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 Never fear, theatre-goers, Mavis is here. Aunty Mavis has joined
the AussieTheatre.com team and every Wednesday will present her brand new column, Tea
& Timeless Advice. She's got all the advice you need to make sure you get everything
right when you go to the theatre..
Wednesday, November 28
Poppets,
It’s that time of the year and most communities and churches have some type of
Christmas Pageant each year. This usually involves a large group of children, parent
volunteers and the cooperation of various individuals. Directing a Christmas Pageant
requires time, a game plan and good organisational skills. So lets have a look at what one
needs to do:
Now, the first thing to say on this is that you should have chosen or written the
Christmas Pageant by June. If you have not done this, don’t fret Poppets, there are
many wonderful Christmas Pageants and musicals available for purchase online. Determine
your budget. This will require a meeting with the committee in charge of budgets for
special events. Recruit parents to head up committees. You'll need someone for costumes,
advertising, supervision of children and a snack coordinator. Put together your sound and
light crew to be present at rehearsals, dress rehearsal and performances. Distribute child
information sheets at the first rehearsal. This should include name, address, emergency
contact information, dates when the child will miss rehearsal, allergies to foods and
location of parents during rehearsal. Hand out all dates, scripts, music and rehearsal
tapes to parents or guardians at the first rehearsal for practice at home.
Now a word of warning, directing a Christmas Pageant can be a monstrous task. Be sure to
get enough help to ensure the pageant is a success and that you aren't too stressed out to
enjoy the process. Enlist the help of teenagers for scene changes, passing out programs
and child supervision during the performance.
And most of all enjoy the spirit that Christmas has to offer, that of goodwill to all
mankind.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
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Wednesday, October 17
Poppets,
Ballet, now I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I just adore it. There is a
lot to consider when watching a ballet to fully appreciate it. The performers look as if
dancing is effortless, but much goes into creating the show and dancing on one's toes is
no easy task. Here are a few pointers to consider as you sit back and enjoy the ballet. So
this week poppets, a little guide to appreciate the fine art.
Learn a little about the ballet that you are about to watch. Reading the program gives you
a summary of the story. You can also read about the story line at home on the Internet
prior to going to the ballet. Read the dancer's biographies in the program. You can see
how much experience they have and which ballets they have danced before. Their biographies
also tell you where they studied ballet. You can appreciate how hard they have worked to
get to where they are. Watch the way in which the ballerinas seem to float on the stage.
The effortless moves actually take years of training to perfect. Appreciate how their
bodies move in time to the music and how they use their bodies to tell a story or express
an idea. Listen to the skill of the orchestra. They also have trained for years to play
the music so beautifully. Watch how the conductor leads the orchestra as well. Admire the
beauty of the costumes. Seamstresses make the costumes to fit the ballerinas perfectly.
Many of the costumes have beading that has been hand-stitched. Notice how the costumes
seem to change under different lighting. Enjoy the effects created by the lighting. Notice
how different lights create various moods. Lighting designers plan lighting effects to
enhance the show. Observe the backdrops and sets. Set designers create extravagant sets to
set the atmosphere, mood and time.
A little tip, buy the best seats that you can. Sitting close to the stage allows you to
see the intricate footwork of the dancers, the details in the costumes and sets, as well
as the skill of the musicians.
See you at the Ballet!
Much Love
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, October 10
Poppets,
Now a little creative article this week for those of you who are at home with children on
school holidays and for a week you have exhausted all craft options with the kids. It is
time to think inside the box so to speak. It is time to make a puppet theatre. This may
seem like a large endeavor but will suit any age group you are working with and can
provide more entertainment after completed.
Before you do anything visit an appliance shop and ask for a large cardboard box, Cut out
a large opening in the back to serve as the back of the theater. Measure approximately 6
inches from the top of the front and cut out a rectangular opening. It should be big
enough for two children to fit behind to perform the puppet show. Reinforce the box with
strips of newsprint dipped in glue and lay over box and leave to dry overnight. Paint the
box the color of your choice. If the puppet theatre is for one particular play this will
influence the design otherwise have fun with it.
Measure picture hanging wire the width of theater window opening and leave 2 inches each
side. Feed curtains onto wire and twist the ends of the wire around the bolts. Make sure
it is taught like a clothesline. Push bolts into either side of the puppet theater window
opening and using a nut secure in place on the other side. Consider painting the front
with chalkboard paint so kids can write the name of the play or add designs to suit the
play. By pushing a piece of modeling dough onto the back of the nuts and bolts, it will
prevent them from sticking out and scratching anyone. Be cautious when applying the glue
and newsprint that the box does not get to wet and lose it's form.
Now children, ensure an adult is cutting with the utility knife and that it gets stored in
a safe place afterward for years of happy play theatre.
Many Thanks to my dear nephew Andrew who helped me with this article this week, he used to
have a puppet theatre when he was a child, and he had ever so much fun with it.
Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, September 26
Poppets,
Auditions can be scary. You are putting your talents out there to be judged, and whether
or not you have had professional training in music it can be intimidating. There are ways
to ensure that you choose a song for an audition that will help you land the role. Pick
songs you know. Nothing will sink you faster in an audition than missed lines. You must
know the songs backwards and forwards if you are going to do well in an audition.
It never hurts to be prepared with two or more songs. Learn the genre. Knowing the
type of show you are going in for will help you choose a song for an audition that is
appropriate. For newer non-traditional musicals choose a contemporary radio hit that you
enjoy.
For a more classic musical, choose a classic Broadway hit song that suits you and
the character you are auditioning for. Be safe. Choose a song for an audition that has an
easy accompaniment.
Not all of the people helping in the audition will be able to do risky and complex
songs. Know your voice. Choose a song for an audition that helps you put your best foot
forward. Get a song that is the correct pitch and tempo for your voice, and one that you
don't have to strain your voice to get through. Find a song that fits you. If you are
punk, don't walk in and sing a country or R&B song. People tend to enjoy the music
that fits their image.
You are auditioning your voice and your image--make sure the song and the image fit
together. Sing a song that you can have fun with. When you choose a song for an audition
go for the ones that allow you to show some personality. Though Simon and Garfunkle had
great songs, they are pretty mellow. Pick a song that is upbeat and gives you range.
Go out and get that gig.
Yours truly,
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, September 12
Poppets,
A little attention this week to our family and friends with young children. It concerns me
no end that our younger generation are not into the arts and never attend theatre or art
galleries as a matter of regularity. So exposing children to the arts can help them
explore their creative sides, as well as promote a lifelong love of culture. It's up to
the parent to encourage their children in this area. courage a love of music in your home.
Listen to different styles of music, from rock, country and classical to world music. Get
up and dance to the music with your child. Don't be afraid to look silly and have fun
singing and making up funny songs. Stock your home with art supplies, including a stack of
paper, watercolor paints, markers, pencils, modeling clay and glue. Sit down with your
child, and create a masterpiece too. Ask your child to tell you about what she has
created. Remember that the process of creating is often more important than the end
result.
A great idea is to take your child to the library and take advantage of the collection of
books on art, CDs and DVD’s, this also gets them into the habit to research at the
local library and use the many resources in the community.
Many communities have a local theatre scene so introduce your child to a live performance
of a play, ballet or orchestra. Many theatres offer matinee performances, a good time to
bring younger family members and at a lower price. Sometimes, theatres will offer fun
educational programs for kids before a performance. Many theaters offer child discounts.
For families who love art, why not plan a trip to an art museum and discuss the artwork or
displays with your child. To be really prepared, look up the artist you are going to see
online to learn more about their technique and life. Don't explain your interpretation of
an artwork to your children. Let them form their own impressions. Children’s
imaginations are so vivid!
And remember don't push your child to do something she doesn't want to do. Instead, find
out what they like, and encourage them in that area.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, September 5
Poppets,
We all love going to the theatre and we all want the best seat in the house. Now you will
need to invest some time or money, but it'll be worth it when you're sitting front row and
centre. Follow these tips and tricks to score better seats. Review a seating map of the
venue prior to buying preassigned seating tickets. Some venues have seating maps online as
do ticketing sites. You know some city guides and phone directories also contain this
information. Another way to get good seats is to donate to the organisation or become a
sponsor if you are attending a community-based event, such as theatre or opera. Donors or
sponsors often get priority seating and it is a great way of assisting the arts community.
Now how many times have you said “Oh I must see that show..” but never seem to
book the ticket or get to the theatre. Then buy season tickets every year. Most theatre
companies reward loyal, regular patrons with great seats. In recent time this has been the
only way to get tickets to events that sometimes sell out on subscription due to the
calibre of the cast. Failing this buy the tickets as soon as they become available to
ensure that you have a good selection of seats. If the event is general admission, show up
as early as possible to nab the best seats.
Poppets, if you expect an event to sell out quickly, form a tag team with a friend, this
is a bit of fun. Have one person stand in line at a ticket outlet while the other attempts
to buy the tickets online. Or you can use a cell phone to call for tickets while you stand
in line. And failing all of this, check with the box office several hours before the
event. Sometimes returned or unsold tickets become available at the last minute.
Hope you get those cherished seats!
