Project Icarus- Journal #2

Research: Interview w/ Kristi Kashimoto-Rowbottom

What characteristics/attitude do you need to be successful in this career?

-Definitely self-motivation. This business is 98% rejection & 2% success. It pretty much takes everything that keeps you pushing; perseverance, determination, self confidence, & independence. You shouldn’t depend on others for your success. It’s all you.

Is there a certain level you have to be at in singing & dancing in order to be in this career?

-Well, no. I don’t necessarily think that there is a certain level of training you need. There are some people who get in by their looks. If they look the part & if the director is willing to work on it with them, then they could potentially get in. But if you want to get successful quickly the better bet is to have training. Because it is more rare to get in the other way. Without training you’re, I guess you can say, taking a chance.


At what age can someone really start to have a profession in Musical Theater?

-This is another one of those “if-y” questions. You can pretty much be any age to have a career in theater. Probably anyone not younger than the age of 3 can have a professional career in it. Cause there are shows that need kids in it. It would be easier for kids to get careers in musical theater if you live near by you know? There are different kid casting calls. The common age is 18. That’s the normal age people usually start getting a career in it. However, it’s not like you can’t have a career at 18.

Is there a certain kind of look you need to have?

-No there is not. It really depends on the show/role that you are going for. People who are Caucasians , that are girls under 5’6, thin, or anything that’s average looking usually have an easier time getting into the chorus. There’s always an opportunity for them. But again, it does matter on the show/role. For example, I played the role of the queen of hearts because of the way I looked & sang. & for other roles like Kim in Miss Saigon, they look for that ethnic type of look. So it all depends.

What are some of the differences from doing an actual New York City show & doing a community theater show?

-The biggest difference is salary. In New York you’re paid for your time and you’re paid well. In community theater you’re not paid. In some community theater shows you’ll get a stipend- $75 dollars for the whole run. It’s a contracted fee. Small, usually for reimbursements. On a Broadway-salary contract is $15,00 week at a bare the minimum. Another thing is you’re on a contract so it has a more sense of professionalism & adifferent way at looking at a show. This a job. A career. In Community Theater, it’s not. It’s for fun. It’s a hobby. People use Community Theater as an outlet. In New York you treat it more like work & I feel it’s a better environment to work in. More professional. The last thing is Community Theater has a tight budget. Versus NYC where the budget is endless. Nice costumes, nice sets. The budget is endless.


How will someone’s life change after getting a big role/any role in a Broadway show?

-If you get a small/ensemble role; when someone is first hired, his or her life changes with salary. It’s a big set up. Financial security. There’s also a confidence level you gain from knowing you “made it”. It’s a goal. First ever hired, confidence changes. You’ll learn easier and you’ll take in anything. Because of your excitement and open mind your skill level goes up.

-If you get a lead; Suddenly you’re up for tony awards, up for PR gigs, you’re someone everyone knows. There’s a different level you create. You have to become a different person. Always be aware of how you act cause you never know whos watching. You also have to watch about being cocky. But you do gain a different level of understanding. You feel lucky and blessed. It’s definitely surreal.

Is a college degree necessary for this career?

-Some parents are gonna hate me for this but no. You do not need one. Although it does look good on your bio that you graduated from “so & so” with a BFA they look at what you can do. A college degree helps more with what you want do after this career. It doesn’t hurt to have a college degree though.


Whats the best part about being a voice teacher? Being a choreographer?

V: The best part about being a voice teacher is helping kids pursue a career in music and the entertainment industry. Hawaii is so far away from the industry. I was always told when I was younger that I would never make it in the industry. I like to be the opposite. I like to be the person telling kids they can, they can do it. That’s if they persevere. That’s the best thing. As long as they’re aware of hard work, I’ll always be there, willing to help them.

C: Choreography is fun. It’s creation. I get to listen to music that tons of people have listened to & I get to visualize pictures in my head. I also get to teach people the choreography I came up with. Letting them learn a new skill set. Letting them create something that I saw in my mind. Watching the picture come to life is rewarding.



What’s the worse?

