Today's Work

Today I was tasked with playing with my niece! :o)
Hard day, yeah right!!! So much fun!!!

Tomorrow, I'm tasked with playing with my other niece ...
and Friday, with BOTH!!!

Ok, back to the fun!

Grrr.

I was so totally right! The trailer for the movie of my all time favorite book looks horrid - at least to me. Within a 1 minute TV trailer I saw several things that don't jive with the book, including the combination of two key characters into one role. Urgh. I will not see it!

As I'm commenting on books I've read, and seeing as I really do want to adapt this book for the stage, I feel it's an "appropriate" comment for this blog. Haha...

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

Today has been fairly relaxing, recouping from the weekends 24 hour project! :o) I managed to finally finish reading "The Princess Bride", the movie I've seen a bajillion times, and I'd begun the book ages ago ... but knowing the story line made it easy to put down when another book came into my hands, or when I was busy working on a show or work ... and so today I finished it! And I have to say, it's one of the only books to film that I love both of. Yes things were left out of the movie that are in the book, but they managed to keep its integrity the way so many others do not. At least in my opinion.

Tomorrow I've gotta get my rear in gear and apply to the list of jobs I've got at the moment.

The Drama Kids season ends at the beginning of June, and the Stage Manager's job I've got going on right now with WAM is over mid-May. And then I've got nothing until the month of August when I've got two gigs - Directing the Good Cause Club's Musical in a Week; and Teaching/Directing 3 week long sessions with Stone Soup Theatre in Seattle.

So ... what am I going to do in June and July? And again in September? I've got Drama Kids again in the Fall (I'm 99.9% sure) if nothing more full time comes my way, and or if I can work it out to do DK with another job as well. We shall see ... at any rate, gotta keep on keeping on.

*MUST finish my teaching philosophy.

That is all she wrote ... for now.

24 Hr. Theatre Project with WAM/MOPCO

WAM / MOPCO's 24 Hour Theatre Project, with participants from both the Capital Region and the Berkshires was a fabulous success!!! It occurred this past weekend, Friday and Saturday March 25 & 26, 2011 at the Troy Arts Center in, you guessed it, Troy, NY!

I was the Production Stage Manager for the event!

It was really great to meet and work with so many talented individuals from these two areas to create five new shows!

For me specifically, it was really great on the artistic side of things of course, but also on the "I've now finally worked professionally in the Albany area" (which, being where I'm from and where I am currently, is really cool)! It allowed me to meet and work with a large number of individuals who are well known in the area, Playwrights; Directors; Stage Managers; Actors; Lighting, Sound and Set Technical Genius', and now they know me too! Woo hoo!

We had a sold out house with a standing ovation at the end of the night! Success!!!

A friend of mine said he saw me on the news, a news segment about the project.
YIPES, haha! I knew that we were being filmed for the news, but I didn't really think I'd make it into one of the clips...hahaha. Hope I looked alright. :o)

At any rate ... that's my Friday / Saturday blog update.

Today's Applications, and ...

So far today I've applied:

1. For a stage manager's positions (2011-2012 season) with The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm THeatre in Rhode Island.


AND

1. A few days ago I received a response from a Children's Theatre in Connecticut where I had sent a general inquiry, a while back, about being a part time Teaching Artist with them. They responded in the positive re:interview, now I just need a bit more info. They didn't respond to my question of "is part time" even a doable position, though I gather from them responding that it's at least an option. :o) But also, times and places of the teaching to see if it's a feasible option for me as a commuter from NY.

AND

For the moment that is all.

Tomorrow's Mission

When was the last time I actually put an application in? If I'm asking the question it's been too long, therefore, tomorrow's mission ... to submit at least 2 applications before I go to Drama Kids - which means before 1pm.

Over and out.

Fear of not really being qualified.

Ok, I know I've said this before (right?!) but sometimes - despite knowing one has to "sell" themselves in this business - I find it ridiculously hard to actually submit myself to certain jobs. I know I could do it, but I fear that when (and if) "they" (the great and powerful they) read my CV that they won't feel that way. For example, I have no Artistic Director experience, and yet, I'm confident that I could do the job. I have no Managing Director experience, and yet all my stage managing credits, my directing experiences, my experiences as a director (even if they are small scale) and my working for a Talent Manager (among all my other theatrical and non-theatrical experiences), all these things have formed me into the person I am today, they have made me THE PERFECT CANDIDATE for these positions, and so many more! So, knowing in myself that I can do the job, why do I find it so hard to believe that someone else could see it too? And not just see it, but interview me and HIRE me!?!?!

