Let Yourself...DREAM BIG!

It all started with a 30 second audition - Daughter singing "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, with no music...just her lovely, innocent 10 year old voice.   The open call audition was promoted at our CYT (Christian Youth Theater) office.  We figured if it was posted there, than it must be legitimate.  So we took a chance... "Thank you God, for living within me - and providing the faith I needed to allow my daughter to take a risk towards her dreams."

Since that moment, we have been a part of The ARTS family for the last 2.5 years and have loved every moment of it!  ARTS stands for "Applause Rising Talent Showcase."  The ARTS holds two Expos each year - in June and December, in Orlando, Florida.  At these Expos, 40-50 VIP's attending are able to view talent in the areas of Acting, Singing, Dancing and Modeling.  The Talent "audition" in these four areas as a way for agents, personal managers, casting directors, network and Broadway representatives and music producers to find their next big discovery.  There are also Seminars, Workshops and Panel Discussions conducted by the VIP's themselves, and are full of useful training, instruction and advise.

Auditions to be part of The ARTS Expo are held continuously throughout the year in the United States (including Alaska), and now in South Africa, Australia, and Puerto Rico.

I have always believed that God has an incredible ability to place the right people, at the right time, in our lives.  That is how I viewed The ARTS.   Kim Myers (International Talent Scout; Owner of ARTS) and Kim Garnier (Local Talent Scout and Talent Manager; Owner of The Garnier Group in Olathe, KS) were two of the people Daughter originally auditioned for.  Upon being invited to participate at The ARTS Expo, Kim Garnier (from The Garnier Group, who lives near us) was our area Director who trained, coached and prepared us and the other talent for the big event - which is run by Kim Myers and her talented team with The ARTS.

Both ladies are amazing women in my life that have had a huge impact on me and my family.   They have inspired, encouraged and supported the DREAMS of SO MANY people - not just my children's dreams.   These two faith-based ladies walk the walk and talk the talk!!!  That is something that can be hard to do in the Entertainment Industry.

Because they have been leading by example, I have never felt more comfortable and safe for my children and their desires to be part of the Entertainment Industry and recommending to others that if they have a DREAM to perform, they NEED The ARTS!

For more information about audition dates and locations, "LIKE" The ARTS and The Garnier Group Facebook pages - (Arts Expo) and (GGI).   The ARTS also has a website: http://theartstalent.com/

If you and/or your children have EVER wondered if they have what it takes to be an Actor, Singer, Dancer and/or a Model, you HAVE to take a chance!  Take a risk!  There is nothing to lose...but everything to gain!  Life is too short to have regrets and what ifs'.  Until you are ok with doing different, and being different, things will never be different!

You will be glad you considered The ARTS!

How This All Started...

Two and a half years ago, Daughter became very serious about pursuing the Performing Arts industry. She had been taking acting classes and had been in musical plays since she was 5 years old.  At 10 years old, she wanted more than what our local area had to offer.  She had heard about an open-call audition for an opportunity to attend a showcase event (in Orlando, Florida) that would have some of the top agents, agencies, casting directors, music producers, record companies, and businesses in the entertainment industry in the categories of Acting, Singing, Dancing and Modeling.

Daughter was selected to participate at this event and couldn't wait to attend!  I was so excited for her, not only because I knew how much this meant to her, but because it would be so much less expensive and with greater exposure to MANY people all at once.   Flying to NY and hitting the streets, with no personal contact information, not knowing which agencies to approach or which agents worked well with children, would have been VERY difficult, if not impossible, and VERY expensive!!!!  And that is going to only one market.  There was still the LA, Chicago and several other markets that Daughter also wanted to visit.

Daughter and I spent the next 5 months attending workshops and preparing her showcase entries in the areas of: Photography Modeling, Improv, Cold Read, Monologue, TV Commercial, and Singing.

Upon arriving at the Hotel where the event was going to be held, Daughter and I were blown away!  I felt all of the excitement and energy from the other people in attendance and she was giddy with laughter and lots of smiles.  She said it felt like her dreams were ACTUALLY coming true!  And they were!!!  In the next 24 hours she would be performing on a broadway size stage in front of about 50 VIP's from NY, LA, Chicago, Nashville, and Florida in addition to an audience of a couple thousand people.  Attending this type of an event was PERFECT!!!  It would be like one big performing arts and modeling buffet -  a "one stop" shop for the talent to meet and be seen by lots of VIP's and a chance for the VIP's attending to see 300 or so individuals from ages 4 to 84 years old.

