Practice Optimism!

Practice optimism. Be aware of pessimism. Ignore reality when it leans toward the negative.

I don't know why this popped into my head today, but I feel that it's quite appropriate. You may know that life isn't easy in the Performer's Parent household lately, with Dad out of a job. But optimism is forefront -- he feels good about prospects for building his business. I had a job interview earlier this week (I don't want the job, as it turns out, but it was a positive event). Andy got a very nice part in the school show, after he got rid of the pessimistic, passive-aggressive stance he had held toward auditioning in the past (I won't get it, and if it matters to me I'll be hurt when I don't get it, so I'm not going to care about it, and not going to put time into preparing for it).

And Greg's optimism for his new band, Last Train Out, is paying off -- he sent out music demos to several venues and booking agents this week, and has one gig lined up (Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 pm, at the Elbo Room in Chicago, come out and listen!) with two more big venues offering spots to the band.

Performance is an optimistic career. You can't go into an audition with a pessimistic attitude -- see Andy's former thinking above -- and expect success. You have to have a positive attitude, confidence in your skills, and a belief that others will see your talent when you show it off. No matter what the goal is -- anything from a part in the school play to superstardom -- if you don't believe in yourself, nobody else will either. You have to believe beyond yourself -- you must be convinced that your talent will create a response in your audience (and hopefully, that response isn't EWWWW!, unless that's what you want; and if that's what you're going for, I'm sure there's an audience, but please don't send me an invitation, I have enough EWWWW doing the laundry and looking in the refrigerator).

And now I'm going to actively practice optimism -- I'm hoping you will help me! If you have a child who has expressed an interest in performance as a career, how did you react? Do you support your child? What are your hopes and fears for their future, and how have you expressed both to your child? I'd like to put something together for the website on support performing aspirations, and would like your input. You can send me an email at performersparent@sbcglobal.net. Thanks in advance!

If we were talking about an athletic field...

How much support will a community give to a new facility? If it's a new athletic field, I bet there would be lots of grass-roots support, parent fundraisers, etc. But a group in West Dundee has been experiencing some roadblocks in trying to convert an old, vacant building into a beautiful new performing arts center.

In Crystal Lake, we have the Raue Center. This is a gorgeous facility, but more often than not, hosts professional events with high ticket prices. While it is rented out occasionally by groups, that isn't the aim of this venue. But a venue that would be available to schools without their own stage facilities, to dance studios, sponsoring classes -- that would be a great addition to the community. A lively, energetic space, with professional-level equipment, could help train lots of kids -- and adults! -- in performance. It would give our kids a suitable place to perform after weeks and months of hard work.

Please read this week's Clinic column at the Performer's Parent website. Written by Liana Allison, who is working with the group behind the proposed Fox Performing Arts Center, it will give you more information on this great proposal and how you can support it.

The Importance of Auditioning

On Sunday, I'll publish a new Clinic column on the website (www.PerformersParent.com) about one of the hardest things for young performers -- auditioning. For those kids who really want to be in a show, the audition is the "make or break" place, but do they really know what to do and how to do it to be successful? I'm very pleased with this column -- and I think you will be too, when you finally get to see it -- because it's got lots of great info, from someone who knows all about the subject -- Ben Stoner, the Crystal Lake South director.

Auditioning has been a big deal in the Conrad household. Greg has auditioned mostly for musicals, and I've tried to help him where I can listening to him sing, offering suggestions for "acting it out." And Andy tried out for shows last year, getting in to Our Town but not the other two shows of the year. He heard from a reliable source that he hadn't prepared enough for the audition, and he's been working to correct that over the summer for the fall play. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him! He had so much fun being in Our Town, and made a lot of friends, and it would be great if he could continue to be involved. But he's got to do his part -- it's like the lottery joke -- "God, please make me a lottery winner!" And God finally replied, "Well, you have to buy a ticket first!"

I only remember one of my own auditions -- I was trying out for the part of a nun in my high school's production of Little Moon of Alban. It was memorable only because I had a hip-to-ankle cast on my left leg at the time! So much for kneeling. (I did actually get the part...)

So remember to check the website Sunday evening (and if it's not up yet, check Monday!). The information you'll learn could help your child get a part they want in an upcoming audition.

Job? What job?

As of today, I have two days left of working at the job I've held for a year and a half. I've been working for a realtor part-time -- very part-time -- and I've really been feeling that I need to put more time into Performer's Parent if I want it to succeed (and I do!). It's been interesting training my replacement -- he's a young guy, married with a baby -- but he's a musician! He plays guitar in a Christian rock band, and I hope to have some of the group's music featured here, as soon as they finish the CD they're working on.

This is of course very exciting -- but very scary, too, because my husband's been out of work since mid-May. My realtor job doesn't make much money, but it's something. To date, Performer's Parent hasn't brought in Dollar 1! I know you're all surprised at that, right? But I'm hoping to get my first advertiser tomorrow, when I go talk to the owner of a great local music store who has expressed interest in the site. I recently used a very nice Groupon and bought some marketing things -- magnetic car signs and such. Honk if you see me driving around!

Updates on the performers around me -- Greg's still playing with the Erich Kraemer Group, and they have their next gig on July 28 at Offsides in Woodstock -- if you're local, come on out! He's looking at starting piano lessons with Performer's Parent friend Mike Potts. And he is getting his own band together, with a bassist and drummer all lined up.

