Tea With TJ
Welcome to Tea with TJ! A Podcast on self-discovery where our love for tea, conversation, a deeper understanding of life, and self-improvement intersect. Life is messy and sometimes you just need a cup of tea!
Tea With TJ
A Candid Look at Embracing Life's Rejections With Calvin M. Thompson
Join us for an intimate conversation with the talented Calvin M. Thompson as we explore the complexities of navigating rejection in the arts. From his roots in Aiken, South Carolina, to the bustling streets of New York City, Calvin shares his journey and the resilience it requires to thrive as a Black artist in a demanding industry. We reminisce about our first meeting during auditions for the Motown national tour and discuss how our connection has evolved into a rich friendship. Calvin opens up about the inspiration he drew from Barack Obama's 2008 election, a milestone that fueled his belief in his potential and set the tone for his artistic endeavors.
We also tackle the profound themes of self-love and purpose, drawing on the wisdom of the late Chadwick Boseman. Calvin and I reflect on the grounding power of love and how embracing rejection can lead to true alignment with one's path. Through personal anecdotes, we discuss the unpredictable nature of the theater world and the courage it takes to walk away from opportunities that don't resonate with personal values. This episode offers listeners a fresh perspective on finding authenticity and fulfillment in their work by embracing each "no" as a stepping stone to the right "yes."
Finally, we celebrate the importance of maintaining identity and authenticity in creative spaces. Calvin and I delve into the responsibility of choosing roles that reflect diverse Black experiences and the challenge of staying true to oneself amidst external pressures. We share our aspirations to tell powerful and authentic stories, emphasizing gratitude and self-awareness as keys to navigating the artistic journey. So, grab your cup of tea and join us in this heartfelt discussion. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram at Tea with TJ Podcast, and stay tuned for more inspiring conversations!
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Hey friends, it's TJ, and you're listening to Tea with TJ, where our love for tea, conversation and self-improvement intersect. So let's take a deeper dive into my cup and let's have a chat. Hey friends, it's TJ. Welcome back to another episode of Tea with TJ, and today I have Calvin Thompson. Yes, I just realized also that this is, I think, the second time we've encountered each other.
Calvin:Literally Overdue yeah.
TJ:A long time.
Calvin:Welcome to the pod. I'm so happy to be here. I'm so happy to have you.
TJ:So quickly for our folks listening and watching. Can you just tell us your story?
Calvin:Sure, so I am originally from Aiken, south Carolina. We just realized we're both South Carolinian, so hey, cousin. Yeah originally, but also born in Augusta Georgia. Yeah, originally, but also born in Augusta Georgia. So born on the c like kindergarten doing like reading poetry and stuff out loud, and then anytime I got to open my mouth in a choir or something like that.
Calvin:I was like, yeah, yeah, music and all the things. And not until college did I realize I wanted to actually pursue a career in the arts. So say, my sophomore year in college, I booked my first professional theater job working. So I started working then, and moved to New York.
Calvin:I was about 24. Yeah, yeah, went to AMDA, um and um did that route and I've been in New York ever since. I did uh about um a good 11 years here, went out west, did la to right before, literally a year before pandemic, because I was like and so you know, it's just like rolling, rolling with the punches rolling. But uh, life brought me back here, back to good old, in my sea, and so I've been back, uh since 2022, gotcha Nice and that's been my journey to like, just this kind of nomadically finding myself as an artist. I love that.
TJ:Yeah, I was just having a conversation with a friend the other day and I mentioned that to them because I was saying how I think in my adult life I've realized that I would consider myself very nomadic. Yeah, that I'm totally okay to live out of a suitcase and just kind of exist and floating through, you know, through the country or through the world.
TJ:I love that. Yeah, I am curious about two things before we jump in, because just thinking about your story and I'm like this is the connective tissue. So you went to amda and I think this is how we got connected. I remember our first encounter was at the motown audition. Uh, and back in the day for that first national tour, back in the day for that first national tour.
TJ:Yeah, oh my, my, my yes, yes, yes uh and um, I was there with my friend kiari at the time and that's how we got introduced and, yeah, um, and I think we followed each other on social media really after that because I feel like I've known, I've known I, not I feel.
Calvin:I know that I've known you for years.
TJ:But even in that moment I felt like I've known you, like, even though that was the first time we've met. I feel like there was something there and as I'm getting to know more about you and encounter you more, things are starting to just make sense.
