Something About Lights & Tunnels

Hey There,

Just popping in from the future to lay some knowledge on you.

(SQ 1: Sci-fi Tone)

It’s been a year, now, hasn’t it? Having a kid really has thrown you for a loop, huh? Sure makes getting to auditions a whole lot harder. Unfortunately, that doesn’t get any easier. Also, you’re about to go through a crazy series of survival jobs – the yoga teacher thing has been great, but it’s about time to move on. I’d love to wave you off of some things, save you a little heartache and agony – and cash – but I think that all the ups and downs of the next five years are necessary for you to finally learn how to get your shit together for your career of choice.

What I would like to suggest are a few things to make life a little easier along the way, to position you better for your future.

1. Get a mini-tramp, a few Wii exercise games, and find a workout buddy. From March through October, the zoo has a walking club – you need to do that. It will be great for you and Kiddo to get out and get some fresh air. And it’s free! Please include lots of arm work and ab work in your exercise regimen.
2. At least once a week – WALK AWAY. Let Hubs feed Kiddo hot dogs, or whatever other nutrition atrocity he will come up with, and walk away from the house. Do not feel guilty about this. Grocery shopping does not count as “me” time. Sitting at a coffeeshop with your computer, an americano, and a chocolate-covered graham cracker does.
3. Speaking of coffeeshops and computers – that play you are writing? Yeah, don’t put it down. Work on it. Work on all those ideas you are pitching to the local festival. Screw it when your pitches are rejected, write it anyway. In a few years you are going to meet some peeps who really like your writing and you are going to need to have established this routine, and have the catalog of work, to jump on the opportunities about to come your way.
4. Start reading business books. Learn about funding start-ups and how to run small/freelance businesses. Please, for the love of god, bone up on your record-keeping skillz.
5. Those people who respond so positively to your writing? Keep them very, very close. Invite them to coffee. Host readings to meet other people who will also respond positively to your writing. And also, your theatre peeps are going to shift around; some of them will leave town, some of them will leave the business. For now, keep them close and meet them out for coffee more regularly. Grow that network because when your peeps shift around, you’re going to be at a loss for folks to call when the ball starts rolling.

Five tips for five years.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You are going to have some dark days – I hate to admit it, but it’s about to get worse before it gets better. It does get better. Kiddo is about to start school, you love the school you’ve chosen for him, and you are staring down the barrel of more work than you know what to do with. Trust me, I’m from the future.

(SQ 2: Sci-fi Tone)

Thanks, and take it easy,