V: Having to watch kids go through rejection. You do nothing but help and help their self-motivation & to be their biggest cheerleader and then you watch them lose a competition, or hearing them crack on stage, or not get a role they want its very sad. It’s hard to see the crumbling of that wall we worked so hard to build. I want to be able to take that pain away. I do believe you have to go through it but it’s a crappy part to go through and understand.

C: The worst part is when you get creatively stuck. You know you have deadline and sometimes you just get stuck, it’s sort of like writers block. For some reason you cant see a picture yet you still have a rehearsal that week or that night. It’s not like you can go online and steal things. Literally you have to find a way to get past that.

What are some of the challenges?

V: Primarily, to make sure that your students are learning correctly. Cause they all come at different levels. But I take in a student at any level, only if they had a medical tone-deaf condition. Taking people who come to you at different levels and making them progress. It’s a disappointment when they leave the same or worse. You have you let them go.

C: Its almost the same with both, taking people at different levels and making sure they look the same or making the choreography fit the different levels. That’s really difficult.

What kind of attitude/characteristics do you need for this career?

V: You have to be able to separate professional & personal life. Sometimes you wanna push someone more than they can be pushed but you have to be able to ask them what they want. You have to know how to have that level of professionalism. You have to be tenacious, you’re gonna go through things where you say things over and over. You need patience & understanding. I also think you should relate to your student. It’s not just some kind of medical exam because they will get frustrated or they will get happy & you have to know how to talk to them or celebrate with them. You also have to be a good people person. You have to have your ego in check. Cause there’s gonna be students in this world that are gonna be better than you & that you have to learn to swallow. Tuck your ego in.

C: You have to be creative. You have to be able to work with people. You can be a phenomenal dance but that doesn’t mean you at teaching. You have to be able to teach. You have to be cautious, critique with out ruining them. Be strong. You have to demand respect @ the same time have fun. Be firm & disciplined.


Is this career life changing? How so?

V: It’s life changing when your students succeed. I think of the parents that thank me after a recital. Saying that their child finally has confidence to perform in front of people when they used to so shy. It’s definitely rewarding. You get a high as a performer when you’re on stage but you get a bigger high when your students goes up there and succeeds. That’s what’s life changing. You learn to be self less.

C: It’s not life changing because it’s such a per gig kind of job. I just think its fun. You work and meet people. It’s a creative outlet. It’s not life changing but it is something I can’t imagine not doing.


What kind of talent does it take to be a voice teacher? A choreographer?

V: I believe that you should have been at some point, a singer. Some people think you can just be a musician to teach. But singers are the only people that can relate to singers. If you’re gonna understand someone’s frustration you have to have gone through it yourself. You have to learn to at least play the piano to some kind of degree. I also they need to have been vocally trained themselves. You have to be able to work with kids. You should also be able to teach people.

C: You have to have training, probably as much training in varieties. Be very creative. Be a team player. You’re never just the only person creating. You have to suck it up if the director doesn’t like it. You have to realize you’re not the boss, you have to work well under people. I don’t think you have to dance as well as you choreograph but you need to know about the body and dance. It wouldn’t hurt to have musical theater experience & also professional experience.


Is there something that makes you different from all the other voice teachers on this island? Choreographer?

V: What makes me different is that I care about my students more than most people do. I put them before me. I put their success before mines. I will support them, watch whatever they are in, and be there with them at the audition, whatever it takes to be there for them. But I always push them to be greater. I’m more like family to my students and I care about them like they are my responsibility.

C: Yeah, I think im probably the fattest. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! But they see my choreography and they see that I’m knowledgeable. I think I have the most training for all the different types I know that it makes me a commodity. I also work really well with kids. I was also hired in ny for a kid show. I stand out as a different choreographer.


Is a college degree necessary for this career?


V: No. I don’t think so. But again. It wouldn’t hurt. It’s more about the training. But it should be something put look at. Its not necessary. I do think you should go to college so you know about music. For example, I can transpose music for my students & that’s something that I learned in college.

C: No. I don’t think it’s necessary. It will help you but they look more at what you do instead of a degree