THREE'S THE CHARM

Things I learned today:

1. When I know I've screwed up I get flustered and angry and then screw up more which causes my dance partners to get flustered and angry.   Sorry girls.

2. I am apparently good at lifts.  Being fearless and all that.  Plus I have thighs like Athena and sturdy litte legs to toss myself around with.  You're welcome lift partner. :)

3. K and I are not capable of having different days.  When he has a good day so do I and when his is bad so is mine.  Today he had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day and I got stuck in an elevator.  Legitimately call on the emergency phone and be pried out stuck on an elevator.  

4. My roommate and I have very similar senses of humor and laugh a lot at the same things.  I will be sad when my visa comes and I replace her on the tour.

5. I forgot water and don't have a HUGE variety of snack food.  I discovered, by way of another cast member, the gym in our hotel has free water and fruit that I can raid when I want a snack or drink that doesn't cost $5 per 100 calorie packet.  EPIC WIN!

6. I like being super organized.

7. I love this tour and everyone on it.  

PART DEUX

Well, day two is over.  And I've survived.  Barely.  

No, actually today was better than yesterday so we are making strides.  I've got about eight different things to learn, plus the role that I'm understudying and oh, by the way I have to learn it in three different languages.  So I know four of them in one language.  Baby steps.

My cast is literally the nicest group on the planet so that's a big plus.  Can't wait to really get to know everyone.  Filled out all my new hire paperwork today, but I still haven't heard a thing about the status of my visa stuff for South America so I'm learning and waiting.

Little vital information for your everyday life, I'm sore. Everywhere.  Seriously.  Even my elbows are sore.  I didn't even know that was a thing.  I mean, I have to do this insane step routine with a huge rifle that I have to throw around and I'm going to have arms like Hulk Hogan at the end of this process.  I'm sure of it.  Not to mention, I passed out in the bed last night from sheer exhaustion and didn't move from the twisted weirdo position I fell asleep in and my abs feel like giant balls of fire.  Great.  

So, all in all I'm having a blast.  Keepin' it real.  Keepin' it EXTRA sweaty and tryin' to keep up.  Until tomorrow.

5,6,7,8

The countdown has begun.  It is currently 9:20pm Eastern Standard Time and I am hold up in a hotel room in Downtown Orlando wondering how I managed to survive the first day of rehearsals.

Okay, so maybe I should back up.  Tour.  Yeah, nine to ten glorious months of seeing the world, South America and the continental USA, and working as a professional performer.  It's official.  It has happened.  I'm not a one hit wonder and I can book gigs that aren't month long regional theatre credits. Not that I'm complaining.  Ain't no shame in my game.

So, today was day one of my first rehearsal for this new company and new job.  I'm not naming the company or the gig for reasons of anonymity and because I don't want to jeopardize or get myself in trouble, but trust, it ain't no joke.

I worked today from 9am-6pm sweating for Jesus.  No lie.  It was frustrating, rewarding, hilarious, joyful, and everything I thought tour life would be.  So far.  

Is there a stack of paperwork? Yep.  That I have to fill out after a long day of rehearsal? Uh-huh.  Do I get about every third reference that people make because I'm the only new hire and I don't know who anyone is?  Indeed.  

But I'm not mad at it.  What I'm mad at is that I set myself up for frustration and failure by insisting that I nail everything in the first take and be some sort of super hero that doesn't need to learn a show, but can just magically know every nuance and dance.  

That's not reality.  This is the real deal.  Many of these people have been with my company for years and have been on numerous shows with them.  I am on, for all accounts, the toughest and most fun show of the bunch so, I'm going to ice my feet, lick my wounds and rest for tomorrow because I've got two more solid weeks of this non-stop ride before things get ugly.  

And just in case anyone is unsure of how tired I am.  The first photo is how I generally look and the second photo is after today's rehearsal.

You're welcome.