The experience turned out to be amazing!  Just like we had hoped and anticipated.  Daughter did extremely well, winning several awards - Overall Top Three Child Actor; Overall Top Three Child Singer; Second Place Improv - Child Division; Second Place Singing - Child Division; Top Five Child for TV Commercial.  She was also invited to participate in the Talent Show on Friday night at the event as one of the singing performers.

Daughter also received six callbacks with VIP's that were interested in working with her.   WOW!  We were not prepared for that.  I really just saw this event as an opportunity to see if Daughter might have what it takes to seriously continue down the path in performing arts.  It turns out she did...but we as a family were not ready for that.  It was definitely a nice reassurance that she should continue doing what she was doing until we were ready to pursue more opportunities away from home.

Then about 18 months ago, Son #2 (who was only 7 years old at the time) informed me that he also wanted to start performing - singing and acting on stage.  He had been taking acting classes and workshops since he was 5 years old, but now he wanted more. And he STILL wanted to play football, soccer, and basketball.  Yikes!  Oh, and he also wanted to take Dance, too.  And if I could still squeeze in his piano lessons (after taking them for two years) - he told me "that would be just great, mom."   NOT!!!  Too many activities to choose from, four very busy children, and only one mom.  I appreciate that my children love sports AND the performing arts, but choices were going to need to be made.  It is usually the choice of either a sport or a play - but not both.  (In VERY rare cases have I allowed that...if the child making the request has siblings that are not involved in a lot of their own activities at the same time, they can "use" their sibling's activity time slots.)

During the last 12 months, Son #2 has performed in 4 plays and is currently in his 5th one this summer.  He plays the part of a son in "Fiddler on the Roof."  Due to his enjoyment of being on stage, Son #2 announced last Fall he was interested in attending The ARTS Event like his big sister did two years ago, this summer.   And when my Daughter heard her brother's request, she then announced that she too, wanted to attend The ARTS again, ESPECIALLY if her brother was going.

So guess what???  I am going to attend The ARTS Showcase Event again - in sunny Orlando, Florida - with Daughter (for a second time) and Son #2.  Daughter will be performing and competing in 10 events this time - Singing, Dancing, Cold Read, Improv, TV Commercial, Monologue, Creative Runway Modeling, Photography Modeling, Fashion Modeling, and Swimsuit Modeling.  Son #2 will be performing and competing in 9 events - all the same ones as his sister EXCEPT Improv.  (A person has to be at least 10 years old to perform in that category.)

Son #2 and Daughter are very excited to attend The ARTS and have been working REALLY hard for the last 6 months memorizing TV commercials, memorizing their Monologues (Daughter wrote her own - SO FUNNY!  And Son #2 is performing an excerpt from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" - THE CHEESE TOUCH); choreographing their own dances; and perfecting their singing performances.

I am SO VERY PROUD of both of them!  I pray that they do great, and hopefully have a lot of fun while they are performing.  And if God feels that this is their time, and one or both children are given the opportunity to be a part of the entertainment and/or modeling industry after attending this event, I believe that we are finally ready to take the chance and see where it leads them and our family.

DREAM BIG - Daughter and Son #2!!!!

Living The X-Factor

Earlier this year, Daughter wanted to audition for the television show - "The X-Factor".  She was so excited, working hard trying to determine what song she would sing for her audition.  For the last several years, her audition songs have usually been from theater musicals.  However, for this audition, she did NOT want a song from the theater world.  She kept saying it NEEDED to be a Pop or Country song.  "Theater songs are NOT going to get me on the radio, mom." ("Like, DUHHH, mom.  What are you thinking?  Get with the program, mom.")  Daughter didn't really say the part in parenthesis, but I am sure that's what she was thinking.

We spent about a month of her waffling back and forth regarding what song she would sing.  Finally, it was decided.  But then after a week of rehearsing it, she changed her mind and didn't like the song anymore and wanted a different song. "Really, Daughter?  What's wrong with the song?  You sound great!"  "Mom, you just don't get it.  There is just something about the song that doesn't feel like the song I should sing."   "Yes, Daughter, I don't get it.  And I don't get you....but what do I know.  I'm just your mother."  LOL!

