I am enjoying all the research I am reading from other blogs, news articles and different websites.
Something I have come across a handful of times now, is about a performers "image".
I for one, like to take pride in my appearance in day to day life. But when it comes to performing I suddenly feel an overwhelming need to look immaculate.
Just last week I performed in Annie as Lily St. Regis. Lily is a flirtacious, glamorous young lady.
Eveyday I would be preparing my hair for the wig, glueing on my fake eye lashes, applying stage foundation, blusher, red lipstick, tights, high heels etc. Yet I still looked at pictures from the opening night, dissatisfied.
I don't find this surprising. No wonder there is such a complex with appearance in this day in age. Constantly we're seeing articles such as Nikki Minaj untouched - Spot the difference! or The Science Behind Renee Zellwegers new Face - It's utterly ridiculous.
Last week a friend mentioned that she, as a singer on a cruise ship, is weighed weekly. I was a bit flabbergasted at this (pun intended). My weight fluctuates A LOT but my clothes never seem to fit differently, but it's actually factual in her case, that if she went up in weight by 3lbs, she would be sacked.
I can gain 4lbs throughout the day sometimes if I've been out to dinner and perhaps been a bit lazy!
Which led me to this question.
Why is image so vital to be a good performer?
There are SO many different outlooks.
Ballet dancers for example. Ballet dancers have incredible physiques. They are pure muscle! I guarantee some weigh a lot more than you would think. Just because they may wear UK size 6 clothes, does not mean they won't weigh the same as a "normal" size UK 12 female... Muscle weighs a lot more than fat.
Would they be sacked if they "weighed" differently one week to the next... I don't know, but my goodness, one would hope not.
Trying to understand these odd "weight rules" had me thinking of WHY.
Ok, they have costumes made to measure each individual... I'm pretty sure we would all know if our clothes were a bit tighter than previously. I am more than aware when I have perhaps gained a bit of weight (and even more so if I had lost ;)) but surely, that is enough to keep you in check? Would they sack someone if they went from 9 stone, to 8 and a half? Somehow I doubt that and this disappoints me.
IF the costumes is the main factor, then surely having your measurements taken each week or month would be far more beneficial than being weighed? It certainly would in my case anyway.
Because of the world we live in, I sadly feel costumes are not the main cause of performers being weighed regularly, and performers feeling pressurised to remain "thin".
I hope, professional performers never aim to be "skinny".
Image may not just be size but I do sadly think it plays the largest part of a performers image.
The article below, discusses a dancers need to be (in their words) fetishishing thin.
Dance needs to stop fetishising thin
It also touches on Channel 4 programme "Big Ballet" which showed incredibly talented plus size ladies learning ballet and performing.
Why is there never focus on the middle ground? Me for example. Why should we focus on super skinny or super large? What about the normal sized women around the world who exersize to keep fit, each chips when they want too but overall live a normal natural life? I'm pretty certain if I am on stage in a leotard and tights, there may be the odd wobble, but my god I would have a spark and determination like never before, and that is important, not the circumference of my calves for crying out loud.
On the article I linked above they finish by saying "By far the best argument against the fetishisation of thin, is to see and enjoy everything that lies beyond it." - I love that quote to a certain degree, but let's just stop making size "a thing".
There is a song out at the moment called "All About That Bass" by Megan Trainor. Some of the lyrics include
"I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop.
We know that shit ain't real
C'mon now, make it stop
If you got beauty, beauty, just raise 'em up
'Cause every inch of you is perfect
From the bottom to the top"
which is GREAT.
Whilst I do wish everyone would stop harping on about size, that is a great message if ever we need one.
She then goes on to sing
"Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size.
She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night."
At first I'd not think anything of it, but then I worry that those girls who are born naturally size UK 6 who maybe don't have "all that booty" are going to be downtrodden.
Constantly we read about, listen to it, look in the mirror and think it ourselves.
X Factor takes every contestant from judges houses, and "transforms them" into a superstar by the live shows.
Does this change how good of a singer Sam Bailey was? Certainly not... Or how much of a likeable personality she has? No. Is it neccessary because she wants to look her best on TV...maybe yes. Is it imperative for her to be a successful artist in 2014? Sadly, I think so. Not from my opinion, but so many other professionals and TV veiwers.
I particularly like this section.
"Image doesn’t mean changing who you are or what you stand for. You don’t need to make a statement or box yourself into some subculture. Image is about consistency and an unwavering commitment to a specific tone, look and feel. It’s about creating something that people can stand behind because they feel as if it’s more than just a product; it’s a brand they can trust."
That's more my kind of talking. I guess image will always be important. I just think, being the best possible version of yourself is more important than the weightloss, the veneers and the pout!
Wonderful blog, thank you for a great read!
ReplyDeleteI've mentioned something along these lines in one of my blogs recently: because I specialise in Cabaret, I would like to believe there is more acceptance of different body shapes and types because of the variety of Variety! However, as cabaret has become more commercial, I have stated that I believe there is a lean towards a more 'commercially acceptable' body-type. Despite performing in this industry for the better part of a decade, three times in the last year I have been either explicitly told or it has been implied that I needed to loose weight. One venue, that I had worked at for six months, even refused to continue to employ me unless I lost weight!
It saddens me as I *know* I'm good at my job, yet I see people who are (in my opinion) not particularly good, getting amazing bookings and performing at fabulous events, purely because they look the part even though their acts or routines are dull or (in one particular case) painful to watch it's so bad!
It's a tricky thing to negotiate as there is obviously a lot of personal opinion over an ideal of beauty and it saddens me that industries supposedly based on talent are placing more and more emphasis on weight or looks over ability.
xx
Sorry Dani I've only just seen that you replied!! I must figure out a way to get notifications of this.
ReplyDeleteI've just got back into auditioning (when I say that, I mean 2 auditions in 6 weeks so it's a slow process) after a 5 week break from professional performing. I've had paid jobs for choreography, even radio and concerts but I'm looking down the musical theatre/cruise/shows side of things now. I feel "large" and it's crazy because my waist is 1.5inches bigger and hips 1inch bigger than when I graduated from LTS in 2009. In the great scheme of things, my measurements should not be deemed large.
I think it's so bad that professionals think anything less than a small size 10 is acceptable in our industry.
If I'm honest, and I don't have a great deal of knowledge in Cabaret, but of what I have seen, I'd much rather see a curvy or voluptuous woman! It's a shame that 'commercially acceptable' is a lot thinner than what so many women are.