A Mission Statement

We Have a Plan!

Operation 'Point Break' Begins...

Ex-Presidents, We Want YOU!

If you are, or have been the president of Birmingham University’s Guild Musical Theatre Group (and/or on the Committee in any role), then read on….

I am looking to invite presidents from each generation of the Guild Musical Theatre Group (or GMTG)’s graduates to come together for a special plan. Once we do, we can then work to bring all Alumni of GMTG into one group.

They in turn can work towards something very special.

If you are an ex-president, a former committee member, or know someone who is, then please contact me here on these pages.

 You’re welcome to visit and join the new Linkedin group:

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8342825

There’s a Facebook page for Alumni:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2257364715/

Looking forward to speaking with you all!

My Goal for Our Group

Deb Brook, the Founder of Birmingham University's 'Guild Musical Theatre Group', intends to create a new drama school. I have set up a new LinkedIn page for members and Alumni to meet about this, and many other projects. And this is the plan....

Save the Arts

A Whole Other Level – The Big Picture for Guild Musical Theatre Group

A big thank you to the Guild Musical Theatre Group’s Committee, for supporting a Newsletter for both members and Alumni! It’s a great idea, and I think it will be a big step forward for the members and Alumni of GMTG staying in touch. I have no doubt that there will be some interesting stories to be heard, and we’ll all make a lot of new friends – plus reuniting some old ones. The ‘GMTG Family’ as we call it, is huge, and if you’re part of it, then you’re pretty much guaranteed a lifetime of friendships. I myself am keen to hear what everyone has been up to, off stage and on. But also, for some members of GMTG, who I know are serious about a career on stage, there’s a way that this will definitely help them too. As a former member of GMTG’s Committee, and now an Alumnus. I’ve pushed quite hard over the past few years, for closer links between GMTG’s members and Alumni: and here’s why.

Those of you have been on productions teams, have probably seen the big picture by now. On one hand, we have GMTG the society, which is basically a training school for the stage, in all but name. Members have come from many disciplines, such as History, Politics Business and other students, and are now going on to become Guilford or Mountview’s finest, among other things. As I write, there is yet another GMTG show to be staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a dozen community and arts projects, and competitions: the society has gone from strength to strength. And on the other hand, we have nearly 30 generations of Alumni, who have graduated to work in roles all over the arts industry, to do many great things-in this country and elsewhere.

So, connect the dots between all these people, and what have you got? Some great networking opportunities. Already, I see there are collaborations and break out projects, taking place between our members and Alumni. The operations of GMTG get more organised, and well defined each year. After all, who from my generation, would imagine GMTG members performing regularly at the MAC (Midlands Arts Centre), or having both showcases and workshops, alongside the main shows? But why, you may ask does, this matter so much? Because the one thing that some GMTG members have always wanted, is a career on the stage. And there are now several hundred (maybe even a few thousand) Alumni, in the arts industry, who have the connections they will need, to make that happen.

Likewise: fellow Alumni; I’m sure you’d agree, that those of us who work in a business, are always looking for new connections, to give us new projects and opportunities. Imagine you suddenly had access to several hundred new contacts in your industry: and all of them were in key positions, to give you a lot of new business. Because that is what closer networking with your fellow GMTG Alumni will give you. If nothing else, it’s good to know that there are plenty of others in the same boat, with the same aspirations. And the difference with GTMG, is that being part of it makes you a member special club.

And let’s not forget, that current members have been busy too. From the collaborations and projects, it’s clear that GMTG has gone way beyond being just another student society (if we were ever ‘just’ that to start with!) With their innovations from the workshops and showcases, this generation of GMTGers will bring fresh passion and talent to the arts industry when they graduate: and they’ll have some useful ideas to offer you, the Alumni, too.

But this is not just about making good connections between members and Alumni. Because as well as the great social connections, old friendships, and professional networking for GMTGers; there’s another important reason why linking up the members and Alumni of GMTG could make a very big difference to people’s lives.

A Whole Other Level

“Yes, performing on stage is a great hobby. It’s a shame you can’t do it for a job.”

How many times have we heard this cliché?  Too many, I’m guessing. The perception of the performing arts, from those outside the industry, is that it seems an uncertain, ‘unstable’ profession, and that their sons and daughters are probably better off getting a ‘real job’ that pays a ‘steady wage.’ 

This is an age old cliché, and it’s something I want us to break. It is true that the experience of artists, like Katie Brennan – whose brilliant article pretty much inspired my crusade – seem to confirm some of the hardships:

http://bloodyhellbrennan.com/2013/07/24/a-resting-actors-response-to-is-acting-today-just-too-tough/

But despite this, there are artists I know and others, who are still living the dream.

You can perform on stage for a living: because after all, my fellow Alumni are doing it now, for a job. The RSC, the West End, cruise ships, technical and backstage; name the place and the role: Alumni of GMTG have done it. Sure, they have bills to pay like everyone else, and yes, there will always competition, tight schedules, and a lot of work to do in a short space of time. But in today’s world, I can assure you from 10 years of hard experience in multiple professions: if you’re looking for a ‘stable’ profession, there ain’t no such thing. Having seen a great many people’s hopes and dreams stepped on and destroyed, during the Recession, I can tell you: you’re far better off doing what you love for a living; be that a career on stage, sport, engineering, medicine, or indeed any profession. If your heart is in it, you can do it.

People may ask: what’s wrong with playing it safe, and giving up your dreams to go into a profession that earns a steady paycheque, and hoping for a break? Well, nothing at first.  You go into a different industry to the one you want, and train for a job with a steady wage. Hours are long, and the work is tough, but you reason, that may be ‘one day’ you’ll get to do the thing you love again. Time goes by and you still keep working. A year becomes a few years, because nothing turns up. Then a few years more, and few years more. Then after a ‘few more years’ stack up, about 20-30 years have suddenly gone by and a realization hits you: what happened to my life?

