward those goals and aspirations that you have set for yourself. Often times fear and rejection stand in the way of you making and molding the greatest you.
Here's an aside: The biggest keywords on this page deal with fear, worry & disappointment. Something I, and each and every one of us, have and will deal with. Fear is not only false, but a distraction.
Today, do something for you. Make yourself laugh, read a book, call up a friend, relax, have a Blue Moon. Don't let anyone tell you you aren't doing enough. Oh....and stop listening to negative music like "Gettin Paid" and "Awwww We Gettin Money!!!" --- cause most of us aren't making that much.
Peace and Godbless!
-Don Jonathan
filmmaker/artist
things that have been amplified POST GRADUATION:
ReplyDelete1.there are some things you are never going to be prepared for so you have to just step out on faith and do them
2. dependency is a disease!!!
3. i am my own worst enemy
4. WE ARE WELL TRAINED!!!! I cannot express this enough. WE ARE WELL TRAINED! WE ARE WELL TRAINED! u will realize this when u hear hoojibob and his girlfriend screeching in the audition room.
5. i do have an attitude problem....and it comes out when i feel like someone is tryna walk all over me. the issue is that im always on the defense and i ALWAYS think someone is tryna walk all ova me until i can trust them. in the real world there will b FEW u can trust, so i have to turn this "attitude" (i prefer the term "realness") into some sort of professionalized jargon. Saying how and what u feel is not always appropriate!! So in essence "there is a time and a place for everything"
6. drugs and alcohol are not the answer. (see #2)
7. if its not healthy LET IT GO
8. don't get too much advice from too many people about your career
9. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER let someone tell you who you are or what u are.
10. regardless of what stage of life you are in spiritually, mentally, physically, be it good, bad, ugly, fucked up, whatever--appreciate it! You are forever changing and your change affects your artistry. BE OPEN TO CHANGE
Ok so those are my top ten things ive realized about life and myself over the past few months.
On another note, to the juniors: a beautiful path was laid down for VCU students this past year through the efforts of our professors, people outside of VCU and fellow classmates. Regardless of how you feel about the politics behind TheatreVCU, you have to understand that underneath all of that lies golden opportunity for you as a performer. As you finish your journey at VCU keep in mind that you are embarking on a CAREER. You are now taking essential steps to make that CAREER a little easier. Im basically saying see the positive in your senior experience and don't let anyone else tell you how to feel about a situation, a person, a place, a class, nothing. You go out and do anything you think will make YOUR experience a good one for your FUTURE. Of course looking out for your fellow seniors is a MUST, BUT, there is a difference between looking out and HINDERING, a very fine line that often times can be difficult to see. We are an opinionated people, a gossiping people, and sometimes we are not so positive. Remain positive, remain encouraged, and keep your eyes on the prize (lol cliche i know). Your experience is going to be a unique one and is not going to equate to anyone elses. It is up to you to make the year one of brilliance, opporutnity, and self discovery. And of course none of this can be done without dilligent hard work. Make the best out of the situation. Not everything is as bad or negetive as you think it is....
giving u my best
Kim
You are the only person allowed to set expectations for your life. By standing firm in your decisions you become a valuable member of your community. You are not required to uphold or maintain any relationship that weighs or pulls you down. This is the beginning of your path. Fear is a lie, it is not real, & if you do the work everyday the rest will follow.
ReplyDeleteWhen making a decision, think about it for ten minutes- even after you have a solid answer- even if it's stupid, and then do it. The greatest errors I've made in my life have come from over hesitation.
Never burn bridges, & do your best to see the good in each circumstance. If you can, confirm dates twice-measure twice cut once. Take everything good & positive you can hold in your heart & mind with you.
Take your time, this isn't a contest or a race- exercise the gifts God has given you & He will provide.
Also exercise, I weigh like 200 lbs now. (j/k)
take good care of yourself
Gabbie