Plans for the Future

This is my last year at the U of I and I am really excited about what is around the corner. All my friends, family, and even strangers ask me what my plans are for after Graduation. At first I knew exactly what to tell them, "Vegas! Work on some Show Girl shows and work my way into Cirque Du Soleil." But so much has happened within the past few months that I am not 100% sure if once my diploma is in my hot little hand that I will be setting out for the West. I am not saying that going to Las Vegas to find the "American Dream" is not at all a bad idea, just that, maybe Vegas is not what I should do right off the bat.

I have a couple friends getting married in the Fall of '08 and I would like to attend these weddings. One is in Vermont and the other, Scotland. I have been thinking that perhaps I will work another summer job, possibly going back to Colorado Shakes, maybe taking that job at Glimmerglass in New York. With the money I make over the summer, I would like to take the Fall off, go to those weddings, spend time with my family, and just relax. Basically, recover from Grad. school.

What do I do after that? I could go to Vegas in the winter... Then again, I have some friends of the family who live in the UK and they have suggested that I come and work in London for a year. I will be in Scotland anyway, why not stay in Great Britain and experience something new? I could see how Theatre is done in England, meet more people, learn new techniques, and get more ideas. How much richer would my designs be, my skills, my knowledge? After some time abroad I could then return home, free lance for a while, and eventually settle down and accomplish my dream.

Someday, I would like to have my own business, my own Costume Shop. It will be nothing like those little shops that sell you costumes made from cheap fabrics that come in one size fits all packages. It will be a custom Costume Shop, specializing in Masks and Millinery. I will sell masks and hats that I personally design and/or build. I will design, build, and sell costumes to people for Festivals, Balls, Weddings, Parties, Reenactments, etc. I plan on starting small, perhaps beginning with an Internet based business, then expanding and traveling through the Renaissance Festival Circuit, and eventually settling down to a location (preferably one with a warm climate) and setting up my shop. Someday I will make this happen. Till then, I am going to take the necessary steps in order to make my dream come true.