First Time Pro
Posted: October 16th, 2001, 6:06 am
Almost everyone remembers their first kiss, their first 'F' in school, first girlfriend, etc. I'd like to add one more 'first' to the list: first professional paid performance, which for me, was tonight.
It feels late, having my first 'real' paid close-up gig at age 21. But no matter. I spent 2 hour performing walkaround at a local pub, which I have come to consider the most fun, and, in some senses, the most difficult venue to work. Because I haven't performed in the real world for nearly as long as most of the people in this forum, I am trying to develop the necessary skills, i.e. how to read people, how to know when to walk away, how to approach, etc. I get the impression, from different texts and from other performer, it's simply a matter of time and experimentation before I find the right techniques for me.
As it turned out tonight, there was a group of about 50 med students who had just become doctors. Many of them were drunk or on the way to becoming so, the ones who were sober kept the drunk from falling over. Still, I went over very well; they kept me going for over an hour! Not only did I get my pay, I gave out a few business cards, got some free drinks (after my shift was over, of course), and even got a phone number! If only all performances were as nice as tonight!
Experience: I yearn for it, I want it to teach me, I want it to show the raw, uncensored reality of the entertaining world. :eek:
Adam
It feels late, having my first 'real' paid close-up gig at age 21. But no matter. I spent 2 hour performing walkaround at a local pub, which I have come to consider the most fun, and, in some senses, the most difficult venue to work. Because I haven't performed in the real world for nearly as long as most of the people in this forum, I am trying to develop the necessary skills, i.e. how to read people, how to know when to walk away, how to approach, etc. I get the impression, from different texts and from other performer, it's simply a matter of time and experimentation before I find the right techniques for me.
As it turned out tonight, there was a group of about 50 med students who had just become doctors. Many of them were drunk or on the way to becoming so, the ones who were sober kept the drunk from falling over. Still, I went over very well; they kept me going for over an hour! Not only did I get my pay, I gave out a few business cards, got some free drinks (after my shift was over, of course), and even got a phone number! If only all performances were as nice as tonight!
Experience: I yearn for it, I want it to teach me, I want it to show the raw, uncensored reality of the entertaining world. :eek:
Adam