Don’t Worry About the Art Industry as a Whole; Instead Worry About the Artist as an Individual

Hadestown Set Broadway NYC 2019

        As an Artist, it ails me to see just how much this Pandemic has changed this Industry that I call my passion. It's silenced it. How can something so big as this virus silence something that's so much bigger than the virus itself? I'm not underestimating the severity of this virus by no means. Still, it amazes me how one day we're reading a NY Time's review from the witty yet unforgiving Ben Brantley, and the next night Broadway's dark till the early-middle of next year. Theatre, Arenas, and Museums are closed until further notice. Maybe it's just me, but anyone not affiliated with the Arts just stopped caring about Art altogether once everything shutdown. As an artist, it's sad and devastating, which is why I have chosen to write this post. By the end of it, you will understand why I'm tired of being seen as a whole part of the Art industry, instead of being seen as an individual Artist in the Art industry. So, here's why the Art industry doesn't need your support to survive; but the individual Artists do. Especially now more than ever. 

    "The local Artist you support today; will become the Art the World sees tomorrow". I tell anyone who has any hesitation in supporting the Arts this quote, and I wanted to share with you also; whether you're an Artist reading this or a spectator of the Arts, I ask you never to forget this quote. It's important because it's a reminder to continue to support our fellow Artists primarily through this Pandemic. If you're not supporting a local or any Artist you know, I ask you to do so. As artists, we need your support more than ever, which I'll go over later how you can support Artists during this Pandemic later on in this post. Now let's get back to the importance of supporting artists right now and not Art itself. I'm sure you've seen articles projecting the primary adverse effect this Pandemic has had on this Industry. None of them hopeful to anyone outside of the Arts, and if you didn't know better as an Artist, you might believe there is no hope of a future for your passion or career. However, as an Artist, you should know there are no guarantees and has never been in this industry. Nothing is for sure and often time we seek work else were till a chance comes our way. Even pre COVID our lives were like that. COVID didn’t ruin your career. You can't tell me otherwise. Sorry, not sorry. We're artists. Our job won't end until we say it ends. Finding a way to share our Art is the only thing standing in our way; but it's 2020, so there’s no excuse not to find a way. Might not be as successful right now doing it on your own, but as long you don't give up on your Art, your Art won't give up on you. No matter what the media tells you. Art IS NOT, and I repeat NOT GOING anywhere. Mind you, that since the last Renaissance, when Art was reborn, it has survived several other pandemics, wars, and even a great depression. I assure you that Art will survive this Pandemic and whatever the rest of this year throws at it. We have to be smart and vigilant, so we can learn those ways to create and share our Art for the current time and situation present when we decide to share our Art. 

    Now for the Art spectators reading, your support is vital because your local small-town Artist needs reminding and shown that there are people that still support the Arts even through this trying time. The best part;  real and genuinely passionate Artist won’t expect a dime, just your time. The life of your local Artist depends on the support you give them today. Failure to support won't kill Art as a whole, but it'll sure kill the Artist who may have been only one project away from there major break. They were there for you; why can't you be there for them? Think about that? 

    Trust me when I say they’ll be a new Renaissance to come out of this pandemic. It'll only be when our Art is unsilenced, and artists can finally express themselves freely once more in their respected venues. It won't be in the next following months but in the shallow years to come. While we find ways to share our Art in the days of COVID either on our own or with the help of a select group of people, we are still far away from the "Dark Ages." I mention because some have thought it. We’re far from it. If you will, I'll call this time the Grey Ages of Art. As long as Artists find means of continuing to create new Art and spectators continue to support those Artists that find ways to share their Art. We won't have to worry about heading backward but only forwards. 

    Only thing that politics trembles at is Art. It just takes the right artists to make them shake in their boots. Why we have to support local Artists at all costs, they are our future and voice for a better tomorrow. "How do you support them?" you ask. While I can't speak for all my fellow artists, but I believe I can speak for the majority of artists when I say that all we ask at this time is just for you to have an ear when we need it. To listen to our Art and hear us when we feel like giving up on our Art. Nothing more, nothing less. Trust me when I say that no one wants to get back to a Saturday evening performance at the Theatre more than I do or any other fellow Theatre Artists you or I both know. We just got to remember that it's during these downtimes when we're not sharing or performing our Art that we use this time to learn and study our passion, so when the next opportunity comes for us to jump at, we are polished and ready to shine like the stars we are. 