So a new song was selected.  And then another new song; and again, another new song.  Eventually she did settle on a country song by Carrie Underwood, but it was not an easy journey in order to reach her final song selection.

Once we got through that "painful" process of deciding on a song, the wardrobe and hair drama began....

"Should I wear a dress?"  "What about a skirt and top, instead?"  "Maybe I should wear my jeans with a t-shirt?"  "If I go with the dress, does this sweater go with the outfit?"  "Do you like this color on me?"  "Oh no, what shoes should I wear?"  "Should I wear flats or heels?"  "Does the design of the shoes match the outfit?"  "How shall I wear my hair?"  "Up or down?"  "Pig tails or pony tails?"  "Headband or barrettes?"  "Hair to the side or to the back?"   AAHHHHH!!!!

Eventually, I tell Daughter: "It's not that important for this open call...just make up your mind - and STICK TO IT!!!    There will be no famous judges at this open call audition with the THOUSANDS of others auditioning for the chance to be on "The X-Factor".  If you get a call-back, then we will re-evaluate your wardrobe and hair options."

As the day is drawing closer for Daughter's audition, I am also finding myself getting caught up in all the fun and excitement of getting her ready...until it comes to a halt!

About two days before the audition, I went online to print out the application forms she would need to register with.  As I am reading through all of the information and fine print on the forms, I discover a minor glitch to her big plan for auditioning.  APPLICANTS NEED TO BE 12 YEARS OLD BY JANUARY 1, 2012.

OH NOOOOOO!!!!!!!  Daughter missed the date by 6 DAYS!!!!  How was I going to tell Daughter, that after all her weeks of preparing, she could not audition.   We knew that the age limit was 12 years old, because last year she wanted to audition, but couldn't because she was only 11 at the time of auditions.  When Season 2 was announced, and we saw the audition dates for Kansas City were in March 2012, Daughter was THRILLED!!!  She would be 12 years old by then.

When I read this requirement and realized her audition wasn't going to happen, several choice words were mumbled under my breath...well, maybe a few weren't mumbled.  LOL!   Anyway, telling her did not go so well.  There were lots of tears, and then a few days of her being bummed out.   What's a mom to do?  After a few days of surfing around "The X-Factor" website, I found a link that went to another website where a person could register to be considered for Audience tickets to the show.

WOOHOOO!!!!  I found my back-up plan...if Daughter couldn't be on stage, perhaps she could see the stage - LIVE!  "The X-Factor" would be back in Kansas City in June for the taping of the show with the talent that was selected to actually audition in front of the famous judges, and hopefully I would receive tickets to that taping.

Jump ahead to May 2012.  I receive an email notifying me that there are tickets available to the taping.  I am so excited and can't wait to tell Daughter when she gets home from school!  I go online, accept the invitation for the tickets, and received my email confirmation.  WE ARE GOING TO THE TAPING!
Daughter is all happy again, and can't wait to be at the show, even if it is from the audience.

The day of the show arrives.  We had made plans with my two other "Crazy Stage Mom" friends and their kids, to have dinner right across from The Sprint Center (where the taping was going to be held) and then get in line about an hour before the doors would open, since it was general admission.  Well, the stars must have been in perfect alignment that day, because while waiting to go in, actual tickets were handed out with seat numbers.   In addition, they were handing out a limited number of tickets for children to sit on the floor near the stage.

As Daughter and her two friends were handed their tickets, LOUD screeching and screaming sounds came out of their mouths.  They so wanted to be on the floor, near the stage, and now they were going to be.  Oh, but now, the plotting and planning would begin regarding how they would not only be on the floor, but how would they get to sit right by the judges???

We enter the arena, and the kids go running for the line to the floor.  Me and my "Crazy Stage Mom" friends actually had really good seats, too.  We were only about 8 rows up from the floor, and right in front of the camera that scans the audience throughout the show.  (I am guessing we may show up at some point on the show.  Hahaha)

Our kids are getting ready to be allowed on the floor, and Daughter asks if they can sit in the front row behind the judges.  The employee asks them if they can scream and act all excited if they are sitting there, and our kids give the employee a preview!  LOL!!!  So off to the front row, behind the judges they are placed!!!!  We "Crazy Stage Moms" are watching in complete amazement, as they are making their way to the front row.    And then it happens....our "Crazy" instincts kick in.  (We are laughing at this point!)

