Erin's Adventure to New York!

Now what?

erinherrick — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 05:37:00 GMT

So I’ve been here for a month and a half now.

The city’s exciting glow of novelty has faded for the time being as the reality of life here has become apparent. It’s certainly still fun, but it’s also very difficult. I’ve been going to voice lessons every week which has been very rewarding, but I don’t have as much time or energy really to do dance classes or other creative work. I’ve recently started working at a bar in the Village, which has been necessary to keep me from plundering my entire savings. To be honest though, it’s been a difficult step for me for a number of reasons: On one hand, I am not the kind of person who thinks it’s fun to stay up until 4am partying. I don’t find shouting at strangers above a deafening DJ dance party particularly stimulating either. I can’t even begin to divulge my disgust for the atmosphere of the place, which is a pirate-themed sports bar fully equipped with a dance cage and light-up beer pong tables. Just to drive it home for you, the bar is featured on an Internet list of the top 25 “Douchiest Bars in NYC”. On the other hand though, this job has the potential to be a stepping-stone to something much better if I stick it out. In New York, nobody wants to train waitresses, but this one is letting me so it’s quite possible that in a few months I could get a job at a much nicer place. I also feel like I need to acknowledge that my privileged upbringing has led me to feel entitled to a better occupational disposition that I don’t yet deserve. As they say, uncommon things were never accomplished in common hours. Still, maybe the fact that I despise staying up until 4am is a good sign this is not an industry I should be pursuing… I’d happily take any advice anyone has on the matter. I really don’t know what the right decision is here.

In other, happier news I get to move into my new 2-bedroom apartment this week! I’ve already gained access to it and I’m just waiting for my bed to get delivered. I’m really excited to have my own place. Not to brag, but the space is newly renovated and beautiful – it has modern recessed lighting, new hardwood floors, new appliances, A/C, laundry in the basement, and enough room to do an elaborate jig in my bedroom. The fact that it’s way uptown and a 4 flight walk-up will I’m sure prove to be annoying as all get out, but I’m going to choose to ignore those things for now because they seem to be worth the price of the place. I don’t have a roommate yet, but I should have one by the end of the month… :)

In terms of artistic stuff, I’m sure everyone is wondering what auditions I’ve gone out for, etc. But I haven’t done any auditions yet, and I’d like to explain why: I want to feel confident in my preparedness when I first go out for something here. I am doing work really great towards being ready for a major audition, but my performance is not yet up to a standard I know I’m capable of. I want to be sure my theatrical experience in New York is different from my experiences in Seattle. I think a lot of the negative feelings I had about my experience in Seattle’s theatre scene came from a place of not really knowing what I was getting myself into and taking it personally when I didn’t get the feedback I’d hoped for my work. Now that I know what I want and learning the tools to achieve it, I need to prove it to myself what I’m capable of before I make the effort to showcase it to others. I don’t blame you if you think that’s a load of bull, or that I’m just being lazy, or whatever. Sometimes I feel like that could partly be true. But regardless, I think this is the best way for me to go about getting where I want to be. And for your information, I am still working on projects that I’m really excited about: I’ve signed up to compete in a national Musical Theatre singing competition at the end of May where the finalists get to be seen by top agents in New York. I am also going to be part of the Broadway Theatre Project this summer, which is a 3-week intensive of studying with Broadway actors, choreographers, directors, etc. so basically it's boot camp for thespians. The intensive culminates in a showcase for top Casting Agents in New York, so that should be equally terrifying and motivating!

I’ve been missing home as usual, but it’s certainly making more and more sense that I’m here. Lately I’ve been forced to grow up in a way that I really wasn’t able to back home. For example, people in New York aren’t afraid to take advantage of you because we’re all competing for the same resources here (housing, socio-economic status, meaningful relationships). This has forced me to fight for my own priorities like I’ve never had to before. It is also becoming apparent that New York is in a perpetual state of upheaval, where life cannot be controlled as much as I’m used to. You never know if the train you’re supposed to take isn’t running normally on a particular day, or if the people talking in another language are making fun of you, or if Trader Joe’s will be out of that one item you’ve schlepped across town to find! I guess you could say I’m being forced to let go of my need for constancy in a way, and I have a feeling that’s a really good thing...

I'm here!

erinherrick — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 10:41:00 GMT

When I first got to the city I spent the first couple of weeks just jumping around between a couple of friends’ places and working on trying to find a more permanent place to stay. I found a sublet to stay in through the end of April. It's a 2 bedroom apartment in West Harlem/Morningside Heights area at Broadway and 125^th ST. It’s close to Columbia and the Manhattan School of Music, so there are lots of people my age around all the timel. I'm not quite getting as lost as I was the first week or so any more. That is a big relief beause getting lost in NY is maddening.

