Getting Laid (off)

I am not...not yet. But there are a bunch of layoffs in my industry (doesn't that sound so official!  Almost like how sometimes people call their neighborhood their "community" like "we should all be more involved in our community". )  Anyway, I'm trying to stay positive...but since I work in my industry as a highly-specialized temp---doing contract maternity leaves for ladies who have babies...when they start laying people off, it means less jobs, less (and possibly no) maternity leaves, and people looking for jobs...any jobs.

It just happened a few weeks ago...I was the finalist for a job and then another person who had been laid off in my "industry" was hired instead of me, because she was available sooner.

Or, that's what they told me to make me feel better:)

Anyway, that's totally fine and fair...but I'm worried because I've carved out this little niche that allows me to work 3 days or so/week for 14 weeks and it's slipping away.

And I know I could get a job job but I'd like to get one I like.  A lot.

So, I'm dreaming and scheming and trying not to be too down on it all...

If anyone knows anyone in these areas...here is how I am thinking of spending my winter:

--Interning somewhere super-cool:  Sundance, WBEZ, theatre producer's office

--Working abroad doing something:  Preferably, somewhere warm

--Living in LA doing something for money, and maybe "checking" it out

All advice gladly accepted!

Yours sincerely...

Becky

Musings---for my own amusement

Wednesday October 7, 2009

Coffee Studio

Andersonville, a neat-o neighborhood in Chicago

Wednesday, almost noon

An exercise in observation

 

Me: Laptop, big latte, foam topped with heart shape (I prefer the fan-shaped leaves)

 

Soundtrack: One of those mixes, that range from 90s lady alternative-crooners with haunting background that sound like a twin peaks song to a new hipster quiet song of sadness and sorrow.  I like it.

 

In front of me:  My friend who I come write with.  We’ve dropped our weekly meeting habit of the spring/early summer, but have recommitted to it. I like it.

 

A women who just tromped in here with her wheeled briefcase, is suspiciously eyeing the occupants of the surrounding tables, and sniffing her tea like it’s also suspicious.  Now, she looks over to her immediate right, and takes in the tattooed, blond-streaked women to her right, who is bent over her papers and documents with intensity like a teen taking the ACT.  Now she is fumbling for her cell phone (flip phone, not a razor, probably mid-range, free when she renewed her contract).  Her HP laptop is open and she looks up and catches me catching her.  Moving on!

 

I love the artwork here—I feel like I’ve wondered into a coffee shop in a Scandinavian capital---Helsinki?  Oslo?  Stockholm?  What are the capitals of Scandinavian nations?  It’s brick walls on the outside, and the space is dominated by the counter and coffee, the sitting down bar is made of plain black counter, trimmed in frosted glass, spa-colored wood and silver accents.  A mirror on the back wall, 5 hanging pendant lights, 4 have working bulbs.

 

A man in front of me listens to his portable audio device and cross-stitches and I think, “I should take up my cross-stitching or knitting or some kind of handicraft again.”  I have been influenced by the abundance of Ready Made magazines, which read to me like “YOU SHOULD BE MORE CREATIVE! YOU SHOULD MAKE CRAFTS!  YOU ARE A LAXY, UNCREATIVE, NON-HIPSTER!”

 

Now the soundtrack has shifted..I think its Rufus Wainwright.  Of course.

 

At least I wore my new cap…it’s jaunty and plaid.  And I have on clogs…so I am approaching something that is what the judgey me wants me to be.  Cool.  Inspired.  Constantly creating.  Finding love.  Balancing said love with happiness, joy, self-direction and trips to cool places and towns and travel.  That cooks and is known for a certain recipe, which people beg her to bring.  That heats her home with a wood-burning stove, and cools it by building windows that perfectly circulate the air in the summer.

 

Instead, I am here.  I live in a vintage condo with mostly blank walls in my bedroom, and all the other walls are covered in my roommate’s mother’s art.  I squeeze in a few of my own things, and see that the frames are cheap and from the 90s. I go on adventures in Michigan, not Minsk (the first M I could think of!), and I try to go to yoga, to class and work.