I'm sure the feeling has something to do with the fact that I've applied all over the place over the past two years and only received a few interviews ... I wonder what my resume "doesn't" say, ya know? What's wrong with my credentials? Why am I not getting hired? Is it merely because I'm not related to some big wig already within the business? If I'm being honest, I do feel that this is part of the problem, I mean too many (in my opinion) folks get into the entertainment industry because of who they're related too over the talent they have (or, in MANY MANY MANY cases, DO NOT HAVE!!!). But I digress ... I have the talent and the experience so why am I not getting a good, full time job??? I've worked, literally all over the world ... I've networked ... I've got good connections ... so why can't I get a really good job?

Arrrrrrrrrgh...the frustrations! Time to stop complaining and get back to the hunt.

I've been surfing several sites this morning and finding jobs to apply for ... and yes, you guessed it, I find myself second guessing some of them for the above stated reason.

Get out of your head Maggie Moo ... and get applying!!!

Ok, now I must do that!

I'm a contorted pretzel of good luck vibes!

Ok, so there is NOTHING guaranteed, but I am in super high hopes today about a possible job. A friend of mine works on a show (a big time show) and told me that they're looking for a new Resident Director. Now, he's connected to the show so while he can't guarantee me a job, he said he can make sure that they see my resume! WOO HOO!!! I've already sent it off to him.

Now, everyone else, please assume the pretzel position!

Work Stuffs...and a show!

So yesterday and today I did more work stuff ... stage manager things for WAM ... and some Drama Kid prepping for next weeks classes!

I also got to see, as a chaperone for the HS Drama Club, "The Mystery of Irma Vep" at Shakespeare and Company out in Massachusetts! Very very funny show, and very demanding. 2 guys play 8 roles!

I also had to take the car to the shop today ...

And I found another job to apply for ... tomorrow.

And now it is late and I am tired so, Goodnight Gracie!

Gimmick please!

Geeze it's like I'm on-posting-fire today (and no, I am not attempting to make up for the ones I've missed ... I just don't feel these should all be one post).

Ok, so Gimmick Please!?!

Gimmick you say? (You, who are you ... ?)
I think perhaps this blog needs a better gimmick than my simply posting jobs I've applied to, the rejections/interviews when I get them, and the other thoughts I put on here from time to time, and the addition of the books I've been reading (that's not really a gimmick)...any thoughts? Thoughts keeping with the theme of the blog of course...

Winner gets ... a ... big ... huge ... thanks from me (unless you can think of something better - and feasible ... )!

Silent No's

Can I just take a minute to say how frustrating silent No's are!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I mean, especially with everything being electronic these days, how hard is it (and it's not that I "want" an email that says no we're not hiring you - or even giving you an interview - but at least I would know that the application had been received and reviewed! I'm not even asking for a specific response, like we love your work with Conflict Relief etc...but we can't...I'm talking a simple thank you but we can't offer you the position/interview at this time.

Now, don't get me wrong, several places I have submitted applications to in the past have given me just that. But then there are all the others, I have the ad printed out in my binder, the date I emailed the application in, and then NOTHING. When I hear back I put a little note on the paper so that I know ... but I digress,

I guess it's just upsetting, when you put the time and effort into applying somewhere, especially places who've put adverts out, it would be nice to hear SOMETHING back, even if it is a NO.

Phew...tirad over.

Multitasking!

Today I am trying to multitask ... or at the very least, work on several different things - even if it's not done all at once, Hahaha!

1. I am working on WAM Festival things; production schedule; email responses; updating production sheets ... etc ... I NEED TO PURCHASE A BINDER!

2. I am working on a recommendation letter for a friend who's trying to obtain an extension visa, an actor (theatre and film professional).

3. I'm searching for more jobs to apply for.

4. I'm still working on my teachers philosophy ... and a sample syllabus if I were going to teach an acting class and another if I were going to teach a directing class, so that I can apply for these college jobs.

And for now ... that is all ... nope, I lied ... I've also got several things I'm trying to write, they're open on the desktop and waiting the muse to strike, the next sudoku box of brilliance to illuminate itself ... we'll see what happens.

Happy Day Before St. Patrick's Day!!! I heart Guinness and all things Ireland'ia! :o) In fact, I'm gonna listen to the Busketeers now, a band my folks and I heard in Temple Bar, Dublin two years ago.

I miss Europe!!!