Yours truly,
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, August 22
Poppets,
With so many shows coming to town there has been no better time to try and get a job in
theatre. And by that poppet, I don’t mean as an actor that is so parse. If you want
an exciting job whilst you are studying or even indeed as a fulltime career why not look
at a job in the theatre, you have many options from which to choose. Backstage work, Front
of House and production are just the beginning. So many of our well heeled actors started
out as ushers in theatre’s watching from the darkened side of house at the career
they really wanted on stage. If that is you then read on…
Figure out what kind of job in the theatre you're interested in. There are internships and
work experience in everything from lighting, design, stage-managing and marketing to
acting. Remember, there are more jobs doing behind-the-scenes work than there are for
acting. Choose where you want to work. Larger cities will have more theatre opportunities
than a small town. If you live in or can relocate to a larger area, you'll have more
opportunities from which to pick. Also, theatre jobs in an urban area are more likely to
be jobs that pay. But not to worry, unpaid volunteer work at a provincial theatre
organisation is invaluable experience and is a good entrance into the theatre clique. Use
the Internet to research theatre and jobs in larger towns and to find contact information
for your local theatre group. Internships can be paid, so research those as well. Also,
find someone in the theatre industry in the location where you'd like to work and ask them
for advice or contact names you might call. MEAA have a wonderful mentor program for those
who are paid members. It is an imitative that allows new actors, designer and theatre
practitioners to hook up with like-minded souls and share ideas and experience. Also if
you under 26, why not look at ATYP (The Australian Theatre for Young People) they have
great courses in a variety of theatre roles and are always looking for volunteers to help
out in all areas. It is also a great place to meet new friends, go to www.atyp.com.au
Research the prospective job. Examine the job description and responsibilities to
determine how it matches your skills. Call or e-mail someone who knows about the job to
find out more, if necessary. If you know someone who held the job before, call them to
find out what all is involved. It may be that not all responsibilities are listed. Write a
cover letter telling the employers why you would be best for the job. Start out with an
introductory paragraph describing who you are, why you want to work in theatre and how you
can benefit them. State your qualifications for the job, and how they apply in the second
paragraph, such as your ability to work from tall heights or scream on command. Then
finish off with a short paragraph, restating your interest for the theatre and this job.
Write a resume. Include current contact information including your name, address, phone
numbers and e-mail addresses. Disclose work and school experience. Be sure to include
theatre work as well as a short description of what you did. If you are applying for an
acting position, you will want to staple your headshot to the back of your resume. A word
of caution. Eliminate errors from your cover letter and resume. One word misspelled could
cause your information to be thrown in the garbage. Also, make sure that you've used any
theatre terms correctly and that each cover letter is tailored for the specific job.
Follow up by calling or e-mailing a week or two after sending your information to the
employer. Ask if they have any questions and what their timeline is to choose someone for
the position. This is another way to show your interest.
If you are lucky to be called in treat the interview with respect by having a proper
handshake with a firm grip, dressing properly, and following up with a thank-you note
afterward. The impression you leave in an interview is 90 percent of getting the job.
See you this side or that of the footlights soon!
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
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Wednesday, August 15
Poppets,
With so many shows in all major capital cities and so many talented artists being cast in
them, so many of you are hankering to meet that elusive star. So this week lets look at
how to meet actors after a performance.
At the end of the performance make your way to the Stage Door of the venue. If you have
time before the show, go and see where the stage door is and plan your route to it after
the show. Sometimes you can miss that special actor as they make a made dash after the
show, so knowing where you are going before hand is a real help.
When you greet the performers, do not refer to them by their character name. Worse still,
definitely don't refer to them by the wrong character name. Ask them politely to sign
whatever you've brought such as a program and/or take a picture. Do not shove things in
their faces, scream, or grab them. Don't expect them to spend an hour with you (although,
there are some actors who can talk for hours at stage door. Most keep it under a minute,
though). Always refer to them by their surname and never use familiarity. I know it seems
like you know them, but remember they don’t know you, and familiarity often breeds
“freaky fan” territory. Why not take a small digital camera and ask if you can
have a photo with the artist. In most cases they are obliging, but if the actor declines,
respect that wish and do not push the issue.
Now go out there you Stage Door Johnnies and get those autographs.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
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Wednesday, August 8
Poppets,
We all just love Musical theatre. Whether it is old standards such as Kiss Me Kate and
Guys and Dolls or some of today’s modern classics such as Rent and Wicked,
the musical theatre canon is rich and extensive. Too often however when I go see
semi-professional or amateur productions I am often dumb founded as to why the company
chose a particular musical. For example, why in the dickens would you stage The King
and I if you know you cannot cast the Thai or Asian performers in roles. It just
smacks of “I like this show and we are going to put it on” So arrogant! So
Poppets, follow a few tips to pick the perfect musical production.
Consider your audience. Putting on a production for a bunch of 8-year-olds is entirely
different from keeping an adult audience entertained. Decide whom you wish to target. If
you are performing for a general audience like the community at large, or if you’re
putting on a high school production, try to find a show with immediate name recognition.
Make a list of your top 5 choices, and think about which best fit the scope of your
audience. Listen to the soundtracks of these musicals. This can be done online, at a music
store or even in your local library. Remember that many musicals have also been made into
movies, and while the visual style of cinema is very different from the stage, viewing
these movies will allow you to get a sense of what your production might be like.
Sing the music. If you’re having trouble deciding which musical to perform, gather
your potential cast and have them sing some of the production's songs. See if the group
gravitates naturally to one set of music. Does one sound significantly better than the
other? Many Broadway scores are very intricate, requiring cast members to hit tough notes
and sing tough runs. By having your cast sing the songs from the musical, you’ll be
sure they’ll be able to perform well on opening night.
As I have said before, the word Business is bigger than Show in the word Show business,
so, consider the costs. Different shows have different requirements for scenery, lighting
and special effects. Make sure the show that you’re considering fits your budget.
Also, every musical is protected by copyright, and you must lease the rights from the
owner to legally perform the musical. Most shows have very reasonable rates if you are
performing it locally in your community.
Now the exciting part, picking the musical. You’ve listened to the scores, had
potential cast members perform some of the songs and even considered the budget. Now
it’s time to go with your gut and begin rehearsing. Print programs and sell
advertising space to help defray the cost of production. Don’t rely solely on ticket
sales. Double cast your shows. If you have a lot of talented people, consider double
casting each major role so that more actors get an opportunity to shine. In recent weeks
there has been much said in the media about the role of understudies. Poppets these are
very important, if you have to cancel a show due to a sick cast member then that is just
bad show BUSINESS! Similarly, Do Not skip leasing rights or change the text of the
musical, as your production can be shut down and you can be fined large sums of money. Pay
the money in the proper way to avoid a problem.
And finally, cast me or at the very least invite me to your next show.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
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Wednesday, July 25
Poppets,
In this age of Australian Idol most people don’t know opera—if they
know the word at all—as an antiquated staging of musty eighteenth-century melodies,
featuring enormous, bosomy divas who strut across the stage and bellow in strange
languages before dying flamboyantly in the final act. In the long run, though, you can be
sure that opera—which has a nearly 500-year history—will be remembered long
after reality pop stars have been relegated to dust. So in homage to the return of The
Phantom of the Opera to Australia this week here’s a quick guide to sampling
opera as a much much-neglected art form that influenced the worlds biggest musical.
Find out what you’re seeing. In musical terms, the phrase “Hey, guess what!
I’ve just been invited to the opera!” conveys about as much information as
“Golly! My friend has just asked me to attend a sporting event!” Specifically,
ask the person who invited you what opera what you’ll be seeing, who wrote it,
whether it has any famous melodies or scenes, etc., anything that can give you a firm,
non-abstract grip beforehand. Do your homework. Okay, let’s say you’ve been
invited to see Puccini’s Madama Butterfly If you go on the web and do some
research, you’ll find out that:
a) Madama Butterfly was written at the start of the 20th century;
b) It’s set in Japan, and features an American character, a rarity for the opera of
its day;
c) it’s the source of at least one tune you’re likely to be familiar with,
“Un Bel Di” (“One Fine Day.”) You’ll also discover that Madama
Butterfly is an accessible, melodic, and hugely popular opera that has been in the
worldwide repertory for over a century.
d) Miss Saigon is a modern day musical appropriation of the themes and subject
matter.
Why not sample some music. The reason aficionados attend the same operas over and over is
that they’re intimately familiar with the music, and thus are in a position to judge
how well the orchestra is playing and how well the singers are singing. It’s unlikely
you’ll want to buy a CD of Madama Butterfly beforehand, but you should be
able to sample some streaming songs on the Web, which will at least let you know what
you’re in for.
Dress well—and be patient. Very few operas feature car chases and explosions, so if
you’re the type who can only sit still through falling chandeliers, flying
helicopters and revolving busses then you may want to reconsider your plans. However, if
you have even the attention span of a 12-year-old, you should have no trouble sitting
quietly, watching, listening to, and reading the English super titles of Madama
Butterfly. Remember, the plots of most operas develop very, very
slowly—that’s what gives them the emotional depth that a lot of modern musicals
so sorely lack.
