Oh, for the luxury of living in Manhattan — what would you do? Perhaps try and move all of your earthly possessions into something that wouldn’t contain a sneeze much less the entire existence of a human being OR perhaps two if you’re truly a crazy person who likes to tempt the claustrophobia gods with your wanton double occupancy ways. Continue reading
Kameron Slade is in fifth grade at PS 195 in the Rosedale section of Queens. Given the freedom to choose a topic for a speech competition, young Kameron chose to write about same-sex marriage. He won his class’s competition and was expected to deliver his winning speech in a competition being held school-wide. The school’s principal put a stop to that, telling Kameron’s mother that the speech was inappropriate. Continue reading
Do you have a spare $110M sitting around? Oh, you mean you’re not a Russian oil baron? Then you can at least take a look at what the new One57 building will have to offer. Continue reading
Comedian Kevin Bartini has started a petition to rename the block of W 121st Street where Carlin grew up “George Carlin Way.” Carlin’s daughter, Kelly, supports the proposal. She told ABC News Radio: “I feel it’s very important to protect his legacy and keep the torch lit and to keep the conversation going the next 40 years and I’m very proud and honored to do it.” Many blocks of New York’s streets have been named for famous residents. Is there any reason why Carlin shouldn’t also be memorialized in such a way? Comment.
It bothers me when people berate cab drivers. In New York, the city would slam to a stop without these people who sit behind the wheel twelve hours a day and take you where you need to go. Critics say they drive like maniacs, they don’t know where they’re going, they’re always trying to scam passengers, and they don’t want to go to Brooklyn or Queens.
Back in the day, when I was devoid of both driver’s license and car, Butch would wait for me when I got off the commuter rail train in the bowels of Lawrence, Massachusetts. It was not a part of town where a young woman should be alone. Rarely did a cop bother to show up when the train came in. I was often asked if I was “selling” when attempting to cross the bridge over the Merrimack to the desolate downtown, where I could save two dollars on a taxi cab. That’s when I began hopping into Butch’s taxi. Continue reading
A new series detailing the struggles and triumphs of being an actor in NYC.
1.) Go to a restaurant. The end.
Here are some quick guidelines about what not to do when talking to actors:
1.) Don’t suggest they act on Broadway- This will show your ignorance immediately. Acting in NY is extremely competitive, and it’s very near impossible to make a living wage by acting alone. The people who do nothing but act are generally on Broadway or in commercials. (We’re talking about the myriad of anonymous actors here, not John Hamm) Asking your waiter an actor why they don’t just try for a Broadway play is akin to asking the mail clerk why they don’t they just try to be CEO? There is a long, painful process to getting on Broadway (unless you are in a famous theater family. See: Zoe Kazan)
2.) If a woman says she’s an actor, don’t correct her and say “Isn’t it actress?”* Look, I understand that the -ess ending signifies gender (lioness,hostess) but a female actor is an actor. A female writer is not a writress, a female doctor is not a doctress, and I see no reason why there should be a signifier that I am, in fact, a woman. My boobs do that for me. Plus it’s just rude in general to correct someone when they’re speaking. *This may only be true when dealing with me.
3.) Just because someone acts, does not mean they will preform for you this instant. Also known as “no, I’m not necessarily amazing at Charades.” Most of the actors I know take their craft very seriously. They have probably gone to school for it, and have read multiple theories on how to approach a role, and have spent countless hours trying to perfect their craft. Acting can be incredibly personal, and to ask “well act something for me” can sound like “tell me your deepest darkest secret, and then I’m going to judge you mercilessly”.” We are not monkeys, we don’t (and often can’t) perform on demand. Also, doing Shakespeare is in no way the same as trying to get someone to guess “As Wichita Falls, So Falls Wichita Falls” and to assume so makes you look stupid.
It should be noted here that I am, in fact, excellent at Charades and will challenge anyone here to a game and win. But I do not represent all actors.
4.) Don’t ask about that audition. According to Them (the internet or someone) actors face more rejection in 1 year than most people face in their lifetime. If you are friends with an actor, chances are they’ve told you about a big audition they have coming up. If you haven’t gotten a call from them saying “I got the part! I’m playing a zombie in Scary Movie 7!” they probably didn’t get it. Most of the time, actors will know within a few days whether they got the part. If it’s been 2 weeks and you just remembered they had that audition and you haven’t heard how it went, do. not. ask. They didn’t get it, and now you’re only forcing them to say, yet again, “No, I didn’t get it. I’m still stuck serving tuna tar tar to assholes. I hate my life.” This rule also applies to the internet. NEVER NEVER ask about auditions on Facebook. The theater community is small, and it’s probable that they may be friends with casting directors,writers, and directors and writing on their wall “I heard about your audition! I bet you get the part!” can be awkward. I’m looking at you grandma, cut it out.
