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Invest In Yourself As A Performer |
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Written by triplethreat
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I am often discouraged by the number of supposed "serious" performers who complain about buying sheet music, cast recordings, dance/acting/singing lessons, proper dance shoes.... the list goes on. Often these same people are found on various message boards on the internet, asking for monologues or sheet music to be e-mailed to them because they "don't have the money" to buy their own.
I know what it's like to have to pinch pennies, and I don't mean to appear insensitive to the financial situation of others, but if you are truly serious about becoming a performer, it's time to get real.
No matter what profession you are in, there are certain tools of the trade that you will need in order to be successful. Nurses and dental hygienists must buy their scrubs. A teacher spends much of his/her own money on books and supplies. Most construction workers must own their own basic equipment.
So if you are treating performing as a career (or future career) then you need to recognize that a little investment is going to be needed. Invest money, yes, but also time. Successful artists invest in themselves, so if you don't, you will be at a disadvantage.
There are ways to invest in yourself less expensively.
Take advantage of libraries! I know some libraries in smaller towns don't have a huge performing arts section, but most can do an inter-library loan to get you what you need, if you ask.
Buddy up! Most of us have friends that are also performers. Pool your resources, and share CDs, sheet music and books. Make your own little library!
Pay for only what you need. iTunes allows you to buy individual songs. Musicnotes.com allows you to buy sheet music by the individual song. There's no need to buy a whole book or album if you know you only need one song. Take drop-in dance classes instead of scheduled dance classes that must be paid for by term.
Read instead of taking classes. There is no substitute for a good dance or acting class, but if you really can't afford it, a good book or DVD is better than nothing. People who REALLY want to learn will always find a way.
Join a choir. A good choral director will teach you much about proper singing technique, even though you'll likely never have one-on-one time. As a bonus, you will learn harmony and other choral skills that you won't get in an individual lesson, and build performance experience for your resume.
Notice that nowhere on my list have I included going online to beg for things for free?
- Don't use the fact that you are strapped for cash as an excuse to be lazy. Get off your butt and go to a library! Be thrifty, absolutely, but never lazy.
- As performers, we have a responsibility not to steal from the people who create the material we perform. Every time we "cheat the system", we bite the hand that feeds us. Please obtain your sheet music and cast recordings legally.
You need to invest in your knowledge of material. - This is an article about the importance of expanding your knowledge of musicals, along with some tips for doing so inexpensively.
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