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Welcome everyone and thank you for checking out our website!  This is a continuation of our previous site's blog where you'll find stories, encouragement, and lessons from Joe and Christine and occasionally other members of our Thriving Artists Team.  As we grow our own careers and face the same auditions, questions, and decisions that you do, we'll pass on anything that we learn on an ongoing basis right to you.  If you find anything of use, great.  If you want to write back with a question or comment, even better!  We'll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible and post it here for the benefit of all.  Thanks again, and we'll talk soon!  Keep working, keep believing, keep thriving...

 

October 30th, 2011 - Joe Abraham
Here is my first post from the west coast!  life has rolled along merrily indeed since last I wrote.  We are settling in nicely here in LA and I recently completed a program through Actors Connection called LA Connection.  I met a bunch of great casting people and have follow up to take care of out the wahzoo.  I'm finding the differences between NYC and LA to be as stark as I have heard about... In New York, actors just have to look in a trade paper, buy a subscription to an online listing, or just look on Actors Equity.com.  You show up at the date and time and show your stuff.  You get the gig, or you don't.  In LA, the name of the game is just getting in the room!  There is no central location, no audition studio to go to.  You have to have a realtionship with someone who gets that information, i.e. an agent.  There are lots of places to submit yourself, but for the big ones... agents are the gate keepers.  So the game is getting in the door!  A few numbers I learned in my seminar... for a one to two line part on a series drama there will be over 1000 people submitted via agents, online, etc.  Only about 15 to 30 will read for the role and 1 will obviously get it.  Slim numbers to say the least.  How do you make your way from being one of the 970 people standing at the door wanting in, to one of the 30, to then booking the gig... well that you'll just have to stay tuned for.  I don't have the answer just yet! 

January 19th, 2011 - Joe Abraham
Ok, so a word on our union, Actors Equity Association.  This is going to be quick so pay close attention and LISTEN.  Any union or organization is only as good as the people who are in it and the level of participation each person offers as an individual.  There is no place for apathy or thoughts in the realm of, "Well, I don't know much so I guess I won't join in to learn and/or contribute."  BULL#@$%!!  Get in the game!  If you are going to be part of a union, any union, then you have to take an active part.  If you are, let's say, an Equity Deputy on whatever job you are working and there is an open door invitation to participate in talks that will affect the future of your livelyhood, then you'd better get your @#% to that meeting or pick up your phone and conference in.  I have absolutely zero tolerance for apathy or for people making excuses as to why they can't do something.  It's not really about "can't do"... it's about "won't do" and it makes me crazy.  So the lesson here is simple.  Get in the game, or don't you dare bitch about the way things are going.  When you have an opportunity to be involved and are in a position to be heard, do it.  Your future and the future of others in this business depend on it.  SHOW UP!!! 

January 5th, 2011 - Joe Abraham
We are back!  Welcome all to 2011 and Happy New Year!!! We hope you all had an amazing holiday season and are getting ready to make 2011 your best year yet.  As I write this I am sitting on a hotel floor in Tempe, AZ hiding from my 1 year old son who is taking a nap.  The room is dark, there is a white noise machine on and I am sitting on a pillow so my butt doesn't turn into a pancake!  Why would I tell you this... because this is the year for NO EXCUSES.  I keep saying that I am going to write more and then several months pass until I get back here to post something from the road.  Why?  Well, I could give you lots of excuses, or resons, or whatever you want to call them... the fact of the matter is that I never did it.  Plain and simple.  The point that I'm getting at is that in the end, you ALWAYS do what you really want to do.  There is no planning, no big ramping up of energy or motivation to get started... you just do it because it is something that you really want to do.  Now this may seem like that is exactly what I am doing... ramping up and making a big promise to write more even though I am on the road, with a child, moving every week...blah blah blah.  I will spare you, and I will spare me! :-)  I think Nike was so dead on when they came out with the slogan "Just Do It."  It has become somewhat trite and even cliche at this point, but I would ask everyone reading this right now, myself included as I write it, to examine thing thing(s) that you say you want to do, but haven't.  Then ask yourself what is stopping you?  Your brain will come up with all sorts of things to let you off the hook.  Once all that noise settles down, you are left with the simple fact of...you didn't do it.  Fine.  No judgements or blame... just fact.  The big question is, what are you going to do now?  And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the question only you can answer.  So stride into 2011 with no fanfare or trumpets, and no big "resolutions"... just simple, quiet, and direct... action.  Light and love to all in the new year.  Keep thriving!   

