Well now, my trip on the Bipolar Express has finally come to an end and with it comes the end of my experience with the Conservatory and the beginning of a deep, dark valley of despair and the unknown.
Wow, that got dark quick.
I am, actually, a bit down about being finished with the Conservatory. In the same way I was sortof down when I was finished Humber. Because now I don’t have any pre-determined path to follow on a regular basis to achieve a certain goal, or conclusion. It’s like I’m back at the beginning again.
Chris Martin gets it.
If you’re reading this, maybe you can comment on some tips and tricks you give yourself to stay motivated and to keep creative? I know, in the Winter months especially, it can be particularly difficult to come home from your day job and feel like working on creative endeavours. Most of the time lately, I’ve just felt like curling up in my blanket and watching a Sherlock marathon. (How has it taken me this long to watch that show, seriously?)
On the plus side, I have gone out and done a couple stand-up sets now, so that’s starting up again. I participated in a show this weekend, an open-mic strictly for ladies at Free Times Café (try their brisket poutine, you’ll plotz.) Put on by none other than than the fabulous Chicka Boom hosts; Jess Beaulieu & Laura Bailey, the night proved performer after performer of solid, fierce material in one of the most supportive evenings I’ve seen. Maybe you see a trend here? Catherine McCormick runs an LGBTQ/Women only room = super supportive. Chicka Booms runs a ladies-only room = super supportive. All other rooms = hurry the fuck up and finish what you’re saying so I can get on and do my 5 minutes because they’re better than yours, and I’m more important than you, AAAAAAAH ANGER, HATRED AND RAGE!!!
Ok, not true. Not all other rooms, but these ones do tend to be incredibly supportive and positive. Not the material; the material ranged from dark and tragic, to adorable cat-related tales and all throughout, making a few dirrrrty stops at one-night standsville and period-town along the way. From relatable to extraordinary, it was just a damn good night of comic entertainment and I’m glad I spent the evening there instead of streaming the Grammys.
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On a different note, I got my first call-back EVER the other day. So clearly my commercial acting career is taking off at incredibly fast speeds! (SOC auditions are the BEST, amirite?)
Other than that, I intend to keep plugging away. I wish we could open this up as a discussion for other comics/performers making their way in the biz, so please share the posts & your own experiences. Let’s get the conversation going!
In the meantime, I’m off to Netflix to watch my distant relative keep Cumberbatch in line. I mean, I’m off to clean the dishes, Mom.
I think that Con Blues occur for the exact reason you state — not having a pre-determined path following up but it is also a natural state after any project finishes–especially one that took a year to complete.
I will likely go through it even though I have other projects on the go (like The Dandies).
Keep doing the things you enjoy, that push you, that interest you.
Well, alright, if you insist, I’ll keep coming out to Holodeck Follies…
Huzzah! Keep wearng the costume and you may find yourself Janeway*’d to the stage
* fiercely forward