Bobbie Boettinger

Performance Studies is not where I started.  I transferred and became a Politics major on a Prelaw track at NYU.  During this part of my college journey, I realized that this track was not for me.  I missed the arts and talking about what I am truly passionate about.  I took a PS class and declared it as my minor, and then I decided to make it my primary major. I am in Performance Studies because it is a department that allows you to continue learning.  There is always something new that I have never discussed before or some idea that comes to mind while in class.  I get to talk about theory, my own interests, and my thoughts all in one place.  I could not ask for a better major, and love to say I found what I am supposed to be doing.

 I think PS and BEMT complement each other by being so different.  I can sit in and have intense conversations in a PS class to then learning about the breakdown of a recording artists team in another class with BEMT.  The two different sides of me can shine in PS and BEMT.  In a class I am currently taking, Business of Producing and Managing Creative Content Development, I have used creative thinking and performative writing skills from PS when giving pitches and creating tv shows or movie ideas. The two are so different that I can explore different topics and class styles, all within my one degree here at Tisch.

PS has given me the ability to create more complex lyrics.  Although I am working on my craft, several classes in PS have helped with that journey.  In Performance of the City, we had to write a poem about the night in conjunction with a reading assigned that week.  After writing that poem, I learned more about myself and my writing process.  I then took those thoughts to my own music.  In Introduction to Performance Studies and Performance and Politics I have worked on performative writing.  This type of writing has flowed into my songwriting as well.  I am descriptive and make sure a picture is painted for the listener.  When I sing about my emotion of how badly I want someone's love, I want you to feel it and envision it in your mind.  I want you not only to picture myself doing what I am singing, but I want you to go to the moment in your life. 

As soon as I transferred into Tisch, I wanted to get involved and really take advantage of my dream school.  I came to Tisch as a Junior, so I did not want to miss any more experiences.  The biggest motivation to get involved with TUSC was knowing I could have the ability to help make a difference. 

This summer we came together to write a statement to the school administration with calls to action, helpful ways to educate yourself, and provided resources as TUSC stood with the Black Lives Matter movement.  We then were able to get 17 of the Tisch clubs to co-sign the statement as well.  The statement was a step in the right direction to make a difference for the students of color at Tisch and NYU as a whole.  Read more about the work TUSC is doing here.

I have learned how to interact with so many different types of people from TUSC.  Not only is every board member of TUSC different, but I have been able to work with so many different faculty members of both Tisch and NYU.  It is important to know how to communicate and get tasks done when working with people opposite yourself or even your work style.  Gaining this experience from TUSC work or my time as a Tisch Votes Ambassador has definitely prepared me for the professional world.  I can take this to understand how to approach situations in the future after college.