From up in the stands we are trying to communicate with them (rather embarrassingly)... "Make sure to act REALLY excited, scream and clap A LOT."  "Don't be eating and drinking when the cameras are rolling, since you kids will probably end up on camera sometimes because of where you are sitting."  "Make sure your phones are turned off so they don't start ringing during the taping."  "Be sure and go to the bathroom NOW, because you kids can't leave once the taping starts" (which was supposed to be about three hours long).  "DON'T be having conversations with each other when the cameras are rolling, it might be shown on TV."  Oh, and the biggie was..."PLEASE take lots of pictures and video tape what you can, until the producers tell you to put your phones/iTouch's away."

Those weren't too many requests, right?

Anyway, we ALL had a WONDERFUL time!  It was so much fun!!!  And the kids were AWESOME!  So much so, that Daughter lost her voice and could barely sing two days later at our "Fiddler on the Roof" rehearsal.  They took lots of pictures, made a couple of videos and even got autographs.  Daughter was so caught up in the excitement at first, that when Britney Spears started signing her autograph for the kids, Daughter couldn't find anything fast enough for her to sign, so she gave Britney her arm to sign!!!   Love Daughter's quick thinking!!!!

So, I guess we will be watching "The X-Factor" when Season 2 premieres in September 2012 - watching the Kansas City episode for clips of our presence at the taping.  And hopefully our kids followed our "suggestions" while sitting behind the judges.  Hahaha  We will soon find out!!!

A Mama On Stage

It finally happened tonight.  My FIRST theater rehearsal in 26 years.  WOO HOO!!!!  So much fun I haven't stopped smiling since I got home.  I was cast in "Fiddler On The Roof" as one of the Mamas.  Boy, I have missed this amazing feeling from being part of a theater cast.  I attended college my Freshman year with a Theater Scholarship.  My goals at the time were to get a degree in Theater Arts and then move to New York and be on stage - preferably Broadway.  How could I have given up my lifelong dream, because of a guy in college??  STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!  This will be a lesson to teach my children (especially Daughter and Son #2 who currently believe this is what they want to do when they grow up)... to never allow another person to force you to give up your dreams because of THEIR insecurities.

What made tonight especially sweet for me, was the singing and dancing and I was a part of that and LOVING it!!!  When I was younger, I always wanted to be in musicals, but didn't have the courage and confidence to audition for the musicals.  I stuck to the dramas and comedies - and avoided the musicals.   I am not sure what I was afraid of because I knew how to dance, and my voice was much better back then.  Jump ahead decades later, and my children are completely engaged in the theater.  And I have been sitting on the sidelines watching and supporting them for years.  

When I was visiting New York back in February, I had the opportunity to see the musical "Wicked" for the first time.  My friend and I were in the second row, center seats.  We could practically reach out and touch the actors.  IT WAS AWESOME!  My face hurt by the end of the show from my non-stop smiling throughout the WHOLE show.  Watching this performance, in New York, was unexpectedly emotional for me.  I found myself having several flashback moments...missing the stage and wishing I had never stopped chasing my dream when I was in college.  

I came back to Kansas with a new resolve.  My life was not over, and I was not too old to still go back and pursue my dreams.  Even if it was only on a local level.  I was more than determined to find a play I could audition for that had a part I believed I could play.  Sure enough, right after returning from New York I saw an audition posting for "Fiddler on the Roof."  Initially, I thought it would be a fun show for Daughter and Son #2 to audition for, but then my memories of being at "Wicked" kicked in - remembering how much I REALLY wanted another chance to act.  So I decided I would audition, as well.  

Oh wait - this is a musical!  What was I even thinking???  I've never performed in a musical.  AHHHH, but I have the thick dark hair and olive complexion thing going on - I could pass for a Russian Jewish mother.   Kids thought I was Jewish when I was a kid living in New York, so perhaps I could make that work again now, couldn't I?   And I still know how to dance all these years later.  But my voice...not so sure about the voice...   Fortunately, when I am singing it is with the other Mamas, so the occasionally cracking of my voice won't be obviously noticed.  hahaha

I will admit, it was a little daunting at first to be surrounded by other adults who have been performing on stage for quite some time.   However, I have been somewhat in training for this moment thanks to my children and watching them act and sing for quite some time.  By the end of the rehearsal most of my "greenness" had faded, and I actually felt like I was part of a cast - who knew what she was doing.  And the directing team is AWESOME, which can make a huge difference to the kind of experience an actor can have.  I have been truly blessed to have been cast with these wonderful people I will have the honor of spending the next two months hanging out with!

