The Best Note I Ever Got

I got caught off guard the first time I heard the phrase, “Learn to love auditioning.” I never thought of trying to love something that most actors disliked. While I was eager to apply this technique, it didn’t work right away. In fact, it didn’t work for a while. How was I supposed to suddenly change my mindset just like that?

There’s a plethora of awesome advice out there for actors and creative artists. Often times we’re left with this advice without specific instructions on how to apply it. Sometimes coaches want us to pay them to learn more. (Hint: If a career coach whose name rhymes with Ballas Cavers is offering a program, there’s a 99% percent chance it’s for you. Give her all your money!)

Most of the time, however, there’s a perfectly good reason they don’t tell us exactly what to do: They don’t know us.

The best note I ever got from an acting class was about “process.” Instructor Steven Ivich told us that process is “knowing what to do, when.” While there was a general guideline Ivich gave us, there were different ways to approach it. Everyone handles their process differently. There’s not necessarily a right or wrong way to go about it. It’s finding the way that works best for ourselves.

I strongly encourage everyone to find what ways work best not only for acting, but handling our careers as a whole. I used think there was only one path to becoming a successful actor. I thought anyone who did things differently was wrong and (please don’t judge me for this…I was stupid back then) even thought a little less of them for it. I now realize this is a very silly and naive. We’re all going to handle our careers differently. Some of us will work a fulltime job until we make our big breaks. Others will work part time jobs. Others will take the plunge and hope for the best.

As long as you’re not broke and starving – and making progress on a regular basis – we’re allowed to do things our own way. In fact, we’re more than allowed to share our process with others. Just make sure you’re not telling people how they should or shouldn’t be handling their careers. Unfortunately, that’s not for us to decide.

Anyone care to share steps on how they’re handling their own process/paths to success?