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[side_show]

Things have been going swimmingly for me artistically.  Unfortunately, I'm currently faced with a dilemma.  I have several very wonderful opportunities on the table that all happen over the month and a half span.  While it would be possible to take on all the opportunities, if I did, I'd be so stressed out that I'd not enjoy any of them.  So I basically need to cut out something.  It's killing me though.

Here is what is up:

1) The theatre company that is producing my play has invited me to come down to workshop another play I've just written as part of a festival.  There is a lot of work involved in the preparation, but this could lead to this new script also getting picked up by them to do, and no matter what will foster my relationship with the company quite positively.

2) Out of the blue the artistic director of an important theatre company called me and told me he was reading a script and had me in mind for a particular role.  The role is pretty interesting, and I've really, really wanted to foster a relationship with this company.  The script itself is not that fantastic.  However, the amount of time learning lines, rehearsing etc. would mean I'd need to take a leave of absence from opportunity #3, and that I'd be taking on opportunity 1 at the same time as opportunity 2.  Also, in some ways I'm sort of done with acting, and in others I sort of feel like I want one last hurrah.

3) The children's theatre has asked me back to my regular gig there running workshops.  I love working there, it's a 10 month gig that provides me with financial stability, and it's just a nice place to be.  The job does very little for me artistically, but the environment is wonderful.  If I take opportunity 1, I'd likely only need to take a little time off.  If I take opportunity 2 or a combination of 1&2 I'd need to take a month to a month and a half off during the busyest time of the program.  While they're willing to let me take whatever time I need, I know I would be leaving them in a lurch and that things would likely go to shit while I was away.

I know myself well enough to know I'd be miserable doing all three at once.  It's too much, and I'd crumble.  If they weren't all happening within the same month I'd be overjoyed to have these three gigs on my plate for the year.

[wombat]

I second Ash on this and add my observation that the "one last hurrah in something you are done with" thing... it's easy to underestimate how much work it is going to be and to overestimate how worthwhile it's going to seem. Because your perspective on the amount of effort it used to take is colored by the fact that back when you used to do this thing, you were working on building that career - all the work that went into any one project was groundwork for the future.  When that's no longer true, you're no longer getting the same value out of the time you're putting into this one project. 

Does that make any sense? I am sure that it does, but I am having a hard time explaining it.

[jaydub]

If the script was better, I'd be more inclined to see your #2 as something worth your time.  Otherwise "For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday."

[pmcd9]

You're a writer now, take the writing gig.  That's a given.  Take the steady gig, you gotta get paid.  The only real question I see is do I really want to take this acting gig?

[side_show]

I went down to the office of the acting gig, fully planning to back out.  Then the artistic director was so lovely and brilliant that I started to feel doubt.  But since she was so lovely and brilliant, I just came out with it and told her I was having schedule conflicts, and she responded that nothing was set in stone on the company's end in regard to the schedule, and that I should go ahead with things all round and see what happens.  I think I unintentionally have them in a bit of a corner.  I am basically the only trained actor of my age and race around, and the play calls for an actor of my age and race.  They could, of course, cast someone who looks Metis/Aboriginal, but that's a very political point in a city with such a high Aboriginal population. 

So I've decided I'll take the role if it gets rescheduled, but not if it stays the same.  It's an absolute "no" if it's at the same time as the writting gig.  I've got a reading with everyone tomorrow.

The artistic director and the director are both brilliant people I want to work with, and as my career grows, I'd like to have them put on my play and/or direct something for their company.  I'm just on the cusp of being the type of artists they'd consider producing, so fostering a relationship with them is a really good thing.  If it comes to pass that I have to turn them down, I'm hoping to leave them wanting more.

Hooray for talking honestly with people about your concerns!

[AugustWest]

Hooray for talking honestly with people about your concerns!

Isn't it amazing how often and well that works?

[wombat]

Hooray for Smells.  And you know, even if you end up not being able to do the acting gig, I think this still counts as starting the relationship that you want to have with them.  Reasonable people don't resent you for saying no for a good reason.  And, the unreasonable part of people is probably made to feel that you are even more desirable if you say no, of course.

So, speaking of literary career news, I just had an agent offer to represent the mystery that I wrote.  The real reason though that this fits in this thread is - there is also another agent who is still reading it, so I have to email that one and see what's up.  The other one is a bigger deal agent I think - but I am kind of hoping she just says no promptly, because otherwise I will have one of those Too Many Opportunities dilemmas where I can't say yes to more than one. And then I have exactly a fifty percent chance of making totally the wrong choice. AIIIEEEE.

[CortJstr]

Wombat, when it gets published will you read an excerpt at Olsson's?

[AugustWest]

So, speaking of literary career news, I just had an agent offer to represent the mystery that I wrote.  The real reason though that this fits in this thread is - there is also another agent who is still reading it, so I have to email that one and see what's up.  The other one is a bigger deal agent I think - but I am kind of hoping she just says no promptly, because otherwise I will have one of those Too Many Opportunities dilemmas where I can't say yes to more than one. And then I have exactly a fifty percent chance of making totally the wrong choice. AIIIEEEE.

Hooray for Wombat!

[wombat]

Wombat: Whichever one can best represent your work to the widest range of potential publishers, backed by industry experience along with a professional commitment to your project is the winner.

But how will I knoooowww....

But, it's too soon to worry. The second one will probably say no - most of the others have, after all.

And as far as whether Olsson's will have me for an author appearance... it's still IF it gets published at this point, so we'll maybe cross that bridge much much later on if very lucky.

[theinevitable]

A letter arrived at my house addressed to a certain ms Rebecca (Lastname which is what you get if you took my mom's last name, and changed one letter to make it italian instead of spanish). This girl is from my high school-- nice, unbelievably gorgeous, etc. I sent her an email telling her I got her mail, and that I will bring it over.

So. I guess there isn't really a paradox-- I am going to bring it over, say hi, chitchat, and then leave. It'll be awesome.
I suppose the alternative is that her dad answers the door or something.

[jaydub]

Or she tackles you and drags you to the couch for long repressed maximum cuddles.  In which case we expect an appropriately circumspect update.

[theinevitable]

oh, goodness.
Option three: "oh, that's funny, I haven't lived in that part of Charlotte in years. What is it, just junk mail or whatever? just recycle it, I don't want you to go to any trouble. How was your year?"

[linnea]

As long as it's non-creepy I'm sure you'll be fine.

I interned for an architectural firm when I was in college. They hired one of the world's smarmiest bastards as a designer. Guy was a total douche. He found a girl's University ID card. Rather than turn it in to the university, he emailed her and asked her to meet him to pick it up. (!!!) Surprise surprise, he never heard from her.

Anyway... on topic. Congratulations to side_show and Wombat... I know that the choices are agonizing but I'm happy that you have so many opportunities vying for your attentions.

[theinevitable]

wow.

I found so many ID cards. It never occurred to me to keep them as a way to meet the girl on them. I turned both ID cards and the credit card I found into the police station.

I guess my Game is not up to that level.

(and oh, by option three, I meant "this is what actually happened, she told me to recycle it.")