 

I am ready for change.  And I like it.

It's all over

The big late summer/early fall push of 09 seems to be winding up.

I have started my job and am settling into life at People magazine.   It's wonderful to be there and I'm learning so much.

Montgomery and Cooke wrapped up our first run ever--and we had a really successful time working through the bits, tweaking parts, etc.  We want to keep performing together, so we are putting together a video and looking at venues in Chicago.

So, that meant that I was free to let life be lived for a bit.

I went to Michigan with my best lady friends from Ohio--and it was delightful! I ran on the beach, I read my book, I watched the sunset, I read more of my book (what was I reading then?  oh!  The Laws of Harmony) and then the ladies came, and we had snacks and caught up.  The next day we went and ate lunch outside on a harbor that reminded me of Vermilion, where my grandparents lived and my dad grew up. It's the sweetest, cutest, loveliest little Harbour Town in Lake Erie.  But I think it's very racist there, so I don't like that part of it.

Then we went to the winery, drank wine on the beach, dinner and then back home.

These girls are so much fun---I loved hanging out with them.

This week, we got the car fixxed (BRAKES!  TIRES!  $700!) . 

Yesterday we taped some footage for Montgomery and Cooke and then last night, I enjoyed a glorious night in, on the couch.

Hello couch.  It's nice to see you again.  You look great. 

And now, a beautiful sunny fall morning---off to the gym, then writing and then perhaps a little bitty walk along Lake Michigan.

What a wonderful morning.

Show! Cantaloupe! Sunshine!

We had our second show!  We had to cancel last week because of low numbers...but this week happenned.

Lillie and Gillian and Fuzzy and Shaun were our delightful special guests with Lillie and Gill doing a wonderful Lucy and Ethel...and F&S doing an awesome who's on first sort of thing.

I think both Jamie and I felt "bumpy" but loyal fans (Jamie's mom) said it was great.  I finally played my trombone so it sounded like something and it turns out that competency is more fun then just blatting!  Plus, we discovered a really great new trombone moment on accident.

Overall, very fun, and huge thanks to those who made it out!!!

Onto cantaloupe...we got the biggest one I've ever received from the share...and it's the perfect, almost melting it's so good flavor.  The texture is mushy.  I feel like I want to tell you it's fine..to defend the cantaloupe that I am currently eating---but it is mushy.   I just told it as much too and feel better because I am being honest with the cantaloupe, since it is my favorite fruit.

It is SUNNY today!  I am going to go hang out with Wee, a baby I know, and I hope he wants to go for a walk.

Because I do.

That is all.

Back to School

So, I'm back from the lovely land of Maine---blueberries, lobsters, healthier brothers, adorable nieces who raise their hands to give suggestions in an improv show, and the awesome Improv Acadia--and I am also back to reality.  Maine was a bit frustrating--I had some NASTY blisters that prevented me from hiking or running--and man, I felt the difference.  Apparently, exercise is good for your mental health.  Nice, exercise, very nice.

I've had a summer of here and there work, a little teaching, some directing and lots of bike riding---and I'm really thrilled to be back to work.

And, I open a brand new show in less then a week!

I couldn't be happier about it--it's called "That's showbiz, kid!" and features showbiz legends, Montgomery and Cooke!  I play Lorraine Montgomery---and Jamie Buell plays my husband/comedy partner, Paddie Cooke.

We have been working really hard and I hope it turns out ok.  It's a bit olde-tyme, which I LOVE, plus, I think my friend Beka is going to try to do an old-fashioned hair style for me. FUN!

We have dances, guest stars, comedy, silliness and more.

This post is turning into a show plug--whoops!  www.montgomeryandcooke.com, at LOL theatre on Thursday nights.

Anyway, that's been keeping me very busy, along with work training (did I mention I'm working at PEOPLE?) and you know, life.

Hope everyone enjoys the last bits of summer and comes out to see the show!

I loved you, but I didn't really like you when you were 13.

Oh my goodness!

It's been busy over here at Eldridge HQ.

