Being an actor is a slow, ever evolving process. It’s
counter to the current societal concept of “fast”: fast food, fast cars, fast
connections, fast everything. The media
makes up for Show Business’ lack of instant gratification by saying “so-and-so
is an overnight sensation”, “new comer so-and-so…” The truth is, no one in the
Business is “discovered” and certainly no one is “unknown”. Making a career in the performing arts is
impossible if no one knows who you are. These media branded “new comers”, “overnight
sensations” and “unknowns” are people who have “paid their dues”.
There are some who think paying your dues means struggling
through everyday life so you can make your art. I believe “paying your dues” is
using your waiting time wisely. “Waiting time” is the moments between actual performing,
including while you’re in a show. The people who have made a life of performing
have used their waiting time to progress their careers.
As an actor “waiting time” is one of the most important
uncontrollable issues we face. Most of what we do is “wait”. We wait to get to
New York. We wait to hear about auditions. We wait until an audition comes
that’s right for us. We wait in line at the audition. We wait for the callback
after the audition. We wait for the call telling us we’ve gotten the job. And then
we wait for our cue to enter to act or sing or dance.
We wait. I think it’s kind of ironic that a majority of
actors take day jobs as “waiters”.
At my first professional theatre job I was green and it
showed. All I had was some raw talent and a burning desire to perform. The cast
and crew at this paying gig were all more experienced so naturally I looked up
to them. And because I was polite and considerate and gave “props” to my
elders, they took me under their wing and took care of me. I was everyone’s
little brother. They taught me about EPAs and ECCs and AEA, breakdowns, which
dance studios were the best and which to avoid. They gave me the names of voice
teachers and acting teachers, career coaches, photographers, managers, agents
and casting directors.
Paying my dues had nothing to do with the fact that I was
only making $65 a week, sharing one room with five other guys and eating Ramen
noodles every night for dinner. Paying my dues, using my waiting time wisely,
began as I kept my eyes and ears open to observe the skilled professionals
around me. Before becoming a consummate professional you must first know how a
consummate professional behaves, both on and off stage. Paying my dues began
when I went to auditions. Paying my dues began when I started meeting people. Paying
my dues began when I started taking classes and lessons.
If as an actor, someone in the know tells you that you
“haven’t paid your dues yet” it simply means you haven’t used your waiting time,
the moments between performing, to its full advantage. Waiting time is learning
time: meeting people, taking classes, going to auditions, going to seminars,
seeing shows and supporting the Arts through education (yours and others). This is the only control you truly have over
your career. It’s the only way to make
a career.
Having a successful career takes effort. It takes knowledge.
It takes a lot of waiting time.
I continue to build my career based on information and
association. This ensures that my Art is still growing and still malleable. It
means I’m still growing as a performer and as a person. It’s just a matter of waiting
time before I’ve grown enough, experienced enough and the Art has matured enough
that I make my debut starring on Broadway. When this “big break” happens and
I’m “discovered”, I’ll probably be heralded as a “new comer”, a “relative
unknown”, an “overnight sensation”. Don’t believe the media hype. I will have “paid my dues”. I will have worked
productively and wisely through my “waiting time” to get there.
When I do arrive at this milestone of starring on Broadway, I
hope another period of waiting time begins: waiting to hear my name as a
nominee for a Tony. Then more until a Grammy and even more until an Oscar. A
long career is a continuous cycle of waiting time and using that waiting time
wisely: to do and to learn.
Christopher Plummer won his first Oscar at age 82. Everyone
knows exactly how he spent his waiting time. He made constant investments in himself
and his art. He “paid his dues”.
So what are you “waiting” for? It is just a matter of
“time”.
