Three little maids from your mom are we....

Today was the first day of rehearsals with the principles, and I feel like I just got invited to sit with the cool kids at lunch, or, at the very least, the VIP section of a very trendy club.  I have spent most of my "opera life" working with people my own age, who are desperately trying to get to the next level and don't care who they have to shank in the process.  And it was with this in mind that I began whittling a pen into a shiv during the welcome meeting.  Turns out, I don't need it.  For the most part (and, keep in mind, this is only the first day) there is much less posturing between those who are successful and are working steadily in their chosen field.  They have nothing to prove because they are getting paid to do something they love, instead of the rest of us who are throwing ourselves at whatever director or conductor we think will give us a shot.  Don't believe me?  Come and watch the first chorus staging rehearsal and prepare to be blown away by all the facial mugging going on.  I should know, as I was one of them last year and am sure to be in another chorus situation sometime in the future.  

It is a dog-eat-dog world in the back row.