The Life Cleanse

Happiness is not a constant state. May I send that thought out into the universe first?

Why would anyone want to subject themselves to a constant state of anything? It's a paralyzing act that prevents any human being from actively experiencing the depth of emotions.

Yet, at the same time to go from a moment of elation immediately to despair is not helpful, nor healthful, to anyone.

My father taught me the secret to life very early on... Balance. One of the most fickle words for the mind, body, and soul to actualize.

Every individual must find their life's balance in their own way.

Simple to type; extremely difficult to accomplish.

I thought about this today while I was at the gym; how I haven't felt like myself over the past few weeks. And rather than choosing to blame it on lack of sleep, sinus and allergies, or whatever personal challenges I have going on in my life, I decided it was best to stop looking at my life in an emotional perspective and to be very literal with the imbalances of my life at the moment.

It is very difficult to put aside your emotions when it involves your life. You and your emotions are inherently one. Sometimes though, putting emotion aside and looking at the truths about your life can be incredibly enlightening.

Action comes before emotion. Taking the time to consider your actions will allow you to understand where you are emotionally.

SO, the point of this blog. No this isn't a blog about juice cleanses... It's a life cleanse. Things you can choose to do to place yourself in a state where you can then consider how to find more balance in your life.

1. Spring Cleaning:
Yes, it's that time. Clean your room, organize your desktop, stop saving your laundry for another day, and get rid of all of those piles of papers and clothes that have become mountains. Cleaning your personal space, where you are able to spend time by yourself in peace, will prepare to you deal with what is going on inside.

2. Shut Up:
Stop talking. Stop interjecting every five seconds when your with friends. Don't even listen to music when you're walking the streets or on the subway. Give yourself the chance to just be with yourself and whatever thoughts may swim into your mind.

3. Make a List:
Give yourself 30 minutes. Take 15 to just write whatever you are feeling. Don't stop. Just let it all out even if you end up feeling like you don't have tat much to say. Then walk away for 5 minutes. For the remaining 10 minutes make a list of everything (things you want to change, personal goals, reminders, adventures...anything).

4. Do an Opposite:
If you feel like you're in a rut, change it up immediately, even if it's just for a day. See what it's like to do the complete opposite of what you're doing.

5. Drink More Water:
You're actively hydrating yourself and flushing out toxins but it is also a mindful activity of replenishing yourself. You are reminding yourself that you are in control of your actions, both positive and negative, and you must accept what comes with those choices.

6. Crayons are Your Friend:
Take that box of Crayolas and draw what is going on inside. Don't TRY so hard. Just allow colors to give you insight to what you are experiencing.

7. Small Steps:
Remind yourself to take small steps. When you watch someone perform tightrope, they are never running across. They take small steps as they find their balance to make their way. Stop rushing yourself. Small steps.

J

SMASH in ten

Yes, I actually am writing this blog post. I will be the first to admit, I was not a fan of SMASH when it first aired last year. Then I went with the majority and began to watch every episode for the mere opportunity to love-hate the show and post hilarious comments on Facebook. Guilty.

Then, it all changed. Yes, Season 1 of this series had its bumps (the entire cast, team, and network will be the first to admit this) but there were so many incredible aspects of the show that left me wanting more and more. When I was growing up, I dreamed of a show like this; I burned out my copies of SINGING IN THE RAIN and WEST SIDE STORY because of the production numbers, the singing, and, more than anything, the dancing. I truly believe the next chapter of SMASH is the opportunity the entire team needed to iron out problems (which is common with a television series) and say "what story do we actually want to tell our audience".

So, as the season 2 premier approaches this week, I'd like to offer my top 10 reasons why you should tune in. Fans; get excited. Haters; get over it. Haven't made your mind up yet; get ready!

1. ELLIS (AND OTHERS) IS AXED:

It was never the actor, it was the character he was given. From Ellis to Dev, they're gone (quickly) and in their place are some bonafide stars and talents that the world should be introduced to at the network level.

2. GRACE ADLER NO MORE:

The scarves are gone and FINALLY people will give Debra Messing the chance to free herself of the past (and trust me, I will always love Grace) and take on the role of Julia with no stops. This woman is fierce, independent, hilarious, and humble. She deserves to be remembered for her iconic role but also many more chances to showoff her chops as an actress.

