The wind woke me up during the night and it continues this morning. We’ve had at least three gray days in a row, lots of rain (which we do not need at this point – it seems the ground is always saturated) and fronts moving in and out.
January and February are the hardest for me. March is better because I know “green” will soon be on the horizon. But now? A stark and barren horizon, the excitement of the holidays gone…it gets tougher the older I get.
I’m sitting at my desk at the moment. Don needed to have something printed out, so I came up here to my trusty travel printer, printed it, and stayed to write my post. He has an audition today.
I had another professional problem crop up last night. One of the shows I’ve been working on – I’m currently doing a bit of work on three shows – threw a spanner in the works. It’s a smallish budget dialect show that’s going to start previewing at the end of this week. I’ve been in to work with each of the actors one-on-one and the next thing to do would have been to go to a run-through or preview performance to give the actors some feedback on their dialects. If the show was a bigger budget show, I would have gone to a couple of run-throughs as well as a couple of preview performances. Anyway, I get the daily rehearsal calls via email and there were four, count ’em, four run-throughs last week and I wasn’t called in for any of them. Then I got an email asking me if I wanted to attend a tech rehearsal or a preview and I responded with a yes, suggesting an early preview performance. I heard nothing. So, I contacted them again with the intention of firming up the date so I could also schedule work on the other shows. The response from the stage manager (who was only the messenger) was that they had been informed that the budget for the dialect coach had been used up and therefore they couldn’t use me. Keep in mind, I’ve only been there three times.
I was not happy. And I told them so. No coach would ever not see a run-through or an early performance. I had not been informed that there was a limit to my work, though I knew it would probably be 4 or 5 days of work. I had promised the actors that I would be back. My response to the powers-that-be was to the point: my reputation depends on the quality of my work. I don’t abandon the actors. Thinking that the actors would think I didn’t care, that I simply stopped coming, troubled me. So I asked that they tell the actors in no uncertain terms that none of this was me, that all of it was due to budget. And they are going to do that. The director, actors, and stage management are lovely people, thoroughly professional – this is not on them.
It took me a long time to get here, but I stopped being a people-pleaser several years ago and took ownership of my professional work and career. I don’t have an agent protecting me like Don does. I don’t have a manager. It’s me and only me. So I demand my fee and if they can’t pay it, I decline the work. And I won’t tolerate crap like what happened last night. I was angry, but I was also very calm. I wasted no time in responding and I cc’d my response to two other people so that the facts would be clear.
Voice coaches (except for my Shakespeare work with Darko) are bottom of the budget in most theaters. They have lots of money for sets and costumes and music and everything else. Yet, they choose to do a dialect show and only budget a small amount – if anything – for a coach. I’m over it. And luckily, I’m at the age where I’m able to turn things down if necessary. It’s a lot harder to do when you’re dependent on freelance jobs to cobble together an income.
But for a time recently, I was working on Broadway and off-Broadway at the same time. That was sort of wonderful.
I know I mentioned this before, but Darko’s last year as Artistic Director of Hartford Stage is this year. He’ll be done in June. I will no longer have work there and, though I won’t miss being away from home for five weeks, I will miss the enormous pleasure and honor of working with Darko and the rather nice fee I got for that work. No longer having that to count on makes a difference in our income here. But Darko was there for seven years and that’s a long time for that kind of intense commitment. He deserves to move on and I’m truly happy for him. He has been a loyal friend and colleague.
So things are definitely changing as to my work and income.
And if you’re thinking that they’ll still use me, they won’t. New Artistic Directors bring in their own people. That’s the way it is and the way it should be. Hartford Stage has been dealing with budget cuts as well (like every regional theater) so paying me what they did for Shakespeare work is no longer happening. I wasn’t called in for this season’s Shakespeare. They actually had to do Shakespeare without a voice and text coach. (Darko wasn’t the director, by the way.)
I’m actually fine about this transition. I’m just filling you in on the changes ahead.
This has ended up being longer than I had planned!
Anyway, I am going to Hartford on Thursday and Friday to see the show that Darko is currently directing and to do a little work with one of the actors. It may well be my swan song!
Okay. Have to go.
Happy Wednesday.
I feel for you, but there is one thing I disagree about. My daughter works professionally as a stage manager and she sees cuts – and often well into rehearsals – in areas of costumes and sets and even total time the cast and crew get to practice. More than once whole crews did some work without payment because they weren’t comfortable putting on a professional show without the proper rehearsals. They knew they were shooting themselves in the foot doing this and going against union rules as well, but could not give audiences less than what they paid for.
As I said, I feel for you and hope these are just blips in your professional career.
Oh, I know that. The fact remains that those elements get the biggest part of the budget. I’ve been doing this for over 30 years. There have been cuts across the board in not-for-profit theaters, involving all elements and departments. There’s actually nothing to disagree with here. The fact remains that people like myself are at the bottom of the pay scale in theater. We are often considered expendable.
i am sorry that you are going through something like that with your work. sounds like you handled that conversation well.
any chance darko will be headed somewhere you might (want to) work in the future?
are there managers or agents for voice coaches?
anyway, good for you for sticking up for yourself, keeping those limits on being treated well and paid fairly. best wishes … i hope things go the way you want. and good luck to don in his audition.
i am happy for you to have your family piano getting repaired/tuned. and how fun that the piano tuner played a “stella” song! :)
happy wednesday.
kathy in iowa
No. There are agents for some voice coaches that do film work, but none for those working in the theater.
