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Our culture is pathetic when it comes to supporting the arts. Currently, we have a very smug and cavalier attitude when it comes to the performance arts as seen as a "hobby", or that it isn't a "real job." And the way most people spend their money on cheap entertainment masquerading as fine art supports that attitude. We'd like to look at artists as starving, poor, and unambitious who don't want to actually work for a living. We look at musical theatre, the ballet, the symphony, local rep. companies, and we turn our noses up at them and self-righteously sneer and say, "Oh my god, I HATE theatre/ballet/art galleries!" And what is pathetic most is that attitude is applauded more than despised.
And yet we want to be entertained. We want to contemplate meaning behind movie performances. That alone takes a level of skill that needs to be cultivated and trained. But how do people think artists work? With a snap of the fingers? No, we practice, practice, practice constantly, and that takes the bulk of our work in order to perfect our craft for YOUR entertainment. Nevertheless, the arts has a huge attrition rate because of pressure from family and friends to choose alternative careers "to fall back on." And many do because it's more than difficult to support yourself on less than $800 a month and training/performing 12-14 hours a day. Do that for several years, and it's easy to get jaded in this culture where not only are paid slave wages, but your industry is insulted by and large.
My ultimate slap to our culture is to get off your high horse and support your local arts councils, organizations, and companies. If your town or city has a resident troupe, orchestra, conservatory, chorale, you name it, go see it and stop funneling money into the very kind of cheap entertainment that you like to bellyache about anyway. If, say, you decide to see a "Shakespeare in the Park" performance that is free to the public and you only have to bring some snacks and a blanket and two hours of your time, find out who is sponsoring the event and support those businesses/organizations with your money.
And finally, if you think you really are that much better as a person or a harder worker than a ballet dancer, I dare you.....DARE you...... to take a ballet class and see if you even last 30 minutes without collapsing in pain and exhaustion.
My name is Heather. I'm a performance artist. And I'm dedicated to getting the respect that me and my colleagues deserve. If you still think you're too good for the performance arts, you can kiss my sweet ***.
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