As the saying goes, when it comes to art, there’s universality in specificity. And there isn’t anything much more specific than a Broadway performer asking during a quick-change, “Do you wanna do Dig Inn between shows?” That question is one of the pitch-perfect moments in “Broadway actors quick-changing when their mic is on/off.” The TikTok series, created by JJ Niemann (@jjniemann), an alum of Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon” among other shows, has become increasingly popular, with videos getting millions of views. We talked with Niemann about how the series came to be, and his advice for other aspiring TikTok-ers to find their niche.
Where did you get the idea to do this particular video?
My “Broadway actors when our mic is on/off” series idea came to me one day in August 2020, when I was randomly thinking about the Broadway show “Waitress.” I particularly was thinking about how many scenes in that show include ensemble members sitting in booths, fake-eating pie, and stage-talking to each other for minutes at a time. It made me wonder, What do they talk about during all of those scenes while their microphones are off? I was an actor in the Broadway cast of “The Book of Mormon” for two and a half years, and during that time I partook in a lot of onstage and offstage conversations between singing and lines, but we never had time for full conversations onstage. So I decided to draw inspiration from my own experiences, mishaps, castmates, and dressers—as well as stories from my friends in their shows—to recreate what it feels like inside a well-oiled machine show; one where you know exactly when your mic is off, when you can play games, and when you can have conversations onstage and during quick changes!
@jjniemann tbt to my most viewed mic on/off video ???? what show should I do next?! ##theatrekid ##theatre ##broadway ##wig ##costume ##hair ##MAKEYOURMOVE
♬ original sound - JJ Niemann
What sort of preparation did you do prior to shooting it? Did you do any writing for it?
Honestly, I write my general ideas down on a notes app, but most of the singing bits, the jokes I tell, and the conversations are totally improvised. I just set up my camera, put on a wig and costume, turn on the TikTok greenscreen effect, and see what happens! Usually my best videos are the ones that I just set aside an hour to make and improvise.
The specificity is what makes this TikTok great. How did you decide which “tropes” or moments to include?
At this point, I’ve made over 40 of these mic on/off videos, and a lot of times I draw inspiration from comments people leave on my videos of moments they want to see. I’ll also draw inspiration from the musical itself that I’m “performing in.” For example, when doing the video for “Wicked,” I included a moment during a no-fly show where Elphaba doesn’t fly, so the ensemble all has to begrudgingly crouch down and lay down on the ground!
For this particular video, which was originally posted in August 2020 but I re-posted a few weeks ago, I used the musical “Hairspray.” It’s my favorite musical, and one I’ve performed regionally three times, so I was able to draw from my experience and replicate what a chaotic costume change during “Welcome to the 60s” actually feels like. Also, the people in wardrobe are always so lovely, so I created the recurring character of Cindy; she became an amalgamation of all of the dressers I’ve had over the years, who I love to work and kiki with.
The TikTok now has more than 2.9 million views and counting. Did you anticipate this kind of response?
People have really consistently been loving these mic on/off videos, but when I originally started making them I didn’t have any intention of making it a series and I had no idea people would love them so much. Some of the videos have even reached over 5 million views, which absolutely blows my mind. I think the reason people have responded so positively to them is because whether you’re a Broadway actor or a high schooler who just did their first musical, every performer can relate to aspects of the videos, especially the chaos, jokes, and mishaps that happen on and offstage—and during a stressful quick change!
Have any notable folks reached out to you, commented on, or engaged with you or the video?
Oh, there have been some surreal moments when I’ve looked at my phone and screamed. Titus Burgess, who ended up being one of my castmates in “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical,” followed me and has commented on a lot of my videos; a lot of “Drag Race” queens who I absolutely adore. Then there’s the moments where you make a “Legally Blonde” TikTok and [original star] Laura Bell Bundy herself comments on it. I’ve had a lot of the cast members of Broadway shows like “Six,” “Mean Girls,” and “Wicked” share my videos on their stories, too, and now I’m friends with many of them on social media. A lot of cool moments. I love the theater community so much, so I’m really glad my videos have made a lot of the actors in these shows laugh and also ask me, “How did you know that this exact moment happened in our show?”
READ: How This Actor Made $100,000 on TikTok
What do you like about TikTok generally as a platform to create?
Obviously every app has its pros and cons, but TikTok genuinely feels like a platform where authenticity is celebrated. When people make videos that are click-baiting and clearly just trying to grab for views and attention—which I myself have made the mistake of doing—people can just tell. So it’s the raw moments, the random jokes, the crunchy content that people actually respond to the most. And you can really start your own trends and create anything you desire, opposed to other platforms that sometimes feel like everyone is putting their best face on 24/7 and you feel you have to be either a model or sharing baby pictures!
What advice do you have for others who want to create content on TikTok?
Honestly? Go with your gut and just make something. TikTok can feel scary and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve made so many videos that have flopped, everyone has. So don’t let the idea of failure or feeling stupid or looking cringey or whatever it is get in the way of you putting yourself out there creatively. If it’s coming from a place of joy and authenticity, people will love it. And the ones that don’t truly don’t matter. There will always be haters and naysayers in literally every environment throughout life, so if you let the few negative people or comments get in the way of doing what you want, it’ll only hurt you in the long run. Be smart, be careful, but also be brave. You never know who is going to see your content and really need a laugh that day.
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