September 7th, 2010 - Joe Abraham
Alas we are in St. Louis on our first "real" stop for our tour.  Chicago was amazing and I had such a great time there reconnecting with people I'd met when I was in town with Hairspray a long time ago.  Some fantastic mile stones were achieved, mainly by my son, Cole.  He learned to crawl, started on consonants, and was fearless at the fountains in Millenium Park!  He is a prime example of staying focused, staying present, and never ever giving up.  He is pulling himself up on everything he can reach, and he falls practically every time.  What a great lesson for all of us huh?  As for me... I went on for 4 of the 8 men I cover in the show, rediscovered my passion for rock climbing as I made it to the top of a 100' wall, and realized what a lucky man I am to have my wife and baby boy out here with me on tour.  It is nice to be able to stop, take a breath, and realize how good I have it.  I sincerely hope you can all do the same no matter what your circumstance in life.  Success is a mindset... create it, and see what shows up in your life. 

Our best to you always... see you back here soon.

August 10th, 2010 - Joe Abraham
I am happy to be back and in the saddle once again without it taking so long this time!  Just wanted to say how great it has been to be in the show as I have been for the past week and a half now.  Because of a cast change I am covering one of the ensemble parts (Big Bad Wolf) until a new cast memeber arrives, which should be tomorrow.  I use these sorts of situations to thrive in a whole new way which is physically as well as mentally.  Being a Thriving Artist means is very much a financial thing, but also in this case it means loving what you do!  I especially like the fact that it is a built in work out every day and I am happily loosing some of the "daddy pounds" I gained since the birth of our beautiful baby boy, Cole.  Being back in Chicago has been a joy as well and there are some local friends coming to see the show this Friday night and I'm happy that I will be on.  So this post is about being grateful for the opportunities to perfrom as a swing, and making the most of them all.  Also it speaks to the power of remembering people as well as being memorable yourself.  The people coming to see the show I haven't seen since 2004, but as soon as I walked back into the rock climbing gym, it was like I never left.  It's nice to have "homes" all over the country... and we all have the power to create that feeling everywhere we go!  Good stuff....

July 27th, 2010 - Joe Abraham
Well well well.... the 1st National Tour of SHREK the Musical is officially open!  It has been quite the journey and learning curve already.  Aside from packing up our entire apartment and moving out of New York, an experience not soon to be forgotten, this show is quite the different animal from others I have done.  I cover 8 men who in total do 30 different things in this show, and I have to learn them all.  Like anything, it's difficult until it's not.  Now that we are settled in a bit it is getting easier and being a "family on the road" is already proving to have its ups and downs.  We've learned that having a baby means carrying TONS of stuff for him, and only the bare essentials for us!  It's a good thing to learn though... travel light, both physically and emotionally.  In this business it's a matter of survival to develop that skill very quickly.  We miss NYC a lot, but it's all an excercise in staying in the moment.  We lost a cast member at the last second due to decisions from the "top"... stay in the moment and accept it as soon as possible.  Resisting accomplishes nothing.  So for now, I'll leave you with the idea of just staying fluid, and staying in the moment.  As things around you are constantly changing, you have to learn to accept, adapt, and most importantly, learn to thrive in whatever situation you find yourself in.  Here's to you! 

May 18th, 2010 - Joe Abraham
Wow, rehearsals have just started and I am already learning a TON!!  Today was day 2 and we got to meet the new dragon puppet that takes FOUR people to operate!  As the swing I'll have to learn all of them eventually, but for now I'm just focusing on two.  It has been a long time since I was in rehearsal as a swing with an original company.  Last time for that was in Hairspray way back in 2003!  The brain muscles are still there, it's just a bit of a jumpstart to the system!  By the time I left the 'Spray I could barely remember even learning it!  Alas, in a few months it will all be second nature... just gonna take a lot of work to get there. 
Oh, and in other news, Christine just got booked to play Jennyanydots in CATS down at the St. Louis MUNY Theatre this summer.  The best part about that is that she didn't even have to audition!  Her previous director for the show, Richar Stafford, gave her a glowing recommendation to another director doing the show, and on that alone she got it.  Lesson there is pretty obvious... concentrate on doing great work and it will do much more for you than get the audience to applaud that night.  :-)  Success is abounding!  We hope the same for all of you now and always... keep thriving!   