TJ:Because even the subject thing I'm like, that's what it is, that's exactly what it is so when we were talking about topics for the episode today, um, the thing that kind of like stuck out to you the most was the rejection, um. So I'm curious to know from you what does, what does rejection look like, both in your professional life as an actor, but also maybe like in your like everyday life, like outside life?
Calvin:what does rejection look like in my professional life and in my everyday life? Well, um, you know, this industry is not, um, an easy industry. Uh, you know, I've. I have quite a um, quite a bit of people that I don't.
Calvin:And I don't know if you ever get those questions that are like, um, in no shade to anyone who has done this, but like random folk, that'll be like, hey, I know somebody, either my son or my daughter, um or or so, and so is like I've never acted before and I just want to take a. You know, and I'm like okay, but do you really know what you're signing yourself up for? And you know, I think that I'm going to go backwards. Personally, I think that you know, no matter where you are from geographically, saying we're coming from the South, right, black men coming from the South, right, black men coming from the South. So there's already that of um, what this country has kind of tried to put on us, right and um, trying to find out who we are with our own identity, but then to say, oh, you can't do that you can't be that.
Calvin:And I it's funny enough, um, I'm getting into the rejection but also the acceptance part. Like I remember I was working on um a tour, the first tour that I won, one of the only tours I had done, but it was around 2008 and that was when, barack Obama, you know what I'm saying, and I remember I was the only black man in my cast. It was a very short cast, but I just remember standing in the middle of my hotel room and I was just like filled with so much pride and I was like, wow, this is the first time I've seen that kind of tangible, tangible evidence that of what I could be more to. Again going back to the industry and then tell you, okay, well, we see you as this, we see you as that, and now you have to see, you have to know what the vision is for your life. You have to often, and even this right here is like the closing of your eyes. So that way, what seeing what you see for your life?
Calvin:let me do I statements I see from my own life and so that way you know, I've, I've, it's been tough you know sometimes when, um, you really want certain things or you really want certain jobs, and I think that life is kind of life and experience has taught me to it's in the it's, in the relaxation and the release of knowing who you are and trusting in all the cosmic and the Divine movement that what is meant for you will be for you. Um, I was literally working on a gig.
Calvin:um, um, today's friday, saturday, yes uh, thursday and um, and they were uh, some of the co-workers on that. This particular project was talking about this state. She was from kansas and she was talking about. The pastor at the church that she came from was um. They were kind of up in age and they always wanted a child and one of their members had um. Unfortunately, um had uh been raped and and had a child out of rape. But anyway, long so short. The blessing in that that horrible circumstance was that she gave her child to the pastor and the wife, um, but in the desiring of wanting a child for their own self, in that moment they themselves were able to conceive and it was like, and it was like, ah well, what is that? Why do um, especially sometimes with women? And being like saying, when you your ability to conceive, you know what I'm saying? It's like it's when your body is in a relaxed state and you've let go of the thing and it's like.
TJ:So I was like ah, life, I hear you, I hear you, I hear you, god. No, no, it's interesting because I am, it's it's so. I mentioned this to you before we started recording, but this week I have been um recording episodes for this season every day since wednesday and today's, saturday, um, and it's been very interesting that every guest that I've had thus far has brought into the conversation this kind of like spiritual connection, or divine intervention, or divinity, and how to achieve the things that you want out of life in your connection to those things, to those two things. Um, because even just yesterday with stacy, who recorded um which I don't know where this is gonna fall, but make sure you watch our episode um, she was saying the exact same thing.
TJ:So, and I love that, like, even in this moment, things are still somehow, you know, connected um with this idea of trying to align yourself with the things that you want and desire. Um, in in kind of holding space for the rejection piece too. Yeah, where, where do you think you fall? Or like, what are some tools that are helpful for you when dealing with, like, rejection professionally?
Calvin:I am literally currently going through a season, a season I was telling tj before we started that, um, it's been a very, it's a very interesting season right now because, um, I don't know if I yeah, maybe it's the delulu right now that's telling me. That's fair, that I wasn't, that I wasn't rejected, but it's been. I I guess I'm looking at it as delay or like whatever. But yes, the the tools that um I use is, uh, grounding, um meditation, grounding and meditation is a huge grounding, meditation and prayer, so that's a spiritual practice in itself that I feel like I hold for myself.