5.) Don’t ask what “type” of acting they do. Actors act. We may have a specialized skill, such as musical theater, or Shakespeare, or Reconstruction Era comedies, but we all perform. And while acting on television or in film is in fact a completely different approach than stage, it’s not as if an actor who studied Shakespeare is going to turn down being on How I Met Your Mother. Do you know why? Because that’s where the money is. All of the money. And while there may be the rogue actor out there who would never sacrifice their art in exchange for grocery money, they are rare and should be shunned.
6.) Don’t ask “how did you learn all of those lines?” This one is really easy. Would you ask a physicist how they learned about math? No, because then you would be a doofus and no one here is a doofus. Learning lines is the most basic function of acting. There is so much more to acting than learning lines. I could write an entire book on it, and in fact many have. On Amazon (use the crasstalk link!) there are 1,477 paperback books discussing the techniques of acting. None of them will reference learning lines as the be all end all to perfecting your craft.
Okay Negative Norma, now I’m afraid to say anything at all. What can I talk about?
A list of what actors love to talk about:
And most importantly: Anything not involving acting. We are creatures passionate about many things, like basketball, or chocolate. Actors like to talk about acting only up to a certain point, and then it’s time to remember that hey, actors are people too (sort of) and have interests outside of their job.
So go forth! Tip your waiter 20%, and always remember it’s “break a leg!” not “good luck!”
As someone who’s done their fair share of couch crashing, I feel I’ve become somewhat of I’m definitely an expert on being poor in New York City. Yes, I moved back home to figure out what the hell I’m doing with my failure of a life and, more importantly, be able to eat on a daily basis, but you know what? Being poor in New York rocks. Well, as long as you’re young, pretty and know the right people. The following may not work for anti-social uggos.
Did you spend all the money your parents sent you on bagels and coke and now find yourself in the middle of Times Square at 1AM, in drag, without any way of getting home because you’re borrowing your friend’s bike and she went upstate for a few days and it’s locked away in her dorm at NYU?
It’s not a problem! You can’t hop a turnstile in this area, it’s too heavily policed, but while walking down 40th, give yourself a panic attack, walk into the subway station and start freaking out about how you just got mugged and mutter about how you used to think the Garment District was safe these days!.
The station operator will alert a police officer who will ask if you want to file a report. Say no! You just want to get home. He’ll ask you where you live. Say Brooklyn, off the G. He’ll feel bad for you and let you in. Congratulations! You have just conned your way to free transportation. Get home safe, buddy!
Have you not eaten in days? No worries, go downtown! I know, I know the Meatpacking is so five years ago, but, you know what? A lot of those clubs serve dinner, and they’re actually really good! I had some great burgers and a mind-blowing grilled cheese at Avenue one time. They have really good steak too, and, as long as you’re with a promoter, that’s all free, along with a couple bottles of vodka!
SoHo Grand’s been cutting down on their promoters and, my favorite (who no longer works there, unfortunately), the fabulous Sofia Lamar always ordered us fried octopus, pizza and fries. No food tastes better than free food.
It’s also a good idea to know which open bars work best for you. The answer to that? All of them. My favorite is the Vandam party which serves free vodka drinks for the first half hour. It’s my favorite because my friends and I have a system that nets us around 30 free drinks during that period.
Forever 21 makes really cheap clothes, but if you ever get a chance to go to one of their parties, go. They throw the best damn parties. Champagne flowing like it’s water, hors d’oeurves of amazing quality that never seem to run out and gift bags with free clothes! And they’re always early! We finished around 1130, then popped up to Hudson Hotel for more bottles before heading downtown for yet more free alcohol and cute boys.
I can’t stress this enough. Tip them when you have money and tip them well. You will be rewarded with free drinks after enough time. This one bartender shot me a missed connection after seeing my most terrible karaoke performance of all time in Williamsburg and while I never got to his bar because it was all the way in Greenpoint (seriously people, I just don’t do the G late at night. It’s traumatic. I’d get off the A and walk to get home), I have drink tickets for when I’m back in New York because we stayed in touch.
Explore the city by letting others explore your body. You don’t have to sleep on your friend’s floor every night! Just meet a cute guy and go back to his place. After all, you have an insane roommate, so you obviously can’t go back to your place! Finally, a good night’s rest!
Did you know that you can get into the Met for a penny? Surely you can scrounge up a penny. That will give you hours of air conditioning during those sultry, summer months.
There’s also a gallery opening every night, and you know what’s at those openings? Free food and booze.
You never know who you’re talking to. It might be the owner and then you might get more free booze. Happened at B.E.S., happened at B.East, and, basically, it can happen anywhere. Everything from cocaine to Patron to Margiela can be yours for free as long as you’re a social butterfly who knows how to work the game. It’s not easy, but you can do it! I know you can! Get out there and enjoy being young and poor in New York City! To be in poverty is to be in bliss.