Hi, I’m Carly. It’s been 1 year, 6 months and 20 days since my last blog post.
Can you BELIEVE?
I’ve started writing this post in my head appx. 100 times this week. I don’t totally know where to start, but let’s go with the obvious.
Toto, we aren’t on The Clydescope anymore.
It’s bittersweet, tbh. That blog and I went through a lot together. Over 4 years of SO much learning and growth…I figured out how to build a website, how to code, how to take photos, what my writing style is…and, what kind of blogger I want to be (we’ll get to that in a minute). I knew when I created The Clydescope that I would come to a crossroads in terms of title once I got married; either I’d make it big as a blogger and would stay “Carly Clydesdale” professionally or, (more realistically) I would change my name and have to figure out what to do. I’ll always be a Clydesdale at heart. And, legally I still am one (ain’t it a bitch to go and change everything?). But sooner or later, I’ll be a Pal. And I am SO excited to be one.
(Hey, in case you missed it, I got married.)
Besides, how can you have a name like Pal and not use some sort of play on words?!?! Come on.
SOOOO, here we are. All of my past posts are still here; they’re a part of me, and we aren’t toooooootally deviating from the formula here. I needed a break to figure some stuff out as it relates to my online presence.
See, the thing is…….I’m not meant to be an “””””influencer”””””. Total props to girls who do it; u da real heroes. But as much as I LOVE fashion, beauty, lifestyle, etc……my true passion lies elsewhere.
The major change here is that I’m letting my freak flag fly.
I don’t think you totally understand how much of a theatre nerd I am. Sure, I promote the shows I’m in; I post when I see something exciting; if we start talking about theatre, it’s hard to get me to stop.
But, like, guys….I REALLY love theatre. And lately, I’ve come to realize that I just need to let it out.
Maybe I’ve been inspired by the likes of The Backstage Blonde, Katherine Steele and Abby De Phillips, or by the Live At Five podcast (which I truly cannot stop listening to). Maybe the Tony Awards this year really hit home. But I kind of realized that if there is one thing in this world that I feel equipped/willing to talk at lengths about, it’s musical theatre.
I am by NOOOOOOOO means a definitive voice in terms of theatrical knowledge or news: I still haven’t seen Mary Poppins. I don’t totally get the Be More Chill hype (we’ll talk more about that another time. Also “Michael in the Bathroom” HAS been stuck in my head for weeks so maybe I’m wrong.). I’m pretty sure I was the last one to listen to Dear Evan Hansen. I didn’t like Mamma Mia when I saw it when I was a child (10 year old me is cancelled, as I lost my shit when I met Louise Pitre in a theatre bathroom last week).
But, I stand by the fact that I have something to contribute. After all, I introduced some castmates of mine to Six, and that in itself is an achievement. (DISCLAIMER. I know that my friend Eliot introduced ME to Six, for which I must give him credit before I get an angry text). If we’re being honest, when I’m not thinking about work or food or Drag Race, my thoughts are on theatre. It’s the only thing that I have consistently cared about since I was 13 years old; it’s my oldest relationship, and my lifelong passion. All I do is read about theatre; watch videos about theatre; learn about theatre. SOS, how many times can I say theatre? I am constantly craving more Broadway knowledge. I just want to join in the conversation.
Is Broadway.com my bible? My Goop? Does that make Paul Wontorek my Gwyneth? Methinks the answer is yes.
A N Y W A Y S.
This longwinded rant serves to say…..I’m back. But in a different skin. I am no longer trying to be something I’m not.
YES. I still love fashion.
YES. I still LOVE fashion blogs. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
YES. I will still blog about whatever the hell I want.
But……I just really want to talk about theatre, guys. I want to share with you the shows that I see; the shows that I’m in; the shows I’m obsessing over. With a little sprinkling of fashion and lifestyle thrown in there. I LOVE writing and I LOVE taking photos of things (I don’t want to say “photography” because what I do is FAR from worthy). I don’t ever want to stop creating, which is why I did some soul searching on how I wanted to reinvent my blog.
I understand that this will probably lose me a chunk of my followers. I know most of you don’t care about theatre. Saying farewell to my best friend Sara, who so kindly comes to my shows but cannot stand musicals. I UNDERSTAND.
Also, I’m slowly but surely revamping the website. There may be some glitches or wonky pages or old content floating about. Bear with me. I know all 5 of you reading will be concerned, so wanted to make sure we’re all on the same page.
I just hope that you’ll enjoy this fresh blog, and hearing the musings of this absolute theatre dork. I love you and can’t wait to start this new adventure.
Your Pal,
Carly.