Weekend of Firsts

So, a lot of firsts happened this weekend.  Well, maybe not a lot, but definitely a few notable ones.  I did a reading for a friend who just finished a script for a pilot for a TV show. I had my first dance class.  And (last but not least) I had my first NYC singing performance!  Woot woot.  Yep yep.  Oh hey.  Substitute more excitement and slang that suits your cultural background so that you can relate to me now.  Ahh, I feel your presence.

Anyway…

Let’s talk about the pilot TV reading first.  So, I was kind of nervous about doing it.  When my friend told me that he still needed people to read, I jumped at the opportunity.  Can’t pass anything up here.  Even a sandwich in a trashcan (kidding (not really (well maybe in 9 months I won’t be (but now I am)))). Wow, I’m really distracted today.  Sorry.  So, the reading.  After I volunteered to do it, he told me I needed a Trinidadian accent for the part.  Woops.  I was kind of nervous about it, but then I started watching these hilarious Muppet videos of this Trinidadian character Santana on YouTube in order to work on my accent.  I was getting self conscious about the accent, and I was complaining to one of my roommates about it.  And he sat me down and said:

“Listen Lumumba.  Don’t get caught up on the accent.  Just go do good work.  Find the character, and present that.  They might change how they feel about the accent, but what they can’t change are the choices you make as an actor in that moment.”

And so I went to the reading with that mindset.  It turned out to be more laid back than I thought.  We did the reading.  We had a great time.  The script was hilarious and very powerful.  I’m looking forward to seeing where the writer takes it from here.

I’ll be brief about the next two things.  So, dance class.  Haha.  First of all, the story of how I had to try on 10 different pairs of dance shoes because, apparently, I have skinny ankles but big feet is hilarious, but I don’t have time for that now.  The important thing is that I have been putting off taking dance classes for over 2 years now.  I was kind of scared, but I finally sucked it up and did it. And…class was great!  The teacher was very welcoming, and you could tell that everybody was there to learn and have fun.  Anybody who tells you that there are not supportive people in NYC needs to find new friends.

So…the show.  It was great!  Some of my friends came out to support me, and I was crazy excited to see them there.  They were sitting in the front, too, so I was trying not to look at them.  I can’t stress how important it is to see your friends support you when you’re trying something new.  I rely on my close friends to keep me grounded and honest.  If they can believe in me, then I can at least have the decency to have some faith in myself, too, right? 

So, yeah.   A weekend of firsts.  It was a blast, and I just want to keep up the momentum.  I start ballet tomorrow.  That’ll be fun.  Time to go get ready for my recording session and audition later today.

What’s the point of begging to get in the game if you’re too afraid to play?