The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-26

people out of every hundred have at
some time In their lives had a desire to
go upon the stage. The number Of
people in New York alone who make
their living by helping others embark
on a stage carer is shown by the fact
that there are more than thirty-uwO
dramatic schools in the city, all .of
them IN more or less fourishing con-
dition.
There are in addition to these
schools countless agencies which make
q business Of securing employment for
members of the profession. raw recruit
or veteran, and supply managers with
anything from tragedians to stage car
penters. These agencies for the most
part make no pretense of teaching the
dramatic art. Their business has to
do solely with the securing of engage
ments on q commission basis.
The dramatic schools are prone to
hold out to the amateur the prospect
Of securing a good engagement at the
end Of the school course. On the other
hand, the amateur stands small chance
of receiving much consideration at the
hands Of the regular agents.
The agent knows from experience
that outside Of the chorus or the Ro-
man army roles show people do not
care to experiment with raw material
when there are so many finished artists
TO be had for the asking. He knows,
to. that the unframed amateur Is full
of lofty ideals and large demands, and
is pretty certain to be dissatisfied with
the position which he may reasonably
expect to secure In the beginning
The schools on the other hand are
looking for beginners. Their mission Is
TO take the raw youth from the coun-
try. find out what he has in him, and.
If he has any natural talent, bring 1t
to the surface. The president of what
is probably the best known dramatic
school in the country declares that the
true bushes of the dramatic instructor
is not so much to get everybody on the
stage as to discourage those who could
never by any possible chance make a
success in the theatrical world; thus
acting as a buffer between the stage
and the stage-struck.
He also is the authority for the state
ment that the hardest person In the
world to turn into successful per-
former IS that unreasoning, blindly
enthusiastic person who is called stage
struck. The reason assigned for this
is that the person who goes on the
stage for the fascination it holds rather
than with a we'll defined idea of max
ing it a business is more than likely to
baIk at the drudgery of rehearsals and
shrink from the seamy. behind the
scenes phase of the work
The great majority Of the applicants
are, of course, women, and according to
the assertions of the instructors
they are much more difficult to deal
with than the men. In the first place
most Of them think of the stage pri-
marily as place to exhibit their
charms, and secondly as a life work
and art. The men, on the other hand,
are for the most part necessarily self
supporting and willing 10 take any part
which will assure them of a living and
chance TO advance step by step
One agent in New York makes d
practice when a novice presents him
self Of inQuiring what reason induced
the step. The reasons given are varied.
One of the principal reasons outside
of the mere love of the art is that sue
cess on the stage lends social prestige.
This reason, of course, is given by those
who have not enjoyed social position.
One of the commonest answers among
the girls who seek places in the chorus
is the frank assertion that they want
to get married and that the stage seems
to offer the best opportunity of secur-
ing a husband with means
The life of the agent is by no means
a path IF roses. The conscientious
has May times to refuse money offered
by some wOuId-be actor or actress who
wants to buy a conspicuous place in
some big company. It is not entirely
philanthropy or Puritan principles that
makes Il out of the question for the
reputable agent to listen to such
proposition II is business sense.
He knows that if he should make one
false step and give his backing to an
applicant who is certain to prove in
competent he would lose the business
of the mana ger whose confidence he has
abused His is position of trust and
responsibility. and without the good
will of the managers his livelihood is
gone.
If you should get an idea of the tact
and shrswdness required of the sue
cessfuI dramatic agent, pay visit to
one of the agencies in the neighborhood
Of Twenty-sixth or Twenty-eighth
streets and Broadway. Go early in the
morning and stay until afternoon, when
the agent shuts up shop and signs with
relief after the strain of the day. OBJ
serve the number of callers and the
! constant strain upon the patience of
the man behind the desk.
At 9 o'clock I'm the morning he is
ready for the days business.
Just let 'em wait another five min
utes. Johnny, and then turn 'em loose
/ one at q tlFne. says IEe agent, consult
ing the list on his desk. where the
names Of those who have appointments
are inscribed.
Taey must be attended TO first, and
after them an audience will be granted
to those who have dropped In without
previous notification to the office.
Out in the ante-rOOm there is a shut
fling of feet as the boy throws open the
door of the saEctum and impressively
ushers in the first applicant of the day.
She is tall. rather f1eshy young
woman. with a feathery. broad
brimmed hat. You think you recognize
her. but hat is because she is a type.
If you searched your memory you
would find that her features and gener-
al appearance are connected in your
recollection with the last Saturday
matineas you attended.
rs this the managers Office" she
inquiries. timidly.
This is the office of the superinten-
dent Of the agency replies the man
behind the desk, mOtioning her to be
seated and CHANGING at his list. You
are Miss Romaine. are you not2'
The girl mods affiTmatively.