April 30th, 2010 - Joe Abraham

I have GREAT NEWS for you all... I am very happy to announce that I am going out on the 1st National Tour of... 

 

 

Best part about this whole thing is that I will be taking my family with me...the whole "Thriving Clan"!  Christine and our son, Cole, will be joining me as we trek all across America and I couldn't be happier.  We are leaving our beloved apartment in the amazing neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, but the good far outweighs the bad.  Another reason why I am so excited about this tour is that we will be doing Thriving Artists Seminars all along the way at colleges and performing arts studios.  Reaching a national audience with our message of being an entrepreneur AND an artist at the same time has been a long term goal for us, and we are elated that now we can make it happen.  So let everyone know we're on our way to their neck of the woods and to see us before it's too late!  See you soon! 

 

April 8th, 2010 - Joe Abraham

Halleluja! The new site is here!  We are so excited to share this entirely new look and feel to our site with all of you.  It has been a long time in coming but the ball is rolling! Keep coming back for news on events, as well as the ability to meet with us one-on-one to help you with any and every aspect of your career and financial health as an artist.  Spread the word... we are just getting started all over again. 

 

December 22nd, 2009 - Joe Abraham

Wow what a time it has been since we last wrote.  THE LITTLE MERMAID played its last performance and it was quite an experience to be there and take part in that event.  I had an amazing time there and will always be grateful for everything the people at Disney and the entire group of people at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre did for me.  Thank you!  The big news as of late is that Christine and I welcomed our first child into the world on December 6th!  A new THRIVING ARTIST joins the ranks!  His name is Cole and we are over the moon with how wonderful he is.  I have been on several auditions lately however nothing has panned out just yet.  The main thing that I would like to iterate here, and you'll get even more of it in our coming book due out in 2010, is that even though we do not have a theatrical job right now we are doing great financially.  We have saved a significant sum over the years through disciplined money management and also during that time we were constantly building our assets to pay us on an ongoing basis.  We will be offering seminars and trainings in the coming year on these very topics, but you can start your own savings and investment plan RIGHT NOW!  Don't wait for money to show up and then say to yourself "Now I'll manage it."... manage what you've got NOW so that  more will show up! I cannot say enough how important it is to set up multiple streams of income especially while you are gainfully employed.  Build it when you don't need it, so it will be there for you when you do.  We wish every one of you the most wonderful of holiday seasons and we will be back with a brand new look here at The Thriving Artists in 2010!  Here's to you and your exponential growth!!  Keep thriving!

 

July 2nd, 2009 - Joe Abraham

Two days ago, all at THE LITTLE MERMAID on Broadway found out that we will be playing our last performance on August 30th of this year...just over 8 weeks away.  I have never closed a show on Broadway before so this is a new experience for me.  It has been interesting to say the least to observe the myriad of reactions of people who work with the show.  There has been some sadness, some anger, but I have noticed a certain (somewhat larger) amount of underlying fear that has been of most concern to me.  I'm concerned because the looks on some people's faces is "What am i going to do now?"  or "How am I going to pay for _______?"  This is EXACTLY what we here at The Thriving Artists are working on shifting.  I am living this experience and seeing first hand what the loss of a steady paycheck does to people... especially those that have families.  And it makes me burn that much hotter to communicate to every single artist on the planet that having a second or third or even forth stream of income is a MUST!  Why would you ever allow your financial well being to be at the mercy of whether or not people were buying enough advance tickets to your show?  Why would you rely solely on one source of income?  Sure, it may be nice... it may be your first Broadway show and all you want to do is just "live in the moment" and "be an actor"... Here's your wake up call:  YOU NEED TO BE MORE THAN THAT!  We all do.  If you think you can't be, it's not a question of ability, it is a question of self-esteem and programming.  Both can be turned around.  Why not think of yourself as a true entrepreneur?  Why not envision yourself at the top of a mountain with many paths leading to you, and each one of them a profitable stream of income?  Imagine yourself there right now... would you care as much if your show closed?  No, you wouldn't.  You may be saddened, as I am, that this particular creative outlet will no longer be available, but it will not be the only thing you do that is creative, or generates massive income!  If you are not thinking of yourself, or your art, in this way, then it is time to start.  Read a book on entrepreneurism... read several!  Attend a seminar.  Get out of your comfort zone and start doing things you love that will be sustainable, and will pay you for the rest of your life.  Dig deep and you'll find some phenomenal answers.  Create a brain storming group or an accountability team.  Bounce ideas off of each other and work together... then watch what happens!  It is our sincerest wish that everyone reading this who wants to, eventually does walk across a Broadway stage and take their solo bow.  I can tell you it is a feeling like no other.  But while you are making that happen, continue to build something that's going to last so that when that final curtain does come down, instead of feeling fear and anxiety, all you'll be filled with is sweet memories and excitement about the next time.  So find a passion, find a mentor, and get out there and make it happen!  We believe in you.... keep thriving!

