Its an age old debate. What is the difference between "professional" theatre and "community" theatre? In my humble opinion is has more to do with attitude and almost nothing to do with money. This whole Henegar is going "professional" thing has gotten a little out of hand in our community. I think we worded it wrong if you want my honest opinion. Ever since I came to the Henegar I came at it as a professional, in a professional setting. Yes, we are hiring a few Equity and Non-Equity actors. Yes, on paper it changes who we are inherently, so you will get that professional credit. But it is SO much more than that. And really it is the same place it has always been.
Tangent time (No shade here, just honesty): Let's be real. In a community with many other theatres, people LOVE to watch other's flop. I think that is so sad. Yes, people are going to talk trash, but there seems to be a undercurrent of not wanting or being able to celebrate other's successes. Why is that? I can certainly tell everyone I know, and have, that we are in no direct competition with anyone. This isn't "RuPaul's Drag Theatre"! No one wins in the end. We just do good work. A little analogy: When I make Kool-Aid I have a tendency to stain my fingers...and I hate that... like I hate glitter... so I have made NO Kool-Aid for anyone to drink. If you want to do a show! Do it! If you don't. Then don't. Enough. I encourage actors ALL the time... "If you LOVE that show and want to do it! Then go for it!" Not the case sometimes. This is what I hear in regards to new actors coming to audition at the Henegar.... "You are going THERE to audition?!? Eww!" What is that? Its like you need an HVAC suit and a penicillin shot to work here! My first year I had an actor come out for a show at the Henegar and during Tech Week he pulled me aside. I wished you could see his beautiful and earnest face. He said, "I am SO glad I didn't listen to everyone telling me not to audition for you because this has been so fun and what you have created is a family." I will just leave that there... I don't think I need to say anything else on the matter. TANGENT OVER!
Back to the argument.... What about "quality"?
Um, no. That doesn't work. How does one define quality in an art form? What is great to someone is crap to someone else. You can't define opinion. A Theatre might have amazing lights and sets, but what if the show itself doesn't have heart? And quality is really a matter of opinion isn't it. Some people LOVE Picasso and see so much in his work. Others stare at it and go, "This is worth 10 million dollars?!" So then, there is no guarantee of the quality of an actor whether you label yourself Professional, Equity, Non-Equity or Amateur. You could say, "Well, I worked at 12 different professional theatres." Great!, Eh, maybe not. Just because an actor joins Equity doesn't make them instantly better. Its not a magic pill. The same with Theatres. I have seen many community theatre productions that blow away LORT Theatres. Broadway even.
What about "money"?
When I was an actor I worked at many places that considered themselves "non-equity" as they refer to any production that is non-unionized. The majority of them do not pay their actors at all or maybe a small stipend at the end of the run. You literally do the show for the experience and the credit or bullet point on your resume. Literally only 10% of the world's actors consistently make a living solely on acting. So, an Artist for whom money is THE MOST important consideration in the definition of "professional" is an Artist who is deliberately shortchanging the worth of other Artists and Companies. Drops mic.
So I have been looking around and found this amazing article of which I will share a tidbit...
"“Professionals” in theatre are those people who are openly dedicated primarily to the activity of theatremaking. A “professional” individual in theatre is someone who has made a commitment to the art of theatre, and has made that his or her primary daily activity, or has theatre as a primary daily activity as his or her goal... A “professional” theatre is one that is staffed with such individuals, regardless of what that theatre pays them. “Theatre professionals” are people who have made theatremaking their lives, and “professional theatres” are the companies that are staffed with those people."
What about "behavior"?
I remember when I was a "struggling" actor I was so profoundly lucky to find a job to put on my resume I really didn't care what I was getting paid. I was on that stage! For some of these companies I would have paid them! Not today! Which is sad. Yes, I know people have to make a living, but just being in the company of actors made me happy. This should be especially true for young actors that are still in college or just getting their feet wet in the business. Kids today place too much importance on the "role" and NOT the "experience"! How can we change that? (That is a blog post unto itself.)
Another thing early actors need to remember is be careful what you say and who you say it to! (Back to my tangent. Please know that as directors, people LOVE to tell us what other people say! I really don't listen anymore. But they still do it! Remember people, when you talk trash, you know it always gets back and it might cost you future jobs! Duh!) More times than not, in this business we all know each other in a round about way. Theatre is a VERY small world. Anyone can walk into my audition and I see something on their resume and I say, "Oh wow! You worked with David! He and I go way back!" You should see some of their faces drop! They might have remembered a diva fit they had back in the day.
Several years ago, at another theatre, I was directing a show and had a real problem with someone in the chorus. Luckily for me and the other 20 actors working their butts off this person dropped voluntarily. I knew they wouldn't last. The work ethic just wasn't there. And I think he was still pouting that he didn't get the lead. SO, he sent me a scathing email about how he was unhappy, that I wasn't professional (you know that passive-aggressive game where you blame other people for the crap YOU are actually pulling), blah blah blah. Well, he made himself unhappy! And me unhappy! And the cast unhappy! But I never treated him ANY differently than anyone else. And I looked around and everyone was having a blast! So he ends his tirade email by saying, "F**K YOU! (Professional, right?) I am going to SETC and going to get tons of REAL jobs!" Little did my friend know, that I was going to be at SETC with all my REAL friends, who are also REAL Directors. Oops. Small world, isn't it. But, I was a professional, I didn't say anything about him to anyone. His body language during his audition said more than enough.
Everyone you interact with in a theatre, be it in NYC, Florida, Alaska or Timbuktu, play nice. It will certainly lead to other things. Networking! Other connections with actors and directors who know other people. Half of this industry is built on who you know. A word of advice, we do call each other about things. Yet again, professional means attitude. And what you bring to the table! Also, actors, please know that after you audition or before, sometimes we look at your facebook page. Remember, YOU the actor are marketing YOURSELF! Don't selfie your shenanigans. Just a tip.
Anyway, in my small little opinion, I expect everyone I work with to be a professional! AND every time you do a show you are building a "community" of people that work together to create a common work of "art". There is no monetary value on how one conducts themselves. You either are a professional or not. And it has very little to do with pay. Didn't your Mama raise you right?!?
No comments:
Post a Comment