Teaching Philosophy

Right now I'm working on my teaching philosophy for several academic positions I'm going to apply for ... I've never written one of these before, any suggestions?

*I just read a great quote in the book I'm reading:
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~Henry Adams


Today I also wrote a letter of recommendation for a Middle School Student I've worked with who's a candidate for the MS Junior National Honor Society! :o) That was tremendous amounts of fun!

Stuff and No

I bet you thought I'd have done some work on finding more work today, right?! I mean after yesterdays post and all that ... but no, once again today was spent on other things. Some were work related, actually most were, just not finding more work. Hahaha! I spent a good deal of time talking with my Drama Kids boss re:our spring term play, the one for the older kids as we ran out of time during the training session to go over it all. And then I was going over what I was going to do with the kiddos in tonights class. After the class I worked with one of the students on a song she'll be doing for an audition this coming weekend, it's for a summer production of "Annie" and she had the song "Tomorrow".

Aside from that I read a little, current book being "Tuesdays with Morrie" and that's about it. Oh and I had a lovely conversation, mostly about our different theatre gigs and job hunts, with a good friend of mine out in Seattle.

And, as I predicted, I've not heard ANYTHING from the retail clothing store where I recently turned in an application. BIG FAT NO!

And that is all she wrote for today.

Posty McPosterson

Once again, I feel like a slacker where this blog is concerned ... I realize I'm the only "judge" of it to begin with ... but if it's called 365 days of me then shouldn't there be 365 entries by the time this is done? Not gonna happen ... already, haha! But I digress, my non-blogging does not mean I was doing nothing.

Over the past three days I dealt with an email for my summer job; I've worked on several Drama Kid things; several WAM things; and I did another round in my company's 24 Hours Series. "24 Hours: Stuck in an Elevator" happened this weekend and went really well.

Today I feel under the weather ... urgh, I HATE feeling sick ... blargh.

I've just spent several hours responding to - all work related - emails! :o) It's nice to say work related ...

And now, back to relaxing. And my tea.

More 24 Hour Stuff

Today I spent a large portion of time working on my 24 Hours that begins tomorrow (Friday the 11th) at 3pm. :o) I do wish more students were taking part, but we do have some new folks from the first round done with the G'ville HS, and some who partook of the first round. So, it's a good mix! :o) We shall we what cometh.

And I've gotten some emails regarding the WAM festival that I must address tomorrow.

And of course, I SHOULD be job searching every day ... and seeing as the only application I've actually put out in the past three (or more) weeks was for a retail job ... I should get crackin' on that as well.

I don't think this blog is going the way - or as well as - I'd wanted ... what exactly that was, not 100% sure, but still ...

Yesterday and today ... stuff!

Yesterday I spent some time working on my upcoming 24 Hours ...

And today, I had a meeting re:WAM's "O Solo Mama Mia Festival" ... and I worked on more 24 Hour stuff.

Today, I also officially handed in my non- theatre retail application...now we play the waiting game.

And that is all for the moment ... off to search for more places where I can apply.

HallWay Productions 24 Hour Theatre Series

Right, I've mentioned this already, I know ...

March 11 & 12, 2011 HallWay Productions (my company) is having another round in our 24 Hour Theatre Series (it was postponed from early February due to snow storms ... PLEASE LET THE STORM HEADING OUR WAY FOR THUR/FRI MISS US!!!???!!!). It will be taking place at Greenville High School with the Greenville Drama Club.

The creative process begins on the 11th at 2pm when the writers begin to write ... and then the directors come on board followed shortly thereafter by the actors. And 24 hours later we will have a performance of 3-5 (depending upon how many people are officially signed up by this Thursday the 10th) new ten minute plays!!!

So if you are a PLAYWRIGHT / DIRECTOR OR ACTOR (reading this blog) and interested in taking part in this next round please let me know.

24 Hours: TBA (no one gets to know the theme until they arrive for the project)
March 12th at 2pm in the Greenville High School Auditorium

If nothing else, come check out the show!!!

24 Hours and the clock is ticking!!!

Procrastinator Me...urgh!

So I've got a few applications I should have been working on all weekend and instead ... I didn't. Haha. Bad Mags! It is so easy to put it off ... feeling something akin to "they're not going to hire me anyway" ... as my record shows. I know it's not me, it's the economy, where I'm currently living and the fact that this is what it is like in this bloody field. And still sometimes the thought that "they're not going to hire me anyway" creeps in, takes over and so I procrastinate filling out applications. I've gotta stop that!!!

