Newsletter #15: I'm going to Edinburgh Fringe with Man Up!!
And I'm fucking terrified
I truly have barely been talking about it so this may be the first you are hearing about it but yes, Man Up is all paid and scheduled and set to go to Edinburgh Fringe this summer.
Why have I barely been telling people, you ask?
BECAUSE I AM AFRAID.
I am shaking in my very tiny shoes!!
“But Maggie, it’s so cool to travel with your show and it’s such a privilege and will be such an incredible experience!!”
Yes it’s a fucking privilege, bitch but have you thought about the DETAILS??
The money and fundraising, the traveling, the performing almost every freaking night for an international audience, having to bark and flyer every day to sell tickets, attempting to get press and recognition, traveling with some of my best friends who I’ve never traveled with before and I just so happen to have traveling-with-best-friends-goes-horribly-wrong trauma….
And it sucks because although I’ll be the one person from our team that will be on stage, I have been an extreme Debbie Downer as we’ve been gearing up to go.
My team is freaking PSYCHED and all I can think of is all the things that will be stressful at best and nightmarish at worst.
This is what they call in the world of cognitive distortions “catastrophizing” and “all or nothing thinking.” (Leave a comment if you’d like me to talk more about cognitive distortions in a future newsletter.)
But also, it just IS scary. I’m taking a fucking risk on myself and on this thing that I’ve created with my best friends. And you know me by now, I love to preach being brave and challenging yourself to pursue your art and dreams despite your anxiety. But this just feels different.
I’m worried about my body and being exhausted. I’m worried about the feeling of failure. I want to make this experience worthwhile on behalf of the show and all the work that my team has put into creating this show for years. And as much as I’ll have Hunter and the writers there throughout the process, as soon as I get on stage in another country, I’ll be alone.
Sometimes when it’s really really hard to believe in yourself, you have to turn to the words and actions of the people around you. My friends and family believe in me so much more than I do myself right now, and when that happens you just have to trust it.
What are other times when you might need to rely on your friends and family knowing your ability and talents better than you do? What are the times when you’ve been scared to do something you’ve wanted to do but somebody else believed in you hard enough that you just had to try it? Can you give the gift of faith to someone else in your life too?
I don’t know about you, but my friends and family are some of the smartest people I know. So if they believe in me, there must be something to that.
And to be fair, even when I’m disgustingly terrified, I have been known to still turn out a great fucking show.
There is just as much of a possibility of things going AMAZINGLY as there are of things going terribly.
So I guess I just wanted to be painfully honest about what I’m feeling as we gear up to go, because hopefully, like many times before, when I’m (sometimes too) honest about where I’m at, it can help someone else.
If you would like to support us going to Fringe, you can give to our Indiegogo Campaign and get some fun perks from the Chip-man himself! No amount is too big or too small.
And/or share our campaign with your networks! As of right now, we are already 38% funded and I couldn’t be more grateful or humbled by those who have already given.
I’ll be trying to keep this newsletter updated and more regular going forward!! But I’m gonna give y’all a super condensed catch up since my last post. Lots and lots of exciting stuff… SUCH AS:
Oreo Commercial
I was in my first ever commercial spot and it was a part of Oreo’s Super Bowl campaign!! It was the best first commercial experience I could have ever asked for!
Readings of New Plays
I was in 4 different readings of new plays (2 staged and 2 table reads) in 2 weeks!
I absolutely love being a part of new plays and their generation. I got to stretch my comedic AND dramatic acting chops and it felt amazing, I even got to sing!
At one of the readings, John Patrick freaking Shanley was there and said I was “terrific.” I peed myself.
Coaching + Directing Solo Shows
I’ve been coaching up and coming artists on their original solo shows!
I was lucky enough to work with Michelle Rodino -Colocino on her funny and moving piece for Solocom at The PIT and it went fabulously!
Here’s what Michelle had to say about working with me as a coach and director:
"Maggie’s creative sensibility, support for my vision, and practical suggestions made her such a creative wellspring that helped me put my first solo show on its feet!”
I absolutely adore doing this kind of work. For me, solo shows are such an amazing way to explore your voice and your capacity as an artist. Plus they translate and market so well for audiences because of the flexibility, vulnerability, and rigor involved.
If you’re interested in writing your own solo show and are interested in working together, reach out to me via email at maggiemetnick1@gmail.com or on insta @magnadoodler and we can set up a free 20 min consultation to see if we are a good fit 😊
Stuff To Check Out
Shows
Texas Seesaw Massacre - The improv duo that coined the most genius phrase I’ve ever heard: “If you see something, saw something.” May 15th, 7pm at BCC.
Soy Pony Sketch Show - GOOD QUALITY SKETCH COMEDY by super duper funny ladies!! May 22nd, 7pm at Caveat.
Hell Yeah! - This is truly one of the most impressive and fun shows I’ve seen in my time in NYC. Musical improv done spectacularly! Next show May 24th, 7pm at The PIT.
Theatresports - I am in this super fun short form competition style improv show as part of the reigning team! Come see if we can hang on to our title! May 25th, 10:30pm at The PIT.
Projectorfest - A four-night showcase of ambitious multimedia-driven comedy projects that you should totally check out! But specifically go see our fave media comedy human, Andy Vega, do his show Dr. Todd. May 30th, 9:30pm at Caveat.
