i-remember-there-was-mist:

It’s great and it sucks all in one!  I had a job right out of college, and I was without a job for about a month before I got my cruise gig.  I took a break after that for several months and am now just getting back into the swing of auditioning, and I’ve got another gig lined up shortly!  So, personally, I’m finding a ton of success, though it’s not without it’s struggles.  You have to get used to making your living with lots of little things.  I do graphics work, photography, editing, acting, teaching, and singing to make my living.  It’s not an easy gig, to be sure. There’s a lot of personal pressure to get out there and audition constantly, and be ready for a lot of rejection.  People say that all the time, but it’s true, it can get very discouraging over time.  People in the industry seem to be either really genuinely great people or total dickheads (mostly the latter) so you have to get used to that as well.  But other than that, I really love it!

 That being said, Broadway is not my goal.  I have an understanding with myself that Broadway =/= success, and to get in that mindset is absolutely and utterly deadly.  I think many people don’t realize how far of a reach goal that is.  Not to say that people shouldn’t work and try and audition, but it’s not as easy as going in one day out of the blue and getting a lead in a Broadway show!  Getting into the union alone is the biggest hassle in the world, and unfortunately you have to be in the union to be on Broadway.  You have to be in the union to get an audition.  You have to be in the union to make that coveted 1,800 dollar a week Broadway minimum.  So when people start out, they simply don’t know a lot of the technical issues with big-time theatre, but of course, they learn!  But it can definitely get frustrating to see people behave as if it’s a simple, “Oh, yeah, I’m going to go to NYC and get into Wicked, easy peasy, I’m better than them, I can do it!”  It just doesn’t work like that, not matter how much we wish that pure talent got you the job and nothing else.  

I went on a tangent. Oh well.  but conclusion, I love it.  It’s hard, it’s painful at times, but it’s rewarding and beautiful and brings me joy every day!