That may sound like fiction, but trust me, I’ve seen it too many times. The song ‘What A Waste’ from Bernstein’s Wonderful Town; sums it up perfectly. People I know, who could have been great artists, athletes or entrepreneurs are now stuck in menial, dead end jobs, because they were persuaded to take the ‘safe’ way out with their careers, when they were younger. And as those of us over 30 know only too well: there is nothing worse than looking back on your life and regretting what might have been.

You may ask: it is all very well having a dream, but how do you make it come true? It’s true that it isn’t easy. Too many times, I’ve seen talented young hopefuls get rejected from auditions to the drama schools, because of the sheer number of applicants they are up against. It’s tough for the current generation of students, because students of all disciplines who love the stage, have to contend with tuition fees that are three times what we paid, for the same education. And as per the link above, there are plenty of challenges for Alumni too. But despite these hardships, I say to the people reading this, who want a career in the performing arts: you can still do what you love for a career. Not because of some dream in the future, or some vague message of hope: but because of a very real advantage that your GMTG connections will give to you.

I believe that the members and Alumni of GMTG now have the connections, innovations, and genuine passion for the arts, that we can get together and make some real changes, to overcome the issues. The one thing the performing arts industry seems to thrive on, is the personal connections between the people. And with nearly 30 generations of GMTGers past and present, that’s a lot of good connections to be made. So, to break the usual cliché, that there ‘aren’t the opportunities’ for a career in the arts; we are now in a unique position to make a few: and here’s how we can do it.

A lot has happened over the past 30 years. GMTG’s Alumni are not only full time performing artists (among other professions of course); but many of them are also now directors and leaders of key arts institutions. As individuals, they have a lot of power and influence in the industry. And I submit that if the key players (and others) sat around the same table, and co-ordinated their efforts; they would not only find opportunities for the members who want to work in the industry; but they would also create them as well.

In fact, I believe that that day will come at some point in the future, when members and Alumni of GMTG will decide to build themselves a full scale arts network, that will benefit, not only the careers from the Guild Musical Theatre Group, but many other artists as well. As ambitious as that may sound, it is now entirely possible, given the huge amount of talent within GMTG; our genuine passions for the arts; the connections, innovations, and 30 the years of collective experience enjoyed by all our members and Alumni.

This is why I have been so passionate about the networking between GMTG members and Alumni. Because after everything we’ve achieved, ours is one group of people, who really can change the way things are done. Think about the most spectacular show you’ve done with GMTG to date? Yes, that is what one generation of GMTGers can do. So if they were all brought together, can you imagine what thirty generations would do? In years to come, I believe that a full scale arts network will become a reality, and will be the final stage of GMTG’s evolution.

Starting Small

Right now, of course, we need to focus on the present, and get the ball rolling. As people have said we’re better off walking before we run; and the way to do this, is by using this Newsletter, to build a good relationship between the members and Alumni of GMTG. Our Newsletter is the perfect way to put us in touch with one another, and allow all of us to tell our stories. This will give some great insight into the arts and other professions, told from the point of view of people who do it themselves. After all, The Stage Magazine and other publications have been hugely successful in opening doors for their readers’ career opportunities. Granted, this is on a smaller scale, but I know that it will do a lot to recognise members and Alumni’s achievements, and to point us in new directions for the future.

And besides, with nearly 30 generations of fun loving society members, there’s good times to be had, by meeting up again for social gatherings, and a trip down memory lane. (I’m sure that stories about our antics, and parties, would probably make a great musical, in themselves!) A Newsletter for all of us, is a great way to share our stories and memories.

Yes, there will be challenges, and I’m sure we all agree, we need to be realistic as well as hopeful. For GMTG’s Committee, in years to come, there may be times when you feel like a lot of effort is being put in, for very little results. And I’m sure there may be days in the future when you will wish you’d never taken this on. Keeping the link between members and Alumni of GMTG, through this newsletter, and other means will probably be as tough as doing a show – which, as anyone who has been on a production team will know, is never easy!

Just like a show, I predict, that those of us who support this newsletter – from both sides - will have different ideas about how it should be put together, the content, the people and the purpose. But just like a show, I can assure you, that the newsletter and the opportunities that follow, will be more than worth the effort put in, because the rewards will be far greater. In many ways, this is an opportunity that has been waiting to happen for years. With the right planning, co-ordination, and effort, I think we will all be inspired by what it will do. When it really starts to sink in, how much everyone has achieved, and what we’re involved with, I think this will change a lot of things for a lot of people.

So as an Alumnus of GMTG, I fully support this newsletter, and closer links between members and Alumni. I hope you will too. You once did an introverted nerd a good favour, by allowing him to be part of an awesome show, (The Hot Mikado no less!) in his first year at uni. And the GMTG experience allowed that nerd to grow up to take part in some amazing events, to achieve an LCM in Musical Theatre and finally, to write this very article you are reading. So allow me to return the favour. After nearly 30 years, we have a lot to celebrate. Be you member or Alumni Fellow Alumni, please feel free to put your stories forward, and I’m sure we’ll all be amazed at what everyone has done. And trust me: if we keep the link going between members and Alumni, GMTG’s magic will take it to a whole new level. You’ll see.

All the Best

James M

Alumnus and Former Secretary

SOURCES

A Resting Actor’s Response to ‘Is Acting Today Just Too Tough?’ Katie Brennan, Bloody Hell Brennan [Blog] 2013

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