A Buggy on the Shoulder

This year, the Gypsy Life has brought me from New York City to Shipshewana, IN. Even when I told my friends from Indiana where I would be, they still replied, "Where??"

Shipshewana is a town of about 500, but due to the popularity of their famous Flea Market, can grow to about 40,000 in the summer. Horses and Buggys are a normal sight to see, and the smell of horse poo fills the air.

This photo is outside the grocery store, where we had to find parking amidst the horses. And although the Amish still roll in style in their buggys, they are a little more advanced than one might think. I've heard that some of the Amish have Facebook, and are also known to have strobing lights in their buggys when they are out on the town on the weekends. 

Amish homestyle cooking is probably the most fattening thing I have ever seen/eaten. Lots of butter, MSG, and pie. Even when the cast was offered the lunch menu that included only half a sandwich and a cup of soup, every meal was still served with a big slice of pie. 

I'm excited to see Shipshewana bustling in its prime season this summer, especially knowing that we have two full days off during the week due to the Shipshewana Quilting Festival! I'm also excited to learn more about the Amish ways and customs here. But for now... I'll just have to take what I know to the stage! 

The Bachelor

Recently, I attended the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions and the Southeastern Theatre Conference. I just HAD to recap the experiences here for my friends who don't know about them, because they are just too crazy to leave uncommented about!

Actors are weird enough on their own...but imagine 1,000 of them getting together in one weekend to audition for 70-80 theatre companies with only 90 seconds. Crazy, right?! You only get one audition for the whole day that determines how good the companies think you are, who you will be called back for, and if you even get to attend the dance audition later that evening. So...no pressure, or anything...

Then, you have the lovely actors who go around yelling how many call backs they got, posting it on Facebook, and proceeding to ask you how many you got.

In the call back room (and by the call back room, I mean hotel room where there's one chair and a bed), the companies can ask you to do anything. I think my favorite was when a company asked my friend to just run around the room and act like she'd had too much sugar. I've had to sing songs I've never heard of to a karaoke track with no indication of where the song even starts...and somehow make it amazing! Some companies have even asked me to tell them about my family...?

All day, it's an emotional roller coaster. You go into a call back and think they love you. You think that you are the perfect person for them, but then you realize they are dating hundreds of other people. I'm on The Bachelor and I didn't even know it. Companies are hot tubbing with other people (figuratively) and when you don't get a phone call, you don't get a rose.

I attend these conferences every year because, while they are crazy, they really do book you jobs. In NYC it's frustrating to not even be able to audition for someone, but at these conferences you are guaranteed to get seen by every company...and at the end of the day, 90 seconds is way more than 8 bars!

I'm happy to report that, thanks to SETC, my Gypsy Life will continue to the "heart of Northern Indiana" at Blue Gate Theatre this summer. I couldn't be more thrilled and grateful to play Katie in their musical "The Confession."

I'm sad to leave NYC just as it's getting warm, but excited to open a new chapter in my life!

it's beginning to look a lot like...Audition Season

Whew! This week has worn me out and it's only the beginning of audition season! Between working, auditioning, and taking lessons, I feel like I have no time to just sit on the couch and watch the Hills...but I guess that's not why I moved to NYC!

Just to give you a little taste of an average day: The night before, I get home from work around 1:30am or 2am and I wake up probably around 7am (that's way later than some of my friends, they get up at 4:45... I don't have their stamina!) and go sign up at the auditions I'm going to that day. I am non-equity so I sign up on the Non-Equity list. Then there is the Equity Member Candidate list, and then the Equity Alternate list, and then the ACTUAL LIST of Equity people. So as you can see, my list is last priority and it's usually a miracle if they get to the non-equity list.

Although I am so thankful that I've been able to sing for some big shows, when they cut it down to only singing 8 bars, it's not very rewarding. It's been frustrating to want to feel like a performer, but to never get to perform.