So Poppets, keep an open mind. If your first visit to the opera has left you bored silly,
bear in mind that operas come in all shapes and sizes—and a fan of Mozart’s
"The Magic Flute” will be unable to tolerate an atonal opus like Berg’s
“Wozzeck.” It’s possible that you may have seen the wrong opera on the
wrong day, so don’t write off the entire form just because you’ve had an
unpleasant experience. Hopefully, of course, you’ll have had a great experience, in
which case a whole new world of bosomy divas awaits your patronage.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
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Wednesday, July 18
Poppets,
It just has to be said, whether Harry Potter is your secret idol or the bane of your
existence, the fact remains that kids and adults alike love him! What better way to
celebrate any occasion than letting Harry host your party? And if the real Harry happens
to be unavailable, go for the next best thing–-a Harry Potter-themed party full of
fun and surprises. Harry Potter themes work best with a larger group, but with a little
adaptation you can create Hogwarts fun for a group of any age or size! What with the
release of the latest film, and the last of the novels being released on Saturday there
seems no better time that this week to let the creative juices flow and host a themed
party.
Make your guest list and create invitations. Store-bought Harry Potter cards are readily
available, but if you're of a creative turn of mind you can make your own. Simple and
familiar symbols to Harry Potter fans include lightning bolts, dragons, lions and
broomsticks. Decorate the party area with magical themed items. Cut stars from cardboard
and cover them with aluminium foil, hanging them from the ceiling to create Hogwart's
magical roof. Include a few atmospheric touches–-a roaring fire, a handful of
broomsticks in the corner, empty picture frames-–whatever you have on hand can be
transformed into a magical item! Don't forget to set up tables for snacks. If possible,
set up 4 card tables and cover each with its own tablecloth (preferably vinyl) in the
Hogwart's house colours (blue, red, green and yellow). Cover any large hat or box with
outlandish fabric to create a sorting hat.
Divide your guest list into 4 teams, naming each team after a Hogwart's house (Ravenclaw,
Gryffindor, Slytherin and Hufflepuff). When your guests arrive, assemble them for the
sorting. As each child tries on the sorting hat, it shouts the name of the house that
child belongs to. Very simply having the host “interpret” for the hat can do
this. For a more impressive effect, hide a walkie-talkie or open cell phone somewhere in
the hat's fabric and have an accomplice stand around the corner. The announcement will
sound like it originates from the hat!
Now for some creative fun, give each child a piece of wood doweling and invite it to make
their own magic wands. Provide art supplies for this activity (markers, paint, glue,
glitter and anything else you can think of). As the children decorate, tell them that
during the party the 4 houses will compete for the house cup by earning points. Any adult
can award points for such things as helpfulness and manners. Points can also be earned by
winning games. Everyone loves to play games at a party, so play Harry Potter-themed games,
keeping track of the points each house wins. Some examples include
pin-the-glasses-on-Harry's-face (easily constructed from poster board and markers), making
magical potions (combining different types of fizzy drinks and juice), and of course
Quidditch. For the Quidditch tournament, you will need 2 teams, each consisting of 2
houses. Depending on the season, you can play Quidditch in an open indoor space (such as a
gym or basement) or outdoors. Hide a small, brightly coloured stone before the game begins
(the snitch). Set up 2 goals and provide soft balls for use as quaffles (balls used to
score goals). Also provide 2 beach balls (or, if the weather dictates, wet sponges) for
bludgers (balls the children toss at one another). Most of the children will be familiar
with Quidditch–—just make sure you have an adult handy to keep score!
Award prizes to all children. Small magic tricks are often available as party favours and
make an excellent complement to a Harry Potter party. Have a small extra prize on hand for
the house with the most points (stickers, small treats and party favours all work well).
Now what food should one serve? Serve the children pumpkin juice (a mixture of orange
juice and lemonade) to go with their meal. Create magical names for whatever you serve.
For example, hot dogs become "Broomsticks in Clouds," French fries become
"Deep Fried Worms." If you have a young crowd, the grosser the better! For
dessert, serve "pumpkin pasties" (chocolate cupcakes covered in orange icing
with a green jelly bean on top). Give each child a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour
Beans (jelly beans) and encourage them to name each flavour.
And for once in your life, just enjoy being a child again!
Sending you Muggle Love
Aunty Mavis xx
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Wednesday, July 11
Poppets,
I just love going to the Movies but they are so damn expensive these days. And more to the
point, there are so many great films out at the flicks at present that it does get very
expensive to see them all. Between the tickets, the popcorn, the drinks and parking, it
can cost you your first born child, or even someone else’s if you are barren. So with
that in mind, here are a few tips on how to save money at the movies.
Go to the matinee with your friends and family. Matinee prices can cost as little as half
as going to the night time show. Also, check your local listings for morning shows. During
the week, some theatres run dollar specials for weekday mornings. The theatre still makes
money on the concessions, so if they get any audience they are still ahead of the game.
Now we are all told patience is a virtue, so why not wait a month to go to the movie you
want to see. Movies play in prime or "first run" theatres right when they
release. However, that same movie usually changes houses to something called a
"second run" theatre about four to six weeks later. Because these theatres show
older movies and pay the studios less per ticket, the prices will be less than attending a
movie at a first run theatre.
Bring your own snacks into the theatre. Some theatres have a "no outside food"
policy. However, if you look around the theatre it is never strictly enforced. Call ahead
and ask the theatre you are attending. Or just do what I do, take a large carpet bag much
like Mary Poppins or Maria in “The Sound of Music” and cram your tasty treats
into that and smuggle it into the theatre. The last time I checked a large bag of food was
not a weapon of mass disruption.
Purchase tickets to your local theatre chain in bulk. Many of the nation's largest theatre
chains offer ticket booklets in bulk. Usually you get a discount by buying 10 or more
tickets. The more you buy, the more you save. Also, ask for discounts at the box office.
When you go to buy your tickets, ask for student discounts, MEAA discounts which usually
saves you $5 on an adult ticket price, senior discounts and more.
Now off you pop and go see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
N.B. Aunty Mavis was not paid by a Cinema, Warner Pictures, Bloomsbury Press or
J.K.Rowling to mention the Harry Potter franchise in her column. She does so merely as a
way of tempting Producers to cast her in one of the forthcoming films!
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Wednesday, July 3
Poppets,
I know I know, making a living as an artist is just about the dream of every artist: Being
able to get paid for what you love to do. Unfortunately, this is the exception, not the
rule. For most artists there’s a lot of paying dues before their craft brings in any
sort of reliable paycheck. Here’s how to make the dream a reality.
Make a career plan. Remember, if you’re trying to turn your art into a business,
you’ve got to think like a business. This means having a business plan: Setting both
short and long term goals. Make sure these are realistic goals. So long as you’re
progressing, this is good news. You can’t expect to be self-supporting immediately.
You need to devote several hours a day to the business-side of creating theatre, not just
the creative side. Remember the word Showbusiness is less Show and More Business!
Determine your audience. This will go a long way in targeting how you market your
theatrical work. There is no point wanting to stage a show at the Opera House Studio if
you intend an art house crowd, look at smaller venues such as the tap gallery or Newtown
theatre in Sydney.
Poppets, the biggest lesson is to be persistent and thick-skinned. Rejection is a part of
the game. Keep creating and growing your body of work. The more you produce, the better
your chance of reaching your potential. The truth is that a minority of artists - actors,
painters, poets, fiction writers, musicians - make a living as an artist. You’re
likely going to need to get a day job.
Mixing art and business can be a tough balance: You don’t want to take the fun
and inspiration out of the artistic process by being overly business-minded.
And…Never, Never give-up!
Much Love
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, June 27
Poppets,
Don’t you just hate these winter months as the wind licks its way down the street? I
know so many of you are beach babes and detest the cooler month. So with this in mind,
Poppets a few ideas to keep you warm and manage the icy chill of winter.
So many people hate getting into a cold bed and nestling up to no one. I have always found
solace in my hot water bottle at this time of the year. But a tip, don’t fill it with
water instead fill it with porridge. Not only does it keep you warm, its breakfast in bed
in the morning. For those of you who find it difficult getting up in these cold mornings
why not create a jacket made out of electric blankets. Sew a few blankets together to
create a trendy yet somewhat dishevelled street look. When you go out just plug your
electric blanket jacket into a socket and feel the warmth. Now if you are still running
out of time in the morning, why not spread toothpaste on some dry toast for a healthy
breakfast on the run. Not only does it stop those mid morning cravings it cleans your
teeth at the same time.
I never understand why so many of you rug up and then wear thongs on your feet.
Didn’t your grandmothers ever tell you to keep your extremities warm? Well this Aunt
is telling you, wear some proper shoes and avoid getting a cold. And if you do get a cold,
we all love a little Vicks rubbed on our chests at night, I will come over and do it
personally if you like!
As a perfect tonic for those cold winter nights, why not come and see me in Stocking
Stuffer, Turkey Plucker a one night only Camp Cabaret Extravaganza at Slide on
Wednesday 18th July. They have a dinner and show option for $60 or show only for $20. More
information can be found at www.slide.com.au Some of you may remember that I performed
this show last Christmas at Statement Bar and this will be your last chance to see the
show in its new format before I take it to London, Brighton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and New
York at the end of the year. So do pop down and have a glass of mulled wine to warm the
cockles on your heart and see the camp cabaret show that is about to take the northern
hemisphere by winter storm!