I’m living with a couple in their late 20s who are very nice and have been very helpful getting me used to the new space. I don’t really have any housewares so it’s pretty fortunate I get to just steal their stuff – well, use their stuff. I’m trying to find somewhere more permanent starting May 1. But the housing market here is so insanely quick here that I may have to wait until it gets closer to that date to find a place. Stressful, right?

In terms of music/theatre things I’ve been doing, I have started studying with my new Voice teacher who specializes in Musical Theatre singing. Working with him has been so enlightening. I can’t wait to see how my voice progresses in the coming weeks. I’ve even found out how to sneak into some music practice rooms at Columbia, which is an awesome accomplishment that I did not expect. I’ve also been to a couple dance classes at the Broadway Dance Center and it’s been tough but the the ideal work I need right now in the dance department. It’s also great to have a place that specializes in theatre dance since most studios I’ve been to back home just do the standard Jazz , Modern, and Ballet.

I’ve seen a few shows here including “Antony & Cleopatra” at the Public Theatre and “Dinner with Friends” on Broadway. But I can’t really afford to be throwing my money or time at stuff like that right now. I’m looking for some place to work... since I don't want to wory about if I can or can't make rent. I have a few options at my disposal right now, but I think what I’m going to try out first is waitressing and/or nannying. (So if you know of any families in NY in need of a nanny, feel free to give them my name!)

We’ll see how this goes... I hope I don’t let the day job zap me of all my energy. I am trying to get used to how intense this city is. There’s just so much happening all the time. Good things, for sure, but it’s tough feeling grounded when there are so many different things I want to be doing, and also when I don’t have a permanent place of my own yet. But it’s raining at the moment, so I guess it feels a little more like home today. :)

Erin's Adventure to New York!

erinherrick — Thu, 6 Feb 2014 11:16:00 GMT

Hi there! Thanks for checking in with me and my adventure to New York City! I’ve decided to keep this blog as a means to keeping my family & friends in touch with what I’m up to on the opposite side of the country. As most of you probably know, it’s been a long held dream of mine to live in New York City and take part in its vibrant theatre community. I have finally put aside my reservations and resolved to leave Seattle on Friday, February 28th to pursue my next chapter. I hesitate to call my leaving for New York a “move” since I plan on straddling the two coasts as much as humanly (and financially) possible. So I’m just going to call it an “Adventure”, because I really see it as just that. Don’t think I’m abandoning you, Seattle! You will always have my heart and be my home. I’ll be back again for a bit sooner than you know it.

My hope is that New York will be the fresh start I’m looking for to help me grow as an artist and become my own person during this uneasy period of my post-collegiate life. Though Seattle has been so good to me, I feel that for me personally to figure out myself and what my future will look like, I need to let go of the comfort of my home and the obligations I hold to my past. I also need to extend a huge thanks to all the people who have encouraged me and have prodded me to realize that this Adventure is something I really want for myself.

So what is my plan once I get to the Big Apple, you might ask? Thanks to Dr. Kari Ragan, my beyond-incredible voice teacher for the past 2 years, I have made contact with a New York voice teacher who specializes in the oeuvre of professional Musical Theatre voice training. I cannot wait to begin working with the renowned David Sabella-Mills as soon as I get there. My hope is that with his guidance I can hit the ground running with auditioning and begin building my professional network. As my other artist friends well know, it is a bit of an abstract jigsaw puzzle figuring out one’s path as a potentially professional artist.

Another thing I DO know about my Adventure is once I get to the city I have been graciously offered a place to stay by my mom’s cousin (I just call him “uncle”) Siggy. Not only will I have a roof over my head, I will also have family who I adore and have always wanted to spend more time with. I can’t wait for Uncle Siggy, his wife Maya, and their children Matsuri, Tayo, Lulu, and Shota to be my home away from home, at least until I find another place to crash for a bit. Here’s me vowing to NOT abuse my offer to stay there.

For my own sake, I hope that this blog will keep me honest and accountable in my pursuits. I have to admit that the scariest part of my leaving home is that I could lose myself. With necessary focus and the helping hands of those I love though, I hope that in losing my current self I can discover new aspects of myself that ultimately allow me become the kind of person I wish to one day be.

Thank you all for reading and for any words of wisdom you wish to share with me.

All my love,

Erin