 

June 27th, 2009 - Joe Abraham

To Michael Jackson, an artist who literally changed the world with his gift and his ability to stand on stage and ignite millions.  You will be missed.

 

June 19th, 2009 - Joe Abraham

Ok, I promised to write more often and here I am to deliver!  The final days of Broadway Bares 19.0 "Click It" are upon us and things are going great.  From the last post I was talking about getting involved and I can't tell you how important that really is.  Just from participating in this event two years ago, the feeling of community is so much greater this time around.  That only comes from consistent involvement and perhaps even creating a space for people to come together.  It could be a card game, or a dinner party, or even your own fund raiser... wherever there are people building relationships, that's where you want to be.  And here's another hint... GO THERE WITH THE INTENTION TO GIVE!  Your bonding efforts will bear much more fruit if you are not concerned with getting anything out of the connections you make.  Just make them. Be good at what you do.  Give freely of yourself and your time and your rescources and watch what happens.  Again, back to this years experience at Broadway Bares, I am participating in the Strip-a-thon which is an online fund raising effort outside of the event itself, and having a blast!  It really comes down to this, and you've heard it before, but listen again: What you put into something, is what you'll get out.  Look to take, and you'll find nothing.... look to give, and you'll find more than you ever needed.  Best to you all... keep THRIVING!

 

June 4th, 2009 - Joe Abraham

February?....FEBRUARY?!?!?!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  That is absolutely ridiculous that we have not been back here since then.  As I sit here right now, I make a promise to you that that will never happen again!  I won't bore you with all of the reasons we have been missing, but one of them is that we, Christine and I, are now expecting the birth of our first child!! :-)  She is 14 weeks along now and everything is going great.  We are blessed to have so much in our lives and count ourselves among the very fortunate.  So, part of the reason we have been away is that we have been heavily involved in different projects both show biz, and non show biz related.  And that is really the point I would like to speak on tonight.  That point is GET INVOLVED!  So many times I am asked "How do you get to where you are?", "How do you get to Broadway?" or to wherever the goal is... the answer is: Work.  Associate.  Connect.  Create.  In short... get involved with the people in your industry not just on a professional level, but as people as well.  Regarding the latest Upcoming Events listed at the bottom of each page, find a common interest with people and raise money/awareness for that cause.  MAKE SOME NOISE!!! You are only here once, that we remember consciously anyway, so why not make a splash and make a difference.  And here's your chance to get in on the action!  Click here and join me in raising money for the upcoming event BROADWAY BARES 19.0 "CLICK IT"  If you don't know about it, the organization that is behind this amazing event is called Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, or BC/EFA for short.  You can go to their website, learn all about what they do and jump in by donating or joining my team!  I would love to have you!  If that doesn't blow your skirt up a la (see below) :-)  then find something that does and get going!  There are people out there that need you and your brilliance.  Find them and share it... the clock is ticking.  See you back here very soon.  Keep growing, keep striving... keep THRIVING.

