If you just can't get enough of what it is I have to say, then you my friends, are in luck! One of my friends runs a website designed to help people interested in technical theater. I have been able to write a few different articles for the website on special effects and lighting. If you have any interest in theater, this could be a great resource for tips and tricks to put together a good production.
TheaterHelper.com can also help those those with questions about educational theater. There are articles that can shed light on the different degrees that are offered, portfolio tips, and job opportunities.
With the educational information and professional tips provided, it really does become a one stop shop for theater amateurs, students, and professionals. I hope you will check it out.
www.theaterhelper.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Proud and Disappointed
You know what makes me wildly proud and extremely disappointed all at the same time? My daughter can say she has done more work on a college production than some theater majors. My daughter is two years old.
Last semester I was working on a small theatrical production and the students were practically non-existent when it came to assisting on technical aspects of the production. One weekend my wife decided to bring me lunch and bring my daughter along to see me. She really liked to see what Dad was working on and I asked her if she wanted to help. With a dirty look from my wife I handed my daughter a small screw gun (don’t worry, I was holding it too!!) and held her up to set a screw. She liked it, but then realized her new calling; handing screws to Dad. We counted them out and she helped me pick the next place to put a screw. It was some of the most fun I have had being a parent. I was very proud of my little girl.
Then I realized later that she had actually done more technical theater work than some of our theater majors. If you take away the experience the students get out of the technical theater courses, then the number of students with backstage experience drops dramatically. I was proud of my daughter for successfully completing a task far beyond her years (even if I did help a lot), and I know most two year old kids don’t put in time on theatrical productions, but college students who have chosen theater as a career should have more time in on production work than any two year old. I am disappointed that most students I meet today that choose acting as a career feel that knowledge about the technical side of productions is uninteresting and unimportant. The age old “when am I ever going to use this?” argument has been used in my class.
It’s sad that an interest in their chosen profession is so lacking in today’s student. Hopefully I will be able to keep the enthusiasm up in my daughter so that she wants to learn about every aspect of whatever it is that she wants to accomplish. The quickest way to success is having the knowledge to get you to where it is you want to go.
Last semester I was working on a small theatrical production and the students were practically non-existent when it came to assisting on technical aspects of the production. One weekend my wife decided to bring me lunch and bring my daughter along to see me. She really liked to see what Dad was working on and I asked her if she wanted to help. With a dirty look from my wife I handed my daughter a small screw gun (don’t worry, I was holding it too!!) and held her up to set a screw. She liked it, but then realized her new calling; handing screws to Dad. We counted them out and she helped me pick the next place to put a screw. It was some of the most fun I have had being a parent. I was very proud of my little girl.
Then I realized later that she had actually done more technical theater work than some of our theater majors. If you take away the experience the students get out of the technical theater courses, then the number of students with backstage experience drops dramatically. I was proud of my daughter for successfully completing a task far beyond her years (even if I did help a lot), and I know most two year old kids don’t put in time on theatrical productions, but college students who have chosen theater as a career should have more time in on production work than any two year old. I am disappointed that most students I meet today that choose acting as a career feel that knowledge about the technical side of productions is uninteresting and unimportant. The age old “when am I ever going to use this?” argument has been used in my class.
It’s sad that an interest in their chosen profession is so lacking in today’s student. Hopefully I will be able to keep the enthusiasm up in my daughter so that she wants to learn about every aspect of whatever it is that she wants to accomplish. The quickest way to success is having the knowledge to get you to where it is you want to go.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Living in New York State
I live in New York State. I have never lived in any other state. I don’t hate New York or New Yorkers. I have high hopes for the Central New York economy. Or should I say HAD high hopes?
I am not a financial expert, in any sense of the term, but I am having a problem with how I see my state government acting during this economic climate. I was raised to believe in hard work, a good education, and always thinking about the future to secure economic success. While not a specific plan, it does lay a ground work on which I try to build my financial future. I believe the basic solution to a strong home budget is controlled spending. Credit cards and debt are the enemy. In practice, I must admit, I may not always follow these rules to the letter. I believe some debt is unavoidable. For example, I am unable to make large purchases, such as a home or car, in full. Debt must be incurred to have the large ticket items. You know what I don’t own? A boat, motorcycle, luxury car, massive house, or many other big ticket items. I can’t afford them. The debt that I would accumulate would put a strain on my finances and possibly make it impossible for me to pay them off. The more money I have, the more I am likely to spend, but I know when my check comes there is a finite number printed on it.
I don’t think the politicians in New York share my philosophy in financial planning. If I’m concerned about a budget gap, I adjust my spending. The little things I like to do get cut first to make room for essentials. I am seeing increased spending on a state and national level while we are asked to strap in and take it. Are the politicians cutting their spending at all? This excerpt from a story in the Washington Times suggests they aren’t.
“Talk about a pet project. A tiny mouse with the longtime backing of a political giant may soon reap the benefits of the economic-stimulus package.
