I lost track of what day it was

So I finally realized it's Saturday and that I didn't have to be anywhere at 9 o'clock in the morning. So I decided I should write a new post and attempt to do an overview of the last...3(?) days. Here we go!

Everyday, they bring in new "famous" people/people working in the business and it has been such a whirlwind that I really don't remember who I met on what day, but each and every one of them has been incredible. They have given me new insights into the theatre world and how to approach it, killed some misconceptions, and have made me even more sure that this is what I want to be doing.
I've done a Q+A with Stacy Seidel Tea, a commercial/voice-over casting director. I now know that I should really get some experience on-camera and with voice over because a lot of people use that as a way to earn an income when they're not doing theatre.
Amy Ryan came in for another Q+A session and was great because she has had experience in film, tv, and theatre and was able to give perspectives on all of them. My favorite piece of advice from her was "be fearless, have moxie." Who says MOXIE anymore?? She does. Because she's great.
Then, David Caparelliotis (Dave Cap) came in on 2 different days to do an audition workshop with us. It's great because he's a big time casting director in New York was still willing to take time out of his schedule to come work with us. The first day he literally ran from a casting session to MTC while eating a slice of pizza. He's great. He made it very clear that auditions are not about what character you are suppose to be, but how to bring yourself to the character to make it real. His big thing was honor the text, honor yourself. If you do that you will have a good audition.
THEN CAME MY FAVORITE THING EVER: the working actor panel. It included Jeremy Shamos (he's fucking tony nominated.), Donna Lynne Champlin, Patti Murin, and Leslie Oden Jr.. Seriously, this was so great. They addressed what it was like to get here and get started and how to get an income and how to stay sane and how every actor thinks that they aren't as good as everyone thinks they are. JEREMY SHAMOS IS STILL INSECURE ABOUT HIS ACTING. HE'S NOMINATED FOR A TONY. So, that was incredible to hear that no matter what, everyone thinks they're just tricking everyone else. And once again, we heard that auditions are all about being yourself. Don't try to be a poodle if you're a great dane. Also, no matter what theatre actors make like 200 bucks a week, but film actors can make like 20,000 for a pilot. NBD.
Then, Nina Arianda came in. She is probably the luckiest woman in the world. She started getting work right out of grad school at 25. She's worked for Woody Allen, she's Tony nominated this year, shes' won multiple awards already and she's not even 30 yet. But she's making me consider grad school as an option. And apparently I look like her.
Yesterday, we got to talk to Lin-Manuel Miranda. He's another one of those people who has had a great career at a young age and just hasn't stopped working. He believes strongly that writers should act, and actors should write so they can understand each other and writers who don't understand actors normally end up in film. He's hilarious and his big point was Fake it till you make it. That was great.
And last, but not least: Peter Francis Johns.Shakespeare extraordinaire. I have never really worked on Shakespeare before, but he made it so much fun and so easy and afterwards I felt like I kicked Shakespeare's butt. It was so great. He was all about following the Geography of the text because the text will tell you exactly what to do. Shakespeare was a good guy like that and wrote in the text exactly what you should be doing. So do it.
Those are the people I have met so far. It's been crazy and busy and wonderful. I am so lucky to have this opportunity. I have learned so much and have realized so many things. The main one that people keep talking about (and they don't like talk to each other ahead of time to plan what to say) is that performing, doing plays, is not the job. Auditioning is the job. So be yourself and enjoy it.

Oh, I'll write about shows in a different post. I figured this one was long enough :)