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis
www.myspace.com/auntymavis
---
Wednesday, June 20
We all have watched literally thousands of TV shows. Have you ever said to yourself,
"I could be one of those actors who just hangs out in the background. That doesn't
seem too hard"? You're right, it's not that hard. So with that in mind, here are a
few tips on how to become an extra on a TV series.
Take a variety of headshots. Have a family member take a photo with a digital camera that
can be blown up to 8 x 10 is acceptable. But if this is the first step of your career as
an actor, then you might as well spend the money and have some professional shots taken.
It may cost you more upfront, but in the long run you'll appear as a professional, ready
to go. Being an extra on TV is somewhat location specific, meaning you need to find the
shows that shoot in your general area. Search the Internet with your nearest major city
into a search engine with the words "casting office" and "extra" into
it. Contact the casting office. In the major cities, many casting offices do not accept
general phone calls, as they are busy, so why not sign up with an extra’s agency to
manage the work for you.
When you do get some arrive early and be polite. Being an extra on a TV show is fun, but
it can also be a little boring. So be sure to take a good book and some snacks. (You will
probably be fed a meal, but depending on the size of the production it may not be that
good.) Also, when the casting director calls you, they will probably ask you to bring
wardrobe. Don't bring your whole closet! Simply a couple of choices for each
"look". If they want something very specific, they'll provide it.
On the set, do as you're told. Don't start asking the director if you can say a couple of
lines. It's against union rules unless they upgrade you. The person who will be in charge
of you is the second or third assistant director. They are the captains of your ship. Now
for the fun part, cash the check and watch yourself on TV. One of the great things about
being an extra is you usually get paid. Not a ton, but between $50 and $150 a day for your
time. Many older people make extra money on the side by doing extra work on TV and are
still able to collect their pension and other benefits. That’s what I do
Poppets…wink
Now a warning, don't pay money up front. Reputable places will not charge you to be an
extra. Beware of scams. If you are unsure about the casting office ask for a list of shows
they've worked on. Then take that and cross-reference with the actual TV show credit. To
be sure you are covered why not join MEAA (Media Entertainment Arts Alliance) on 1300 65
65 12 or join online www.alliance.org.au. For only $5 a week you know you a covered for
any shonky deals that are out there.
Much Love and see you on Neighbours!
Love
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, June 13
Poppets,
As we all know most actors are known for their love of the spotlight, whether on stage or
off. Beware of putting two of them in the same room! I often feel as I open the fridge
door and see the little light pop on that the vegetables are going to do a little cabaret
show for me. But there is one instance, especially for beginners, which the prospect of a
monologue is cause for alarm. Presenting a monologue, alone in the spotlight, has been
known to cause many a tongue to stumble in an audition. So a few words of advice.
Know your lines inside and out, backwards and forwards. Repeat them until you are saying
them in your sleep. Meditate on your character; review the personality, history and
intention of the character. Form an understanding of the character you are portraying.
Decide what would be his or her truth and intention in presenting this speech. Map out a
general pattern of movement corresponding with the script. Decide whether you should sit,
stand or walk about. Think about what would be natural to the character and his or her
mood. Speak your piece aloud, incorporating the prearranged movements until they come
naturally together and without hesitation. Allow yourself to put on the character. Get a
feel for the facial expressions and gestures that will express your intent fully, but
without seeming false. Practice the entire package on the stage so as to get a feel for
the geographical area and atmosphere in which you will be performing. Assimilate whatever
props you will need. However a word of warning, never take props or costumes to an
audition, it screams am dram! Finally repeat the process until it is your second nature,
like a comfortable cloak to slip on before you walk onstage. The inspiration will flow
from practice and, of course, the addictive presence of an audience.
And of course good Luck dear Poppet,
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, June 6
Poppets,Did you quarantine your baby sister in your room, armed only with your mum's Estee
Lauder dark-brown base, fire-engine red lipstick and a Polaroid camera? And after said
kidnapping, did you produce a heavily-painted 3 year old and a collection of creepy but
arty pictures featuring your kid sister with a sudden tan, bright lips and a blank look on
her face?
Either you have no idea what I'm talking about, or you know it all too well.
If your answer is the latter--you're a natural artiste!
If you want to convert your fervent desire into making the world a more beautiful place,
try these career-building, insider-secrets and become a make-up artist for film, TV and
Theatre.
Even though retail is one of the most thankless and tiring ways to make a buck, it's also
one of the best ways to start learning how the cosmetic industry works. Get yourself
working as a counter manager or artist for a department store makeup line. My choice
Poppets is Estee lauder at David Jones! You'll learn invaluable information about how to
collaborate with your co-workers, work with limited stock and deal with pesky, irritated
women shoppers who expect miracles from your brush. After proving you're a valued
employee, try and secure a regional makeup artist position. This will mean you'll be one
of a group of featured artists who usually travel within a two or three store radius, to
work department store or boutique events. In this case, you'll have appointments lined up
and you'll usually have a sales goal which will seem scarily high. This is a great way to
deal with a frenetic pace and high pressure. After developing confidence from your wild
success as a traveling artist, you'll have the scrap and skills to try your hand at
freelance media work. You'll probably have to work on a few projects for free, but after
building up enough credits, you'll be able to present a professional portfolio to
potential employers.
Breaking into showbiz is never easy, so work on as many Indy films as possible--if you're
lucky enough to get paid, it will probably be roughly $100 a day for the most amount of
work you will EVER do. But not only will you learn how a set is run, you'll potentially
meet actors who will take you to the TV shows they're on, or even suggest you for other
movies they're lined up for. The key ingredient to being a successful makeup artist is
likeability. If you bounce in with a fresh face and fun attitude, people will immediately
flock to you. Actors spend a lot of time with hair, makeup and wardrobe people--they want
someone who listens to them, make them feel beautiful, and puts them in a good mood to be
on camera. Be fun and friendly, but also remember that you're working. Actors will feel
close to you very quickly, but remember that you're in a service position. You're there to
make them camera-ready physically and emotionally, but too much fraternizing can shift the
power balance and lead to complications. Get in good with the 1st and 2nd Assistant
Director's. They are basically the immediate bosses of a set--if they like you, your life
will be so much easier. Also try and get along with the hair and wardrobe
departments--many times they're a bunch of crazy people, but you'll be spending at least
12 hours a day with those people, so try to make it fun.
Now a warning, the hours for a feature film are monstrous. You'll feel like you want to
die on day three. But after day six, you'll get into the swing of it. Take cat naps during
set-lunch and dinner by closing your eyes in the dark somewhere. Also remember that a
movie is a finite period of time--and usually, you'll be sad when it ends. And when I say
sad, I mean you'll sleep for 34 hours without even a trip to go pee. After the cast/crew
wrap party, you'll cry uncontrollably and feel like Dorothy at the end of The Wizard
of Oz but guess what? It's just a function of the set dynamic. The guy you thought
you were wildly in love with, the girl who was your bosom buddy they fade from your
memory. BUT. You should certainly stay in touch and network with the peeps (actors and
production) you met on the set--you'll want them to recommend you for future work.
So get that brush and blusher ready and make a career behind the scenes making people look
glamorous, even if they aren’t in real life!
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, May 30
Professional etiquette at auditions is crucial to getting a role. So lets us look this
week at things we should do to get a role in a stage show, TV, movie or what have you. It
is important to arrive 15 minutes early and settle your nerves. Do not dress in costume
unless requested, but dress to impress in attire that suggests the role for which you are
auditioning. Sign in immediately to secure your place in line and then be quiet in the
waiting room. Be polite, and treat the casting director's assistants politely; they will
mention any rudeness to the casting director. Do any exercises that help you relax as you
wait. This could be deep breathing, stretching, visualizing soothing scenes or quietly
listening to music through earphones. Try to avoid nerving out the competition it is just
not nice and very unprofessional. Walk with confidence, smile and introduce yourself when
you're called in to the room with the casting director. Hand the assistant your headshot
with your resume stapled on the back. In most cases your agent will have sent this along,
however I do believe it is best to have one on hand just in case.
Now in the room, if needs be you may need to name the audition piece you will perform, and
go right into it unless otherwise instructed. Do not dawdle or hesitate in any way. At the
conclusion of the piece wait for any instructions and then thank the casting director and
leave the room immediately when you are finished. Now outside, sit down and wait an
additional two minutes in the waiting room after your audition, to make sure the casting
director does not want to call you back into the room for any reason.
Now words of caution, if you have questions about the role, ask briefly, and listen
carefully to the answers. Never ask how you did or for advice on your acting. Never ask if
you will be called back. Don't call them; they'll call you. Don't dawdle. Act like you are
busy and professional, and you just came from somewhere and are on your way somewhere else
(for example, to another audition or an acting job).
I hope this helps you secure that role.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, May 23
So many of you studying our there in Drama schools and one dear friend, Claire (Hello
Dear) has asked me to examine the concept of reading a play. Now I do confess that a play
is better seen and not read. However when one is studying a text it becomes problematic
shifting between character voices in your head or worse still reading around the room. So
before you read Poppets, read any criticism or introduction included in the publication
you are studying. They will suggest ideas and approaches to interpreting the play that you
may find helpful later. Read them a second time when you've finished reading the play.
