You know what's not impressive? Arrogant, young, douchebags who maintain preconceived notions of what they deserve and are either unwilling or unable to adapt to new situations and new circumstances in a way proper to their own survival.
I use the example for which I'm writing of a boy named Steven. Two of my best friends are currently working on a student Cabaret project to be performed on campus in March and have been going through a tough time of uncompromising schedules and the difficult problem of people dropping out of the show because they are lacking either the time or the motivation. But once you commit to doing su
ch a project, it is important that you have respect for your work, whether or not you decide to finish your venture. In the case of Steven, he did not choose to continue working with the group and quit. But he quit passively and crappily. Choosing not to show up to rehearsal and then waiting for one of the directors to call HIM, he explains that things are not working out and that he had quit, without informing anyone.
This act of selfishness and disrespect prompted an email from one of the directors politely calling him a shithead and explaining that these works are collective processes that require the participation and cooperation of everyone involved, and that his actions demonstrated his unprofessionality and his immaturity. His feeling were hurt and his ego threatened. Therefore, he argued back and cried like a baby and threatened to tell the faculty that the directors were being slavedrivers toward the actors.
I was told once when trying to find the perfect meeting time to generate interest in a project of my own that just to schedule any ol' time. Because "If people want to be there they will be. And those are the people you want to work with." I have come to place much value in this advice and contend that this boy Steven is neither hurting anyone nor helping himself.
He needs to learn that college is alot different than high school and the same politics do not apply. You gain a reputation for how hard you work, not how pretty you are or how good you happen to be at an audition. Social Darwinism in effect. Some freshmen like him with succeed and others will not and will choose because of that whether or not to continue in theatre as a hobby/career. And success is largely dependent on dedication and teamwork, not an ego and a pretty face.
So my parents hate the fact that I'm involved in theatre. They don't believe it to be a real career and they feel that I have completely wasted all my schooling and talents to go this route in life. For them, money equals happiness and they firmly believe the stereotype that all theatre people are dirt poor and gay and terrible people. I've tried for so long to convince them of otherwise.
