Mid-Year Review: Opportunity & Setbacks
Halfway through the year, and I’m coming off a whirlwind month.
FIrst: The Setbacks
A few disappointments for my cyber punk rock opera:
water riot’s pop-up for the Backwards River Festival got rained out ☹, but we’re working on another opportunity with The Freshwater Lab to keep the momentum going.
water riot also wasn’t among this year’s NEFA National Theater Project awardees. We did get to finalist placement (which includes a nice grant) but I admit I had my heart set on the full thing this time around. I’m still in my feels about it too, if I’m being honest. But that’s part of the territory.
Dealing with Less Then Stellar News
Over the years, I’ve learned to deal with disappointment a couple different ways.
First, I let myself feel sad about it. Or angry, or whatever feels natural. I give that emotion room to express itself so it doesn’t fester, and then I try to RELEASE it. So that’s part of what I’m doing right now.
The other way I work through things is doubling-down on aspects of the creative pursuit that I CAN control. Like the writing process itself or putting myself in a position to meet more people and expand opportunities for my work generally.
Moving On and Making Moves
Alongside these water riot disappointments, June was pretty full on the social calendar, with a number of important events:
The 2024 Peabody Awards in Los Angeles
The 2024 Theater Communications Group National Conference in Chicago.
The Sundance Institute special program in Chicago
&
The annual Creative Capital Carnival in NYC.
I’ve been having a lot of fun at all these meet-and-greets. Star Trek received an institutional award at The Peabody’s and a lot of actors, writers and producers from across the franchise were there. (I shook LeVar Burton’s Hand and had a full convo with Wilson Cruz!) And my red carpet moment made it into Deadline!
I met so many great folks at the Sundance and Creative Capital events too. Both events reminded me of the fact that there are so many artists and creatives creating and making things happen right now. I felt similarly at the TCG Conference which was quite the experience. (I’ll make a separate recap on that front.)
Between all these public events, PRIDE in Chicago and some family engagements, my social battery is a bit drained. So I’m going on a sabbatical from the day job to recharge and have some extended writing time. I’ve got some other strategies to activate for water riot, and a few other projects to advance. So there’s always something.
Hopefully I’ll have some more concrete good news to share soon!