3. MORE BOMBSHELL!:

More songs, more dance numbers, and more drama as this musical tries to make it to Broadway! Don't lie to yourself. You know you had every single SMASH song on your Ipod last year and you were obsessed when they would pop up on shuffle...

4. NEW ARTISTS:
Yes, there will be plenty of BOMBSHELL but as a new musical comes into play, SMASH has added on some incredible contemporary composers who will make their names this season (and get many, many views on youtube as everyone wants to sing their songs for auditions and cabarets).

Here is Joe Iconis' BROADWAY, HERE I COME...

5. JEREMY JORDAN & COMPANY:

I will say it until I die; Jeremy Jordan is going to become one of the finest leading men on Broadway that we have seen in decades...Aside from his theatre credits, he is compiling a lengthy list of film and television projects as well. BYE DEV!!! Won't miss you at all but hello Jimmy (played by Jordan) who will make everything so much more interesting with Karen.

Along with Jordan, we have familiar faces from Broadway including Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus (school boy crush since 2007). These actors should be admired for their talent and versatility. They are proving that a stage actor can transition over to film and make their mark anywhere so long as you are willing to work hard and take opportunities.

6. THIS SHOW SUPPORTS ACTORS:
I can't tell you the number of Broadway actors, aspiring young artists and talents this show uses. This series provides jobs and opportunities for so many that we should have a little more respect. Have an opinion or not care for the show, yes! But to ignorantly loathe a show without reason is pretentious and unnecessary.

7. IT'S ENTERTAINMENT, PEOPLE!
I don't think it's possible to watch this show and not be entertained. Maybe the storyline bothers you BUT the musical numbers are incredible. And for all you people in the theatre community who complain that "this isn't an accurate portrayal of our lives and work"...Do you think surgeons think Grey's Anatomy is accurate of their lives...or CSI...Get over it... It's television; it's escapism. And if you want accurate, watch Animal Planet or the History Channel...

8. THE DANCING:

Joshua Bergasse is a genius. The Jack Cole, old school Broadway style he brings to BOMBSHELL is breathtaking. Not to mention he needs to make realistic Broadway show-stopping numbers while remembering it's being filmed and not for a staged production. The amount of detail is so admirable for any dancer/choreographer.

9. TEAM IVY versus TEAM KAREN IS BACK!:

Who doesn't love competition?! Both of these girls bring it and I personally can't wait to see who makes it to Broadway as Marilyn (if either of them do)!

10. EXTRA, EXTRA!:

After being in NYC for only a month, I've had some incredible experiences already, including working on SMASH. Those people in the background who don't say much, if anything; they have dreams too. They hope that one day they'll get to be right in front of the camera like those stars they look up to. Don't forget that a television show has hundreds and hundreds of people working on set. They're all doing their part to make something magical happen. Show your support, show your love, and enjoy this season.

And, of course, follow me @joshbardier on twitter for when the season starts for updates, opinions, and  many laughs.

J

10 Best and Worst Things Musical Theatre People Say...

Over coffee with a friend this past week, we had a conversation about the power of words...The origin of saying probs instead of probably. Or the use of such phrases like YOLO and LIVING in everyday conversation. Every culture, sub-culture, sub-sub-culture, etc. has found a way to communicate differently.

Of course, this led to a test. I gave myself two minutes to immediately think of the ten best and worst things I constantly hear people say at auditions and in my circle or musical theatre friends...The following is that result:

10 WORST THINGS MUSICAL THEATRE PEOPLE SAY:

1. "WERQ!!!": No, not work; some horribly spelled command to tell someone to do their absolute best. Cute? Maybe. Except, when it's used in reference to everything. Example: Pouring just the right amount of soy milk in your Starbucks drink and overhearing someone scream "WERQ!". Too early, sir.

2. "BOOK IT!": Instead of saying good luck for an audition, this has become a custom phrase, even though it sounds more like you're going to the Bahamas and not a chorus call...

3. "WE DID THE ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY...": But really, did you? Do you know how many times I have watched people show me the opening combination to A Chorus Line after having said those words...shame on the choreographer for lying.

4. "MY AGENT NEVER CALLS ME...": Your agent isn't going to get you a job. He or she is going to help you find opportunities where you then have to do numbers 1 and 2 of this list. Take some responsibility and stop wasting your time complaining...it gets you no where.

