To my readers,
I first want to thank everyone who has put themselves “in my shoes” by reading my blog thus far. For those of you who follow me on social media, you know that I’ve been wanting to create a vlog the would correlate with the blog you’re reading now. I have filmed many different versions, and even began editing content, but I am my biggest critic and don’t feel the product is ready to be permanently published for the world to see. That being said, I do want to share with you the ten questions I collected from followers, and I’d like to make this an ongoing segment. “You’re Asking M.E.” will be featured here on “In Our Shoes” once a month. I will spend four weeks collecting questions from you about anything relating to my blog, or anything you’d like to know regarding the world of a performer. You can contact me by commenting below on the blog forum, through the “contact” page on my website, or by DMing me on Instagram @meg_fulms. Now, with out further ado, let’s answer some questions! How could you sum up “In Our Shoes” in one sentence? “In Our Shoes” is a blog that allows any reader to put themselves inside the mind of a performer and takes them on the journey of a performer on their road to success. What was your driving force or inspiration behind the creation of “In Our Shoes?” The week before Bodyguard closed, I injured myself in the middle of the show. Through my experience with workers compensation, I realized there are people who’s job is to help people like me recover, but they don’t understand what performers go through or what our jobs entail. They don’t understand that it’s not about collecting a paycheck, it’s about the passion and love we have for performing. When did you first find an interest/passion for performing? My first recital. My mom put me into dance classes right before I turned three, but I didn’t like being away from her, so she pulled me out of the studio. The following year she tried again. Two months into classes, I said I didn’t want to dance anymore, but my mom already paid for the recital costume, so she said I had to finish the year. Well, recital came, I rocked it on stage, and when I got backstage I told my mom I had to do it again! Will readers who are not involved in the Broadway industry still be able to understand and relate to your story? I think the readers will learn to understand more about the industry, and will find relatable moments. I think most industries are difficult to cross into these days. Most importantly, I think this will give non-performers a moment to empathize with the show people who smile through any performance no matter what their day entails. What are the challenges of being dance captain and the dance captain’s rehearsal process? Well, I didn’t start with the show as dance captain; I started taking over about five months into the tour. I started learning all of the men’s choreography, and jumped into teaching new castmates the show immediately. Since I wasn’t a swing, or in a position where I needed to learn every dance track, I was forced to learn a lot in a very short amount of time. Rehearsing all day and doing my own track at night got a bit draining, especially when having to do athletic men’s choreography during the day and my own energetic track at night. Eventually, I was given some nights to rest my body and note the show while having daytime rehearsals with new cast members. How has writing this blog helped your recovery process? It’s helped me remember that I have faced many challenges before “The Bodyguard,” and I will continue to work through new challenges after. It’s helped me focus on finding the positivity with all that I have gained throughout my time in the industry. Is there a silver lining in your forced down time and recovery? YES! I have learned so much more about myself and have gained experience that has made me a stronger person. I’m excited for the chance to utilize this new strength in whatever my next show will be. What is something your readers can look forward to? My readers can look forward to learning more about what performers can experience when their shows run longer than a year, and they can look forward to learning more about how this industry can effect one’s personal life. What about “In Our Shoes” are you most proud of? I’m proud of the way my career has evolved, and I’m proud to share it. In the first post, you get a sense of just how hard I’ve worked and the hurdles I’ve jumped to get where I am today. I want to inspire others in the industry and anyone who has a dream to continue to work hard as they chase their dreams. Where do you see “In Our Shoes” going in the next year? I want to to continue to share what I experienced with “The Bodyguard,” I want to add a Vlog that will go into more detail about certain blog posts, and I hope to book the next show sooner than later so that we can enjoy this roller coaster of a journey together!
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