More Mish Mash

In my effort to continue posting here once a month or so, to my loyal blog readers I have not given up on this end of my online universe, I present two things of interest today.

To begin with, I will soon be assuming responsibilities as house/facilities manager at the recent opened Black Box Arts Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This facility used to house the now defunct Full Circle Company, at which I did the lion's share of my acting in the last several years. FCTC had various issues and was, in short, forced to dissolve. But I have high hopes for this new endeavor in the building. (Which will be open to not just theater but other sorts of arts-oriented activities. I will post updates about some of my adventures there here on the blog.

I will in fact probably be posting a bit more content on theatre related activities that are not strictly reflections on my experience as an actor in a show. Though that has always been the backbone of this blog over the years, I have, (as I mentioned in my last entry) always meant to at some point slightly expand the scope. Theatre being the umbrella still, but including perspectives, polls, and other content that can make the blog more sustainable when I go through a drought of performances, as I am now. So do check back, as always.

Secondly, I went to a used book sale about two weeks ago, and came across a book for acting students in a pile in the back room. It's kind of old, but I bought it anyway. I finished it today. Here's my Goodreads review of it. (I'm only the second person on Goodreads to have ever read it, and the first to write a review.) Go check it out, and let me know if you've ever read it as well.

I'm also getting closer to revising and finishing my series of short stories that take place in the same fictional theater. I plan to publish that in e-book form sometime next year. It will be a bit of a prelude to my novel that takes place in the same fictional theater, which I hope to either shop to agents, or publish myself next year as well.

I'm proud of the stories. They need some work, and perhaps won't appeal to the broadest of audiences. But anyone who has spent any time in a theatre will, I feel, recognize the sorts of characters and situations presented in this short-fiction collection. I can't wait to get that off and running, so I can offer it to the theatre-minded folks out there.

Finally, my one-man Shakespeare show continues to evolve. I'm no where near performing it yet, but if the edits and the test reciting i have done be myself continue to progress, I wouldn't be surprised if it could go up sometimes in the fall of 2014. I'm excited about that as well.

So that's where I am in the theatre world as it stands now. I am by now means out of theatre, and in many ways will hopefully be back into it head long very soon, and will have more to say more often here on the blog again, between shows.

Until next time, loyal blog readers.

General Updates

As we enter the final fourth of 2013, it has become clear that this will sadly have been the least active year for Always Off Book ever. While I have tried to post some of my previously published advice material here and there to fill the gaps, the fact is, I have not had as much to say on here as I would have liked.

One reason is that I have not been in a play in over a year, and this has always been, mostly, an exploration of my experiences while in a show. Not being in a play for over a year is sad not only for this blog, but for me. It happens sometimes of course, for various reasons. But I think I am now approaching the second-longest amount of time I have ever spent without being on stage. I mentioned the possibility in a previous entry of my doing Everyman. While that is still supposed to happen at some point, it has for various reasons been postponed.

More relevant to my lack of stage time recently, is the dissolution of the local community theatre in which I did most of my performing over the last several years. Even before the official end of same, the final year of it's existence was one of slow degradation. Lack of leadership, near total lack of public interest, disorganization, etc. A bit depressing in its own right.

However, certain other ventures are happening in the same geographical area of which I am a part. Because these plans have not been launched officially just yet, I will refrain from sharing specifics at this time. But if all goes well, I should find myself more involved in theatre in 2014 than ever I was in 2013. It will hopefully be an invigorating experience after the rough last two years. (During which, my plans for my own theatre company totally failed due to lack of local interest and cooperation, as did my production of Art for mostly the same reasons as far as attendance.) After last years theatrical stumbles, and this years theatrical absence, I need such a projects for 2014 to keep me busy. Stay tuned.

As for other theatres, yes, I certainly could have tried out elsewhere this year. I thought about it here and there. After all I have never been in a play in the closest city to where I live. (Frederick, Maryland.) The theatres there have a bit of a reputation for being close-shop and ever so slightly elitist, so i have been reluctant to try them. (I did so about ten years ago, and found the reputation deserved, but that was ten years ago, after all.) I have boycotted the previous venue where I used to do all of my plays because of the immoral behavior of it managing director of about ten years. Another is way too far away for me to drive to. There is one place I like, in Winchester, Virginia, which is far, but would be worth it for the right part. Sadly, they tend to produce plays that consistently require characters that are a minimum of 50 years old. So I'm not quite there yet.

I've also though about becoming active in community theatre message boards again. I have tried that a few times in the past, and have not met with much success. A lot of know it alls on such boards. (Or any message board for that matter.) Never really got a toe-hold in. My knowledge seemed unwelcome. But I may try again. It could give me more to talk and think about in the world of theatre. More things to write about here when I am not in a show.

And that is a big thing, I think. I probably need to broaden the topics about which to write here on Always Off Book. At least enough so there is something to say between shows. (Though I am hoping "between shows" won't usually last a year and a half plus...)

So while things have been slow here this year, I hope to pick up next year. I know I have a few followers out there, so hang with me, loyal blog readers. And give a shout out for a change to let me know you are still reading!

Pre-Performance Playlist Possibilities

My fellow actors have asked me about music enough lately that I thought the subject warranted a closer look. Specifically, what sort of music should (or shouldn’t) an actor listen to before starting a show.

Portable music has been part of the pre-curtain ritual for years. It is just the devices that have changed. Regardless of what plays the music however, I do think there are some guidelines for their usage.

To begin with, I am not in favor of people playing their music, regardless of genre, without headphones. Certainly not in dressing rooms or common areas. This actually happens in almost every show I am in, sadly. If an entire cast can come to agreement about a play list, fine. But such universal permission is rarely secured, and thus I am subjected to what the person with either no sense or courtesy to bring headphones decides is the right kind of music for the dressing room. Please, do everyone a service and only listen to music if you have headphones. Even the smallest of casts are likely to have divergent pre-show rituals and varied musical tastes.

What sort of music one should be listening to privately with headphones is to a great degree subjective, naturally. Different music does different things for each person. So while I cannot recommend or discourage specific songs, I do offer some results that music should have, so one can choose their own music appropriately.

The simple view is this…listen to a mix of music that is skewed towards upbeat, (that is to say anything that peps you up) during anytime before the 30 minutes until curtain mark. This is the time to get pumped, so use what works.

At around 30 minutes until curtain, start slowing your selections down a bit, skewing the list more towards the tunes that relax you and help you focus. With less then 10 before curtain, if you are listening to anything at all, (which I usually do not) make it the music that most easily makes you calm, helps you collect your thoughts, and puts you in a receptive frame of mind. Energy is good, but don’t be head banging this late in the game. Be pepped but centered. Of course, don’t put yourself to sleep with lullabies either.

Music of course is very personal, and there are exceptions to every rule. Yet we all have certain songs that affect us certain ways. If nothing else, be aware of how any given song or band makes you feel, ask yourself if that is the way an actor should be feeling right before a show, and listen accordingly.

Just don’t miss “places.”

(This piece originally appeared on Showbizradio.net on November 18, 2009)