Calvin:I always try to, if I don't do it daily, I try to at least tap in like four or five times a week, but just to every morning come back to gratitude and my why and putting my feet on the ground and saying like, okay, this is where I'm at today and this is what I have control over at today and this is what I have control over and everything else I yield over to, um, my belief. I believe in god, so that that is my belief system. Um, I also I'm a heavy believer in community. So, knowing that I have community and that brings me balance and I often I'm beginning better with that piece, that tool, to say, you know what? Because when I get so tight about, oh, I'm supposed to be there, I was supposed to be here by now and that particular project was supposed to be mine it's like I get pulled back to the present with laughter and love and just being like be present with people who are trying to love on me.
Calvin:I was having a moment yesterday that I was looking at an old Chadwick Boseman interview and he said something along the lines of love and you, the?
Calvin:He said I always, um, I I'm brought back to not necessarily feeling like.
Calvin:I need to feel loved, but like or not not not feel loved, but I need to love on people.
Calvin:I need to love on. That brings me back to being present and he's like you know I don't he at that time he was speaking that he didn't have the traditional like wife and kids, family thing, but he was like I have cousins, I have like I love on, and if that is a driving force for me to be like I need to love you, so I think that fills up our cup, yeah, and and replenishes us in such a way where you know, um, because there's no, there's no formula and there's no, sometimes you could, you could not know why certain things go. Literally I went on the audition, say, about a month ago now. It was one of my first in-persons, uh, this year and, um, literally I was like I felt good about it because I went to the audition and I think I knew the art well, not I think I knew I did know the um, the director who was an associate artistic director of, uh, this particular theater. I feel like I'm putting business out there.
Calvin:It's fine, right, it's fine. Anyway, I went into this audition and I feel like I killed it and I and they, they knew, um, they kind of had me on their peripheral of like what I had been doing over the past year. Um, they knew like I'm on hold for something coming up this fall. So I was like, yeah, and this particular project would have went right before said gig. So I was like, oh, yes, please, uh, booking behind booking and I've been praying for that. I've been current praying for being booked back to back. But then, um, so I did the audition. It felt there was like really good work, can we make some adjustments? Did the adjustments? Bop, bop, bop, bop, bop. Then she said okay great, call back tomorrow.
Calvin:Are you available tomorrow, ask me. I said yeah, see you tomorrow. I said I'm on a joke. I love it. I love it.
Calvin:So I left and went home, went on about my day, had me a merry old day, and I'm on my phone, boop, boop, Checking email Boop boop Boop, just refreshing Boop yeah. Boop 12 o'clock. Boop 8 am next day. Boop 10 am next day. Boop 5 pm next day. Boop 10 am next day. Boop 5 pm next day Boop. I said, oh oh, it's a no Y'all, randy Jackson, me it was a no dog, okay. Randy Jackson Got you right yeah.
Calvin:Yeah, okay, ouch, but I was like, but I again, maybe that, maybe that's the, the delulu that I have. I was like you know what it? It wasn't meant for me and again I I maybe that's just my perspective of saying, speaking about a light it goes hand in hand. I think that rejection and alignment you can't, you, you can't have, um, you can't have uh, one without the other, right, um, yes, uh, uh, uh, no, and it's funny, um, what was that? That thing that went viral a couple years ago about uh, lady gaga, she was, oh, I had no, it's yeah, whatever that was, uh, there could be 100 people in a room, and all you need is just one yes, yes yes but baby, yeah, give me the 99, so it make me excited about the one.
Calvin:Yeah, yes, I'm sorry I'm just getting to his cousin um, yes, when give me that yes of of, after them knows, and I it, it's. It's a part of saying that is what is meant for me, I, I. I saw a dear friend and colleague she just put on her her social media about saying like, because when you try to force one of those no and I don't know if you've ever been in a project being like why am I here? These people are not for me, these people don't see me, these people don't value me. So I was like, actually, when you, when you going to, yeah, so if it is a no, god bless, whoever got that gig, because maybe I'm not supposed to be or maybe it's better meant for somebody else to be a part of that.
Calvin:Bro, low-key, I was like I, I did actually say I was like they tried to make me because. But it, but it script wise. It said 20s and I said thank y'all for still seeing it, seeing it for your boy. But I, I also was like um, um, a. A dear friend of mine said calvin, look at the roles that normally come your way. You have portrayed like it gives you it low-key, that the the things that are meant for you, and that you look at the, the resume and the roles and it kind of tells you information right. He said you'd normally play people who are in leadership I?