 

February 27th, 2009 - Joe Abraham

Hello again everyone.  Can you believe how fast two months have gone by already?  Madness.  We hope that this year is bringing you everything you hoped for, and maybe some things you didn't.  Today's post is little bit about discipline.  For the past three shows I have been on for Chef Louis in THE LITTLE MERMAID.  I knew about the first two, but the third one I was not expecting and didn't know about until shortly before the show.  I have been making sure to warm up both physically and vocally every day, especially when I know I'm on for Louis or Scuttle.  My regular track in the ensemble is busy, and yes, I could "get away" with not warming up... but the point is discipline.  Get yourself into a routine where you warm up every day before your show, or if your not currently doing a show, warm up anyway.  Keep your wheels greased and the rust off of your pipes.  Then when you do get the surprise call from stage management as you are walking out the door... you are already where you need to be.  Hope this finds you all well.  Until next time... Keep thriving!

 

February 9th, 2009 - Joe Abraham

Once again I must apologize for the length of time in between writing.  I hope everyone can forgive us!  And it is our sincerest hope that everyone is having an amazing 2009 so far!  It is already Valentines season and next thing you know we'll be ringing in 2010!  The topic I wanted to address today is one that can be the bane of so many artist's lives... money. Or rather, your relationship to it.  You can't turn on the t.v. or listen to the radio without hearing something about the state of things, or how the sky is falling.  I have been very fortunate to have an amazing job at The Little Mermaid, and to be one of the few working actors on Broadway right now given so many shows have closed.  But even if I didn't have this job right now, I would not be in panic mode.  Why?  Because I have taken care of the money that I have made.  It is not about how much money you make, it is about how much you keep, and how hard it works for you in different investment vehicles that are out there.  Most people tend to think that the answer is just making, or having more money.  Well, here is a hard question to ask yourself, but you have to do it anyway... and that question is, "Am I really taking care of every penny I make right now?" If the answer is "No." then you must ask yourself, "What would more money do for me?" Chances are you wouldn't take the best care of that either.  I'm not saying this to beat you up or make you feel bad, but if it wakes you up, then that is a good thing!  It's like the story of the lottery winner who after a few years of winning millions of dollars is right back to where he started... broke! So what are you doing with the money you make right now?  Do you have a system in place to know where every cent is going before you even make it?  Are you reading books and feeding your brain so nobody can steer you astray when investing?  Are you seeking or creating opportunities, or sitting around complaining about how bad things are?  What are you focusing on... your sense of lack? or your sense of abundance? You see what I am getting at here.  If you take care of your money, it will take care of you.  If you treat it badly, it won't be around for long.  It is our sincerest wish that you all earn as much money as your hearts desire so you are free to give abundantly to causes you believe in, take care of yourself and those you love, and live the life of your dreams.  Don't sit around and be a victim.  Get up and DO something, and you will be amazed how your feelings and relationship to your money will change for the better.  We believe in you!  Keep thriving!  See you back here soon... promise.       

 

December 15th, 2008 - Joe Abraham

Wow, we must truly apologize for taking so l

ong to post another entry.  So many wonderful things have been happening and they will all be shared with you in time.  I just wanted to write and say that everyone here at The Thriving Artists wishes you the happiest of holiday seasons, and may all of your continued hard work and dedication to your craft pay off in the coming year.  If there is a lesson to be learned recently it is this: to relentlessly give thanks for all that you have, and know that energy is a magnet-- as you focus more and more on positive things, however small, that the energy generated will yield you huge results in the end.  For this holiday season and for always, may you focus on your little successes, and that they grow far beyond your wildest dreams!  2009 promises to be an amazing year... I can feel it.  Thank you for your time and becoming a part of the Thriving Artists community.  We believe in you.  Keep growing!  Happy Holidays!!!

 

November 8th, 2008 - Christine Negherbon

Hello everyone.  I am very happy to be writing my first entry for the Thriving Artists blog! Here is my thought for the moment:

Make smart choices!

One of my biggest pet peeves when I am doing a show is a fellow actor who makes a ridiculous choice.  What do I mean?  Say you are in HAIRSPRAY which takes place in 1962 and you are in the ensemble.  The director asks you to ad lib.  What should you say?  Maybe something like, "Gosh, that's great!"  Or, "Wow!"  But you certainly wouldn't say, "Hey Wassup?"  Or, "How's it hangin' yo?"  Always think about the time period you are in. 

