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We worked in theatre, what do we do now?
My husband and I both work in theater. This used to be a cute thing to note about us at a cocktail party. Then the world was upended by this horrible virus and everything came crashing down. Live entertainment was put on hold everywhere and we all have to hustle more than ever to make ends meet and keep our lives afloat. And it’s not just us, it’s around 70% of our friends who work in “the business” in some way and all of us are currently playing a part in this bizarre tragedy.
But ever the optimist, I’ve been working harder than ever to understand the new landscape. And I’m here to tell you, we are figuring it out. Now that the stages are dark and the ghost lights are on, here’s a taste of what’s happening behind the scenes during this intermission.
We teach- If you work in the arts, you never stop learning. There’s always a new technique, an emerging technology or a new form of social media to master (TikTok, anyone?). My first month off I was lucky enough to teach a class for two new forces. NoMarking is a private Facebook group led by casting director, Kate Lumpkin. This channel offers everything from classes in yoga to pitching your project to managing your finances. And here’s the amazing part, it’s offered for free. My favorite feature, “Office Hours” offers time with Kate to gain feedback, ask questions and just check-in with the community…