5. BELTING: Talking to me about belting in a conversation that doesn't involve being in a casting room is like talking about Russell Crowe...I'm over it.

6. "I NEED to add that song to my rep book!": You need to take out all of the songs you don't actually know. I don't care if you have a 4 inch binder with music. If you're not prepared to sing and act every one of those songs, you're just carrying around uselessness. I love people who only bring three songs.

7. "I'm broke": I know, we all are. Stop bringing it up.

8. "I'm a dancer, so the only numbers I need to know are one through eight": I don't know who said this first, but I would personally like to slap them.

9. "#grateful": There is a difference between being grateful, because I certainly know I am, and actually just using the word in a 400 word Facebook status of you booking a regional production of Honk...

10. "Ugh...I can't believe we got the understudy!": I've been there... Going to a show to see someone you admire and getting the understudy instead. (I saw every person who played Claude in HAIR except Gavin Creel...okay...) But can we give these incredibly talented actors some credit AND a chance. Let's support each other. They may turn out to be even better than who you were hoping for.

10 BEST THINGS MUSICAL PEOPLE SAY:

1. "TAKE THE NOTE (AND SHUT UP).": Words to live by when you are an actor during tech.

2. "PAY YOUR DUES": Those who have truly made it have been in the ensemble, have been in flops and successful musicals, and have persevered. Take every opportunity you can get.

3. MIX VOICE: I could talk about this forever.

4. "FIND YOUR LIGHT": I love when lighting designers say this. For me, it's one of those moments that directly show the collaborative process; when the actors and teams work together to create a moment. It always makes me grateful that someone cares that I am seen.

5. "SAY WHAT YOU MEAN, MEAN WHAT YOU SAY OR SHUT UP": Period.

6. "WHERE'S THE BUTTON" The musical theatre button has existed forever. Please never let it go out of style.

7. "VAMPS ARE YOUR FRIEND": See number 4 and then thank your conductor.

8. "MARK IT...": I can't mark things but I appreciate people who can and take the opportunity to concentrate on the moment they are creating rather than the steps they are performing. Maybe one day I'll get there...or tired.

9. "THIS IS AN ENSEMBLE PIECE": When theatre truly is just that, a company working together to tell a story; there is nothing more beautiful.

10. "I WAS IN THE WIZ IN HIGH SCHOOL": Because it was probably an all white cast but you had one hell of a time and have a deep appreciation for some incredible songs.

CUE: God, I hope get it, I hope I get it...

Remember those times when the only people who you were around that knew what the word recession meant were either economics majors...or stoners who thought the word was funny...or bad first dates who also bring up politics and gun control before dessert?

Well, thanks to forced adulthood (because let's face it- who volunteers to be an adult?) we are living at a time in the United States when higher education is as unimportant as the type of paper your resume is on and the phrase "we're looking for someone with more experience" means you should have been working since you were forced out of your mother's womb.

Unemployment rates are ridiculously high. Fact. 

As I recently posted on Facebook, it can be so daunting to search for work just to pay bills and ultimately takes all of your time away from working towards your dreams and career goals.

And I'm not only talking about the actors, dancers and artists who come into my life daily...

No, I'm talking about the business majors who can't find anything more than an unpaid internship that may lead to a possible job.

I'm talking about those who can't even consider affording education at a university level and are practically shoved out of the waiting room because they are considered illiterate and incapable of performing the basic of tasks.

This is our reality. Granted, I'm making the choice to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world so I can only blame myself.

As I write this, I am still searching for a job while auditioning. I can't say the few pieces of advice I am about to offer will lead to the end result of getting a job but I can only hope they will improve your chances.

Some say it's survival of the fittest; I say if we don't start helping each other out now, there won't be a world to bother surviving in...

- 

1. Know what you're good at:

 This may seem obvious but actually ask yourself "what am I good at?". If you're passionate about something that can be seen by a hiring manager faster than anyone who walks in and just looks desperate. Also, it will inform you as to jobs you should NOT apply for. If you're not qualified to do something or if you have no interest whatsoever in the work, don't even bother. You'll end up miserable and probably won't last that long, thus bringing you back to square one. 

