Guys. Tell me you've all been here, at some point or another. You're at some social function where you have to put on actual pants and smell like a decent human being, and you introduce yourself. You say your name, begrudgingly, to a group of people and they ask you the dreaded question: "So, what are you majoring in?" I say "theatre", and I get the standard "Oh, that's so cool", glazed over look, as if I have three heads or said the sky was falling. Let me tell you what it's really like to be a theatre major.
First things first: As a theatre major, I am not obligated at all to discuss openly my sexuality. So, please: at a social function, do not instantly assume that I'm (insert sexuality here). Here's the thing: I'm an open guy and I'll totally tell how where I stand on this matter. We theatre majors don't have to reveal anything we don't want to reveal to you. If you're not an audience member who has paid a large ticket price to see me on a stage to perform, then you have no business asking me to divulge such personal information. Maybe ask about how I like my major? My favorite playwrights or actors? Something's that's not inherently stereotypical or callous. We do love to talk and want to talk, so give us stuff to talk about. Yeah, the spotlight's great, but it's not always necessary for us.
Second: success. I get a lot, and my fellow theatre majors have told me this as well, that when we say we're majoring in theatre (or any other art form), we get asked "Oh, so you want to be famous?"
I'm sorry...what? We don't do this for the fame. We do this cause we have an interest in it. So, if you believe that as a theatre major, I have to adhere to your notion that I have dreams of Broadway and delusions of grandeur, let me tell you otherwise. I, like every other artist, am just looking for steady streams of work, in whatever field theatre related. More to the point, to paraphrase Hamilton, I just want to be satisfied. Creative satisfaction means more to me and my theatre crew than fame or monetary success or things of that ilk. Now don't get me wrong, if we had the opportunity to be on Broadway or find some sort of fame in this, we'd happily take it. But the fame of seeing a young kid in the audience and having their face light up when you do something and they remember it for the rest of their life is enough fame.
Lastly, as a theatre major, it really grinds our gears when someone asks us to do something like "cry on cue" or "sing for me", something of that like. We're normal people. Take a minute, let that soak in. We. Are. Normal. People. We can turn the performance switch on or off at a moment's notice and the thing is: asking us to constantly perform for you wears us out. Give us food, good conversation and witty repartee, and you have our full and undivided attention. We make life more interesting. That's a guarantee.
