Five Free Ways To Re-Charge Your Artistic Batteries This Summer
Sara Glancy
Featured Writer
Here are three things that happened to me last Thursday:
- My phone died. (Very common)
- I went to an EPA (pretty common)
- The EPA was completely empty and I got seen immediately. (NOT common)
Why am I telling you these three mundane details about my Thursday? Because today we are talking about:
Burnout.
I think we can all agree that we hit this past audition season HARD. We got up early. We went to multiple auditions a day. There was constantly an Audition Update tab open on our computer.
Some of us got burned out.
And once you get burned out, it can be really hard to recharge. This is why I always carry a phone charger in my purse. I’ve learned that once my phone battery gets below ten percent, it takes a LONG time to recharge. But if I’m good about charging it throughout the day, it never ventures into the red zone.
As actors, we’re no different. Once we get artistically depleted, it’s nearly impossible to get the shit done we KNOW we need to be doing. So without any further ado, here are five FREE things you can do this summer to recharge your artistic batteries.
1. SEE A SHOW AT LINCOLN CENTER LIBRARY!
Did you know that the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts has a floor where you can watch archival videos of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows? Well, now you do! GO! It is a magical experience and it is COMPLETELY FREE. Check out the details here!
*Not in NYC? Treat yourself to a free trial of BroadwayHD and choose a title! (I personally think “Indecent” is a must-see!)
2. DO A PLAY READING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM!
Seriously. Don’t overthink it.
Pick some friends. Pick a play. Pick a night. Pick some wine.
Charge those batteries.
3. CREATE A BITCHIN’ SUMMER PLAYLIST!
Spotify is a magical thing, people. Collaborate with some friends on a playlist. Is there a show you recently discovered that you want to share with your friends? They probably have one of those too! Discover those gems!
If any of your friends have not fallen in love with “I’d Rather Be Me” come September, you are not doing your job.
4. REVISIT WHATEVER SHOW MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THEATRE
Was it an old VHS of Wizard of Oz? Rent it on Amazon. Have a movie night that reminds you of the pure uncomplicated joy theatre used to bring you.
Was it the original cast recording of “Jesus Christ Superstar”? When was the last time you listened to that?! Go ahead, get some #HeavenOnTheirMinds.
5. GO ENJOY SOME BEAUTY THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEATRE
Go to a museum. Commune with nature. Fall into a good book. Write a poem. Remind yourself that there is beauty to be found everywhere, and you don’t have to be in a show to enjoy it.
Sara Glancy is an NYC actor and the founder of Audition Rep Matchmaker, a service that helps match actors with the audition materials that will book them jobs. She last wrote for OnStage Blog about actors and self-sabotage.
PHOTO BY JESSICA OSBER