But, I'm not discouraged yet- give me a few more weeks :)

Romans 8 says, "Live under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you do, you will think about what the spirit wants...the mind controlled by the Spirit brings life and peace."

I am reminding myself constantly that my life is not my own. I was not created to worship myself and live in a self-centered world, I was created to worship God. So in the grand scheme of things...auditions don't matter. What matters is that I am honoring God and worshipping Him through the gifts that He's given me. It's hard to see this when everyone seems to be only living for their career...but it's a breath of fresh air to step back and realize that life is so much bigger than that crammed holding room.

To 2012:

While being cheesy and updating my status on Facebook about 2011...I realized I was writing a lot more than just your average status...so here it is- another blog!

2011 started in New York City--working, of course, --in a different job (oops I mean two jobs), living in a different apartment, and hanging out with different friends.

I had no idea my life would change drastically in a short month after January. I accepted a job in NORTH DAKOTA,

started a relationship,

traveled,

and met so many new people along the way.

Moving back to NYC wasn't easy, and I still feel like I'm settling in, but 2011 has taken me on some incredible journeys.

I learned so much about myself and God, and how God loves to use us when we are completely and utterly unprepared, and can only rely on Him. I am so thankful for every lesson of 2011.


So to 2012: You have a lot to live up to.

Hopped off the plane at LGA with a dream and no cardigan.

I woke up this morning to a nightmare about my bank account being low...and then I realized that is just the beauty of living in NYC.

My second season in NYC has already proved to be challenging, but also rewarding. I've seen God work in so many ways since I've been here, and I'm so excited to see more of Him in everything. 

Since my arrival on Oct 8, my days have been filled with sweet reunions of friends, classes with my fabulous teachers, and the arduous task of finding the right job. After trying my hand at babysitting, promo, temp agencies, and serving, God provided me with the job I really wanted, which was to work at an upscale restaurant where I would only need one job! I can't wait to start training this week!

And a new improvement this year- I no longer live in a hallway! But of course, I still had to make my room look like it just came from the Adpi house...

I'm so excited for the things ahead: my new job, bible study, church hunting, auditions, and building new relationships. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

<3

On the Road Again...

Just in the past 3 weeks, I have spent time in 13 states-- here is a little recap of my trip across America (vertically across, that is!) that included a lot of corn, hay, and miles!

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

 Deadwood

 Mount Rushmore

 Corn Palace

WYOMING 

 Biker Bar!

IOWA

KANSAS

 

MISSOURI

 Gateway to the West

ILLINOIS

ARKANSAS

TENNESSEE

 Corky's BBQ

 Beale St. 

MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA

 Mobile Bay

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

 Cocoa Beach

As much as I've loved seeing America this past month, I'm ready to stop living out of a suitcase! My flight to NYC is booked, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Big Apple has in store. 

Lion, Tigers, and Bears- not here!

Well...it's almost the end of my run here in Medora. I'm not sure how to make a blog based on one subject, but just thought I would post a few things I've seen and done!

Who knew our guitarist, Tyler, would be both a music and reptile lover? This little buddy was found near our stage.

I'd never seen a prairie dog in my life, and in my mind they were supposed to look like Sheep Dogs...but I was wrong! Apparently you cannot have your own colony of them in your backyard, no matter how cute they look, because they carry a few diseases!

Wild horses take their time grazing along the road in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park!

I went horseback riding on Lefty, who like me was a "lefty" and really liked snacking! 

Not sure what your knowledge of North Dakota is like, but North Dakota loves making the biggest objects of something, including the worlds largest buffalo, highest oil can pyramid, and the largest holstein cow, Salem Sue! As you can see, Billy is UDDERLY AMAZED by Salem Sue. 

I also took my first steps into Montana! 

Fall is approaching, and in North Dakota that means hay is being rolled, sunflowers are blooming, and corn stalks are getting higher. I don't think I would have ever thought I would do or see the things that I've experienced this summer. I am unbelievably thankful that I get to perform in this great place every night and I will miss these wide open spaces when I go back to the city.