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.
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