Lawmakers and administration officials divulged Wednesday that the $789 billion economic stimulus bill being finalized behind closed doors in Congress includes $30 million for wetlands restoration that the Obama administration intends to spend in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect, among other things, the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi represents the city of San Francisco and has previously championed preserving the mouse's habitat in the Bay Area.
The revelation immediately became a political football, as Republicans accused Democrats of reneging on a promise to keep so-called earmarks that fund lawmakers' favorite projects out of the legislation. Democrats, including Mrs. Pelosi, countered that the accusations were fabricated.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/12/earmark-less-bill-gives-pelosis-mouse-cookie/
The other side of the economic crisis is the slow retail sales. Again, I am far more willing to spend money that I have. Along with the increased spending from the federal government come the increased taxes and fees from New York State. The lesson I am taking away here is spend more with less. They want me to go out and buy to stimulate the economy. Only they are going to add fees to what I buy and increase how much they take before I even get my check. Isn’t buying when we can’t afford to what got us into this mess to start with?
Governor Patterson, please stop trying to stop trying to fill gaps in the budget by squeezing more money out of the people who have the ability to save the economy. The politicians have it only partially right. We can spend our way out of this crisis. But, when I say we, I mean the American public, not the giving money to large struggling businesses. They will stop struggling when their quarterly profits go up after the public consistently buys their products again, not when you just hand over a onetime cash award.
I am not a financial expert, in any sense of the term, but I am having a problem with how I see my state government acting during this economic climate. I was raised to believe in hard work, a good education, and always thinking about the future to secure economic success. While not a specific plan, it does lay a ground work on which I try to build my financial future. I believe the basic solution to a strong home budget is controlled spending. Credit cards and debt are the enemy. In practice, I must admit, I may not always follow these rules to the letter. I believe some debt is unavoidable. For example, I am unable to make large purchases, such as a home or car, in full. Debt must be incurred to have the large ticket items. You know what I don’t own? A boat, motorcycle, luxury car, massive house, or many other big ticket items. I can’t afford them. The debt that I would accumulate would put a strain on my finances and possibly make it impossible for me to pay them off. The more money I have, the more I am likely to spend, but I know when my check comes there is a finite number printed on it.
I don’t think the politicians in New York share my philosophy in financial planning. If I’m concerned about a budget gap, I adjust my spending. The little things I like to do get cut first to make room for essentials. I am seeing increased spending on a state and national level while we are asked to strap in and take it. Are the politicians cutting their spending at all? This excerpt from a story in the Washington Times suggests they aren’t.
“Talk about a pet project. A tiny mouse with the longtime backing of a political giant may soon reap the benefits of the economic-stimulus package.
Lawmakers and administration officials divulged Wednesday that the $789 billion economic stimulus bill being finalized behind closed doors in Congress includes $30 million for wetlands restoration that the Obama administration intends to spend in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect, among other things, the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi represents the city of San Francisco and has previously championed preserving the mouse's habitat in the Bay Area.
The revelation immediately became a political football, as Republicans accused Democrats of reneging on a promise to keep so-called earmarks that fund lawmakers' favorite projects out of the legislation. Democrats, including Mrs. Pelosi, countered that the accusations were fabricated.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/12/earmark-less-bill-gives-pelosis-mouse-cookie/
The other side of the economic crisis is the slow retail sales. Again, I am far more willing to spend money that I have. Along with the increased spending from the federal government come the increased taxes and fees from New York State. The lesson I am taking away here is spend more with less. They want me to go out and buy to stimulate the economy. Only they are going to add fees to what I buy and increase how much they take before I even get my check. Isn’t buying when we can’t afford to what got us into this mess to start with?
Governor Patterson, please stop trying to stop trying to fill gaps in the budget by squeezing more money out of the people who have the ability to save the economy. The politicians have it only partially right. We can spend our way out of this crisis. But, when I say we, I mean the American public, not the giving money to large struggling businesses. They will stop struggling when their quarterly profits go up after the public consistently buys their products again, not when you just hand over a onetime cash award.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Introduction
Master of something...I just don't know what yet!
I am finally making my way into the blog-o-sphere. I don't really know if that is good or bad, but it is happening. I spent a good hour with my wife trying to think of a name for the blog. We tried taking my interests and putting them together to make up a clever title. I came to the realization that I have many talents, but I have yet to be able to hang my hat on any of them. That gave me the title of my new blog.
I hope to get my opinions out there and maybe pass along some helpful hints now and again. Let's hope this isn't what I'm the best at!!
I am finally making my way into the blog-o-sphere. I don't really know if that is good or bad, but it is happening. I spent a good hour with my wife trying to think of a name for the blog. We tried taking my interests and putting them together to make up a clever title. I came to the realization that I have many talents, but I have yet to be able to hang my hat on any of them. That gave me the title of my new blog.
I hope to get my opinions out there and maybe pass along some helpful hints now and again. Let's hope this isn't what I'm the best at!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)