Let’s Play A Game …

             I do my best blogging when I’ve incorrectly measured my coffee grounds and am overly hyped on caffeine, so I apologize in advance – some of these posts are going to be highly caffeinated.  But I assure you, my worker cap is screwed on tightly.

             First of all, this blog is for YOU, my fellow non equity actor and it will be all about YOU.  Starting today, I am putting my acting career journey in a see through box for you to speculate over. (Remember that show on TLC?  Ten Years Younger?)  Yes.  That.  I will divulge my personal experiences as I embark on my first year as someone who is committing herself 100% to finding success in this crazy industry.  And you’re invited in!  Take my ideas, laugh at the shenanigans, guess my age! (get it? Ten Years Younger…)  Anyways, my goal here is to put my journey out there in order to benefit yours.  A lot of experiences I recount will be things I’m doing for the very first time.  Let’s see how they pan out.  If what I try works, I pass the torch to you to try tomorrow.  (And I already have a bunch of tips lined up to divulge to you).  And keep me posted on your own career as a fellow newbie.  This is your chance to share (those comment boxes aint there for nothing!). Let’s create a community.  Let’s move onwards and upwards in this industry together.  Are ya with me or are ya with me!?

             However, it is necessary to tell you a little about myself first … so I’m going to do that now…

                 Awkward transition … bumps into some chairs …

                Hi!  I’m The Newbie Actor, and I’m pumped to be here.  On July 9, 2010, I resurfaced from a dive in the ocean, dumped the Cape Cod sand from my awesome pink and teal DC shoes, and ventured off to New York City in the pursuit of acting happiness.  I cried when I first saw the tiny studio apartment I’d be sharing with a friend I hadn’t seen in three years, suffered from the palest “lack o’ tan” this beach body had ever experienced, and broke out with acne to the point where a stage manager pulled me aside, asked if she could help, and to this day, has been smuggling her prescription acne medication from her Doctor to my face … Welcome!!

                The experience thus far has been an overall happy one, however.  Right off the bat, I became involved in three back to back (to back?) productions (more on how in later posts.  Hint – I only officially auditioned for one of them) and after the most intense two week job hunt of my life (I think I went down a pant size), I found myself happily employed as a front desk receptionist at a golf and fitness club where I discovered my adoptive New York family.

TIME OUT.  I’m sorry, but as I write this on the good ol’ 7 train, I can’t help but notice this weird guy – I’m sorry, that’s rude.  This ugly, creepy gentleman staring at me, a foot away from my face.  Oh but wait!  To my right is another dude, sporting a red sweatshirt that is covered in Elmo’s (from Sesame Street’s) face.  Oh New York, you give me the willies and tickle my funny bone all at once!

                Anywayzz!  My first year here, I got acquainted with my new life, but knew in my heart I wasn’t going at this New York actor thing with as much gusto that I knew it would take.  I felt guilty, nervous that I was never going to buckle down without the strict structure school had usually provided, and thought that the whole idea of an “adjustment period” was, simply put, a cop out for slackers.  However, I actually think … I was wrong.  (GASP!).  I realize, YOU’RE ONLY READY TO TAKE ON SOMETHING AS MASSIVE AS THE QUEST TO BE A NEW YORK ACTOR WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR YOU.  How did I know the time was right for me?

                I’ll tell ya a lil’ bed time story …

                About a month ago, I was sitting on my bed on my computer.  And I was happy.  I had just had a summer of adventure: Surfing, skateboarding, a Dispatch concert, I saw my favorite musicians in the world (The John Butler Trio) at Terminal 5.  So, I’m on my bed, and my soul started sending theatre signals to my brain.  Of course I had been seeing theatre, talking about theatre, I had even recently finished a five month Meisner class: I wouldn’t have had a pulse if I hadn’t been.  But, still, I wasn’t doing close to what I wanted.  I hadn’t been in a show in six months.  The last time that happened to me, I was nine years old and busy on the balance beam, prepping to be a little competitive gymnast.  It was like being forced to stare my soulmate in the face for the first time in a long time.  I thought about where I’d end up without it and burst out crying.  “Ok,” I thought, “time to make a change.”

                Cut to today.  A month later, I am cast and in rehearsal for a night of One Acts, I am scheduled to shoot a webisode, I have business cards and post cards I’m proud of, I’m becoming more and more connected in the online theatre community, I’ve attended multiple workshops and seminars, I’ve been auditioning, I’ve implemented a new budgeting system, and have specific goals and a business plan (because, my friends, as Lisa Gold says, “It’s called show business!  Not show art!”)  Being honest with myself, I can finally say, “yes I am doing all that I possibly can at this moment in time” and mean it and feel good about it.

                But enough about me.  Blah blah blah.  The point is: I’ve learned a lot between July 9^th, 2010 and today.  I’m in a place where I think the little lessons I learn from day-to-day could actually be valuable for you and your career.  I’ve officially committed myself to this quest as a New York actor and have been having a blast getting myself in every aspect of it as possible. I’m willing to be held accountable to continue for not only my sake, but for your sake too.  Follow this blog if you want to know what you can do TODAY for your career (not tomorrow, not next year).  I’ll give you quick tips, weekly challenges, ways to get involved, moral support, marketing advice, pictures, links and more.  Let me be your guinea pig too!  I’ll be doing a lot of things in this industry for the first time and will be reporting back to you so you can see the do’s and don’t and the WHOOPSIES!  I’m excited to see what shenanigans we get ourselves into as brand new actors, fresh on the scene (or newly reinvigorated!) and I take requests too, so if there’s anything you want to talk about or try out, let me know!  Stop feeling guilty and jump on the bandwagon with me! The view is good from here 🙂

Ok fellow warriors, I leave you with … a song!

Onwards and Upwards,