Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade....

So this week officially marked the beginning of a new era and I've decided to take a little detour on the whole "jump right into a boring marketing/pr/advertising/etc. job" and go in a different direction.

After spending the last year sifting through the craziness and clutter inside my head, I've finally figured out what I've known all along: I want to be on stage. An obvious thing, but it took me until this week for the little light inside my head to come on and say "Hey, Allyson! DUHHH!"

For those of you who weren't aware, I've been taking dance classes since I've been living in Spain because for the first time since high school I actually have the time to do what I love without being consumed by school work and waitressing full time. I've become addicted to dancing. I've taken advantage of my alone-time here and unlike high school (where I was made to feel like dancing was a lost cause for me by those around me) I've had the opportunity to really work hard and get somewhere with it. It's revived my love of arts and performing- although that was never really dead, it was just temporarily on hold.

Now that I'm older, I realize not going to school for musical theater was probably a big mistake. I've missed out on 4 important years of training, and experience and now I'm far behind. However, with the knowledge that I have a Communication degree under my belt and something to fall back on, it makes the possibility of falling a little easier to cope with.

The other day I was rehearsing a song (hence the title of this post) and for the first time since high school, I just let go and belted it out at the top of my lungs and put myself in that character's shoes and it just poured out of me. Bottled up for years, it was like a reawakening. It felt so amazing and I couldn't believe I'd forgotten how it made me feel. It was at that moment that it began to click for me. THIS is what I love. When I constantly feel that I'm meant to do something big or special in this world, I'm absolutely positive it has something to do with performing.

So here I am, almost 23, without the experience and training that I want or need, so what do I do now you might ask? Obviously I work my ass off first and foremost. I'm about to go into overdrive. Hours upon hours of practice,working with a vocal coach, acting coach, and taking more dance classes, auditions, auditions, and more auditions, living/breathing/dreaming musical theater. I'm SO ready to do this. My biggest challenge of all will be to stay positive throughout the next few months. The entertainment business is one of the most ruthless, unforgiving, and competitve in the world. So I'm surrounding myself by supportive, positive, people, and people that will teach me something. Positive thoughts from here on out, so if you're feeling skeptical, go away!! :P

On that note, wish me luck. This is gonna be hard, but I'm going to do it. :)