There’s always a chance I will work with Darko in the future, but I think he’ll be taking some time off.
Beautifully handled, Claudia! The times, they are a-changing. Quality vs quantity in so many aspects of life, work, etc. etc. can be seen everywhere. People seem to be much more ok with “settling” now.
Well, after all of the 40*-50* days, we are having an incredibly cold day today. But, at least the sun is shining, and I think I heard it will warm up by the weekend. Have a good Wednesday!!
So true. We see it everywhere, don’t we? Enjoy your sun!
So sorry for the abrupt end to the current production. Definitely you are assured of being a consummate professional.
Is there any relevance to aligning yourself with any dramaturges (one in particular comes to mind)?
Merde to Don.
No, not really. If you mean to get work, dramaturges don’t have that power. If you mean to be a dramaturge, that’s a whole other thing that I’m not really qualified for.
Thanks, Martha!
Yes, I understand the differences of tasks/power. I suppose my attempt to be helpful. My simple mindset also, thinking that if a company can afford to hire a dramaturge, they certainly could afford a vocal coach.
Happy trails to Hartford.
Claudia, you’ve given us quite a bit of insight into the theater world, with your voice coaching jobs and Don’s acting jobs. I watch the plays at my local theaters, of which I’m a season subscriber to two, with different eyes. The ingisght you’ve provided actually enhances my enjoyment of the theater experience. I’m sorry budgets for some shows are so tight that it has affected your ability to do what you consider a top notch professional job. But I commend you for not compromising, and for saying no whenever you feel you have to.
I’m not interested in compromising at this point in my career – or life! Thanks so much, Wendy!
The Engagement Party. Might that be the last show Darko directs in Hartford? I am planning to see it before it’s run ends on February 3. We will miss his contributions to theater here in Hartford. Enjoy your visit!
I think he’s directing a new musical in the spring, Karen. I’m sure you’ll miss him. He is simply extraordinary and he’s contributed so much to the community and the arts.
It sounds like you handled the situation perfectly. Not so sure I would’ve been so composed. Is there a future with Darko perhaps? I don’t understand how a dialect production wouldn’t budget enough money for a coach. That, just doesn’t make sense to me.
It’s really cold out…and I wasn’t prepared when I went out. Enjoy your day! ;)
They budgeted money, but very little money.
Whew. That sounds wretched. Wrong, unfair and short-sighted on their part. But do you honestly expect that they are going to tell the actors, despite their saying they will? I don’t know that I believe that. Too easy to “forget” or just not do it. And you’re back where you started with it damaging reputation with actors. I would be inclined to contact each one I worked with wishing them well in the show and explaining that because of the show budget you were so sorry you couldn’t come back with them at the final rehearsals.
Maybe I’m too much of a skeptic in that zone or maybe I’ve just seen enough times when things fall through the cracks.
I hope you enjoy the Darko production. I’m sorry you won’t be going back.
Yes, I trust the person who said that. She’s the director and she has the highest integrity.
Good. I’m glad. I just know how crazy it can get when you have loads of things to share and sometimes things drop off. But I’m relieved for you.
I am proud of you for insisting that the cast be advised you did not leave them in the lurch. I know that all the arts seem to have budget issues as this country and many others change how we value things. It is sad but at age 68 I don’t think it will get better in my lifetime.
I read that the orange man threw another tantrum and stormed out of a meeting. He is a bully and a baby at the same time. How I wish for change and I am encouraged that this House is standing up to him.
We had a lovely sunny day but the wind blew up and cold temps are behind it. I got my hair cut and it feels so good. Another shopping trip to WalMart with Mom but now we are home for several days I hope. I have more great movies to watch!
I fear the same thing. It’s very sad.
Yes, he slammed the table and walked out. What a baby he is!
Claudia,I feel that I have gleaned quite a bit of “Theater ” knowledge. Something I never really knew anything or that I cared about. I must say, I have thoroughly enjoyed the information you have shared with us. Thank You for taking your time,I appreciate it, right along with everything we have gained from reading, your blog. You are one Terrific Gal! Thank You ,for all you give.
Judy A-
You’re most welcome, Judy! Thank you.
It has been so cold here all day and now night!…Low temps and high winds are making it feel 10 degrees as of now and off and on snow all day and night also…brrrr…I didn’t even walk up to the mailbox today!…Best of luck to you in your work Claudia…you deserve much respect after all the years you have been in the theater…
Really cold here, as well! Thanks, Nancy!
Your new work schedule sounds disheartening! I hope you will be able to get it all behind you and find a new niche for your very lovely self. I so enjoy hearing about the work you and Don do. I have learned interesting details and learned what a very “ifie” things can be. But it’s that way in other professions too. Just a pat on the back as you are shown the door. It’s enough to make a person cry. But you and Don will be in my prayers that others in your business will remember your names and the work comes more steadily. You two have made such good names for yourselves in a very tough business and I am sure work will be headed your way. Love and prayers!
Thank you so much, Tana!