Abolish Everything: Tournament of Champions! - Comedians testify against societal ills, from capitalism to car alarms. A panel of improvisers grills them with questions. I love this show. June 1st, 9:30pm at Caveat.
Let me Get a Spotlight - Man Up’s tech and musical extraordinaire, Kurt Cruz’s solo show is being produced as part of the CAMP program at Ars Nova! What happens when a tech steps out of the tech booth and onto the stage? June 6th, 7pm at Ars Nova.
A Man Among Ye - The raucous, rollicking, and quite unbelievable (semi) true story of pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Sword fights, sea shanties and mythical creatures help set the tone in this highly stylized and carnivalesque outrageous dark comedy. Opens June 13th at The Players Theatre.
Art
Alan Metnick - Yes that’s my Dad lol. You may remember him from my post about my trip to Poland and all of the incredible work he’s doing there. He makes dope freaking art and photography and you should check it out! You can even get his book Captured In Memory: Photographs and Thoughts on Poland.
Music
Wendy Klein - Yes that’s my Mom. Shut up, my parents make dope shit. Now listen to her flute the house down.
Robert Price - Yeah, I’m biased but Robert makes really amazing music. His album Did You Eat My Songs Yet is so fun and meaningful and catchy. He has individual songs and full albums on Youtube, Soundcloud, & Bandcamp.
Emma Young - Such chill and interesting vibes! Feels like pulsating New York City nights. Listen on Spotify & Apple Music.
Ray Johnson - I was lucky enough to sing an original song Ray composed in a reading recently! His music is folky and soulful, sometimes hauntingly so. Listen on their website and Soundcloud.
Audio Books
(All voiced by my extremely talented friend Dani Martineck)
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston - In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old nonbinary hopeful knight battles for the heart of their kingdom.
Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl - When I asked Dani if they had audio books they wanted to share, they asked if I wanted a sexy one and I said, “Boy DO I!” Paul transforms his body and his gender at will as he crossed the country––a journey and adventure through the deep queer archives of struggle and pleasure.
Newsletters
Spoon Afternoon - My coffee date writing buddy Jenna Rice writes a new lovely Substack about food, feelings, and anything else she damn well please. It’s a beautiful read.
Meter Made - Robert has written a poem for every single newsletter he’s posted and he’s at 48 now?? He shares his beautiful way with words alongside a work by a poet he admires.
Poetry
Gee Duffey - My marvelous poetry friend! Follow her on instagram for updates on her collection “All My Rounded Parts.”
Classes
PIT Improv - Where I was trained and met some of my best friends! Great place to start if you’re extremely nervous like I was is Level 0. I took class with the great Dana Shulman and it changed my life!
The LaughtHER Collective - A modern comedy school amplifying underrepresented voices led by amazing professional stand ups, Christi Somers and Hope D. They have so many classes to choose from, along with a newsletter and helpful resources on their Instagram.
Videos
Very talented director and one my close friends, Bix Giegerich, has launched a production company! Check out their Mac Demarco spec video!
This sketch by Just And Comedy!
Livestreams
Cosmos Creative TV - Reneé Yaworsky hosts a myriad of shows through Cosmos Creative TV that range from the humorous and joyful, to the thought-provoking and inspiring, to the moving & eye-opening. Check out their Youtube page.
AGreenQueen on Twitch - Fellow anime nerd Alli Green has started her own gaming livestream! She’s currently playing Genshin Impact which she has told me is gay and magical! Check out her Twitch page for her schedule.
Podcasts
Our Anime Show Podcast - Best friends Alli Green and Gio Patrick discuss all things anime! You can even find their episode with ME on it, from when I first entered my anime renaissance last year. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Open Mics
Sam and Friends - A warm and welcoming open mic where our priority is community and belonging. Poetry, music, storytelling, & more! Hosted by the wonderful Sam Theuring. Tuesdays, sign up is at 7pm at Roots Cafe.
Speakeasy Shakespeare - One of the most beautiful and nerdy experiences I’ve ever had, The Night Shift Theatre Co presents open mic style Shakespeare! Come watch or perform! Every 3rd Monday of the month, check out their insta for location.
Odd Bandit Comedy Open Mic - Queer and femme comedy open mic, super supportive and at my favorite bar! Every other Sunday, 7pm at Dromedary: Coming Out.
What I’m Loving
Redoing the Artists Way
If you haven’t done The Artists Way by Julia Cameron, I highly recommend you give it a try. It’s a spiritual “recovery” book that takes you over the course of 12 weeks through exercises and anecdotes that are so revitalizing when you feel stuck in your creativity. I’ve done it once before and it altered so much of my way of thinking.
If the idea of a spiritual text makes you squirm, I totally understand. I change a lot of the language in the book to work for me and my sensibilities about religion (Ex: I change the word “god” to the “universe.”)
It is dense and can be intense but it was so worth it and I’m so excited to see what happens this time around!
My Anime Playlist!!!
I made an anime playlist of just some of my favorite intros and outro songs and good golly gosh I think you should listen to it!
Every newsletter I highlight one of the songs on the playlist and tell you why I love it so much. You need not know any of the anime to enjoy this music I promise you, the songs are THAT GOOD.
Dogland by People 1
This one really gets me going. Flogging Molly who??? Also I just think his voice is so sexy.
I love Maggie. Saw her grad play for graduation. Love her and gave her her first jewels. This is a force to be seen and loved. Mags rocks !!