It’s Tough Out There

Most people,

who are not a part of the theatre society, think that the acting world is a place for games and fun. That we do as we like, that we play and have fun and our only challenge is whether or not we manage to memorise a script. 

If you’re one of these people, allow me to swipe that impression from your brain right away:

You can’t be late; if you are, people won’t hire you. You have to catch on quickly; time is money, you waste time, people won’t hire you. There are no second chances; you make a mistake, people won’t hire you. Then of course you have to count in the competition on top of that. 

At East 15, my school, they wish to prepare us the best they can for this, so what they have done, is this: 

If you come but two minutes late to a lesson, you will be marked absent. If you are marked absent three times, you will fail in that subject, and if you fail in one subject you will fail the entire year. No mercies. 

And I swear by my life and the my student loan (I know I’m being dramatic, but I’m also perfectly serious) it actually is that strict here. Two minutes late, you will be marked absent. That is not over-exaggerated in the slightest – not even by thirty seconds. You might not believe me, fine, your problem, but this is the absolute truth. 

I pray to all and whatever forces out there: don’t ever let me oversleep.