Find out the genre of the play; that is, whether it's a tragedy, a comedy, a romance or a
satire. You will then know how the play will most likely end. Determine how many acts the
play has. That will give you clues about what should be happening in each part. Generally,
a traditional play will set the scene, introduce a problem, follow that problem to its
logical conclusion, reach the final conflict and then offer a resolution. This could
happen in anywhere from one to five acts. Write up a chart of characters and how they are
related to one another, particularly if it is a play with representatives from several
social strata: keep in mind who is a king and who is merely a minor duke.
Write short summaries of the action in the margins of your text; some plays depend on very
intricate, twisted plots to reach their resolutions. Read the most difficult passages
aloud; it will help you decide what the character's tone and attitude is.
Now a word of caution read reviews of theater or film productions in the entertainment
section of your newspaper before making arrangements to view the performance. There is
nothing worse than a really bad production of a play you are studying. It will just muddy
your view of the text. Avoid using "study aids" which attempt to summarise
entire plays and analyse them for you. Most are simplistic and many are inaccurate.
I hope this helps you with your studies.
Always
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, May 16
Well start saving those pennies. The BIG shows are heading to town. The announcement today
that Wicked the musical is opening in Melbourne in 2008 means that we all have to start
making some hard choices. That is which musical can I afford to see, Priscilla? Billy
Elliott? Miss Saigon? The Phantom of the Opera? Spamalot? War
of the Worlds? Wicked? Never have we been so hard pressed to make a choice
and can we afford to see all of them? Fret not, because those hard-to-get tickets are
almost always available if you're willing to invest the time and the money. So Poppets,
lets start planning.
Start with the least expensive ticket source, and move up from there if you have to. Call
the venue directly or search one of the two primary online ticketing sources: Ticketmaster
or Ticketeck You might get lucky. Or do what I do. I go to www.showbiz.com.au and I
register for updates for all the shows that are coming. Showbiz is a great source for
securing premium tickets before they go on sale as well as getting great seats when those
seats are hard to find. Oh and the staff at Showbiz are very friendly and have a great
Industry knowledge.
Failing this Poppets, see if anybody in your town is trying to unload his or her choice
seats at a reasonable price. Get today's local paper and look under "Tickets" in
the classifieds section. Local online classifieds are a good source as well. Why not try
Nonbroker bids on ebay.com.au with registered delivery is another possible way to go, but
it's not without risk.
If you are a tourist in a city for a few days and have not planned your tickets they why
not check out online concierge services at the hotel you are staying at. Most big shows
have an affiliated hotel and they sometimes have last minute tickets in their allocation.
Failing that, why not arrive at the theatre the show is playing and try to get last minute
tickets or ticket returns. For a big show this is very rare, however you may just never
know your luck.
So some tips to remember when booking that fistful of tickets for the top shows:
* Wednesday matinee tickets may be purchased at a much cheaper price.
* You will often be able to greet the performers near the theater stage door after the
show.
* These day you will often have the opportunity to purchase a dinner package when you
purchase tickets.
* If the theater is close to your hotel, walking will probably be the fastest way to get
there. Evening traffic in the area is very busy and congested.
* Look over the content of the show to be sure it is appropriate for kids.
* Cameras (with or without flash) and recording devices are strictly prohibited by law in
all theaters.
* Always check that the tickets you have purchased are for the date you asked for.
* Always check what time a show starts, there is a lock out period in all theatres which
can last up to twenty minutes into the shows first act.
So Poppets, now doubt I will see many of you at a matinee in the near future.
Yours Always
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, May 9
Poppets,
It has come around to one of “those” weekends. You know the ones, whereby hype,
exaggeration and glossy shopping catalogues seduce us with the notion that this Sunday;
and only this Sunday, is the time we have to be kind to our mothers and indulge them in
gifts that they neither want nor can we afford. As an Aunt to many of you I feel for
people at this time. Those who have lost a mother, those who never knew one, those of us
who have a parent being both Mother and Father. And those of us, and I am sure that is
many of you out there in the entertainment Industry and creative arts who feel they
don’t have the excessive income to purchase something expensive for our matriarchs.
It has often become a notion dear Poppets that the bigger the gift the more it
demonstrates a sign of love and affection. However mothers glory in the love and
appreciation of their children and in no way does your mother want an expensive gift as
the catalogues would have us believe. So all you creative types listen up, I am planning
on giving you a few tips on how to celebrate without breaking the bank.
Ask your mother what you might do to make her life better - small repairs around her
house, running a special errand, taking care of a difficult landscaping project. Perhaps
she may like to join you with this task, it would be a great bonding activity for a child
and mother who are having a strained relationship. I often find when one is busy doing an
activity like gardening, heartfelt and often honest conversation ensures.
Spend Mother's Day with your mum, but join in with other family members to bring dinner to
her. Why not invite a long-lost friend or relative - someone your mother remembers fondly,
but rarely sees - to the Mother's Day dinner. But remember stay to help your mum clean up
after the gathering. Or better still do it yourself, it’s high time you learnt. Never
and I mean Never under any circumstance go and buy on those “Mother Day Family
Feasts” from KFC or the like. It is just a damn insult!
If you are a bit of a historian or like research why no trace the family tree and give
your mum a copy to display. If you can’t be there on the day why not write your
mother a letter, full of warm memories of your life together. If you have none, make them
up. Everyone loves a good laugh and comic skit! If you don’t send it to your real
mother why not post it to a friends mother with whom you get along with. Remember in this
day and age a Mother can be part of your “Urban Family”. I am quite hip with the
lingo aren’t I for an old girl!
Now if this was all too hard to manage at this stage of life, regress to your childhood,
and I suggest the following five sure fire hit tips. These apply to not only young
children but can be adequate for any creative arts people who are waiting for a cheque to
clear from a gig they did 6 weeks ago!
*Use your imagination to make a special card with crayons
*Put together a scrapbook for your mum.
*Set your alarm, get up early without waking your mum, and prepare breakfast for her.
*Promise you'll do all of your mum's chores for the day.
*Tell her you're going to clean up your room, take a bath and dress in your best clothes
without complaining.
And don’t forget, it is not your Mother that you should remember on Sunday, but all
those people in your extended family such as Grandmothers and AUNTS. Yes AUNTS. Those
AUNTS who are here each week giving words of wisdom, offer solace to the lonely internet
creature and provide hours of mirth and mayhem at functions.
This AUNT is waiting your card!
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, May 2
Poppets,
It is official, I am a Cyber Granny, and no I do not mean an aging Cyberman from Doctor
who! Yes I now have a MySpace site. Sitting here in my Dawson Street home in Newcastle I
feel I am connected to you all in some way through cyberland and I find the site handy for
finding long-lost friends, getting information on theatre and promoting my own cabaret
shows. Looking at the myspace website I found it very common for up-and-coming actors to
showcase their abilities on MySpace as an easy way for self-promotion, but some may not be
familiar with how to go about this. And then I had a thought, why don’t I write an
article for all my friends out there in cyberland and tell them how to build a MySpace
page for an actor.
So firstly go to the MySpace Web site and create your own account. This is very simple and
only requires a little information and an email for verification. Customise your page with
a variety of photos and text. Click on the “Edit Profile” link to begin filling
in information about your career, likes, dislikes, goals and dreams. List your
accomplishments. This can include previous roles you’ve taken on since you’ve
become an actor. Don’t lie on your profile though; remember you are a Google click
away from being found out.
Customize your page's background, colours and music to support your acting persona. Mine
looks like a port wine triffle, yum! Find things that will complement your personal style
and attract casting directors to view your page such as providing pictures or video clips
of your performances. Poppets keep them recent.
Now this is the exciting part, Invite viewers to your site. Once you’ve completed the
work on your site, advertise it! Invite and add friends and agencies to see your site so
you can build a fan base and possibly receive job offers from agencies impressed with your
site. Go to www.myspace.com/auntymavis and
add me as a friend and ask me any question that you may need answered. Also don’t
forget when you are there to add www.myspace.com/aussietheatre
so that you are up to date with breaking news in Australian Theatre.
See you online
Your Cyber Granny
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, April 25
So many of you want to be actors out there, and it is a tough but rewarding choice that
you make. Although being an actor is extremely rewarding, finding work can be a challenge.
The profession requires great commitment and fortitude. You will need to decide whether
you want to be a professional actor or an amateur. If you want to be a professional, read
on.
Now I love Newcastle Poppets, and so many regional centers are a hive of creativity.
However sadly if you wish to be taken seriously you will need to move to a major city.
Eventually, Sydney, Melbourne will be your destination, but as you build your résumé of
experience you can work in other major metropolitan areas that have good theater or film
communities. Adelaide has a thriving arts community and has a lot of state based arts
funding grants for emerging artists. Perhaps move to Adelaide for a year and try new work
out there. Mind you I am a little peeved with Adelaide at the moment as the Cabaret
Festival organisers have knocked back my new cabaret show “Silence of the
Lamingtons” for this year’s festival. In fact over the last 3 years they have
been rejecting my application in favor of “International Acts”. Poppets here is
the sad fact with our nation. We still live in a bit of a cultural cringe and feel we need
to import overseas artists who presume to know how our culture to entertain us! Anyway
that is my gripe for today! Moving on…
Enroll in acting class. Good actors study their entire lives. To choose a good class, ask
trusted, successful professionals for references. And remember even when you are trained a
good drop in class or master classes run by the MEAA (actors equity) are great ways to
brush up your craft. Now after all that you will need to get a headshot. Get one that
looks like you and not a glamour shot, you are unique and beautiful already! Compose a
résumé of all the work you have done so far. As your body of work grows, drop the less
professional work (such as school plays) from your résumé. Send your headshot and
résumé with a brief cover letter to all the casting directors and agents in your area.
MEAA has a list of registered agents for every state in Australia and they are more than
happy to send them to you. Only choose and agent on this list Poppets, and never, never
pay any money to an agent for them to take you on. You will get a “no thanks”
reply from these letters you send out but follow up with postcards every four to six
months, updating them on your current acting projects. Always accept invitations to
industry events and parties, and meet industry professionals whenever possible. Who you
know is extremely important.
A word of warning, acting is a tough business; make sure your personality is suited for
the ups and downs. If not, amateur theater is also a good way to practice your craft.
Ignore negative clichés about actors and the entertainment business and be skeptical of
shady services offered to actors; there are many scams that prey on the dreams of actors.
I hope this all helps
Always
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, April 18
Poppets,
So many of you are involved in Amateur, Semi-Professional, Community, Co-Op (call it what
you will) Theatre. I know up here in Newcastle I used to be a very active member of the
Roxy Theatre in Hamilton and have done the odd show with Metropolitan Players (sending my
love to you Julie Black) In the recent weeks, many of you have been asking me to attend
many of your performances with your groups, and sadly I have not been able to attend all
of them. Those of you, whom I have seen after the show, come rushing up to me with
excitement and merriment to see what I though of the show and the performance. You know
Poppets, it is not really what I think that matters, what matters is that you are creating
theatre, to whatever standard and that you are adding to the creative life of not only
yourself but your community. On that note, I thought perhaps it was time for me to nudge a
few other thespians out of the closet and onto the boards, by setting up your own Theatre
Company.
Calling all drama queens--and kings! Community theatre is perfect for serious actors as
well as those who think they have what it takes to be a star. It's also a terrific outlet
for directors, set designers, costume designers and musicians. So enter stage left, and
break a leg! In order to gauge if your community needs a little Musical Society or Theatre
Company you should hold an informal meeting to stir up excitement. Publicise the meeting
in a library, grocery store and newspaper. Brainstorm ideas and gauge the community's
level of interest. Visit other community theatres in the region and see as many
productions as possible. Ask if you can attend one of their organisational meetings; meet
the directors and pick their brains for ideas and advice. Determine whether you want to
produce adult theatre or include a youth theatre group or senior group. In any case, you
should be able to provide many opportunities on and offstage for community members of all
ages. Discuss how you will select the productions. Will you consider original plays? Will
you produce musicals or only dramas? Or perform strictly Shakespeare ? My preference is
always a Musical, but they are very costly and hard to make money on (even the big shows
in town struggle) Remember Shakespeare’s works are out of date and will not require a
royalty fee, so there is a saving. Maybe stage a musical version “Hamlet-The
Musical” Hmm not to me to pitch that to John Bell!
Choose a director, an assistant director and a stage manager. When you have a great little
creative team together then Get out your calendar and pick performance dates. Avoid
holiday weekends, when many folks travel out of town. Hold auditions at least six months
in advance. Place casting calls in the regional newspapers community bulletin boards. List
the name of the play or musical and give specific information about the characters,
including age and physical characteristics. Scout around for possible stages: a community
center, a church hall, a school auditorium or even a vacant building. Figure out how your
theatre group will be funded. Through ticket sales? Grants? Concession sales? And more
important than anything else, Publicise the performances at least a month in advance, more
if you can afford it. If no-one knows it is on, then lovelies, no-one will come and your
work will all be in vain.
Well I hope that has inspired many of you to get out there and create Theatre, and in the
very least I expect a few emails to offer me roles in some the shows you create.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, April 11
Dear Poppets,
Now following on from last week's advice on making a name for yourself in the arts, I have
been flooded by email requests asking me how to make it if you are not in the arts. One
such correspondent; Ben from Wollongong asked me “What is you are a nobody with
little class or breading but have money and lots of it.” So you've made your millions
but still lack respectability? Well, old chap, you can't purchase a blue-blood heritage,
but you can clean up your image. You'll have to throw some money around, but be sure to do
it with urbanity, style and grace. Anything vulgar, and your plebeian roots will show. So
Ben and all my other avid Poppets, here are a few steps to follow
Read the society pages in the newspaper and regional magazines to get to know the names of
local movers and shakers. Look at the functions they are at and the groups they move into
and try and find an event where you may be in the same room. Maybe join a voluntary
organisation such as the CWA, Red Cross or even the National Trust. Once you have become a
member of the inner sanctum of voluntary organisations you will need to update your image
with the help of a consultant. Your hair, makeup, clothes and accessories must look
classy, not gaudy. Observe and emulate the manners and behaviour of the highborn. When in
doubt, adopt a stance of mysterious understatement.
In terms of culture, it is not just something that is yoghurt. Buy the highest-priced
season tickets to the opera, theatre and ballet to be privy to exclusive events and
openings. Most arts organisations have benefit nights to raise much needed funds for
productions and support young artists. Attend one of these nights and give, give, give
from the bottom of your wallet. Better yet, host a fund-raising party at your estate.
(First, buy an estate.) Whilst at these gala events start to network, network, network.
Befriend influential people and make yourself indispensable to them through generous
favours and an utterly discreet nature. I am very good at this one I must admit Poppets.
A word of caution though Poppets, especially those of you with a political bent on life,
publicly distance yourself, if necessary, from any distasteful business dealings.
I hope this helps, and if it doesn’t. Well you have more money than sense!
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, April 4
Hello Poppets
I do feel at times I am a bit of an Identity, a pseudo-celebrity. Well at least down at
Lowlands Bowling club in Newcastle. But a lot of burgeoning creative types want to be
famous. Why is that? I do believe that if you want to get into the arts to be famous you
are doing it for the wrong reason, and generally will get limited work if that is the
case. However, for those who have always wanted their name up in lights, their photograph
plastered on walls and eyes stunned by paparazzi cameras, then here are some tips.
Befriend other celebrities; nothing
cements your status more than the posse you move with. Move in a pack and draw more
attention to yourself. Gain more paparazzi attention; gain more tabloid covers and more
popularity. The equation is simple: celebrity + you = famous. Attend everything you can,
go the opening of an envelope if needs be. I know a lot of young stars that are very
talentless but have been spotted at so many events one starts to think they have an ounce
of creativity in their little finger. Play with the media Poppets. Why not abuse the
paparazzi, then act all polite and give a tell-all interview. Then take back your comments
publicly once the article has gone to print. It's the only way for overexposure. And
exposure equals attention. And celebrities love attention. And attention makes you famous.
Have a celebrity catfight; it always works and if it doesn’t work out say you were
joking and that you were friends all along. “So listen up Hannah Hearsay, I have been
around the block longer than you and at least I make public appearances, so you want to be
in the news, bring it on.” Is an example of how you might do this. In the meantime
while this name calling is being paraded around publicly through chat rooms and gossip
columns that indeed Aunty Mavis and Hannah Hearsay don’t get on, one should then
convince MTV to create a reality series about you.
Indeed Hannah and I are in discussions
with a variety of networks to do a reality show on us entitled “So you are an Arts
Celebrity Reporter, get me more exposure”. It is sort of “It’s a
Knockout” meets “The Biggest Loser.”
If you don’t feel like being on TV then why not get into the perfume business, once
you're famous, you need to cement your status as if you were given your own star on the
Hollywood walk of fame. Follow the footsteps of Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Sarah
Jessica Parker, Hilary Duff and David Beckham and craft the scent that oozes starlet
odour. Hollywood is preoccupied with smelling like stars, so follow suit and smell the
stardom success. I know my scent is going to be a hint of prunes and dates with mellow
tones of Lilly of the valley and fresh scones baking. It is going to be called Aunty Mavis
“Silence of the Lamingtons”
If all this fails then go straight to
Plan B, and it is simple - carry a dog small enough to fit in your handbag everywhere. And
that's it. Tiny pooch, tiny star, big fame.
Always
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, March 28
Dear Poppets,
There was a time when iPod wearers were teenage freaks on public transport systems over
the world. It now seems the craze of the white digital gadget has taken over our lives and
forced us all into a civilization of downloads and QuickTime clips. Oh yes Poppets, I may
be old, but I can get “jiggy” with it with the best of them. However what makes
the difference between the older generation using the ipod and the younger generation I
our frequency of the gadget and our manner to which we use it. So lets examine the use of
the now very ordinary and mundane iPod.
Wearing earphones is like hanging a “do not disturb” sign off your nose. Like an
engrossing novel, they help you avoid interactions with annoying strangers on public
transport. Unfortunately, they send the same go-away message at work. That’s useful
if you wear them only when you’re on deadline, but your iPod is more likely to
irritate co-workers if you hide behind it eight hours a day. Which brings us to the next
point. It may be fine to use your iPod on the commute (in a relatively anonymous public
space), but it’s more difficult to use it in the break room at work. When you’re
likely to run into someone you know in a communal space, leave your iPod behind, or at
least remove one earbud so you can hear someone greeting you; then you can remove the
other earbud. If you don’t feel like greeting people, consider addressing that with
your therapist.
