The Thespian Pause may at first seem rather self-explanatory. However, it is rather misleading. Though dubbed the "thespian pause"; it is not a pause made by thespians. Perhaps I should have named it "the pause made by people who find out that your chosen path is the life of an artist, more specifically that of an actor, and they do not find it plausible nor practical in the least; and thus they do not know how to reply and instead create awkward moments of silence in which they try not to laugh, and then attempt to conceive of ways to convince you that you should not try to be an actor, because only Johnny Depp and people like him can be actors; and you should instead be an accountant because you can made a respectable and steady living doing that". However, I thought that was a bit lengthy.
Perhaps you got a bit of an idea as to the true meaning behind The Thespian Pause within the previous and somewhat superfluous paragraph. I have only recently truly begun to understand it myself. As a recently declared Theatre Major, I have just started my journey into this world. Though I have been exposed to this as an artist/theatrical pursuer in the past, I have never stated it outright as my career choice. I am curious to see this unfold as I continue to get asked the question: "What's your major?" and/or: "What do you plan on doing once you graduate from the University?" Generally, when the questions are asked in this order, the second question comes laden with an incredulous and/or horrified tone. Sometimes, it even escalates into hysterics; at which point the personage posing the query will have a melt down and fall to the floor, begging the crazed Theatre Major to choose a different path. Any other path. Anything but theatre.
If you have ever seen this reaction live, you can have 2.5 thespian points. I shouldn't really be giving out thespian points for something like that,
Continuing on with the subject at hand... I really had to force myself not to use the term 'digress' again; I really enjoy it far too much. If you used the term 'digress' within the past week, you can have four more thespian points, which are really starting to seem rather random. You will notice that while this paragraph attempted to return to the topic of this blog post, it utterly failed and became its own entity. That's okay; I forgive it. Everything needs to assert its independence somehow.
*AHEM* Seriously, time to get back on track.
The Thespian Pause is at once a terrifying and amusing thing. As a theatre performer, musician, or other proclaimed artist by trade, the Thespian Pause (which could perhaps be more accurately named the "Performer's Pause" or "Artist's Pause") embodies all the fears you have already realized yourself and defeated in order to get where you are. For I would consider it already quite a large feat to devote yourself to a field in the performing arts, or simply arts in general; especially when all the surrounding societal pressures, and oftentimes evidence, tells you that this is exactly what you should not be doing under any circumstances ever unless you are independently wealthy and know how to sky dive while playing the bagpipes, which could possibly get you incredibly famous.
I, unfortunately, do not have this skill. Perhaps that means I should turn tail and run from the theatre department as fast as I can. That Thespian Pause that has been plaguing me has only just begun, and perhaps I should listen. They could be right. Maybe the chances of making a career in this field are not perfect. But guess what?
I don't care. Not in the slightest. This is what I want to do; this is what I love. There is nothing that makes me happier. I made myself miserable for quite some time trying to make myself be "practical", whatever that means, and it didn't pay off. I know now exactly what I should be doing, and I have to tell you; it's one of the most amazing feelings in the world. I wake up, and every single day, I am ecstatic because I remember that I am a theatre major and I am doing what I love. You need to find what gives you that passion in life and pursue it. What makes your heart leap and your blood rush? Every single bit of my day is full of moments where I pause and just think about the fact that I chose to do what I love, theatre, and nothing is more satisfying than that.
Furthermore, nothing can stop me from doing it. No matter how many times I get the Thespian Pause, and I'm sure it will be many more, it will not change my mind. Perhaps, stubborn fool that I am, it will only strengthen my resolve. And when you find what you love to do, why would you ever do anything else? What's the point of making yourself miserable? I might sound as though I have a romanticized view of life; but I prefer to think that although I have the knowledge that life will be tough and knock me down many times throughout its course, I will always get back up. And every time I get back up, I will be a little bit closer to my goal. It's not about expecting things to come easily; it's about never stopping.
Don't let the Thespian Pause, or its equivalent, give you pause.
No comments:
Post a Comment