Hark! I hear the sound of the baby birds learning the difference between an open window and a closed window. It sounds like, “THWACK.”
The summer nears.
This is an excellent opportunity for you to find some private time and step out of the minutiae of your daily existence and think about what’s happening in your career, and what you need to do differently. The fall represents the industry’s busiest casting season, at least in New York. If you’re disappointed with how the fall of ‘06 and spring of ‘07 worked out for you, what can you do differently?
Perhaps you’ve booked work for part of the summer. If that’s the case then congratulations– there’s nothing like a nice gig to crank up the momentum for the fall.
But maybe you’re about to start the industry’s slowest part of the year with many months of nothin’ doin’ stretched agonizingly before you. I certainly know that feeling. We can lament over the fact that not only will we not work an acting job for those few months (probably) but we won’t even get to audition frequently (definitely), or we can seek out opportunities to put ourselves in stronger positions when the fall rolls around.
Classes, headshots, postcards and networking workshops and seminars, amongst other things, cost money. I understand. But I also have to admit that, as somebody that works three jobs to afford such things, my sympathy only runs so deep for persons that chronically complain of a lack of money.
Some folks are stuck in a situation where investing in their own career is simply impossible. These people are usually the victims of extraordinary, and extraordinarily unfair, circumstances. If you are one of these then I say truly and sincerely that my heart breaks for you.
Then there’s the rest of us. I know entirely too many people who could, with an often simple adjustment, create the resources necessary to improve their career. But for whatever reason they decide they just don’t want to make the change.
If it looks like the summer of ‘07 is going to be another slow one for you work-wise, what can you do to put the time to good use? If money is tight, maybe you want to explore additional part-time or temp work. Put some money aside for classes in the fall, and perform some comprehensive research as to what you need to address in your art or career to get to the next level. Many actors I know will alternate three-or-six months periods of just working and working/studying.
If you have the money (hurray!) then skip to the comprehensive research part. Who do you know that’s working? How did they get there? What training or networking opportunities are available to you, and which will be the most beneficial to you at this moment in time? Call up TVI Studios and make an appointment with me– I’ll be happy to listen to your situation and goals for the future, take a peek at your 8×10 and resume, and let you know about the options that are available to you here.
