A Personal Mantra of Staying Positive

Someone once told me that if I could do anything besides theatre, and be happy, then to do it. At first I thought he was joking and then I realized that he was giving me the largest bit of wisdom anyone can give an artist. So I tried it. I became a medic in the Army, I joined a band, learned to play an instrument, waited tables, worked on Black Friday in retail, was a secretary in an office, learned the art of bs in public relations, rocked out as a music critic and eventually became a theatre critic. I tried everything to get myself out of this business and all paths led me back to it. During this time of exploration I learned that I was miserable doing anything else besides theatre.

This epiphany came about during my time as an intern and a production assistant in Kansas City. I realized that I had no problem working 14 hour days getting paid close to nothing but I absolutely hated my life while I was working a 9-5. During this light bulb moment, I decided that no job was beneath me and that I would take almost any job in theatre so that I could be working in the industry that made me happy. However, after my second masters I was in a town that was saturated with stage managers and had to get jobs once again selling perfume and waiting tables. I remember one night my father was giving me grief about waiting tables. He felt that since I had a Masters degree that I shouldn't be asking people if they wanted fries with that. My awesome and supportive mother wanted me to get a job in an office. I probably could have done it, but I really wanted to leave myself open for any opportunity that may come along. That was the best decision I ever made.

While chatting with a friend in Dallas he expressed his opinion that the region needed someone with my talents. I decided I would pick myself up and move back to big D and give it a stab. Over the last two years I have been fortunate enough to not wait tables or work in any other industry but the amazing world of make believe that I love. The funny thing is the more I work in professional theatre, the more I realize that the experiences I had outside of theatre apply to my job in several different ways. The personal skills I learned while waiting tables, working in retail, and being a journalist better educated me to work with different personalities and adjust the way I approach people based on their personalities. My time spent in public relations taught me crisis management and the ability to forsee problems before they happen. My time waiting tables and working retail also taught me how to pay attention to multiple things at once (way better for tons of blocking going on at once). My time in the Army taught me several very handy medical things that work backstage. My time as a manager at Bath and Body Works gave me better management skills.

The point is: no job is beneath you and every job can relate to the career you love. No matter what the career might be. But it is up to you to find the silver lining and make it worth your own while.

#happiness #life #enjoyment