The Talented

Went to an event last night called "Cabaret Party." The brainchild of two very talented and very funny friends, it's an opportunity for music theater types to get together, have a glass of wine, and sing some songs. It's an open mic, anybody can get up and sing, and performances range from polished opening-night-ready numbers to works in progress that sometimes require a lyric or two fed by the pianist.

I had a couple of thoughts. The first of which is, "Wow!," we have some incredibly gifted and talented performers right here in Orlando. I heard fantastic voices, saw some phenomenal comic acting (NOT an easy thing to do!), and discovered several new songs. This was not a case of, "gosh, I want to be a singer." These WERE singers, in the best sense of the word.

Which brings me to my second thought. The vast majority of these talented people are working in the entertainment industry in Orlando. That's code for Disney. A couple at Universal, but the vast majority at the Mouse. Heck, the vast majority work at the Finding Nemo show, but that's not the point. The point is, very few of these folks actually sing for a living. Many work behind the scenes. Several don't even work on the performance side - they are in offices or other administrative positions. There are always a couple who are about to leave for New York, or who have just come back from New York, or who split time between here and New York. But generally, these are extremely talented people who have to work 2, 3, or 4 jobs just to make a living. And that makes me a bit sad. I realize that's the business, and that's life - we've ALL been there! - but it just doesn't seem right. We would all make more money if we sold timeshares, or landscaped lawns, or worked as paralegals. But then again, life's not just about money. Right?

But then, there's the other side of that coin: Here are people, coming out on a cold Sunday night to sing and support others and be together, simply because it makes them happy. Maybe they're not in a show right now, and might not be able to for some time, but they still love the theater, and love to sing, and learn new songs, and sing with friends, and laugh and cry and get angry and offended and scandalized and tickled, because it makes them happy. And alive.

It's like the scene in "Field of Dreams," where Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) is talking about his expulsion from the game of baseball, and says, "we would have played for free." That's why these people came out on a cold Sunday night. For the love of the game.