To all the members of the GTC:
I hate to say this, but it is a sad day indeed. You see, I stumbled onto the GTC when a friend of mine sent me a link to the thread. I have to say, the concept behind this was genius and I do like performing plays (whether it is in Real Life or online). Sadly, I happened to come in on the sort of tail-end of the the decline of the GTC. A lot of people had quit due to Real Life commitments (such as school and stuff) or just disappeared like dust in the wind.
My first audition for the GTC was for Little Shop of Horrors. We got quite a few people for the auditions and the callbacks went well too. However, when it came to rehearsals, therein it became a problem. People started missing auditions (I was one of those because I was still getting the hang of the time zone thing at the time), but we seemed to muddle through it well enough. The first dress rehearsal was pretty promising as I believe almost everyone showed up to it and we got through it without any major problems. However, when it came time for the second and final dress rehearsal, that is when disaster struck. 3 people out of the entire cast showed up (myself included in that count).
Now, I can understand Arqueete's anger at the situation. You're expecting to put on a good play the next day and none of your cast bothers to show up to the final dress rehearsal. However, we managed to perservere and put on Chess with the three members who bothered to show up. And this was without any sort of rehearsal whatsoever. It was just, BANG, you're up. How we ever managed to get through that production, I'll never know, but we did and it was good.
Now, I have watched Arq try and generate interest in doing more plays and I have seen people say, "Oh, I'll be there at the auditions". However, when it comes time for auditions, all those people that said that they would be there, never show up and they never seem to post on the thread again (sometimes they do, but a vast majority do not). And I can sense Arq's disappointment when this happens, because I feel the same way.
I have been in four productions for the GTC: Chess, Rocky Horror, Tick, Tick, BOOM, and the Reunion Cabaret where we put on skits of previous shows. However, I find myself wanting to do more shows. Therein, lies the real problem. It's next to impossible to do shows if no one shows up for them.
So, here's the deal, members of the GTC. I don't know if Arq is even gonna consider doing another play again because of the dismal turnout for the auditions of Rocky Horror. But, if she does, I think there needs to be a few rules laid out for the performers. I'm not saying these are set in concrete, but they are just suggestions based on what I have seen since becoming an actor for the GTC.
Rule #1:>> When Arq announces that there will auditions for a performance, don't post, "Oh, I will be there for the auditions" until you go over a checklist of things in your mind. The questions on this checklist should be, "Will I be able to show up for auditions?", "Will school projects keep me from making auditions?", "Do I have a previous engagement the evening of auditions?", etc. I you can answer yes to at least one of these questions, please don't bother with the "I will be there for auditions" post. There is nothing like seeing ten people (a stretch at this point in time, I know) post that and then only have two actually show up.
Rule #2:>> Missing one audition because of a previous engagement (such as schoolwork and stuff) is fine. I understand that you have a life outside of Gaia and all that. However, if you show up for one audition, but miss the rest, you should not have bothered to audition in the first place. Yeah, I know this is harsh, but the sad fact is, is that was need commited people who can be there for auditions and the rehearsals.
Rule #3:>> This is not a rule, persay, but we really need more people to audition so that we can have an actual cast with a few understudies waiting in the wing in case of problems. I understand that stuff happens that you have no control over. Your power might go out during the middle of a performance, or your Internet may crash, or (heaven forbid) your computer blows up. But, if we have a lot of people who can be understudies for the plays we are performing, we can (hopefully) continue with the performance without too much of a problem.
Rule #4:>> This is a future rule for if we ever get enough people to actually do a show. If you come to auditions and you aren't picked for either the main cast or the understudies, don't get upset and leave permanently. Just because you weren't picked this time doesn't mean you might not get picked the next. In fact, come to the performances and watch how the actors perform the show. If you can see how it's done and adapt that to your next audition, you might get picked the next time.
I honestly wanna see the GTC continue on and thrive, but from the looks of things, this place is on life support and someone is standing there with their hand on the plug just waiting to pull it. We really need more people to start showing up in the thread itself and coming to auditions. I think this place could continue on for another five or 10 years at least, if we get a decent level of commitment from you, the people of Gaia and the members of the GTC. So, I say unto you, in closing, dust off your acting chops and stand up. Make yourself heard and become a member of the GTC today. And, if you were a previous member of the GTC who is still around, come back. We'll always welcome you back with a warm hug and grateful smile.
Now, this is perhaps the longest thing I have ever typed on Gaia to be sure. I just don't wanna see this place die because on inactivity and I can be sort of passionate about something when I find a worthy cause and I definitely think the GTC is worth it. Now, I return you to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress.