I just don't understand why people need to be so petty and mean. We're all adults. Like, if I do/say something that offends you why not just tell me so we can talk and sort it out? Otherwise, how would I ever know how I come across unless I'm given feedback?

Yes, its the performing arts. All three people in my previous post know each other too. I'd say these three people are very small minded.

When I got involved with my community radio station again a year ago, I heard from one of the volunteers about the guy -- supposedly he has a bad reputation in the performing arts industry. Some people in the industry don't like him because he spreads lies about people (so I wasn't his only victim, thankfully).

We were talking about one of the agencies here in town, and his name came up and the volunteer knew who I was talking about and reassured me that the guy isn't well liked by half the people in my town and was forced out of one agency he worked for because of his petty behavior, so he created his own agency.

His own agency operates this way; once you join, you have to "keep up with trends" (this is dumb b/c if you submit your headshot and reel once, you shouldn't be required to constantly update your reel due to "trends" and by the way, what the hell are "trends"). If you don't, you get dumped from his agency because he won't submit you for jobs. Talk about asshole.

The gal I went to college with, always needs to be the center of attention. In college, we were in plays together and took theater classes together. When she wasn't cast in the lead, or had co-leads, she made sure her co-leads knew she was "the best one" on stage, by always making sarcastic remarks.

The second gal I referred to is a spoken word artist. So, her fellow spoken word artist who I hit it off with (the guy) referenced me verbatim (sans my name) on stage at a poetry slam competition based on a conversation she and I had earlier that day about being roommates (it was a tense conversation). She didn't like the fact that I liked her male friend who was staying at her house so she went out of her way to trash me at the poetry slam competition and convince her friend I was a loser (which he openly mocked me on stage in a piece he said was an 'improvisation).

As an audience member, I wanted to slink down in my chair, but my friends I was with, didn't know that his improvised piece was referencing the awkward conversation I'd had with this woman, his friend, earlier that day. After he performed, I went back stage to confront him and her and I did. I just stood next to her, and commented "Why did you tell [your friend] about our earlier conversation? That was mean. Why don't you like me?" She just sneered and walked away. So, I went over to him, and said "What you did on stage was really mean and I don't understand why. It really hurt my feelings b/c I like you as an artist and I didn't do anything to deserve that humiliation." He just looked at me, smirked, then shrugged and walked away.

These people have not changed. So, I expect once they find out I'm taking improv classes (free ones) and meeting the new people on the scene they also know, I"ll be either shunned by the new people suddenly, or they may mention the person's name and see how I react.

My hope is that the director I met today, doesn't think less of me because of what I shared with her. What is it with creative types? Or, is this across every line of work? I think it must be. There's always mean, petty people everywhere.

So, how did you deal with those jerks in your former profession, bycyclist? Did they try to sabotage or undermine your reputation and work? Did you have to defend yourself?

I wonder what the stakes were/are for these three people in the performing arts scene here in my city. That they need to be on every casting director and talent agency's radar and theater's audition list? And if I dare get involved, I'm just competition to them (hardly, its been 25 years)?

I wish there was another way too, but unfortunately, I'd need to move out of state which I can't financially afford to do. It's like their petty behavior will be reignited once I get active in the performing arts scene as a student and start meeting the new people on the scene. I guess I will just have to wait and see what they do to me.