Interview with Mr.?

The other day I was speaking to a man who directed shows in New York and he gave me some tips to make it big. This man said to never pass up and opportunity... ever and little time that you are in a theater you are putting your foot in the door. He also told me to be well versed in all aspects of theater the acting and technical side. The technical side of theater is and art form equal to or greater than acting. And by partaking in the technical aspects of theaters it allows you to make connection with people to get possible other jobs. This would be very hard to do if you where only an actor. So getting your foot in the door by any means necessary is a must weather its acting,pulling ropes, or moving sets, it gets your name out there in this big city New York. What is the technical side of theater? How do you hear about jobs? Source preferred to remain unnamed.

DONT quit your day job!

This is something I should have touched upon a long time ago but I did not so I apologize. How do you even make it to New York? The cost of living in New York City is supper expensive. A general studio may cost upwards of 1100 dollars a month, and dont forget first and last months rent. So unless you want to live like the characters in "RENT", come prepared. The video "Acting Tips : How to Move to New York City to Become an Actor" discuses this very large problem because an actors life is one not full of glam and riches, but more full of tips and dirty dishes. As an actor in new york there will be a lot of time when you are not acting, so to sustain yourself you must fine a job, ANY job. doing this will ensure that you can survive, so dont quit your day job. How much do actors make? How hard is it to find a job in NYC? Athena Reich. "Acting Tips : How to Move to New York City to Become an Actor." youtube. expertvillage, december 22, 2008. Web.

Audition Tips

Fine tuning your audition is most likely the hardest thing for someone to zone in on. But it is the best way to get as many jobs as possible. in "Key Components of Successful Auditions for Broadway or Other Acting Productions" Christine Cadena say that you need to know your strengths. If you are a belter than sing a song that showcases that power that you hold. If you are a strong actor find a monologue that force the casters to feel your emotion. Play your auditions to your strengths. And if you are good enough than you make it to stage two, the call back, you must remain calm and and keep composer so you dont throw yourself off your game. So how do you win the hearts of the casters? Who are the people behind the casting table? Cadena, C. (2007, june 18). Key components of successful auditions for broadway or other acting productions. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/key-components-successful-auditions-broadway-392280.html

Bway

In the video "Making it on Broadway"(also on my website) they ask the actors for audition tips and advice. on this video the actors present very many tips that have all ready stated but some weren't said before. like when auditioning to think of your critiques ask just any other theater people, they just want a good show. so if you can give a good "show" and win the hearts of the casters during your audition you are set. this is one of the keys to broadway success, wooing you casters. auditioning equity? how to audition? , and Neal b. Making it on Broadway. 2010. video. youtube.comWeb. 8 Apr 2012. .

Thus Far

So far doing a research project through blogging and websites is really cool. the way that we are required to present are research force us to dig a little deeper into the topic to make it presentable. And having this "online" its always here so its something we can show to a college if we so choose. And I hope by the end of this project I can figure out these "Keys" to success so I can apply them to my life in new york.

Please Visit

Please visit https://sites.google.com/site/performersguidetonewyork/. This is the website companion to this blog. On this website I have compiled and all of the information in to a single idea of the keys to success. I all began to speak of Equity vs. Non Equity which i will speak of in another post.From the information I've gathered I can say the majority of the "Keys" to success are mostly with in a person. Like self-confidence and what not.

Star Smile Strong!

This video is a small clip from an old movie with Danny Rose. In this fifty second clip a man is telling another man the secrets to performing, Star Smile Strong. When the man says this I feel he just tries to say that the other man just needs to believe in yourself. You are a star with a a winning smile and you are strong. I feel thats what he was trying to say, that nothing can beat you down when you have self confidence.
Self confidence can be very easily confused with Arrogance, what is the difference?
Is having to much self confidence in this field of work bad?
Broadway danny rose (1984) star smile strong.avi [Theater]. (2010). Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QZmkZu4Aqw

Hookers aren't the only ones who sell their bodies

The opening to the book Making it on Broadway,gives a small insight into what is needed to be on broadway. The book opens with Haleey, an actor that is playing the role of a stripper in a show, but is having trouble with her choreography. In the scene she's prepping for she is trying to suduce a man, so to get her into character her choreographer orders her to strip. In doing this she is in a sense transformed in the character, trying to suduce a man for a living understanding her movements and body language towards the man.
Being completely nude in front of other is kind of a taboo for many people, but when being in theater it cant be. In this business a person is literally selling themselves, what else is there. When auditioning an actor needs to basically lay it all on the table and being comfortable with the body is key. Many Broadway shows have nudity in them like Hair, Spring Awakening (Sex Scene), Full Monty, and many more. Imagine if some got casted for a role that has a nude scene but wasn't ok with nudity. They would be replaced. There is a saying "Actors dont say NO they get Replaced."
Can actors have "Limits"?
 If so what can they be, in Spring Awakening there is a Sex scene?
 Lee, Roz. Making It on Broadway. Roz Lee Lee, Roz (2012-01-20). Making It on Broadway (Kindle LocKindle Edition. . 2012. eBook.

Hard Work? What a Drag.

George Hamilton, the 72 year old star. he's still kicking. George Hamilton is an actor that has had a long life in the spot light, from 'When casper meets Wendy' to 'La Cage aux Folles". La Cage aux Folles is a show about a man named Georges the owner of a drag queen nightclub and his ordeals. George Hamilton inspiration for this part was his gay brother, who died at 53. His success on stage in his words is from "Hard work". There's another piece to the puzzle, hard work. Just think about going on stage and being surrounded by drag queens, to most people this is really hard to fathom but its all in the trade. In this field of work everyone is looking for the next big hit so its important to push yourself, push yourself to be the best gay man on stage, if thats what is calls for. the Hard work that goes into "becoming" your role is insane. in the section titled "SECRET OF SUCCESS" George describes his comedic way of life, by saying that he never took it seriously. this is also a key point to his success, when he's on stage he isn't out there for the reviews, he is out there for himself and he knows if he gives 150 percent you will "...not let anyone down" induing this you can succeed. What lengths would you go to, to succeed? Is hard work and belief in yourself part of the key to success on broadway? When do you cross the line of believing in yourself and being egotistic? Fleming, John. "George Hamilton shares some secrets of his long career." Tampa Bay Times 16 Feb 2012, Times Performing Arts Critic. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. .

Cue & A. Dedication?

While looking through my Playbill collection my I came across  an article entitled "Cue & A", this is a mini interview with Matthew Blank and Brent Barrett. Brent Barrett is an actor who at the time is starring as Hannibal Lecter in "Silence! The Musical", a Silence of the Lambs parody.Through out the interview Matthew was asking about Brent's his First, Worst, etc. But the last Q&A caught my eye, "Words of wisdom for aspiring performers?" asked Matthew " This has to be the only thing you can possibly do. Otherwise, try something else." answered Brent. Brent is trying to say its tough so if you can be an engineer, doctor, teacher then do it because theater is a tough business. But what I got from this one answer was if one is to pursue a job on broadway you must eat, breathe, and sleep the theater and nothing else.  So this is one piece of the puzzle, dedication?   Blank, M. (2011, September). Cue & A. Playbill, 31.

The Performers Guide to New York: How Does One Succeed on Broadway?

It has been my dream to perform on stage in New York, but I've always been told "The chances of anyone making it in new york one in a million.".  So how do you become that "One in a million"? The streets of New York are paved with the dead dreams of many actors and actresses. But Why? There must be some grand formula for success in this line of work. what make one person stand out of a crowed of thousands auditioning for the same part? This is the question, how does one succeed on Broadway.