TJ:I was going to interject and say that just being witness to your social media feed, since I've met you at that random motel audition, um, all of the roles that I've seen past your feed have been these very stoic characters, which I enjoy because I find myself in a similar position that, like the leadership is is, is oozing off of me.
TJ:And that I very much have that energy and yes authoritative figure type of energy, and I had never encountered someone else that I could see also doing that, because usually, especially in the musical theater world, a lot of us that exist in that space, the people who book those jobs or who go up for those jobs, are the Norm Lewis's or the mindset mitchell's like those types of people and I hadn't um met anyone else in that like if we're like high arcing, you know the types of roles in theater.
TJ:I had never met anyone in that circle with me so that was also like beautiful to watch and like see unfold in real time. I was like huh. I was like I really I need to get to know this man I need to get to know, this man, because I have questions. I. I want to see more of this.
Calvin:Yeah, I really appreciate that, but also likewise, likewise, and when you just, and again, I think that, um, the other part, what we were talking about, creative, uh, identity, which goes to your own identity Once you know who you are, because leadership does not is not always about being, yes, authoritative and being able to execute and see, authoritative and and and being able to, um, execute and see, see, but also there's a, like a bird's eye view that that is important for leadership. There's kind of you have to see big picture. There's some times of being like I, I know how to stand back and let other you know what I'm saying and hold space for letting other people. That is what real leadership is and I.
Calvin:That is also losing off you. That's what I I I just this uh podcast, I bow down. Uh is is a wonderful quality, so I know that is also reflective in your work, that you know how to hold space right. Yeah, so, um, that that is why I say that that, going back to that particular audition, that that particular gig, I was like god bless, because I was like this role. I don't know if this is me. There's a lot of um, I don't know if it would, uh that telling of that particular story. I don't know if, like somebody would really believe that somebody's. I don't know if, like somebody would really believe that somebody's barking at me.
Calvin:I mean I say barking at me as an authoritative way, because I don't give yeah, yeah, that, yeah, no, I get it.
TJ:Believe me, I get it, I get it right. You gotta know who you are. We talked about.
Calvin:Yeah, um it's, it's the knowing who you are, anyway, yeah this is great, I um and this is good.
TJ:This tea is great, thank you yes, um, also, I love that everyone has been like loving the tea selection. Make sure to follow on instagram to get those. Uh, but, yeah, you, you brought up, um, this kind of like subtopic that we had discussed before, so I just want to bring that to the table too of this whole idea of figuring out your creative identity, what that means and what that looks like for you and I think you kind of just touched on it for yourself, um, but I'm curious to know, like, what does that? In really standing in your truth as a creative and knowing your, your worth, your value, your position in the world, what power or authority does that give you when you walk into well, knowing my worth and knowing who I am, um, and I've gotten it used to um, it used to bother me.
Calvin:I, early on in my career, I'll, I'll say like an audition.
Calvin:Literally, it is such a space there are no, you cannot tell certain factors, whether you're too tall, too short, to this, to that, um, I used to um, I had a, I have a mentor who would say you know, um, you know in the, in the art form, you know instrumentalists, people who play instruments, they can take their instrument and put it in a case when your instrument is this, you, we take the instrument into the space, but then when we leave the space, it's like I'm still the instrument and so you don't know how to compartmentalize right the time to take the criticism, um, personal, so, um, but I've been better with learning how to focus, say, still instrument, but I'm also going to say instrument and I'm I'm going to give you the work and this is the work that I've worked on, and I get to also, uh, be an artist and I get to tell a story on today and, um, whether you like this story or not, it it?
Calvin:That has nothing to do with me, whether you like it or not. Uh, jesse norman. There was a a clip that was going viral of about critiquing criticism, um, and someone was asking well, how do you deal with, you know, people who are reviewers and stuff like that? She was like what?
Calvin:what do I put in her grand grandeur? She said uh what do I? Care for someone who comes in and they've not even paid for their ticket.
Calvin:Uh, and they come in and they can take this one night, this one experience, and then I was like that's so real is like that this is this moment in time and that you are getting to be in this experience with me and sure, whether you like it or not, that that's neither here nor there, but like it's the, the truth, yeah, of the I can only show up in all 100 who I am in that day, in that moment, in that time, in my truth and authenticity, whether you like it or not, that's not, that's not up to me.
