When I was in the 6th grade, I was in the band. I played the trumpet because I already kind of knew how to play it and because I wanted to make my grandfather proud of me. My grandfather played for the bulls in Mexico so being in the band and picking the trumpet was a no-brainer. No Bull. So Christmas time came around and we were learning some new songs for our school's Christmas concert. The trumpet section had the main chorus part for "The Chestnuts" song? I had never heard it before. All the other trumpet dudes picked it up right off the bat as if the notes were coming right off the page and pushing their little fingers onto the keys but I had to read, count and play..I wasn't getting it right away. The band director stopped the band and asked me "What is wrong Mr. Macias?" and I just kind of smirked and quickly got my valve oil and pretended I had a sticky key. We started again and everyone played along like pro's and there I was struggling again! The band director stopped again and with a very loud voice tells me to stop screwing around! I told him I was sorry and that I wasn't familiar with the song and he asked me if I had grown up in a cave! Everyone laughed. We started again and I played very softly so that I couldn't really be heard.
I didn't grow up in a cave. I grew up in a diverse house that listened to different Christmas music. What the heck's a chestnut? It sounds gross! And you know what else? I didn't care for the ugly kids with deformed heads. What was the big deal with the green bugger guy? Who cares about a guy that eats a can of steroids and likes an anorexic lady! I'm talking about "The Peanuts" "Gumby" and "Popeye" by the way. Those are some pretty different takes on your Saturday morning cartoons right? I bet those takes would be hilarious in an improv show too right? My band teacher couldn't understand where I was coming from but should have had the intelligence to probe before shutting me down with his "Live in a Cave" slam that got a big laugh. Do you see where I'm going with this? I was a very good trumpet player and now all of a sudden I was an idiot? How does that make sense?
No one ever really talks about it but it's here and I think it's time we figured it out together. I'm sharing the stage with you and I'm diverse. I am literally "of a different kind, unlike, dissimilar, varied". We are not the same. If you hit me with an offer or a big agenda line and I don't get it right away could it be that I maybe don't get it this time? Have I gotten it before? probably right? Or then why be surprised right? So does it make sense that because I don't get it this time that you need to say "Excuse me Jose, the lawn looks excellent!" or hand me your improv keys and say "Sorry Valet, I thought you were someone else" and look to the wings for a walk-on. Are we supposed to have a group mind or am I supposed to figure out the rest of the groups mind? Those are some pretty harsh examples but believe me, they all feel harsh no matter how small. If I don't get your offer right off the bat, maybe recognize that I may not have had your childhood experiences and therefore have no idea what a "merit badge" is. It sounds insane but did you have many hispanic friends in your boy scout meetings thinking back? I didn't think so. How great would it be to recognize that the meat of your scene is that I have no idea what a merit badge is and we see a scene about that instead of sticking to your initial idea and because I don't get it, you treat me like I grew up in a cave and then I play soft the rest of the night.
Look. I'm not asking for special treatment. I don't think anyone that is on your improv team that is diverse is asking for special treatment, but I think it's time you realize that we actually are kind of special. We bring a different, varied viewpoint to the team. So if I don't get it...lets figure it out together because what good is it in a cave?
I feel you on this, Ernie. I've spent a lot of time on stage not getting someone's reference or not understanding my teammate's "highbrow" initiation. As a matter of fact, I sometimes internally edit references from my own life or experiences for fear they won't be understood. Listen, I didn't go to a college in the Northeast and I know nothing about sports or Sci-fi but I'd be happy to build a scene with you, slowly and patiently, about Mexicans with merit badges.
ReplyDeleteI love the shows where someone clearly doesn't get the reference and still plays hard with what they got. Irene White with a comic/sci fi/ sports reference- genius. I was always so inspired by how she took what SHE heard and made magic out of it. Who cares if the Mad Hatter was supposed to be a Batman reference, now we're talking about actual hats. Then to see her make a totally natural (for her) reference to French Literature and watch the Team run wild with what they heard, which inevitably had nothing to do with actual French Literature. Strong play is strong play, no matter what the reference. We need to be courageous players, listen hard and support each other. That's where the magic is :)
ReplyDeleteThat, and I'd love hear what your Christmas music sounded like :)