The phrase "wassup" didn't exist.  I have done a lot of shows that take place in the 20's and 30's and the etiquette is much different.  People were much more formal with each other.  If you were courting someone and wanted to touch them, you would probably go for their hand at first, and very gently at that.  You would not stand super close to them or bump them in the hip to flirt.  Again, think about the where and when!  It absolutely drives me mad.  Making modern choices, or using gestures and phrases when they are inappropriate to the context of the show is the sign of an amateur.  Be a responsible, smart, educated actor who has done their homework.  See you back here real soon! 

 

October 27th, 2008 - Joe Abraham

Just a quick note to say that the "Ditch Your Day Job" seminar was a HUGE success!  Four amazing and successful actors presented different business ventures that keep them out of the bars and restaurants of New York City when they are not performing on Broadway.  We had a packed room and a wait list!  If you are wanting to learn more about how to wake up the business person inside of you and stop asking people, "Would you like fries with that?"... then this seminar is for you.  Check back often for details or get yourself on the mailing list and be first to know about all the great things going on.  See you there!

 

October 24th, 2008 - Joe Abraham

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by again.  Things have been a bit crazy at the theater as of late.  Lots of vacations, swings and understudies on, permanent changes in cast and even changes in the show.  I used to think that a show was frozen once it had opened and was running... well I learned some time ago that shows can change quite a bit as time goes on.  "Wicked" on Broadway went into over a month of rehearsals to put in changes that came about from the mounting of another company... crazy right?  Anyway, before I get too off track, the topic of recent attention is one of taking notes.  No, not the kind you write on paper, but the kind that are given to you by a dance captain or a stage manager.  Without getting into specifics, I was given a note about a certain point in the show.  It was a note I saw no real reason for and quite frankly, just pissed me off.  But here's the lesson in it all... and it will happen to any one of you who are in the business long enough that you'll be told something that you disagree with 100%... and the point is, as you may have guessed, SHUT UP AND TAKE THE NOTE!  You are going to have to bite down on your tongue so hard that it might bleed, but all you need to say is, "Thank you, I'll make that happen."  And that's it.  Now I'm not saying that you can't ask for clarification if you don't understand something, but DO NOT go into every reason under the sun as to why you were doing whatever it was you were doing.  Bottom line... it wasn't working.  Notes are not given to attack you, to put you down, or just because someone feels like it.  Notes are given to make the show better, cleaner, smoother... whatever the case may be.  It's not personal!  Know this.  Now I am not writing all this saying I have never been about ready to explode when being spoken to, but I have learned from being a dance captain that the best response is in fact, "Thank you.  I'll make that happen."

Questions?  Comments?  Head to the "contact us" page and type away!  Hope this finds you all well.  Keep thriving...

October 7th, 2008 - Joe Abraham

Alas, here we are with the first posting of this blog.  I will do my best not to turn this into an online journal, but to always have some universal lesson that everyone can apply to their own work.  The first thing I want to write about is the art of being an understudy.  Tonight was my first time going on for Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid and it went very well.  Little things went wrong, but hey, you roll with it and just keep going.  The main thing that came to mind to talk about is something that has affected every single performer throughout the history of time to one degree or another... adrenaline.  It can help you, or it can paralyze you... we all know that.  What I am really getting at is how it affects your voice and what to do about it.  Believe me, when you are going out on a Broadway stage, doing something for the first time and you have to hit a solid note that is high in your range, rest assured adrenaline will be a factor.  My advice to everyone that has anything big coming up, either a performance or an audition (the same thing really, but we'll get into that later) is to OVER PREPARE.  Get whatever it is you are

working on ingrained into your muscles to a point where you are no longer thinking about it.  Then, get out there and practice!  Go to a piano bar if you can, sing it for friends (way harder than for strangers!), or go wherever it is you are likely to be the most uncomfortable.  Why?  Because if you can handle that, the audition or performance will be easy by comparison, AND the physical sensations of nerves; short breath, tension, etc... won't be foreign to you while you are doing that specific song/monologue... whatever.  Make sense?  Good.

Questions or comments?  Be sure to go to our "Contact Us" page, add yourself to the email list and fire away.  Hope to hear from you all soon. 

Until next time....