I spent thousands of dollars
attending a supposedly
prestigious conservatory
learning a craft
that can only be learned in one place
On a stage
in front of a paying audience
In return for the horrific debt
that now rests on me
and my loving wife
I was given the high privilege
of spending three years
acting like an actor
in small classrooms
before other paying players
in a small town on the
outskirts of Hollywood
Needless to say
my time in this institution
did not
work the wonders
for my tender career
that I had hoped for
I understand that
my failure to become
an international superstar
is completely my own
but looking back
I realize
that I could have
failed much more
on the cheap
And without their help
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ABOUT THE WRITER...
Robert Bruce is one of the most read, linked, loved and reviled poets working on the web. He writes at KNIFE GUN PEN every Monday from Portland, Ore. Get more over at Twitter. If this did something to you or for you, go ahead and spread it around...
_____________________________________
Robert Bruce is one of the most read, linked, loved and reviled poets working on the web. He writes at KNIFE GUN PEN every Monday from Portland, Ore. Get more over at Twitter. If this did something to you or for you, go ahead and spread it around...
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You’re dropping science like Galileo dropped the orange.
I guess hindsight is always 20-20, isn’t it? I thought I was the only person who spent most of his life spending money on things that turned out to be worthless. “Misery loves company”, they say, so now I feel better!
Seriously, Robert, nice work once again!
I think on him
the best was all he wanted
the best was all he deserved
will it be what he uses?
for even one nanosecond of time>
I doubt it
No one knows at that age
who they are
No one knows at that age
who they might be.
I knew that when I gave it.
Whoever you are, you just completely blew my mind and possibly changed my life. I’m an actor; I’m also developing a blog, so I was hunting around for like-themed material, and I came across yours quite randomly (I literally picked a page out of the Google pile and clicked on your title). I live in New York and have been contemplating the merits of going to an M.F.A. or conservatory program; the millstones you speak of, though, have been nagging at me as I consider my options, not least of which is the reality of “acting like an actor,” not to mention the “crippling debt.” You have helped me tremendously…thank you.
Hey I am an actor too, but I am also in school as a Chemistry major with Fine Arts as my minor. I planned to move to new york and attend NYFA after graduating with my “foundation degree”. I always thought having the credentials of classes from a school would help instead of just raw talent either way I’ll have both
Hi, this poem is wonderful, I’m an acting teacher and I feel entirely the same way.
This is beautiful poem. I am also acting teacher but i can not say i feel the same.