Mp3 players are unwelcome at weddings, funerals, the theatre, movies and other gatherings,
and also in classrooms or places of worship. This holds true even if you’re a sullen
13-year-old with inattentive parents. You should also avoid using mp3 players in
restaurants (because the waiter needs to interact with you), waiting rooms (so you can
hear the receptionist call your name), and group exercise classes (so the instructor
doesn’t single you out for a mildly humiliating demonstration). If you work in the
customer-service industry, iPods are out. No one should have to feel like they’re
interrupting you to get service. Of course, your boss may have already mentioned this.
Leaving your earphones on when someone is talking to you is like refusing to make eye
contact. It looks as though you aren’t listening. Stop what you’re doing, remove
both earphones, and pay attention. Removing only one earbud signals that you hope a
conversation won’t last too long, or that a person is not important enough to warrant
your full attention. Therefore, reserve this gesture for amorous but unattractive
strangers on the bus. Now Poppets, No one else should be able to hear your music. That
constant buzz emanating from your headphones is only slightly less irritating than your
tendency to hum “Like a Virgin” whenever Madonna comes on. Speaking of
which…Some people spend obsessive amounts of time assembling mood-appropriate play
lists and unearthing obscure bands. Asking these people for a carbon copy of their iPods
is a close cousin to identity theft. Instead, ask for a few recommendations or advice on
where to look for music you might like.
That’s it, you can put your earbuds back in now. This is a good song, Carol Channing
in the London revival Production of “Hello Dolly” Oh yes Poppets, Show Queens
love iPods too.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis
---
Wednesday, March 21
Hello Poppets. There are so
many shows heading to Australia this year, it seems to be the unofficial year of the
Musical. And may I say it is about time! So in order to help all those young and not so
young performers who are trying to make it into a big show I thought I would devote this
week’s column to general preparation for a musical theatre audition.
The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be. Rather than leaving your
practicing to the last minute, learn your music early and then put it away for a few
weeks. When you come back to it, you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is. At first,
practice details. Stop to fix every mistake. It is important to breathe in places that
sound good and not places where you just happen to run out of air. Also the music has been
written in a way so that lines of text are also lines of thought. Don’t make your job
harder by breaking the line of text by a breath if you can avoid it
Now everyone gets nervous, especially at auditions, so you’re not alone. Like sports,
musical performance is 90% mental and 10% technique. Do this mental exercise before the
audition: imagine every detail of the performance – how you walk into the room, how
you stand, how you feel as you play. Get plenty of sleep the night before. Don’t
listen to the other actors warming up (at such times, everybody always sounds better than
they are). Instead of competing against others, give it YOUR best shot. Don’t rush
into your performance. Before you audition, take time to get comfortable. Adjust the music
stand if necessary. Don’t let little mistakes throw your concentration. Everyone
makes mistakes, and if you dwell on them, you are probably blowing them out of proportion.
If you are lucky enough to get a callback or learn some music from the show, you may have
to do a sight-reading exercise on some music. The only way to improve your sight-reading
is to do it often. Before you read a piece, take a few moments to look at the key
signature, meter, and any tricky spots in the music. Once you start reading, DO NOT STOP
for little mistakes. Keep a good beat and keep going.
I hope this helps with your preparation, and no doubt I will see you onstage at a matinee
performance I will attend in the future.
Best of Luck Poppets
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, March 14
I am sorry that I have been
away but as some of you may know I have been busy back home in Newcastle helping a dear
friend of mine recover after surgery. Thank you for all your wishes of support and love.
While I have been helping my friend coverless we have been watching many a film, classics,
musicals and last week we watched two camp classis that I had forgotten about, Whatever
happened to Baby Jane and Mommie Dearest. These two films are a classic of
the camp genre and I had forgotten how wonderful they are. I implore you all to watch them
for your cultural understanding. Remember Poppets, culture is not just something in
Yoghurt!
Watching the films again reminded me of the first time I saw them at the cinema, and
alarmed me at how Individuals these days really lack any sense of cinema etiquette. So
often young people go to the cinema and chat as if they were watching a DVD at home,
walking out regularly to get more drinks and snacks. Please people you are out in public.
So instead of being negative, I thought we could be positive and let's create the
“How to behave in the cinema” guide.
1. Phones: Switch them off. Totally. Not even vibrate. I quite agree with blocking signals
in the cinema. I do not want to hear Ride of the Valkyrie, or some beeping version of
Nelly or Britney screaming away during the movie. The only phones I want to hear ringing
are on the Telstra commercials, or the ones in the movie.
2. Talking: Do not speak once the movie starts or the trailers (previews) are showing.
There's no need to tell your girlfriend why something has happened, she can sit and wait
for it to be revealed as well. Teach her this process at home so she understands. There's
also no need to recap on everything that just happened, or to turn round and tell your
friend\partner what is about to happen. No one in the theater paid for an Audio
Commentary, and if they had they would surely prefer it from the Director or Actors
involved.
3. Food: Do not eat anything that is contained in a noisy wrapper. Do not bring it into
the cinema and sit behind someone and rustle and crackle away during the film, especially
the quiet moments. If you really, really have to do it, sit far away from anyone else and
don't try to be clever and draw out the process.
4. Toilet: Go before, and go after. If you need to, go in your drinks carton or don't
drink so much before or during the movie. I don't want someone getting up and walking in
front of me three or four times in the movie. Once is acceptable, but only just.
5. Feet: If you are sitting behind someone, or someone is seated in the row in front of
you, do not start kicking the chair in front, the vibrations can go down the row and if
someone is in the seats around the one you are kicking they'll get mad. If the cinema has
bass speakers fitted in the seats then leave that job to them, and if it doesn't, then
don't try and add your own. It's not a roller coaster ride.
6. Timing: If you're going to go see a movie can you get there on time? There's nothing
worse than a bunch of people arriving during the movie and the struggling to find seats or
an usher flashing you in the face with a torch as they look for empty seats.
7. Watches: Please switch off your beep on the hour musical watch, and don't sit through
the movie flashing on and off your ultra bright glow in the dark watch just to check the
time.
8. Seats: If the performance is seated, and your ticket is numbered, go and sit in the
seats given to you. The number of times I've found my seats taken, sat somewhere else,
only to find I'm sitting in someone else's seats and they are making a fuss with me about
my selfishness. Let's face it, if you want a better seat, ask when you buy the tickets and
if the film is just about to begin you could think about moving, if everyone else obeys
No.6!
Phew I am glad I got that off my chest.
See you next week
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, March 7
Due to circumstances beyond
our control, Tea and Timeless Advice will not be online this week. Mavis will return as
soon as possible.
---
Wednesday, February 28
Aunty Mavis will return with
Tea and Timeless Advice next week.
---
Wednesday, February 21
Well some of you may know, but
for those of you who don’t I am currently reading Rupert Everett’s Autobiography
“Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins” in preparation for the literary Degistation
Lunch that I am hosting with Rupert as my guest of honour, as part of the Mardi Gras
Festival. Now Poppets, If ever a book cried out for a timeline and an index, it is Rupert
Everett's extraordinary autobiography. A timeline because his career has been so varied,
but above all confusingly patchy. And an index because this is the socialiser, one might
say, from hell.
“No arse or arms or chest or shoulders,” states Rupert, in his angst as a young
performer to try and deal with his stature as an actor. He is a very gifted performer,
with a range of stage and film credits under his belt and a lot of flops as well that have
seen him bounce back time and again, such is the resilience of the trained actor. Of
course, he's desperately ambitious, but he gets so much failure in return that there is
comedy there too. Some of the best writing is about amazing acting experiences which
produced the makings of what he thought were perfectly good films which have never seen
the light of day. Along the way, he drops us sharp details about how latter-day Hollywood
works, and is especially tart on his own failures as a power-broker. Rupert’s
observations of his own career reminded me of my own triumph when I won a CONDA (City of
Newcastle Drama Award) for my portrayal as both Maria and Rolf in The Sound of Music
at Roxy Theatre in Newcastle and also my heartache when I was snubbed to play Anita in the
West Side Story because I was not “ethnic” enough, oh please Poppets!
Anyway I digress.
There is nothing odd about being intelligent and also either an actor or fashionable.
Plenty of people are bright and like clothes and the camera. Rupert is rare in having been
a male model and an actor, though plenty of females have done both. (He combined them in a
role in the too-easily-dismissed Prêt à Porter, 1994.) Where he is very rare, I think,
is in his being bright and yet really entering into the world of shallowness. He hangs out
with the Versace's and Lagerfeld, say, and you don't get the feeling that he holds
anything back: he's not thinking they are in any sense ridiculous but great fun, or
amusing as objects of observation.
I encourage you all to have a little read of this book and look at a Hollywood insight
into the highs and lows of being a working actor. It was a refreshing and candid insight
that is often missing from such works. You may return to this book to understand Everett's
life or his times. They will be richly rewarded.
Don’t forget that I am chatting with candor and detail with Rupert on Friday March 2
at the Bentley Degustation Lunch as part of the New Mardi Gras Festival. Bookings can be
made on (02) 9332 2324.