    Lastly, no matter whether you are an Artist or Spectator, never think you have to fight your inner demons and struggles alone. We can be brave for only so long; just know there's a whole community if you need to take some of your burdens off. Mental Health is real in the Art Industry, and the current state isn't helping any Artist with depression at any rate. You're not alone. I assure you. I refuse to see a fellow Artist; more importantly, any Human being give up because they didn't know where to turn. It’s by aiding others, we can put Art, in the Heart of the Art industry. That's my primary mission as an Artist, and I see to it that I follow it every day. If you take anything from this post, I ask you to take away the quote I asked you to remember earlier. In case you forgot. I've included it at the bottom of this page so you can find it more accessible. Take care of your local Artists, your Community, but most importantly, take care of Yourself. Stay safe. Check in. Vote. And I'll see you at the curtain call. 

                                  - Yours in Art - 

                                               -- C. M. Price -- (Oct. 11, 2020) --

“The local Artist you support today; will become the Art the World sees tomorrow”

Adele Live Atlanta Oct.2016 

Why Community Theatre Is Vital; and Why We Should Support Them

The Wormwoods

It was the night of October 4, 2019, when I experienced my first opening night at Hickory Community Theatre in my hometown of Hickory, NC. I got accepted to play the goofy brother of Matilda, Michael Wormwood, in our presentation of Matilda the Musical. A part I wanted; the reason why is for another time. How I got casted surprises me to this day. I sang Happy Birthday for my audition even though I should have had a song prepared, I had a cast on my leg (literally took “break a leg” seriously) and couldn’t sing for anything. Yet here I was a part of this amazing cast with the best leadership from our Director, Music Director, Choreographer, Stage Managers, Costume Designer, and Production Designer. Opening night was a success and as I went home, I knew two things that were certain; all the hard work we put in paid off and there is no better satisfaction than knowing I had given back to my community.

            There was a point for telling you about my opening night. My story is only a small fraction of the full experience of community theatre. You may know about the general process of getting to opening night, audition, rehearsal, tech week, and BOOM opening night. You may not know how straining and time-consuming the process can be to get to opening night, which as an audience member, it’s okay. You’re here to enjoy a show. I ask the next time you see a show, and when you get out, really think about all the work that went into it, from casting, costumes, set design, and so forth. I am by no means implying that we hate it as performers; it just kills us a little inside when someone shrugs our performance as only another performance. Why we need to support our local performers and our community theatre; because we take a lot of time (a lot) to ensure you have the best hour and a half or however long the performance is. Lastly, I’m not asking you to go out and donate, or even see a show for that matter (even though we’d love for you to come). There are other ways to support your community theatre without having to give a single penny. Volunteer; whether it’s handing out programs, sewing costumes, set building, acting, ticket sales, concessions, and I could go on, we appreciate your time, help, and your support. Maybe you’ll even audition for a role and steal the show (you never know if you don’t audition); your audition can’t go as bad as mine. Trust me. I genuinely believe that the people that volunteer is just as big of a supporter as the corporate sponsors.

            Now that you understand why it’s essential to support your local community theatre, you may ask why? It gives people who are passionate about theatre an outlet to share their talents with the community, and for some, it gets them away from everyday struggles they may be facing at home for a little while. It’s there only safe space where they can be who they want to be without people judging who they are. However, I believe why most people enjoy getting involved in community theatre is the family that comes along with it. There is no tighter bond than a cast who has spent weeks rehearsing long hours to put on a less than two-hour show, and you can take that to the bank. During that time, we learn everything there is to know about each other. There is no family like the theatre family.

Yes, we have cliques, disagree at times with each other, but in the end, we come together and put on one hell of a show. Why the last performance is the hardest; because it’s like the family is being broke up. We may or may not stay in touch with those we shared the stage. Why we always come back. In hopes of being getting casted with some of the people, we called our family from past shows. Even if we don’t ever see the people, we came to know during our time at the community theatre, we still have the memories that we made with each other, which drives us again to do more shows. Why community theatre is so important to our communities, it’s by creating a family community from within that we can bring the outside community together for a show. If the community theatre can’t bring itself together from within, they’ll never be able to bring an outside community together.  Grand scheme of things; when you add everything together, that’s the sole purpose of community theatre to bring everyone together. Why we not only need to support but be involved in our local community theatre. There has been no other time when communities need an outlet to come together and enjoy themselves for a brief moment in time. That outlet is our community theatre. Don’t be shy; go out and support your community theatre. Whether it’s as an audience member or acting, we’ll find you something to do. If you’re already doing all you can for the community theatre. I think I can speak on behalf of everyone who’s involved with community theatre. THANK YOU.  With that, I’ll see you at the show. Break a leg.