Who Am I? I’m 2, 4, 6 OH…..wait…

I got into acting somewhat late. I was 23 and just finished college when I told my parents the plan. Mom was giddy as could be, Dad looked like someone told him he just flushed 60K down the toilet, (did he)? I paid for theater school (Circle in the Square) on my own. I finished that almost 7 years ago and have been “pounding the pavement” since. Well more like pounding Actors Equity, Backstage (before it was so digitally friendly) and every/any student film I could score a role in. I spent a lot of time doing anything and everything I could and I am now at the point where I only go in/out for things I would either a)  want to do b) make money on, or c) make money on and want to do. My moniker comes from my persistence. I’m not the leading man or the golden voiced tenor, but “to me giving up is way harder than trying.” (-Kanye West) Very few of my classmates expected me to last in this biz, but guess what…you guessed it.

I am a proud(ish) member of AEA , SAG and AFTRA. I’ll get to the “ish” in a future post. I’m in my early 30s (though I  tend to play late 30s) and am starting to hit my “stride.” I am in the best shape of my life, I understand the biz (to a degree) and I am becoming cast-able as “young dad,” but still able to pull off early 30s everyman. I am however, agent-less. This is my biggest frustration and obstacle in truly being a working actor. I know that sounds like an excuse, and it is to a point. I know people who think the agent is the universe to ones career. I personally think it’s more like a constellation.  But the fact is, there are certain opportunities and doors that open when you have someone pushing you constantly, and that’s where an agent helps. I am doing the work to make that door easier to get through should that agent and I connect soon: meeting Casting Directors, putting my own work out there and making myself as camera ready as possible. I have done well getting my own work sans agent. I booked a co-star on Blue Bloods (that was later cut), an Off Broadway play, a LORT-C contract at the Bay Street Theatre (with The Redheaded Actress) from an EPA (YES! REALLY!) and successfully mounted my own solo show to excellent reviews and an award for “Best One Man Comedy!” But until that elusive agent comes, it will be more of the same.

I started street performing 6+ years ago for fun and I made enough money at it to quit my waiter job at [wince] The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in Times Square and become my own boss. For now, I busk, allowing me the freedom to hit every EPA I can, submit myself 14 times a day on Actors Access and write a web-series I plan to start shooting with my bff in a month. I’m also planning a wedding in September with my lovely fiancée who is a top legit agent’s assistant, which I will talk about soon…I look forward to sharing my stories with you!

Sincerely,