I've taught in boot camps for the past three weeks at SC.  Boy, those challenged me.  First, a week of adults who were delightful but plentiful.  It's hard to get through all their scenes.

And then, a bunch of 13-year olds.  Man, those kids have some great ideas but I felt like all I did was try to corral them.  It's like herding cats.  I really would like to think it was them, their age, their attitude but I know part of it was me.  I just couldn't get the lesson across, no matter what the tactics.  

Thankfully, I talked to my mom, wise mother of 5, and she said "I loved you, but I didn't really like you when you were 13." I don't think I liked me back then, either.  But then I turned 14 and got a job and things turned around.

Every day, I'd just try to find the great work they were creating and work towards that.  And try not to constantly discipline, yell and ignore the chaos as much as possible.

Next year, no 13-year olds for me!  

Other then that, it's been a lot of Maddie loves Mongo (A second city training center Level 6 writing show)-- we opened last night and it was so great!

And a lot of getting ready to go back to work and a lot of Montgomery and Cooke.

I feel like I've been working all summer towards these shows...and at last, they all go up in August!

And I'm going to Bar Harbor tomorrow.  Yes, the heart of Maine in the summer---ocean, mountains, lobster, etc.  I can't WAIT to get there!

My brother Paul, who's got the prostate cancer, is coming up with his family!  It'll be great--they are staying at a little cottage just outside of town and we are going to eat the SHIT out of some lobster!

And I'm going to hike hike hike hike hike hike hike!  hike!

For now, off to coffee land and then maybe kayaking and then packing!

7am flight in the morning...wheee!!!

Crazy Lady Outfits

If you're a lady, like me, who's been trying to mix up life, food and her wardrobe a bit (and thus, avoiding shopping and spending non-existent money), Grey Gardens can be a real inspiration.

Check out my scarf attire today--I rode down lakeshore drive with my friend Ross, and used this to protect my hair.  And then I went on a preview of a walking tour of Second City and wore it in every way I could imagine---as a bracelet, as a cape, as a toothache curer---and amused myself to no end.

Now, it's back in Andersonville, and I'm supposed to revising scenes for the upcoming show I'm working on.  But instead, I'm thinking about style and life and ways to live it and couldn't help but put the scarf on again, ala Little Edie Beale.  It's a scarf from a large collection of scarves and gloves my aunt has given me over the years, and I truly wish I knew how to wear them in a way that didn't make it seem so dowdy.  I'm going for more a french girl then Queen Elizabeth...and haven't quite figured it out.

Now, the other two pics are my new headshot and a picture of my maternal grandmother, when she was a young lady.

As you can see, Mimi wasn't tramping around the East Hamptons in her day--she was leaning against a tree at the family farm, living off what they grew.  She taught in a one-room school house and lived in a teeny tiny house that didn't have a name like "Grey Gardens".  But she certainly had her own sense of style!  

And, the other pic is from a recent set of headshots.  I submitted to a legit agency in town, and after much correspondence that consisted of them saying they were considering me, but were very busy--could we set up a time to chat?  Sure, I'd say, sending my availability.  No response, and then a response saying they were busy, but they'd reach out to me asap.  Again and again, until today, it finally came down to it---they didn't like my pics, and they could either reject me or recommend a photographer--which did I prefer?  I said I'd love to hear their recco, and that I have a relationship with a headshot photographer---so what's their opinion of those guys?

I don't think this agency is doing anything outright shady, but something stinks in the correspondence and I'm not sure I like it.  If they really did like me, wouldn't they have the capacity and bandwidth to bring me in for a meeting--even if only 10 minutes? If this is what things are like at the beginning of our working relationship, what's going to happen down the road?

And I've got another actor friend who was treated the same by this agency, with the correspondence eventually coming down to "Either you are rejected OR might we recommend our on-camera class?"

So anywho, world, here's my headshot---for now.  

Agents, comrades, friends--any feedback is welcome!  As is reccos on headshot photographers, etc.

But please don't threaten to not consider me based on this pic.

Yours,

A frustrated actor