The Spencer theory- (first let me say that this is tongue in cheek since I don't think that names define a person) I currently have two Spencers in my cast. They are both little annoying twerps. I've had at least one other Spencer as a student, and he was also annoying. Of the two I am dealing with right now, one is going to always be annoying. Even as an adult. He just is. The other is probably going to turn into the kind of annoying that certain girls find charming. He'll be fine.
I don't think I know any Prestons. Just seemed like the same style of name.
Tiny: I haven't met a Rhett, but I totally agree about Piper.
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Last week, after my first week of rehearsal, I got a phone call on Friday morning.
VM: "Yeah, this is Mr. Ferman* and we just got this letter and my daughter wants to be in the play. Call me."
(this is going to be a difficult blog story to tell because right here I want to break into the voice for you which is some combination of my version of my Dad's voice, my "Mean Guy" voice, and my "Theatre Professor" voice ;)
2 hours later, he called again.
VM: "OK, you haven't called me back, I don't know why you are avoiding me, my daughter really wants to be in the school play so she will be at rehearsal TODAY."
Well, there was no rehearsal that day, so I called him back.
Me: Hi Mr. Ferman, it's me**Him: Yeah, my daughter just got this letter about the play and she really wants to be in it.Me: Well, that's kind of a problem since auditions were back in December, before the break, and we've already had one week of rehearsal...Him: What? Look we just found out about this! It's not my fault we didn't know about this sooner.Me: Well that information went out a while ago...Him: WE JUST GOT ITMe: Ok, but I have 68 other kids who all got the letter a month ago so the miscommunication wasn't from my end and...Him: WHEN DID REHEARSAL START ?Me:Um, Tuesday.Him: WELL THAT WAS ONLY 3 DAYS AGO. MY DAUGHTER REALLY WANTS IN THIS PLAY SHE'S BEEN WAITING ALL YEAR.Me: Ok- What grade is she in?Him: 4th - she can be at rehearsal todayMe: Well, I can probably get her in. And we don't have rehearsal today, the next one for 4th grade is Tuesday.Him: She'll be there. Oh yeah, and she wants the LEAD. SHE'S REALLY GOOD AND YOU SHOULD GIVE HER THE LEAD PART.
(Now I honestly started to laugh, and then got the feeling that would be a bad idea. But seriously? SERIOUSLY? Even if she is good, nobody who misses the audition AND the first week of rehearsal gets a lead role.)
Me: Oh, hahaha... well, actually, it's not that kind of show.Him: WHAT DO YOU MEAN? GIVE HER THE LEAD!Me: Oh well, there is no lead, it's really an ensemble thing and they go from one country to the next and there's a different story in each place, and it's...Him: OH. Ok. She'll be there tuesday. WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?Me: Jen, it's Jen.Him: I'LL LOOK FOR YOU.Me: Great! Bye!***
* not his real name
** I said more than this, but edited for you.
*** Sarcasm font here.
He literally was yelling this at me! I was all freaked out and had to call my teacher friends so they could laugh. I told Dude when he came home and bless his heart, I love him so, he says, "P'shaw. You're tough. Don't let him boss you around." (or something like that, the Dude never says "P'shaw" though)
So I figured either this girl was going to be a) nothing like her dad and totally embarrassed that he even called and acted that way or b) a diva, in which case, the few lines I had for her were not going to be enough and she'd probably quit. (pleasequitpleasequitpleasequit)
Yesterday I met them and he looks as scary in person as he was on the phone. Big guy, dresses like he is going to a biker bar, looks like he's been in a fight and is an arm amputee. Not kidding. I hope my eyes didn't bug out of my head. It looked like "Kill 'em with kindness" would be the best approach. (and really, the only approach I had!) But it totally worked, and he was MUCH MUCH nicer in person than on the phone (and I guess once he got his way), and she was a very easy going, kind of shy and reserved sort of girl. Very nice really.
So I guess the moral is; don't judge a book by it's cover, or it's parent, or it's phone demeanor. But please oh please don't let that man ever call me again.
4 comments:
Fantastic post! I squirmed with discomfort for you! People are all insane - I'm convinced of it! I talk to crazies all day long - ok some of them are super nice but the crazies are always the ones that stay with you!
People feel much more comfortable being jerks on the phone. That would be why I like to tell people they totally hosed their computer by spilling stuff on it in person. Goes much better.
The person who cuts A's hair is a Pearson, sort of along those lines, but he's pretty good looking (sorry A) and incredibly nice. He does however date shallow models, which I do not understand.
One of my good friends out east named his kid Spencer. I don't have the heart to tell him his kid is going to be an a-hole because of the name.
Welcome to my world. Crazy parents demanding many, many things. My least favorite are the grade grubbers.
Wow. That was just. Wow.
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