Some might think I'm "CRAZY" to want to return to something I gave up a long time ago.  But some dreams never die, and won't let go of the hold they have on you.  I was so tired of watching, wishing and wanting.  I either needed to go for it, take a risk and see what happens - or let it go, once and for all, and move on.  (Hey... this thinking I may need to apply to other areas of my life.)

I am so glad I was bit by the theater bug, again - thanks to "Wicked!"

"Something has changed within meSomething is not the sameI'm through with playing by the rulesOf someone else's gameToo late for second-guessingToo late to go back to sleepIt's time to trust my instinctsClose my eyes: and leap!"

I'm Really Not Crazy!

Yes, it's true...I have started a second blog - with the inspiration and encouragement of a couple of other "Crazy Stage Moms" - you know who you are!   After spending 8 HOURS today at an open-call audition with my Daughter for the Disney Channel/Disney XD with a fellow "Crazy Stage Mom",  I couldn't resist.   It has been almost 7 years ago when we entered this "CRAZY" world of performing, I figured it was finally a good time to start blogging about it.

Having children involved in Performing Arts is in fact a whole different world to be part of!  It is as if they have their own language, their own laugh, their own secret codes and they beat to their own drum.  (Hey, that sounds just like me!)   If you want to have an amazing people-watching experience, attend an open-call audition.  The comedy material a person could write would be endless!!!  From the parents trying to coach their kids on what to say, how to say it, which way to stand, what movements to use, or the kids getting moody because they don't like what they are wearing or how their hair looks, to the parents bragging to other parents sitting next to them how their child should be the next Hannah Montana on Disney...you can hear and see it ALL at one place!!!  TOO FUNNY!!!! 

The title for my new blog was actually birthed almost two years ago, in Orlando, Florida while attending a Performing Arts Event with my Daughter.  During the event, Daughter had developed a really great friendship with a couple of fellow performers, and together the creative juices started flowing.  They were writing mini-scripts and choreographing dance moves to songs they heard other kids performing.  It was ALL too funny and actually amazing!  At all of 10 years old, they seemed to understand the ironies in this crazy industry and were writing and developing spoofs about it all.  

As Daughter and friends were sharing with us moms the parodies they were creating about moms with kids that liked to perform on stage, the three of us moms SWORE we would NOT be like those OTHER stage moms - we were NOT going to get all CRAZY and OBSESSED about our kid's auditions and performances.  (Easier said than done, sometimes!)  From this first creation of parodies, Daughter and friends continued to create other parodies about other "CRAZY" types of moms - Soccer, Football, Hockey, Dance, etc., etc.  (Maybe our kids will end up being writers or comedians on Saturday Night Live!)

The truth about "Crazy Stage Moms" is that there are two types of "crazy."  There are the types of "crazy" moms that want the opportunity MORE than their child does (like the show "Toddlers and Tiaras"), and then there are the other "crazy" moms that will support their children no matter what they decide to do - but the process to get them to that point is what makes the mom CRAZY!!!   I fall into the second category!  Daughter has an amazing ability to make me CRAZY when she is trying to decide what song she wants to use for her audition, what she should wear, how to style her hair.  It is as if it is her first time auditioning - EVERY TIME!!!  Why does she want to keep reinventing the wheel and start from scratch every time she has an audition?   "LORD ON HIGH - PLEASE HELP HER DECIDE!!!  THIS IS NOT HER FIRST RODEO!!!"

I was most pleased today to learn that my fellow "Crazy Stage Mom" is in the same category as me - but she has a son!  Clearly, this crazy-inspired behavior we develop from our children is not gender specific.

The intention for this new blog is to provide an inside look from my perspective, as a mom with children who like to perform and be on stage or in front of a camera.   I'm really not that crazy, even though I am sure my kids would say that I act like it, from time to time.   But that is ok - because at those moments when I may seem a bit "crazy" - it is because I love my children so deeply, and I believe in them so much.  Hopefully, my "crazy" tendencies won't get in the way of their successes, because ultimately, I really do want them to do what makes them the most happy.  And if being on stage or in front of a camera is what does it for them, then I will most definitely be CRAZY... with excitement, love and support.

Long live the "CRAZY STAGE MOMS!"