Maybe Your Friend Shouldn’t Be Your Director

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Alix Cohen

Soapbox: Cabaret

Maybe Your Friend Shouldn’t Be Your Director

March 17, 2016

Alix-Cohen-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212While I understand both wanting to with work with someone you like and the appeal of a probable discount for services, take into consideration that you may not be getting honest assessment when you hire a friend to be your director. A friend may let you get away with things that should be changed or edited out in order not to hurt your feelings.

He or she may concentrate on that about which you’re least secure (say range and octave, letting lyrical meaning fall by the wayside), observe an habitual gesture as familiar and benign without registering how it affects communicating the material, or act as the focus of your rehearsal, not addressing the importance of connecting to strangers around the room.

A friend is less likely to tell you your dress is too short or tight or that your favorite jeans are inappropriate for the theme, club, occasion. He or she may appreciate your lung power and the desire to show it off, losing sight of where it’s employed.

Will your director push for better research despite time constraints or impatience? Will he/she cut an entertaining tale or a song you do well when the show drags?

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Will he/she tell you when a number doesn’t work, despite best efforts?

That first performance in front of family, friends, and colleagues is frankly no criteria. You will be cheered and toasted regardless of relative quality. (Watch out for private references here; you’re not in your living room.) It’s the second or third show that counts, when strangers judge objectively.

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Your director must be able to exercise lack of bias. Then, if you want to get a drink together, fine.

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Alix Cohen

Alix Cohen’s writing began with poetry, segued into lyrics then took a commercial detour. She now authors pieces about culture/the arts, including reviews and features. A diehard proponent of cabaret, she’s also a theater aficionado, a voting member of Drama Desk, The Drama League and of The NY Press Club in addition to MAC. Currently, Alix writes for Cabaret Scenes, Theater Pizzazz and Woman Around Town. Additional pieces have been published by The New York Post, The National Observer’s Playground Magazine, Pasadena Magazine and Times Square Chronicles. Alix is the recipient of six New York Press Club Awards.