Love story this Jonathan! I think we were conditioned to take the safe (conventional?) path, at least I was. That’s one reason why I’m trying not to do that anymore.
If the Muppet workshop were around today, they would never get away with not paying you for five weeks. I remember getting paid a whopping $10/week for my NYC film internship in 2000. Today, many internships pay more than the freelance writing gigs I'm taking as a magazine industry vet. You're looking back as if you had a choice. Were brought up to always take the stable, secure path. If there was a secure option than there was no choice. It's easy to "What if." Love this story, thanks for sharing!
Excellent and all too true. So many of us were conditioned on “career” and denied the more essential stuff. And now here we are! Especially us media refugees! Great post!
It’s the Muppet Show! What a wonderful article about the choices we make as young adults. I made the choice to teach, because so loved teaching and enjoyed the variety and seeing young minds explore their world at school. They had some great ideas too, I loved reading their stories.
But at my heart, I wanted a creative life in theatre, tv, music performing and writing. I just didn’t know how to go about it. Neither did I have the hutzpah to just do it. Thanks for sharing.
The Muppets were my absolute favourite! OMG-- the Swedish Chef.
Love story this Jonathan! I think we were conditioned to take the safe (conventional?) path, at least I was. That’s one reason why I’m trying not to do that anymore.
Thanks, Sacha! Yes, conventional is a good word for it. I don't want to be so conventional in Act 2.
If the Muppet workshop were around today, they would never get away with not paying you for five weeks. I remember getting paid a whopping $10/week for my NYC film internship in 2000. Today, many internships pay more than the freelance writing gigs I'm taking as a magazine industry vet. You're looking back as if you had a choice. Were brought up to always take the stable, secure path. If there was a secure option than there was no choice. It's easy to "What if." Love this story, thanks for sharing!
All great points. Thanks for reading!
Excellent and all too true. So many of us were conditioned on “career” and denied the more essential stuff. And now here we are! Especially us media refugees! Great post!
Thank you!
Great story. But I can offer a fact! You wrote "I don’t remember what I said, but I do remember making Jane Henson laugh."
You told me once what you said! Didn't do a skit about a talk show with a muppet named David Lettermonster?!
No way! I don’t remember that. That made ME laugh. Thanks for the memory refresh, Warren!
Just this past week I was tempted by a graduate program in Japan.
https://sds.chibatech.dev/apply
Do I *need* another graduate degree? No, definitely not. But the thought of dropping everything for a new adventure was appealing.
Well, having spent my first year after college in Japan, I get where you're coming from.
Great story. And what a tough call to make at 23! But, one does have to eat.
Yes, unless I was cast as Oscar, then I might have gotten some scraps. Thanks for reading!
Love this story and totally empathize that you chose the route with salary and health bennies over the uncertain puppeteer route. No judgment!
The Muppets, Sesame Street, Electric Company, and Zoom pretty much raised me, as they did so many of us Gen X latchkey kids 🥹
All the best. Remember: Hey, you guys!
It’s the Muppet Show! What a wonderful article about the choices we make as young adults. I made the choice to teach, because so loved teaching and enjoyed the variety and seeing young minds explore their world at school. They had some great ideas too, I loved reading their stories.
But at my heart, I wanted a creative life in theatre, tv, music performing and writing. I just didn’t know how to go about it. Neither did I have the hutzpah to just do it. Thanks for sharing.