Like any other hobby for a normal kid, musical theater takes up 90% of your life, only leaving room for eating and sleeping, if that. When in a show, you have no time to hang out with friends or go to special events, but you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything, because your cast and crew are so incredible.

1. You’ve mastered the art of makeup.

Even though you’re probably best at doing excessive eyeshadow and blush that qualifies your work as “stage makeup,” the skills you’ve acquired don’t compare to your peers. Between knowing how to put on false eyelashes and being able to fix your foundation around your mic tape, you have enough makeup experience to be hired by a celebrity going to the red carpet.

2. Waiting for a cast list is like waiting for paint to dry.

No matter how many times you do it, refreshing the website will not make the cast list be published any sooner. In the meantime, the only thing you can do is gossip with the other auditioners to predict casting choices.

3. “I can’t, I have rehearsal” might as well be an auto-reply to every invitation you receive.

Growing up doing shows, you’ve missed countless birthday parties, hangouts with friends, and family events. But whatever you missed was totally made up for in the fun you had with your friends while at rehearsal!

4. The simple tune of “happy birthday” is no longer simple.

The annual song celebrating a person’s day of birth has official become an elaborate piece with 4+ part harmony. Even when singing with non-musical theater people, you tend to break into some sort of voice part. When celebrating a fellow cast mate’s birthday, the company puts on a spectacular performance of the song.

5. Your entire wardrobe consists of show t-shirts.

Despite the fact you never wear them, you always end up buying the show t-shirt. They’ve now piled up so much in your closet that it seems you don’t have any other clothing. Yet you can’t bear to give up your “Annie” t-shirt from you 6-year-old stage debut, nor can you resist purchasing the future tees. Thus, they continue to dominate your collection of clothes.

6. You don’t even know what the phrase “good luck” means.

“Break a leg” is the only phrase to use in preparation for a performance or audition. Wishing a performer “good luck” is like putting a curse on them before they go into the audition room or step foot on stage.

7. Your cast mates become your family.

Likely due to the excessive number of hours you spend in the theater with them, the cast and crew of whatever show you’re working on becomes a family of it’s own. They see you at your best and your worst, yet they’re there to support you through it all. Especially during tech week, things get a pretty personal when people show up to rehearsal in pajamas.