Professionalism in Theatre: For the Youngsters

THANK YOU. Get that in your brain right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. "Thank you" can mean you are actually thankful. "Thank you" can be said sarcastically after your director makes you re-run a scene or a set change over and over and over and you are TOTALLY FED UP WITH THAT DIRECTOR. "Thank you" can be the most professional manner of responding to a note or a suggestion from your director. "Thank you" can be the appropriate reaction to a positive note you get from a director. Okay, okay, by now I've probably tired you of the "thank you." But it REALLY is important. This post is dedicated to being more professional in the theatre world by what you say, do and think.

Being more professional by what you say. Now that the "thank you" business is out of the way, start taking "I'm sorry" out of your vocabulary. It is actually to give some feedback to your director, but don't be snotty. Or quick to anger. If you have concerns, voice them. Sometimes, it's better to wait until you have a moment alone with your director to share feedback or get clarification. My most cherished moments have come from having intimate, one-on-one, conversations with my directors in regards to how I'm doing, feeling, or requesting. With that in mind, please filter what you say before you say it. you're going to have difficult cast/crew mates that will think they know more than the director. While this may be true, your director is just that. The director. It's their vision, their show, their cast, their crew. Don't try to give notes to your fellow actors/tech members. Rain down positive comments. I promise, if you look for the positive you will find something to compliment about to your theatre family, instead of focusing on the negative/wrong doings of said family member(s). On a personal level, I once worked with a guest director on a production of Alice in Wonderland. It was a rather physical show that required hard work and to get off-book quickly. I remember her being ABSOLUTELY annoyed by me saying "thank you" so often. She thought I was insincere and she called me out on it once. I actually had to hold off on the "thank you's" and find another way to make sure she knew I heard her note or suggestion (You know who you are! If you are okay with me adding your name, let me know!).

Being more professional by what you do. We all have tech week dates, off-book dates, and rehearsal dates on our minds. What do you think might happen if you were off-book well before the off-book date? Perhaps an impressive eyebrow raise from your director? A standing ovation from your cast/crew members? More time to develop your character and make strong character choices? The answer is YES to all of the above! How about if you had a set designed/set built well beforehand? Or your lighting cues developed in a way that you could easily remember them and make adjustments as you go? If you are a technician in theatre and you are reading this post, your hard work usually goes unrecognized by audiences. But your director sees you working and will likely ask you to come back if you show enough effort. Theatre is a celebration of humanity, which can only be brought to life by you, actors and crew members. Show up earlier than requested. Stay later if it means you get to go over your blocking, set changes, or re-building lighting cues. Host "line parties" (no, not drug related) where you and your cast-mates get together to memorize your lines. These experiences make each show/play memorable. Staying 10-15 minutes after each rehearsal to review my blocking or lines in the same space I'll be performing them has allowed me to receive praise from directors and technicians alike. And that hard work will have a chain reaction and can positively affect your fellow actors/crew members. One day, the show you're working on will be over and you will vividly remember if you gave it your all or allowed a few negative (or lazy) aspects to ruin your experience. My first beloved director, Mollie Mook-Fiddler (who passed on in Nov. 2016) used to say, "Suffer for your art."

Being more professional by what you think. Yes, you read that correctly. Gossip in the theatre realm can be overwhelming. You'll experience some rivalry from other schools/colleges. You'll have cast-mates (or even crew members/directors) you REALLY, really don't like. The best way to remain positive is to extinguish any negative thoughts before they become actions. That positivity will be contagious. And you may end up being someone others don't get along with, and it may require you to do some reflecting. Don't you enjoy positive cast/crew members? Also, keep in mind that if you get notes from your director on a regular basis, it means they aren't giving up on you. So, instead of being frustrated, find a way to have a grateful/positive mindset and you will develop your character and your artistic abilities.

There you have it. If you have other ways to act more professional, I hope to learn from you one day! I'm confident by being more professional in what you say, do and think will give you a better experience in theatre. Break a leg!