Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
Audition Is Just a Fancy Way of Saying Interview
So when I started taking classes at The Second City, it was a much smaller company than it is today. You had basically two choices of year-long programs that you could take. Either basic improv (they call it Level A-E) or advanced improv (the Conservatory). They had one student theater, and it wasn't just for students. They had maybe eight classrooms and maybe a total of 15 teachers. Today, they still have those two programs, but they also offer year-long programs in writing, musical improv, filmmaking, and acting. They also have classes in just about anything you can think of, from movement classes to making online content. Not to mention, you can now major in comedy as part of your degree through the Second City Comedy Studies program.
By Angela McMahon8 years ago in Journal
How to Decline a Job Interview
It can happen to anyone who's searching for a job. You applied to a bunch of them, then got a callback to your dream job—only to have a callback happen at a place you would only work at if you were desperate. Or, perhaps, you applied to a place with enthusiasm and got a call back, only to read reviews that made you realize it's not the right fit for you. Either way, you will probably need to decline a job interview.
By Cato Conroy8 years ago in Journal
Improv Looks Easy Right?
My last semester at Columbia I was told by my adviser, Marty, I had to start to make some choices as to what I wanted my next steps to be. He was one of the first people involved at Second City. He suggested for me to take a hard look at Second City as my next steps in my education.
By Angela McMahon8 years ago in Journal
Life of a Broke Gamer
Gaming has been, for me, the one place I could escape my problems and jump into a fantasy world, where everything in the world is vibrant and eye-catching. This day in the age of social media sites such as YouTube and Twitch give some people the chance to make a living and game at the same time, but just how can anyone do this? Becoming a full-time streamer or a full-time YouTuber is hard enough, but even harder when you are flat out of cash with little equipment and or resources. There are a few free video recording softwares, and here is a list of a few:
By Kid TheGaming8 years ago in Journal
Modern Ballerina/Teenager
My mother could not understand what was happening to me one summer afternoon as she passed through the living room to discover her seven year old daughter sitting on the couch with tears streaming down her face, solemnly gazing at the television. Suddenly noticing that I seemed very upset, she quickly came to my side to console me and to discover why I was randomly crying all alone in the living room, instead of outside pretending I was a fairy in the garden like I normally would have been doing. “Sofia! What’s wrong!” She asked, very concerned, setting down her laundry basket and cleaning supplies. Through tears I tried to explain to her how moved I was, watching this documentary that happened to be playing on television that talked about the lives of ballet dancers, and all of the sacrifices that had to be made for them to pursue their craft. I felt so touched to be witnessing such a level of discipline taking the form of sheer beauty, when transfused with breathtaking music and time-stopping dance sequences. My mother was shocked and slightly haunted that her normally happy, carefree daughter was literally brought to tears watching a program about ballet. Nevertheless, this moment influenced her to pick up the phone several days later to sign me up for ballet classes in the fall, thus beginning the eleven year odyssey which has henceforth been my life.
By Sofia Bianchi8 years ago in Journal
5 Tools for the Modern Entrepreneur
We all need tools to help us be more productive on a daily basis. Being in 2017, there are plenty of options out that are available and easy to get your hands on! We’ll go over five different tools you can start to use today and see results as well. Each tool that is mentioned is also free so it makes it that much more accessible for anyone that wants to start being productive at a new level or continue to advance.
By Junior Explicitz8 years ago in Journal
Improve Your Social Media Marketing Part II
Improve Your Social Media Marketing Part II: Marketing is an ever-evolving field. Those who enter into action boldly and take risks tend to have more success than those who make overly cautious moves. In my previous article, I graced over some best practices and tips to help increase your quality of Social Media Marketing. In this article, we will discuss some branding tips and tricks, as well as cover some other unconventional methods for Social Media Marketing.
By Christine Collins8 years ago in Journal
Chronicles of a Call Center Agent
If you’re a call center employee, you can understand the agony of being in the customer service field. We are the imaginary punching bags that customers take out their anger and frustrations on. So what do I do? I survey people for a telecommunications company based in the middle of nowhere, Canada. Is it my dream job? A far cry from it but it pays the bills and keeps food on the table.
By SoSo Yusofi8 years ago in Journal
