Dear LSU Theatre Underclassmen,
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask
for help. Your professors are there for you. They want you to reach for the
stars, try and fail, and be there to pick you back up. I can’t tell you how
supportive they are. This department has such a wealth of teachers that care
about the development and welfare of their students.
Be
a part of your theatre community. You should never feel left out. The best way
to start is to volunteer to help. If you show how hard you work and how
enthusiastic you are, you will quickly be put on the short list of people that
everyone wants to work with. If you have a few spare hours and are interested
in learning something new, go volunteer your time in one of the scenery,
lighting, sound, film, or costume shops, even if you have your Theatre
Practicums completed. They will love you for that.
Always
be early to everything. Not only does it show commitment, work ethic, and
ensures that you’re ready to work when the time comes, it also gives you time
to prepare yourself for your work, instead of being dragged around by it.
If
you commit to something, follow through. If you realize that you’re unable to
follow through, notify who you’re accountable to immediately. Offer
alternatives, try to find someone to assist or replace you. The extra effort
goes a long way.
Never
miss class. I made this mistake when I was an underclassman. Showing up and
being an active participant in class is the biggest factor in not only your
grade, but also is the biggest determining factor in what you’ll get out of the
class and what you’ll learn. If a professor sees you missing classes, they’re
less likely to be lenient on you when you’re struggling and their likelihood of
assisting you outside of class time will drop considerably. The number one
comment I always hear about students that struggle in coursework from
professors is “they miss class”.
Try
to get exposure to every facet of your craft. You never know when you’ll find
something else that you’re passionate about. We all love the theatre and can’t
see ourselves working in anything else, and being a theatre practitioner with a
diversified skill set only helps you find more work in this art that you love.
Having said that, if there is something other than theatre or the performing
arts that you’re passionate about, explore that passion. This is hard work that
does not guarantee a steady paycheck and if you can see yourself being happy
with a different career, you should definitely consider it.
Please,
take care of yourself. No matter what your role in the process is, if you
overwork yourself, don’t sleep enough, or party too much, you’re going to push
yourself too hard. When you push yourself too hard, you’ll get sick. When you
get sick, you won’t be able to work at full capacity or be able to work at all.
You will deny yourself the chance to put your 100% effort into your work, miss
a big opportunity, and in the extreme, do permanent damage to your
body/instrument!
Expose
yourself to as much theatre as possible. Read plays, go to staged readings,
experimental work, all LSU productions, community theatre, touring, and
professional productions. Watch films. It is your responsibility to hone your critical
eyes. Try to identify what you liked or didn’t like about performances and
productions you see. Keep a journal if you’d like. Figure out what you like and
don’t like. Explore past “I was entertained” and “I wasn’t entertained”.
If
you find a teacher that you really enjoy and learn from, take more of their
classes. Find a mentor. Ask their opinions and get their perspective. What they
have to offer can be invaluable.
Don’t
be afraid to take a chance.
-CD
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