TJ:That's very true and that's something that I have been realizing over the years. The longer that I'm in this industry and doing this on a day-to-day basis it is it's so imperative to know who you are before you walk into that room, because and I was just having a conversation with somebody about this the other day about how, yes, you're going in there to put a character on right, like you were putting this character on my clothes and presenting this work in this audition or if you're doing a show eight times a week or whatever it is but if you don't know who you are before you do all of that, there's going to be some blurred lines, right. Some of that stuff can seep into your own life. You can start to pick up some of those habits from that character. Like there was a.
TJ:There was a show that I did called murder ballad. Back in what was that? 2017, I think it was and I played an alcoholic and uh, sure enough, because I was not prepared for that show. That was the first time I had ever done it. It it was a musical. It was like a four-person musical. Some of that stuff that was happening at the show started to seep in for me, and this was before I was really in a place where I was like oh, I have to be aware, I have to be conscious, I have to be protective of me so that I can put on this person but then also release them and let them go. Yes, because that whole experience was there. I went through a whole bottle of whiskey. Yeah.
TJ:Like within a matter of two days after the show had finished, and it wasn't even. It wasn't a thing where, like I was like becoming an alcoholic but because of the show, like having to constantly, just it became second nature. And so when I got home and I was like, oh wait, I'm doing this in my real life. I need to put this down like this is not, this is not me. This is not me. This is tom, this is not me. So I feel like sometimes you have to make sure that, like, you are fully aligned and you are fully protected and taken care of in some of those moments.
TJ:You also said something. I'm trying to go back to it because I thought it was perfect and it was so juicy. You mentioned something and I want to get a read on. You mentioned something and I want to get a read on. So, in dealing with rejection in the outside world and really knowing who you are in your position in the outside world, what, what does that look like to you? Because I think we've established and kind of figured out the entry point of like an artist and that perspective of like working in and living in that, but how do you protect yourself, like in the outside world just as a black man.
TJ:Because I feel like that is a whole separate thing than like walking into a performance space.
Calvin:Sure, how do I protect myself? Yeah, and it's funny that you was just even speaking about as an artist when the lines are so there's like audition spaces and then there's like actual, when you book the gig. You're doing a gig and so I'm kind of lumping all of it into the one. But again, I have learned over time to like I said that grounding in that meditation practice, and so I can go back to one being me, one being me, and to say, oh, this is who I am, and really ask myself those questions and say what is your? Why?
Calvin:for being here today what it, what, what, what, um? What makes you happy? Why? Why am I? Why am I here to tell this story? And especially also as a you I love that you just brought up um being a black man. I think that being a black man and an artist and one who do theater, that because the industry will really try to. If you don't know who you are, they will really try to make you be a monolith. And it's like I have many different colors, I have many different things and it's like I have many different colors. I have many different things, but also I, I it's funny I when was that? That was about a year ago that I had one particular, and it's funny I. People have to go back and do do the digging because everything that's come I'm one of those. I've had a debate with um, my reps.
Calvin:yes, that um you know, um, I was like I, I, I sometimes I'm sick, I sit with certain, certain pieces and that sometimes everything that's commercial or everything that like it doesn't, just because it's commercial and just because it's a hit don't mean it resonates with me. That's true, that is true. And, um, there's been some stuff and I, and there's been um, I won't say I'm on podcast. Maybe one day when I got big, big bucks I can, yeah, be like a, um elaine stretch and just say what the hell, I want to say.
Calvin:But um, but uh, one particular show that's very popular to the masses and I was like, ooh, I don't know what that is, but for me, vibrationally, I was like it's a no for me, dog is this already yes?
Calvin:And so then it came across my audition queue and I was like was like wait, I've never, I've not seen said show. But my peers certain peers who I highly respect I kind of bounced it off of them and it was like it didn't sit well with me and I was like, okay, but then I sat, and then I went and sat and looked at the material myself and I was like what I have to do?
TJ:and I said no, and I'm curious, I feel like.
Calvin:I feel like I know what show this is, but we'll have a conversation offline but yes, but so, yeah, so, and don't get me wrong like there's some things that I think that you can, you can tell certain stories um that because and it's interesting, especially as um again, black creators, black artists, some people may even say like, oh, why do you want to tell certain stories?
