If You’re New Here…

I am actually 23 years old, contrary to my thumbnail pictures, which are all me also. 

My name is pronounced Dee-ih-druh, though the world seemingly resorts to “Dee-druh” and those who aim to piss me off will willingly say “Dear-druh” to my face. My parents found the name carved into a sidewalk in Long Branch, New Jersey outside of a seafood restaurant that I would later come to own in my young adult years. That’s how you play two truths and a lie. 

I am here because I moved to New York City a year ago with nothing but a theatre degree and two friends who knew what they were doing. I navigated finding (and quitting) my first survival jobs and landing my first toe on the ground by the end of the year, all while documenting it on a blog-style webpage of the same name. You could call me an actress-bartender-server-writer-drinker-laugher-fake New Yorker-she-her if you must have a title. 

You are here because you want advice on how to make it big in New York City and you chose poorly, or you Googled Deidre Hall and clicked “next page” for an hour.

Being that I still live here, and I’m still trying to make ends meet as a musical theatre actress of all things, I have since turned that webpage into this Substack in efforts to save money (because what’s life without a little irony).

But I wouldn’t be where I am now without that first year of crying behind a bar, walking the city without wearing underwear, and obtaining my first post-grad performance job directly after a breakdown. So I would be remiss if I didn’t keep those records documented in a public place. And you would be remiss if you didn’t go back and read those moments at my expense. 

You’ll find that there are some holes during some contracts as I was adjusting to new things, but I always come back (like right now). I also don’t post on a schedule because you can’t hold me to a standard, I’m a creative, bitch.

You’ll also find that I never know what I’m talking about but I’m nothing if not passionate.

And the name of this collection comes from my childhood, which you can find expanded upon in an old post (go find it). That child still doesn’t like dogs, but she has since met so many people who have taught her to be so much more open, appreciative, and even a little cuddlier, and she’s so glad that you are here to be one of them. But if we ever meet in person, she promises to wear underwear. 

So enjoy this writer’s take on New York City as a performer and service worker, and please laugh along. She knows her distaste for dogs is a little funny. 

@donttouchdeidre on Instagram. www.deidrelynnthompson for a glimpse into the professional me, if there is such a thing.