Applications!

EDITION #2- Applying…yourself.

You wouldn’t think that applications to 4 schools would take 6 months to prepare but it DOES. Especially when you had never even thought that earning a Master’s in the Arts was an option.

GRAD SCHOOL TIP #1:

Even if you think you’ll never go to grad school, keep a professional portfolio of all your work, including reviews, production photos and PROMPT BOOKS, along with an updated resume easily accessible. It will save you a crap ton of time when you finally do decide to go, plus its impressive when applying for regional positions.

*SUB-TIP- If you can, get a temp job where you have access to a nice color printer and LOTS writing time. I put together 4 applications (plus 1 extra to keep for myself just in case I had to reapply next year…) that would have cost me hundreds of dollars if I didn’t work for a major corporation. It seems dishonest but I had been working overtime with no Health Insurance, vacation pay or sick days for almost a year. They made out like bandits in the deal and I am guiltless.

Luckily for me I founded an indie Theatre Company 4 years ago and was keeping those files up to date so it was only half as much of a headache than it would have been. Still delving back to the work before the theatre company started was rough.

It also helps to make friends with some Artistic Directors, Editors, Professors and industry professionals. I might be the minority here but I wasn’t aware that I had to STAY friends with my professors from Undergrad. Certainly it would be great to maintain good relationships with those people, I mean, they were nice enough, taught me a lot of stuff made earning my BA in performing arts a fantastic experience but there are friends that I LIVED with whom I’ve lost touch. I’m supposed to stay friends with the teachers? The answer is yes. Friend them on Facebook and let them know what you’re up to especially if you find yourself in New York, Chicago, LA or London. They find such information endlessly fascinating and it makes it that much easier to ask them for a recommendation letter when the time comes, should you need one.

I got mine from the editor of a New York theatre online magazine for which I am reviewer, The founder/Artistic Director of a NYC based acting school for whom I worked once upon a time and the Chair of the theatre department from my undergrad university. (I still have not met that last one in person but he was so incredibly helpful. I owe him a bottle of wine.)

I found the most difficult and time consuming part of the application process writing my “Artistic Statement.” Who would have thought that saying what you love about theatre and why and how you want to contribute to it would be so difficult? After reading a few statements from other people and asking around it seemed like what grad schools wanted was know your niche. Something like, “I love theatre because the only way I can express myself is through ___(insert style of theatre here: i.e. Immersive Theatre, Theatre of Cruelty, Realism etc.)__ .” This was a problem for me because that’s not really the kind of artist I am. I love theatre. I love actors. I think the best way I can express myself is by connecting to whatever piece I am given in whatever way I connect and using whatever style is necessary to put the message forth in an artistic and original way. I still have to LEARN which styles speak to me most. Truthfully, I hope I’m never so rigid as to only be able to work in one style. I wanted to express that in my statement but people advised me to “bullshit” when necessary. I opted not to mostly because I have no way of backing up the crap I would have had to make up. I was lucky because during my writing I was dating a pretty amazing playwright who had excellent insight into phrasing. He helped me quite a bit. (We broke up shortly after…)

In any case, the statement got written, the portfolio was arranged, the prompt books were updated, the REEL got posted to Youtube, Recommendation letters were secured and the applications were successfully mailed out. Then you wait.

Next edition: INTERVIEWS!

First Edition

Welcome to Open Sewer!

This blog is designed mostly for me to chronicle my upcoming Graduate School experience while I earn my Masters in Theatrical Directing. These chronicles will include new life lessons, interesting ideas to apply to life and projects, artistic and person conundrums, cathartic rants and tips about what to expect from a Grad School experience. In short, it is my open drainage system to this new chapter of my life ad my mind overflows with artistic knowledge.

Hopefully those who are considering a commitment to crippling debt, unreasonable work loads and extensive summer reading lists all in the name of becoming a Master of the Arts will find it informative and helpful.

The following was written on 7/14/11

I’m starting a little late since the grad school experience technically begins when one decides that graduate school is the right path for them so let’s travel back in time for a little recap, shall we?

After 6+ years of surviving in New York City as an office administrator in various locations around this great city during the day, and working on theatre in the evening hours I found myself dissatisfied. 3 too many co-workers who are at least 2 years my junior had asked me what career I wanted for myself and I was starting to get bitter…well, more bitter than usual. “When will this end?” I thought. “When do I get to make my living at the occupation I’m best at?” Certainly I was GOOD at answering the phone 12 times a day. I don’t mind saying that I nailed that part of my day at least 80% of the time, but where was the love? Spending 42.5 hours a week in a place about which one does not care is 32.5 hours too many.

I began to toss around ideas. It came down to 3 options:

1) Start stealing and reselling office supplies until I saved up enough money to pay my rent for a year. Then quit and direct plays for tips on the street.

2) Quite my job and start whoring… (ahem)…FREELANCING at various gigs around the city.

3) Apply to Grad School.

I decided the demand for impromptu play direction was low in this economy, (also, stealing is wrong) whore-lancing comes naturally to me but its uses are better saved for romantic occasions and grad school was going to kill me. After a long talk with my best friend from High School about her husband’s experience in law school, I chose grad school.

Thus, this blog was born. Next edition: The application process.