Sometimes I Shake My Head and Wonder About People...

Have you ever been in a meeting/social setting/general gathering of people when someone says something to you that makes you just shake your head? Like you want to say, "Did you really just accuse me of that? What the...? That's insulting and idiotic." but you don't because of the social conventions that there are other people there and the sheer disbelief of them accusing you of it to begin with. It amazes me sometimes the kind of crap people get away with saying because they know that 9 time out of 10 people are going to be too flabbergasted or polite to respond or challenge them. I could do without that kind of crap.

Yesterday at lunch...

One of the actors was telling a story. Apparently a friend of hers is in a theatre company in Germany and his mother went over to see the production and while there the company paid for all of the mother's meals. She felt that this was a reflection of how arts was valued in Germany as opposed to Canada. I'm not sure that's exactly what it means. Hmmmm. I'm thinking on this. I am torn about the whole thing. I personally think there is a lot of accessible art in my life. There is a range of cost for this from FREE (my APN play reading) to EXPENSIVE (The Citadel, Justin Timberlake) but there is always something to do. I find Edmonton to be an Arts Mecca. If I didn't have other conflicts I could probably go to 3-4 arts related events a week.

I know. I do not live the life of the "artist". I am lucky to do the work I do and not have to worry about it being my source of income. I can't imagine living contract to contract and auditioning and hoping for the job because who knows what else will come down the road. I have always thought of Acting as a type of "Lottery" career. It is the same way I think of Hockey Players. Very few will make the "big bucks". Some of it is talent dependent. You need to have the minimum required skills and talents, but some is luck. Some is just being in the right place at the right time. So the average working artist just gets by. They are not rich in money, but perhaps they quality of their lives is enriched by doing what they love. I don't know. Why would you keep doing it otherwise?

I am still thinking about this. I am likely to keep thinking about it for a long time. I was just so thrilled to get money for rehearsing my play. It was something I would have done for free because I got enough of a thrill from just being there.