2. Your friends (the ones who have jobs) are your greatest asset:

 Your friends aren't going to get you a job; you need to do that for yourself, however, they can be incredibly helpful in your search. They may know of potential openings or positions within their own line of work. And, if they are your friends, they'll be honest as to whether or not you would be a good match.

3. Always have a resume...in fact have many:

 If you are unemployed, you should have your resume with you at all times. Take time to organize it. Be very sure your references will actually answer their phones. If your applying for different jobs, even consider having different resumes. A restaurant could care less that you were an executive assistant and a law firm doesn't want to know you washed dishes when you were sixteen. Be a boy scout; preparation for the unexpected is key.

4. Have a plan but don't follow it (always):

You have to hit the pavement, especially if you're in New York City. Emailing does not get you jobs (did you even stop to think just how many people email someone for one position). Come up with a ground plan of areas you'd like to work, scout them out, and then take the time to go place to place to introduce yourself and fill out an application. It can never hurt you to try. They may say they are not hiring; it happens a lot. But you will not know unless you ask. 

 Don't follow your ground plan the whole time either. Go off onto side streets and see if there are any potentials places to work. You never know when you'll see a HELP WANTED sign. 

5. Know answers to the obvious questions ahead of time:

Be honest. Availability (are you willing to work mornings), job positions you're interested in, references, are you willing to work at a different location, salary...any of those questions that you have heard time and time again in interviews, know the answers before you get there. Decisiveness is crucial.

6. Follow up:

Give it a few days but always follow up, either in person or by phone. Make sure they have all the necessary information from you. Always get the name of the hiring manager and the phone number of the business. If you don't meet the manager on your first visit, get the name of the person you spoke to. Make a list or spreadsheet (if you are Excel savvy).

7. Craigslist is not job searching: 

This is a new pet peeve of mine. Craigslist can be incredibly helpful because of the continuous postings but when you are emailing someone who doesn't post the company's name, phone number, etc... it's just a waste of time, in my opinion. Do your research, yes, but don't spend a week of your life sitting in your apartment only applying from Craigslist...if someone can prove me otherwise, I'll retract this one.

8. Keep your phone charged:

You never know when someone will call. Stop Instagramming your salads from lunch and hold onto that battery power in case someone calls.

9. Don't stop. Unemployment is not a vacation:

We all have those days when we get so frustrated over being unemployed that we need to cry...I did yesterday on 5th Avenue and some tourists got quite a show...But the only way to be employed is to keep searching. Don't use this time as an opportunity to date Netflix. Save your favorite shows and movies for night time after you've done your work during the day. 

10. Believe in yourself:

 You are important. You are intelligent and capable of anything you put your mind to. You will be okay. Surround yourself with support and love. Recharge when you need to. Cry when you need to. Exercise to keep yourself balanced as much as possible. Don't stop living. DO stop buying alcohol when you don't have a job. You know you can do this...

J

musings of improbability...

At the beginning of the week I had the chance to read this lovely list from the Thought Catalog involving 15 reasons why people move to New York City... Though I could identify with many of the reasons, number 8 struck a very personal chord:

"8. We have aspirations of being the best in our field. We are hungry, hungry tigers with a serious work ethic. You don’t move to New York to do Nothing..."

I can't agree enough with this...Why would you ever put yourself through the torture and literal financial suicide of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world if you didn't have a very strong desire for something?

Whether you are here to make your dreams come true, further your personal and career goals, or to live the most hedonistic night life imaginable, everything is possible in these boroughs.

Something came to mind while I was walking in Astoria late one evening... that we should truly not focus on considering the impossibility of things, rather the improbable. Nothing is impossible. Everything has a degree of improbability...The beauty of probability, however, is the constant fluctuation- the scale can always move in the other direction and you play a significant role in this.

So while things in life may seem improbable (not impossible), we, these wandering dreamers of New York City, have inside each of us an ignited passion that moves us forward, constantly...

Something I have learned is that the golden-age dream of "making it" no longer exists. I could go on for hours about that phrase but for another time. As I have made my way through the first five years of my twenties, I have come to a very serious conviction that opening yourself to the infinite possibilities of the world, to shred yourself of these socially induced notions that lead to human tunnel vision, is one of the greatest ways to fire your desire to do. Through action, we are able to learn the greatest of our character.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson