Tag: acting industry

Another day another week…

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Today was a weird day to cap off a weird week. For starters I’ve started going to the YMCA in my area for exercise. I’ve been making a new push to be active, as I tend to spend a lot of time sitting down. I’m almost always at my computer, which – of course – is not good for your long term health.

Add on top of these new efforts to be healthy and I’ve changed hours at work for the next month. I’m still working the same amount of hours (I would honestly be happier with another 4-8 hours), but we’ve shifted hours around for the benefit of one of my coworkers. They have family in town and that necessitated some change for the next month.

Add those two schedule changes this week together and I’ve been totally thrown off.

Work wise I’ve done mostly paper work. I didn’t audition like I’d meant to, but I’ve been keeping up with my contact in AndrewsUK and I’ve set my calendar for APAC this year. I’ve been debating if I should go, as it’s expensive and hasn’t gotten my anywhere as far as I can tell.

However that’s how these things work isn’t it? You don’t see the good they’re doing until years later. As this is my only real chance to meet and interact with people within the industry face to face I think this is probably something I really should do, even if it’s outside my comfort zone and stretching my budget.

Things I need to do for next week though? Emails. Always more emails. Another task is I have to do some preparation and check in for APAC. Going does me no good if I don’t have a place to stay or a place for my car. Maybe I’ll take a train the whole way into New York? That would be fun! Sadly that would also cost money I really don’t have, but it’s an option.

(I also need to update this website. Not only can I do far better with my demos, but this website is so boring to look at. It’s not the most important part, but I think presentation is important to a degree!)

I also need to find an audition and submit. I’ve enjoyed working with AndrewsUK, but I can’t pay my bills with them alone. I need a wider net. Hopefully with baby steps in auditioning and APAC I’ll get that wider net!

This photo was taken by my dad during our family trip to Yosemite. It was awe inspiring.

Step by Step…

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The great challenge for myself is, at it always is, to maintain my own progress. I always feel as though I’m taking 2 steps forward and 1.99 steps back. I’d really like to eliminate that .99 (I’d go for the whole 1.99, but baby steps), and this week has been a good step in the right direction. I’d certainly like to continue in this direction.

On top of finishing a recording of short story, I’ve been talking with a company on doing a voice over for a documentary. I’m not really convinced that this documentary job is going to happen, however it’s something I saw and reached out for rather than letting it float by. Another point that I’m proud of was my attempt to determine a fair price.

I have a poor habit of not valuing my own work and low balling what it’s worth. However – in this instance I went through a number of sources and compared prices to figure out what would be a fair quote. I was sorely tempted to cut down on the price, even after triple checking my numbers, but I reminded myself to value the work I do and the work that my fellow actors do.

It’s a small thing, but for me I felt it was important. Putting value on my work is always difficult for me, even more so when it’s a monetary value.

In the next week I’m looking at completing another 2 short stories and starting to redo my narration demos and to get demos for other types of voice acting. Getting a variation of demos for all the different types of work I wish to do will be helpful when looking into other opportunities (and making sure everything is properly separated and easy to find ).

Honestly I’m thinking it’s about time I begin pulling out my monologues and start looking at performing in local theatre shows again. I’m feeling the pull and hunger of performing, and I certainly would love to have something on hand if I ever meet some director or casting agent who asks, “hey do you have anything for me?”

Point of order: Here’s a picture of my family’s dog, Cooper. Yes, Cooper is as sweet as he looks.