Calvin:um, that is like, here we go, slavery, um, I, I, I'm. I am not one of those being like that, say like, oh, don't portray a slave. Or um, because we are literally in a time where they're trying to erase our history, that they're removing certain things from my history books. So, again, I'm not not that we need to always portray um, uh, servants and and people, but um, um, what does excite me?
Calvin:and uh, if there's a soft pitch out there is uh, please somebody write a nat turner's rebellion piece for me. Hello somebody, look that. Come shake the table a little bit.
TJ:You know what I mean I have. I have thoughts and questions about that, but yes, yes, but I'm saying of like to tell.
Calvin:Let's tell that story right, because how do you get to uh, uh, what was, uh, uh, what was the thing august 5th a year ago, uh, where they would hit the, the chairs, oh, yeah alabama, whatever, wherever that was anyway check this out so you know your history, and so, anyway, all I mean by that is you have to know who you are and know what kind of stories you want to tell. Unless you, then you'll have them, and I say them, and the powers that be they'll try to make you and mold you into probably somebody, somebody who you don't want to be yeah, I agree.
TJ:I agree because there's there's definitely been a few moments where and we've had, we had this conversation before we started where, um, there are certain things as a performer and I am not I'm not ashamed or afraid to say this out loud, but there are certain things that I don't want to do because I know that they are not for me, and it's like we spoke earlier about how you will know what roles are right for you. Yeah.
TJ:I had a friend years ago when I first moved here and I was trying to pick his brain. I was like you know what, what pick his brain. And I was like you know what, what, like how, what should I be going after? Like, how do, how do I know? And all of this stuff because in in the training program, like they throw everything at you, they're like you can do anything, but the reality is that, no, you can't, um, and that's okay, and sometimes you don't want to do everything and that's okay, um, yes, it is um.
TJ:But I was having this conversation with a friend like very early in my in my time in New York and he told me something that still resonates with me today. He said I was like well, how do you know if, like, a role is right for you? And blah blah, he was like it will fit like a glove. Yeah, he was like you'll know, like you will read the material, you were singing the song or whatever it is and it will fit, like you, you absolutely know.
TJ:And then, thinking about all of the roles that I've had, all of them fit extremely well like extremely well, yeah, um, like, even I was having a conversation with someone this week on the podcast about my time, uh, some of this week on the podcast about my time, uh, as caiaphas and jesus christ superstar, and I remember in that audition room there were it was me and two other guys, one of which who became my roommate, um, later on on the show.
Calvin:But in looking at them I was like, no, this is, this is mine like and not in in an egotistical way, but in looking in the room and being where I was in that moment in time, I was like, no, this is for me it fits yeah no, no, go go when it's for you, like you said, that it accentuates you, when it even you saying it fits like a glove, like when you know something that is form fitted for you, it shows you off in the best light, right, and you, just you just triggered a memory of very early on in my career. I did a production of rent career. I did a production of rent and, um, with some people who are doing extremely well in their careers right now.
Calvin:Um I played Benny and um. Again, I, I've always I, yes, I, I musical theater, but I've always considered myself a little bit more present. I love the scene work, I love the acting work, so I commend those who are like musical, musical theater heads. But so I was present because I was really asking. To be so young and doing that role of Benny, I was really asking questions, even maybe being so audacious to I'm trying to make it my own. Not until hindsight it helped me realize, oh, this particular production, me realize, oh, this particular production. He, the director, after that particular gig, was carbon copying the, the recent broadway, and so I was literally um, asking for one of the, the benny scenes. I think it was maybe the funeral scene, and I think I, I, it was like um, I was asking. I said um, he, he gave me a direction of like go from here to go from the x place, and I was like, can I try?
Calvin:I was like I just asked can I try this, or can I like I was? I was asking my wife right or asking about come on the lesson, the lesson about me be operating in space, right, yeah? And he said, do it, because I told you to do it. Like how dare you ask me? And I just remember that was so traumatic for me as a again. I think I was like young, young. Two or three years later I got to work on my first, august Wilson piece and I got to work with one of my dear mentors, clinton Turner Davis.
Calvin:one of my dear mentors, clinton turner davis. He's old school, like black theater and um, uh, come out of the negro ensemble company and like just a brilliant visionary director. One of I've learned so much, so much, so much, um, when it comes to being an artist from him, when it comes to being an artist for them. And he said, and I remember working on that process and he said I encourage you to ask questions, your value in the room like yeah, ask, and I was like wow.
