by Saul DeGraw
Hi all! Tod asked me to write an introductory post as I have moved up the ranks from being a guest contributor to becoming the newest OT regular. He also asked me to pick a nom de plum for myself. Please call me ND if it suits your fancy.
What to say about myself? I was born and raised in the suburbs of New York and fell in love with theatre and art when I was around 12 or 13 years old. I studied theatre as an undergraduate in college and then went to teach English in Japan for a year because I wanted the experience to live abroad. I came back and spent the next five-six years attempting for a career as a theatre director in New York City. This involved a lot of unpaid internships, working on off-off-off Broadway productions,
graduate school, and an eventual realization that most people do not earn livings as artists and I needed a back-up plan because I did not want to be stuck as a starving artist in my forties and fifties with no options. My original idea was to become an academic but I knew too many people in adjunct hell. I decided to attend law school which used to be the traditional path for arts and humanities people who wanted decent livings. I am also the son and brother of lawyers so it seemed like the thing to do.
However, I decided to attend law school right as the market collapsed during my 1L year. All things considered, I am doing pretty well but still trying to figure it out. Such is life.
I am happy to be your newest regular. I will continue writing about politics and current events and policy but would like to expand to more cultural writing and not in a Mindless Diversions kind of way. The New York Times ran an article about how only 1/3 of Broadway’s audience are men and I am mulling a post about whether we should care about this and what is the solution.
If there are any culture or other issues you want me to touch upon, please let me know in the comments and I will see what I can do.
Welcome!Report
This is a very good thing; you belong on the front page, Mr. DeGraw.Report
Hooray!!Report
Boy, they’ll let ANYBODY post here…just look at me.
Welcome!Report
Huzzah! Looking forward to more frequent posts.Report
There’s a fair number of guest posts by NewDealer out there. Should we go back and change the author from “Guest” to “Saul DeGraw”?Report
If it were me, I would.Report
Dude! Welcome aboard!Report
Where is the “About Friggin’ Time” button on this thing?Report
Doubly happy. That you’re an FPer, and that you’re no longer a New Dealer.
Report
Although Saul DeGraw makes me picture a cranky old man wearing black socks with sandals in Miami Beach.Report
I need to add a pseudonymous last name. I used to use Beyle, but I was the only one who thought using Beyle as a pseudonym was funny.Report
It’s funny if you picture Alison Brie doing the Batman voice.Report
Welcome. I have to admit to a slight wish that Lee’s real name is Sol, because twin bros name Saul and Sol would be cool.Report
Nope, Lee is my real name.Report
So you made it into the big leagues of blog posting.Report
Siman tov.Report
Welcome on board Saul.Report
Good to see you posting here!Report
“I was born and raised in the suburbs of New York and fell in love with theatre and art when I was around 12 or 13 years old.”
Dude… you grew up on Long Island. Just own it already.
Welcome aboard. Glad to have another NYCer (more or less) amongst us. For being the most populous city in the country, we are woefully underrepresented here.Report
Well, when you have one bad experience…
Welcome, Saul!Report
As much as I try to give this place an east coast bias, I only have so much sway!Report
It’s about time…
Seriously, I was starting to wonder if The Tod would make an offer. Next time I am in the city (for non work) I will have to buy you a beer.Report
Many congratulations! I am going to struggle mightily to not call you ND, also at some point I will probably forget you were ND and muse mournfully wondering where ND went. When that happens feel free to laugh at me and call me senile.Report
Welcome SaulReport
Saul good to me.
Mazel Tov.Report
Mazel tov! You’re a great addition.Report
Yay! Congrats, Saul!!! (You might be ND for a bit longer, to me. I still call it The League.)
I’m a huge theater lover :). I made a similar decision right before I finished my undergraduate degree in stage management. Similar, but my switch was to psychology, so… apparently money was not a motivating factor.
I look forward to reading more of your musings.Report