On another note ... I did put out some info on my company's upcoming 24 Hour Theatre Series. ;o)

Tomorrow is a day of work ... job hunting, application filling, job submitting work!

No jobs found today.

Well I didn't find anything to apply for today ... so ... we'll see what tomorrow brings.


I feel like I should have some sort of 'hook' for this project. Something that might make people read this blog ... hahaha, but what? I've got nothing.

NOthing done today.

Ahhhh I'm really bad at this blogging thing ... re: job searching ... it started out rather well but I'm a bit rubbish at doing something EVERYDAY, proof in the pudding of this here chocolate blog (yes Chocolate, it's my favorite)!

So today ... what did I do today ... I took my Grandmother to a Dr's appointment this morning and then we went out to breakfast. Then, after an opossum on the front porch scared the beeeee-jeeeeezuz of out me, I sent my brother a Moroccan soup recipe, for Harira, while talking to my friend in London on AIM. After that I went to a friends house and hung out with her and her two little girls (and her hubby when he got home), lots of giggling ensued!!! :o) When I got home there was a fabulous Mediterranean meal waiting - for which I brought a nice red and white wine, and ate while watching "Toy Story 3".

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is all she wrote.

The only job related business I did today was to respond to an email about a gig I'm PSM'ing in two weeks.

I really need to get my butt in gear!!!

That is all. :o)

Drama Kids

Today I got the info for the next Drama Kids Camp I will be teaching, it's over the spring break ... it's like the one I just did the over winter break but different curriculum ... woo hoo! It's an intense week, but good fun and good money!

Other than that, today was a book day ... I finished "Ape House" by Sara Gruen. She's a really good writer ... she writes so you don't want to stop reading it. And I have liked the 3 novels of hers that I've read, but neither of the two I've read recently ("Riding Lessons" and "Ape House") are like "Water for Elephants"...this one really touched me, like no other novel ever has. I absolutely fell in love with it! And I am super afraid (I know, oxymoron in my field and all that) of the adaptation for the film. I rarely like a film that's been adapted from a novel I've loved, I always feel they leave too much out, that the actors never look like/act like the characters as they were in my head, and they changed things ... too much ... and with this book, having loved it so much, I'm just SUPER afraid the movie will fall flat for me, or worse that I'll "hate it". Even though I like Reese Witherspoon and believe Robert Pattinson (who's yummy to look at) has more talent than the 'Twilight' films could show...I'm just not sure if I can see it.

Random tangent done.

More tomorrow....hopefully more that's related "more" to this blog. Hahahaha...though I suppose this is ... it is 365 Days of Me OR The Blog of No. :o)

Non Theatre Application

Well, I have a "Spring Play Training" meeting today with Drama Kids and then 3 classes to teach tonight, so I decided to spend the morning filling out a non-theatre application that I can turn in tonight. It's for a clothing store at a Mall in Colonie - at the Colonie Mall actually.

So, there you have it ... in case I'm super sleepy when I get home tonight, I've still done an application!

:o)

*And check out the picture on the side bar of the blog about WAM Theatre Company, and lower down on the side bar the "books" list I've got going (in case you're looking for a great read).

Welcome March ... and what I did job wise today!

HOLY COW it's already March! I have to say, despite the mounds of snow outside - and the late in February Snow Storm of last weekend - March, she came in like a Lamb, not a Lion. Of course, living in the North East I am not stupid enough to believe that we're "done" with snow storms and all that. I fully expect Spring to not really spring yet, for another two weeks or more (though I'd love for it to burst out all over tomorrow)!

At any rate ... Happy and Welcome March!

Today I worked on some things for the festival I'm Stage Managing with WAM theatre.
Today I worked on some things for my company's next round in our 24 Hour Theatre Series.
Today I looked on several websites ... like Yosemiti (is that spelled right?) Sam on a Wabit Hunt ... and found nothing new.
Today I began writing up a "Teaching Philosophy" so that I can apply to two of the jobs my bro sent me the links too, they are both teaching positions (Assistant Professors at two different Uni/College's). As well as working on a few other applications to send out.
Today I sifted through the jobs to apply for that I've currently got, but haven't yet applied too, and found two whose deadline dates have come and gone - OOPS! (I was working though, so it's not like I just didn't do it.)
AND today I read more of "Ape House"
TOMORROW I will apply to three positions whose applications/submissions I've been working today.

And for now, that is all!

:o) COME ON SPRING! (Oh, and a ya know my dream job, puuuuur-lease!?!?! Hahahaha....)