Another week, another blog from the performance side of theater. This week--how to slay the undying.

Being a theater artist (or any kind of artist really) is tough. There's numerous challenges and dangers to the profession, from the difficulty of landing the paying gig, to physically challenging or rigorous schedules and shows, to countless other obstacles and hindrances. But perhaps the greatest danger to artists, moreso than even financial hardships or physical exhaustion and risk, is the threat of vampires.

No, not Dracula (which I've heard makes a dreadful play but an interesting musical). No, not even the Twilight glittery version (though the hemorrage-inducing and soul-murdering bad dialogue and performances are pretty toxic). I'm referring to the vampires referenced in the quirky musical [title of show]--the vampires that feed on an artists' self confidence, drive and focus. (For those unfamiliar, a YouTube link--beware, there's strong language in the song.)

As artists, our jobs are based on putting ourselves out there constantly. Additionally, the work we do and make isn't just some mechanical process or logical machination, but ioften very intimate, personal and revealing. It can be very easy to allow yourself to listen to the unhelpful voices and get discouraged, or to find yourself in a cycle of self-defeating thoughts. Doubt is an unavoidable part of the process, but I think it's so important to recognize when thoughts and doubts are draining and un-useful and try to remove them.

Similarly, the art of soliciting constructive feedback on an artistic work is important to do, and difficult to do well. I've seen critiques that were all fluffy and happy and encouraging but totally non-useful, but I've also seen critiques that were harsh, cutting, brutal--and equally unuseful. The challenge of how to ask for feedback in order to get critique that is simultaneously honest and cutting yet constructive and applicable is truly daunting.

It's very easy for criticism to become vampiric in nature rather than feed into your art-making. I once sat in a poorly moderated playwriting workshop where all the members really did was give notes that rewrote the playwright's play; phrases such as "this idea I have could be a much better plot twist" or "I don't like that character, what if she was more X Y or Z" flew fast and furious. As artists, it is both our duty and priveledge to filter the responses to our work, catching and slaying the vampires that try to sneak in with the useful stuff.

The hardest vampires to defeat are those that take the form of our loved ones or people we care about. It can be a parent / family member who asks when you'll grow up and stop "wasting your time", or just a concerned friend telling you that a real job with real pay and real benefits might be a better plan, or as in my case, a mentor telling me that I have a great shot at getting into grad school--"because many grad programs are looking for minority students"--effectively sounding like he's saying I'd get accepted because I'm Asian-American and not so much for my talent or the work I'd put forth.

It can be so hard to slay these vampires, because often they come from a place of genuine love and concern. The other challenge too, of course, is to recognize the difference between when someone or something is vampiric, or when it's simply honest and truthful and something we SHOULD listen to. However, as artists, we must train to keep our stakes handy and our self efficacy and faith strong.