Calvin:So this experience traumatized me. I was like I'm literally asking you about across across states, and yet this other space is saying you are worthy to be here and, yes, ask all the questions. And that's what you're supposed to do, oh my gosh, I love that.
TJ:I love that. I'm like I just there's so many stories and so many instances where I just I feel like people have not really give people, people have misled artists into thinking that it is an open space and it hasn't actually been an open space and being in certain rooms and being told yeah. I want you to make choices. I want, I want you to you know, come to me with questions and let's, let's collaborate, and then you find out shortly after that it is not a collaboration it's a dictatorship.
Calvin:Yeah, yeah, yeah I love that.
TJ:I love that you've you've had an experience where it was actually a collaboration, a collaboration early on.
Calvin:Yes, I think again one of those. I think it happened like 25. I was 25, the first one, then the next one, I think that was 27, 28 and then, but again, knowing your 20s or your formative year, you don't know who the hell you are. But then you having somebody who in a in an artistic space having a dictatorship, and it's like in an artistic space having a dictatorship and it's like who, who am I, who do I? Do I get to? And it's like it took me years, I think not into my early 30s, when I I enter you, I you hearing you today ask kind of pointed questions about it's the work before you get to the room, you said. And when you enter into the space, not until, like, I hit like about 30 mm-hmm. I said, oh, this is who I am before I enter into this space and I have value, I get here, mm-hmm and I had.
TJ:Truthfully, I feel like that has been since being on the other side of 30. I'm 35 now. Yeah, that has been the place that I've been able to operate from and I feel so much more present in the room.
TJ:I feel like I'm not holding on to stuff as much as I used to when I was in my 20s. I had had a conversation this week about the tools that I use to kind of like let go of whatever happens in there, and it very much came from a class that I took and the teacher saying to just find whatever works for you. But I essentially used to, when we used to do paper sides, would take the sides after the audition, rip them up and throw them in the trash.
Calvin:Yeah, yeah, just leave it there.
TJ:And I'm like this is where I'm leaving this, so I can go about my day and whatever happens will happen, and I don't have to hold on to this. I don't have to carry this around with me all day.
Calvin:You're reminding me to throw away my sides from yesterday.
TJ:So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for doing this. Thank you, this has been amazing. Where can the folks find you?
Calvin:Folks can find me on you Google my name. Yes, you can find me on wwwCalvinMThompsoncom. Also, my social media is MrMRC-A-L-L-Y-c-a-l. Mr calicab on instagram, and those are my platform.
TJ:I love it so before we go, I'd like to do this thing called the last three, three questions unrelated to the topic, just to give our folks a little bit of knowledge. So first question where do you find the most peace?
Calvin:God. So first question where do you find the most peace? God, but also God is we were talking about it a little bit before God to me does not look like the traditional sense.
TJ:God to me looks like going on a hike and going upstate in the woods.
Calvin:Yes, yes, yes. Sitting by a lake, yeah, god to me looks like sitting by the ocean and just listening to the waves. God to me looks like enjoying applesauce on a Friday night, because that's one of my favorite foods. You know what I'm saying? It's like tapping into the things. That is not necessarily anything based on the person or a space outside of me, but it's more so me finding those I can. At any time I can bring those feelings and what it's like to be. I could close my eyes and be in that space, if that makes sense.
TJ:Where do you find joy in the world?
Calvin:Community. I find joy in my friends, my family, my niece. I miss my niece. I find joy in music.
TJ:Love it. And then last question how do you practice gratitude?
Calvin:How do I find practice, practice? How do I practice gratitude? Oh, I just look to everything that is present. One when I wake up in the morning and my feet hit the floor, god, thank you, um, to be here. And then I just start if I can see it, and I, I, I, and also if I'm reminded of it, um, I'm just like thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I, I don't, I'm just like thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, I don't. The scripture that speaks about having a thousand tongues. You know, I don't think there's enough. I'm wording that wrong. I don't think that, when you really look at abundance, the enormity of abundance of things like even this time, in this space, right here, right now, there's so much to be grateful for. I've been so filled, our cups have been filled in such a reciprocal way, in such a reciprocal way.
Calvin:So it's just the present brings me gratitude.
TJ:Yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you for this. And with that, friends, I will see you next week and that's our show. Friends, thanks for joining us on Tea with TJ. Please rate, review and subscribe, and you can find us on Instagram at Tea with TJ Podcast. And, as always, stay kind, keep sipping and remember we're here, so we might as well do it.