See you at Lunch Poppets.
Always yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, February 14
I went and saw the afternoon
and final show of Short, Sweet and Song at NIDA on Sunday and it was nice to see
so many new musical works in the pipeline. I must say that my favourite little piece was A42A3
a musical set in a copy store. After that I dashed across town in my duck egg blue corolla
to see Hats Off. Yes a “controversial decision not to ask Mavis to perform
this year” many of you have told me, but really they did need some minor celebrities
in the audience, goodness knows the stage was full of them! On the night a dear young
performer came up to me and asked how I deal with stage fright. Well the fact is, we all
get very nervous before we are about to do something in public, I know I have a little
nervous wee, not quiet sure if that is my age or my incontinence but none the less that is
what I do. However that may not be the best advice for all of you and indeed this poor
young lass was shocked to hear me say that. So poppets, lets look at how to overcome stage
fright!
Stage fright isn't the most accurate term for the nervousness that occurs when considering
a speaking engagement. In fact, most of the fear occurs before you step on-stage. Once
you're up there, it usually goes away. Try to think of stage fright in a positive way.
Fear is your friend. It makes your reflexes sharper. It heightens your energy, adds a
sparkle to your eye, and colour to your cheeks. When you are nervous about speaking you
are more conscious of your posture and breathing. With all those good side effects you
will actually look healthier and more physically attractive.
Many of the top performers in the world get stage fright so you are in good company. Stage
fright may come and go or diminish, but it usually does not vanish permanently. You must
concentrate on getting the feeling out in the open, into perspective and under control.
Remember nobody ever died from stage
fright. But, according to surveys, many people would rather die than give a speech. If
that applies to you, try out some of the strategies in this section to help get yourself
under control. Realise that you may never overcome stage fright, but you can learn to
control it, and use it to your advantage.
*Concentrate on how good you are.
*Pretend you are just chatting with a group of friends.
*Close your eyes and imagine the audience listening, laughing, and applauding.
*Remember happy moments from your past.
*Think about your love for and desire to help the audience.
*Picture the audience in their underwear. Not generally good for a matinee pensioner
audience, but you never know!
I hope this helps
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, February 7
Hello Poppets. On Friday night
I was performing at the Red Carpet Launch for Mardi Gras, it was a lovely night of
entertainment and good company. I took some photos with my brownie box camera. I will try
and get them posted on here for you all to look at. Anyway on the night, a dear friend
Colleen who regularly reads my columns asked me to look into a few topics. She asked:
“Are there Diva’s in the Industry and what are they really like?”
Well Colleen, the great majority of actors are hardworking; dedicated artists who want to
put the best production possible on stage. Actors who whine or pose or put on the diva act
are generally very scared or insecure, regardless of their talent or position. Over the
years, I have had the pleasure (and some times the less than pleasure) of working with
performers from high school students and community theatre amateurs to film, Broadway and
television actors of international reputation. There are whiners and moaners at all
levels, but there are the few who seem to get all our attention. To a great extent it is
us the audience who are part of the problem. The actors who have no complaints get ignored
and ones that whine get the attention, if only to shut them up. One reason actors get so
insecure is that their product is subjective; there is nothing concrete for them to show
for their work. Even film or tape of a performance is not solid evidence of a good
performance. One critic will say a show or an actor is great and another will say the same
production stinks.
It is not an easy job as an actor, one has to recreate the role every performance, and
also be savvy in ones private life to establish the so-called “façade” of the
actor for ones audience. No wonder so many creative types see counselors! You know
Poppets, sometimes just the act of listening to the whiner is all that is needed to
“fix” the problem. Sometimes the whiner will reveal a real problem and our
knee-jerk reaction is to ignore it because the whiner is so annoying. Sometimes the whiner
needs to be put in his place and told “NO!” although it is usually the job of
the stage manager or director to pass that info along to the actor. So in short Colleen,
there are hardly any Diva’s in the Industry, and the ones that are deserve the title
and are rarely hired for long term contracts. I hope this helps!
Keep those questions coming
Love Always
Aunty Mavis
PS: Don’t forget to go and see SHORT, SWEET & SONG this week at NIDA. It is a
great night out to see the Musical Theatre community putting on new works. Read
Troy’s review and then go along and make up your own mind and vote for your
favourite.
---
Wednesday, January 31
Hello Poppets. Well the Sydney
Festival is over again for another year and as one closes another is there to take its
place in the form of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Now I normally do a
little cabaret show at this time of the year, but alack I have been a busy Poppet at
Lowlands Bowling Club and will not be presenting one this year. However don’t feel
down, there is many shows in the festival that will tantalise. My top choices over the
next few weeks’ poppets.
But before that I wanted to talk to you about the need for audiences to applaud when the
star makes her/his entrance? This was something I discovered during the Sydney Festival
with a plethora of International stars gracing the stages of Sydney. So I do believe that
if the star is of sufficient magnitude, such a welcome is polite -- but by no means
required, applause is always at the discretion of the audience. On the other side of the
coin, when is it proper to boo and throw tomatoes? Hurling rotten fruit at actors was
characteristic of wars between 19th century actors' claques (acquiring and packing spoiled
fruit does require a certain degree of malicious advance planning, after all) and is
completely inappropriate -- not to say illegal -- today. It's criminal assault. However,
booing is still quite legal, but should be saved for the most egregious unprofessionalism.
I once attended a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at
which the leading actor had not fully memorized his lines, and then made a curtain speech
blaming his poor performance on distractions by the allegedly unattractive
wheelchair-bound women in the front row. He was heartily and appropriately booed. A tomato
might actually have done him!
I hope to see some of you at the launch of the Mardi Gras Festival this Friday night where
I will be performing with a star studded line up including Caroline O’Connor, Paul
Capsis, Katie Noonan, Bob Downe, Michael Falzon and Phil Scott to name a few. For tickets
go to www.showbiz.com.au.
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, January 24
How warm has it been of late,
only a few weeks ago I was saying that it is nice to have the Australian Summer, and here
I am now complaining about it. Has anyone seen any good theatre of late? Please email me
if you have or write a little note and pop it in the post. I do love getting communication
from you all. Now sadly I am have been busy back in Newcastle at Lowlands bowling club,
where I am vice-president. This week I am examining an issue I touched on late last year,
the use of mobile phones and in particular a certain person who had theres on in a
performance I was present at. I received a letter from a dear friend who asked me to go
further with mobile phone etiquette as they felt that the use of them was
“irksome”.
Well, mobile-phone etiquette is really just common courtesy. Most people today have a
Mobile phone. In fact, many people can't imagine how they ever got along without a
portable phone. However, many people also complain about these phone users. People
complain about other people loudly discussing personal matters in public places. They
complain when mobile phones ring in movie theaters and concert halls. They complain about
people driving too slow, and not paying attention to where they are going because they are
talking on a mobile phone. And they complain about people walking around talking to people
who aren't there.
Whenever a new communications technology becomes popular, it changes the way society is
organised. Society has to invent rules for the polite way to use the new devices. Our
social etiquette, our rules of politeness for mobile phones, is still evolving.
Mobile-phone etiquette applies to most public places. Always try to keep your phone ringer
as low as possible or put your mobile phone on vibrate, so it does not distract the people
around you. I always love when mine buzzes in private! A good time to leave your phone at
home, or at least in the car, would be at a funeral, wedding or some event along those
lines.
So here are a few basic Mobile phone
etiquette rules:
Switching it Off: Know when to turn it
off or vibrate it. eg meetings, movies, worship, seminars, etc . Vibrate mode when in
places where you can take a call, but don't want to disturb others.
Be Brief: When you get a call and you're with friends, keep the call short.
Permission: Often, it is correct
etiquette to inform others at the beginning of the meeting that you are expecting an
important call and get their permission.
Be Polite: Don't scream: speak in a
lower-than-normal voice, you will be heard by the caller, and not others in the room
Don't Distract: Avoid talking where you
may be distracting to others.
Driving: It is not only very dangerous,
but also unlawful in most countries (even India) to drive & talk on your mobile phone.
I hope that helps Poppets
Till Next time
Always Yours
Aunty Mavis xx
---
Wednesday, January 17
There is nothing like a summer
in Australia, the sun is out, the beach is calling, the movies are jam packed with
blockbusters and in Sydney there is the amazing Sydney Festival which tantalises every
year. Last week I saw the new musical production of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie at
the Theatre Royal and my friends, this is a must see for every child or child at heart. It
is so great to see the Australian vernacular and strine brought to life on stage through
the timeless characters of May Gibbs. During intermission I must confess I did hear two
girls talk about there recent holiday up the coast to a beach side resort. They were
complaining; which is a nice word for tirade, which it really was, about the joys of going
to the beach or lack there of with crowds over summer. I decided to interject (politely
and with courtesy) and gave them the following advice.
1. Allow a minimum of five feet between
groups. Take time to consider where and how you set up your space. Spot your larger groups
as far away from other people as possible. When bringing half your house to the beach -
from boom box to boogie boards to beach chairs - make every effort to consolidate your
items in a small area that will not take valuable beach real estate from others.
2. Let everyone enjoy the view. Part of the pleasure of going to | |
