#71: There's not enough time…
Monday 10/7/24
I’ve had A WEEKEND. On Friday I started filming prescreens. From 10-4 I filmed 2 students songs/monologues. Then Saturday I filmed 4 dance videos from 8-11 and then from 12-4 did another round of songs/monologues with a student who came in from Ohio to film with me! I still have to like snap my self into reality when I say that out loud. Every year a few people take the trip and it always blows my mind. And to think about it, in 2020 I had 3 students in my program.
Then yesterday, I had coachings from 10-3… ate something… and from 3-10 edited. And my “edit”, I just mean small edits and uploading and it still took me 7 hours - edited nearly 55 videos - 43 of which were for 3 people. Honestly, I don’t know how people do this without help. The three students who are now “done” aka songs/monologues/questions/dance/ballet - have about 16 edits each.
My brain has been all over the place but also very clear. My job is about showcasing students in what they are good at TODAY, not 6 months from now. I have to separate my emotional coach side “i know you have it in you - you can do it - trust yourself - etc” to being practical. I also know that they get frustrated easily and they think the weight of the world is on their shoulders. It’s not uncommon that when we “wrap” they are totally emotional or totally VOID of emotion. It is incredibly taxing no matter how much work has happened up to this point.
All this to say, if you are in the throws of prescreens right now, you just need to get through the next few weeks. It’ll all be over. You need to be organized and thorough as you film, edit, organize, and upload.
I love this time of year but I also dread it. I need help and I’ve hired help but I still don’t think I’m comfortable giving over the important parts of my business to anyone. I’d love someone to edit for me but I’m too picky. I’d rather just do it myself haha. The most complex things are the things I want to handle.
Anyway, just a thought. And I meet so many post grads who say things like “this company gives u 3 takes and that’s it” or “that company gives u two hours and hands the SD card back to you” or “jesus NO ONE does all that you do” and that makes me say…so am i separating myself by including this elevated experience or am i doing TOO much. No one actually edits ALLLLL the videos? They just give you ONE edit of each and, what, you are expected to do the rest on your own? I guess so…? It makes me rethink a lot. I think next year I will have 3 programs with no start date. Maybe a basic/all virtual package… then one that includes prescreen filming… and then a top program that includes all the editing as well.
That’s where my brain is today. Scrambled haha!
Dreams Don’t Die
Julie