Andy's getting ready for junior year, and is somewhat excited about choir -- I hope that will ramp up to VERY excited, especially as they get closer to the Disney trip that the band and choir will take in the spring.

Alberto's home from Illinois State University for the summer, playing in the pit band for St. Anne's Wizard of Oz, his second year in the pit for this great group.

Dave is trying to figure out where to take his talents -- he's entering his senior year of high school in Kenosha, and his mom says he wants to do something in performance. He's got a little bit of time to figure it out. Older sister Heidi returns to Millikin for her junior year, with a theatre minor pushing her forward.

Amanda's enjoying Millikin -- she's a vocal performance major -- and looking forward to her junior year. Last year at the McHenry County Fair Talent Show, she and Greg performed an outstanding version of The Civil Wars' Barton Hollow -- I'll try to find an MP3 clip of that and post it. They took second place -- should have been first! (By the way, I have the info and registration sheet for this year's County Fair Talent Contest -- cash prizes! -- if you want the info for your performer, drop me a note and I'll send it on -- the contest is for ages 14-21.)

What's your performer doing this summer? Let me know -- drop me a line -- send me a picture! Encourage your friends to check out The Performer's Parent. If we make it to 50 members, there may be a surprise in store!

A little wine with your music?

Greg's been busking lately (and every time Kevin hears me say that, he asks, "what is busking?" That's playing out on the streets -- the mean streets of Crystal Lake, baby). Sometimes he makes enough money to make it worthwhile; sometimes he thinks he's singing to himself. This week, while he only made $2 in tips, he got a bigger reward -- an offer of a regular gig!

The owner (manager?) of the downtown CL wine bar came out, asked him to come and play in the wine bar for a while, paid him $40 to do so, then asked if he'd play every Thursday night! He's getting a regular fee and the promise of tips -- well worth the time he spent playing on the corner. If you're not busy on a Thursday, come on down -- just north of the Olympic on Williams Street.

Besides that... gee, not much going on! I'm hoping to get a couple of guest posts soon from some fellow bloggers, and why have you all not written to me and offered your experiences as the parents of performers? Here -- maybe you need some inspiration:

- What was moment you felt yourself tear up over your child's performing?
- If your child is planning on doing this for a career, what's your biggest fear for them?
- Who do you think has had the biggest impact your child's performing, and why? And it can't be you. Even if it is.

Tell me, tell me! Or show me, show me! Send your pix, your MP3 files, I love it all.

Greg Plays Tonight!

If the rain holds out... Greg's band, EKG (The Erich Kraemer Group, which, I suppose, makes this technically not GREG's band, but Erich's) plays their first paying gig tonight! We're looking forward to going, although us old fogies aren't sure we'll hold up until the band starts at 10:30! They're playing at Wayne's Lanes in Woodstock, if you're interested in coming out and helping keep us awake until the band starts (and then I'm sure there will be no sleeping, with the volume of music -- although I'll let you know if my sleep-apnea-prone husband will try to defy the odds and nod off).

It's good to hear him playing with a band again, but we're itching (and he is too) for him to form a band that will play his music, with him singing lead. Playing lead guitar has been good for him, and playing with a group of older and more experienced musicians has been too, but that's not where he wants to be. As he has always been, he wants to be out front! (ALWAYS! Andy's baby videos are frequently interrupted with "Mom, Mom, Mom!") Soon, we hope. If you have a drummer, bass or keyboard-playing child or friend (18 or over), and they're looking to be in a band that has aspirations of making it big, not just goofing around, send me their contact info and I'll pass it along. Seriously.

And the other one... Andy said last night that he won't likely be in choir in his senior year, that he's only doing it his junior year to get to go on the Disney trip, which we suspected, but I really hope that this year catches his interest more than he says it does. He did audition for Madrigals -- big surprise to all of us -- and I think he really enjoys it more than he lets on, but we'll save that for later.

Next couple of days, I'll post some videos of tonight's show (I hope).

Auditions, Part 1

School's out, summer is here! Just thinking about what the kids will be doing this summer. I realize Greg's not in the "kid" stage any more -- he has a job, and doesn't get summer break. He's planning to audition for the Williams Street Reportory this month -- they're doing Company in February, and he says that's one of his "dream" shows. That would be fun! His band, EKG (The Erich Kraemer Group) is playing their first paying gig in a little over a week -- at Wayne's Lanes on the 16th at 10 pm -- come on out!

Andy's planning to audition for South's fall play, Desperate Hours. Auditions are not to be taken lightly! I recently talked with Ben Stoner, Crystal Lake South's director, about auditioning (the interview will appear as a Clinic column some time this month -- it'll be a MUST READ!!!). Lots of work to do to prepare for these auditions!

Speaking of auditions, I get the Disney Auditions site Facebook posts -- wouldn't that be something, to perform at Disney, either in the parks or on one of the ships? It's so much fun to watch those talented performers -- in the Festival of the Lion King, or in the parades, in the show on the Castle stage. I never had the talent to make it into anything anywhere near professional -- you'd know that if you've seen me dance -- but I can certainly appreciate it!

What are your kids doing this summer? Let me know! I'd love to hear your take on summer performing activities!