sound mentors

as i've mentioned before, sound design is my forte when it comes to theatrical productions. i find it to be such an expressive medium, especially because created sound is such an integral part of any show. the problem with this chosen occupation, however, is that you are constantly living the life of a freelancer. bouncing from gig to gig can get really tiring and frustrating and trying to make enough for rent and food is always stressful. this has been true over the past few years, but is more true these days with the recession.

the first thing (or among the first things... besides banks of course) to go in a recession are the arts. when disposable income decreases, people stop donating money to the "entertainment" industry. of course, i don't view the arts as disposable or simply for entertainment. theatre, for example, is one of the most poignant ways to examine culture and discuss difficult issues. but in this time of economic crisis, gigs are harder to come by and theatre companies are constantly downsizing.

a perfect example of this is a show i am currently designing for the summer. because of decreased support from individuals and grant-giving organizations, budgets are much smaller than normal. i, like other designers, am expected to create a design with the appropriate equipment for a full-scale musical on a budget that might be enough to rent the cabling alone necessary for such a big project. but theatre is a community based endeavor. luckily, i have good resources and friendly colleagues who are willing to spend hours on the phone (or in person) with me discussing possible options for making my design work. they give me practical advice and offer me assistant positions that build up my repetoire (and resume) as a designer. i have never considered myself particularly good at networking, but in the current economic climate, when arts are constantly in danger of being sacrificed, it is necessary to band togetheer with other artists to save your craft. these more experienced, better-connected designers and colleagues are what makes it possible for younger artists like me to make an impact and to show off my talents. they open the door for opportunities while simultaeously providing valuable support and endless encouragement.

it is impossible to be an artist without a community, and these people truly make my position in the theatre community one that i am honored to hold. without their help i seriously doubt that i'd be able to continue existing as a sound designer. their endless advice and encouraging wisdom make theatre an exciting place to be.

a real fortune bottle cap?

while i was enjoying my sushi dinner on saturday, a few friends and i broke into a case of magic hat. as i popped open my second beer of the night, i checked under the bottle cap for a random piece of wisdom (note: if you do not read your bottle caps when drinking magic hat, you are missing out) and there it was staring right at me:

Find Salvation through acts of Creation

i know, i know. this can't be real. but it is! magic hat brewery must be a follower of my blog! ok seriously, how cool is this? my beer was actually telling me to discover meaning through creating something! so i started thinking... what have i actually created recently?

i am currently working as a freelance sound designer in philadelphia and have opened two shows in the past month. i acted as an assistant designer for a show at a bigger company and then designed another show for a smaller production. i think one of the reasons i found sound design so gratifying is because it is (in my opinion) the most versatile design in a theatrical production. people always assume there will be a set. costumes and props are integral but often overlooked. without lights, you would not be able to see what is going on. but sound, sound is something that is never anticipated by the audience. furthermore, sound is one of the elements of a show that can be incredibly influential in the overall experience. it is hard to make it look like it is raining onstage, but if you have a really great sound cue that places you in the middle of a thunderstorm, then it establishes setting more than anything else.

perhaps this explains why i have a hunger to sound design difficult projects. when scripts dictate sound design to me, i find it boring and unfulfilling. but when i read a script and hear something in my head and just know it has to be right... well, that is what i am inspired by. you can allude to the fact that you are in a swamp in a play, but what if you are surrounded by bugs buzzing and birds chirping and water splashing? then you know it! in my own little way, then, maybe i do find some salvation through creating sound effects. i'm sure that i will write many more postings about theatre; even right now, i'm immersed in assisting with a student production at my alma mater.

there is something truly magnificent about bringing a stage play to life and sometimes it is easy to forget that. so thank you, magic hat, for pointing out the poignancy of theatre.