 Oh man, how much do I not want to address this topic. But I NEED to. Over the past several years in my work coaching actors, I have encountered time and time again the desire for immediate results, and I get it. This career can be so difficult at times, but dare I remind you that “this career is a marathon, not a sprint”. Let’s be honest, it can feel like a FREAKING Iron Man at times, am I right?! But I bet you can look back on a moment (from earlier in your journey) to stay inspired, and I ask you to do that, right now, take stock in how far you’ve come from when you first decided to pursue this work. You are obviously called to this work, and I’m guessing you are reading this because you want to feel more joy in the process of growing in your acting career. So as you submit, audition and hopefully book work you may (or may not) deem “dream work” this week, remember your why. Why are you still acting? So many have given up on the dream. But you are still here. You have a dream, so why not you?! I want to encourage you to stay on your path this week. Think of me as cheering you on in mile 7 of your race (a marathon is 26.2), so stay steady and consistent from here on out. You have milestones behind you and likely the best is yet to come, but can you enjoy where you are today, here in this moment? As you scroll through social media today, how about celebrating a past achievement? Leave yours here, and use #celebratingachievement in your post so we can find you and celebrate. Please don’t beat yourself, or anyone else, up for the lack of bigger results. There are so many reasons why the stars may not have aligned for you yet, but that does not mean it’s time to sit around and wait. No, no, my friend, when’s the last time you saw a runner waiting in the middle of a marathon? There may be many reasons for your lack of results. And the first one may be that you are wanting an Oscar when you haven’t even booked a film yet, wanting an Audie before you’ve even narrated your first audiobook. So, sign up for that 5K before you train for the marathon -- do you get what I’m saying? Know that we all have our own level of drive. We all have our own definition of success. And you may or may not know the actions you need to take to hit your actual next goal-- you may not even be clear on that. You don’t know what you don’t know, am I right? Don’t let that delay you though. Figure out how you need to switch gears to continue your move forward. Does your drive match where you want to be, and have you taken steps to course correct as needed? Finally, at the end of the day if you don’t feel good about what you’re pursuing, what is the point? Which brings me to JOY. How can you bring joy back into your process and find it while you’re pursuing some of the bigger goals that can take more time? Three things I’d like to offer:
1. Be open to finding joy in surprising acting opportunities Some of the most fulfilling acting work I’ve had has been in audiobook narration, non-traditional voice work, standardized patient work and live-action performances at museums or other public spaces. If you haven’t booked a big job in awhile and could use a boost of confidence, why not get your actor brain active and flexible again AND make money too? 2. Make time for Self-Care I’m still working on this myself, but are you getting at least 7 hrs of sleep a night, drinking half your weight in ounces of water each day and moving as often as possible? These basics will set you up for success as you continue along this “marathon” -- don’t worry I’m still talking about your acting career -- you are NOT required to run, though, I mean a marathon can be it’s own crazy experience if you’re looking for that kind of a rush! 3. Stay Focused and Accountable Don’t lose track of why you are at this in the first place. Tap into your community of fellow actors, hire a coach, and just keep going, taking breaks as needed. So what is your why? Leave it in the comments, and put it front & center this week.
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 I hope you take a moment today to acknowledge and celebrate all the hard work you put in this week. It’s been a crazy busy week in my neck of the woods, so rather than brand new content, I wanted to share a #FlashbackFriday interview that I don’t believe I ever shared on the blog. This interview hosted by my good friend and fellow working actress Ava Gaudet (RENT, The Society, NCIS) first aired on GoLocalProv. We’re fellow Rhode Islanders ⚓️ Click on the video below to discover:
So what was your biggest takeaway? Leave it in the comments below and then be sure to head on over the join the conversation in one of the most vibrant, free communities on the web, the #GlobalActors FB group.
I booked a BIG job last week which made me realize that my long-term vision is coming to fruition.
Why am I telling you? Because it was all made possible when I got super clear on what I really wanted and set a crystal-clear, vivid vision in place. AND guess what? I know that whatever your long-term vision is... it's possible for you! Whether you know your vision or not, dive into this FB LIVE recently shared inside the #GlobalActors FB group for inspiration and actionable steps on creating and moving towards the just-right vision for you. I break down the actions I took so that YOU can put your plan in place for what YOU truly want. Bonus: Also included in this video are some additional Q & A on the topics of agent/actor relationships, self-submitting and more. Want to catch the next FB LIVE? Be sure to join us inside the FREE #GlobalActors FB Group!  Welcome to the 8th and final week of #VoiceoverCamp! In this episode we dive into the good stuff—- BOOKING A GIG! So you’ve booked your first Voiceover gig… now what?! Amy Russ, of Actor-Webs, and I are here to prepare you with what you can expect! This video will equip you with the expectations of a self recorded gig vs an in-person session, some tips and tricks for your first booking, and some mindset essentials to help you stay super confident! Let’s dive in! “Trust yourself, you did really well. Roll with the punches”
Congratulations! I want to hear all about it. Let me know what you think in the comments below! And an extra congratulations!! You’ve made it through the #VoiceoverCamp series! Already miss these videos? You can always watch it all again here, Voiceover Camp Series. It’s not too late to grab your Free VO Starter Kit! Click the button below and download it today!!  Ah, the age-old demo question… If this is your first foray into VO and you don’t have a ton of professional recordings at your fingertips, you DO have options. Check out this week’s video for the answer to this big question. BONUS: If you’re looking for a place to have your demo done, I know just the place! Just hit play :) Ready to test the waters and start developing a reel? Let me know in the comments below!
And of course, if you need a little refresher on #VoiceoverCamp you can click here to catch up on the series! Don’t hesitate to click the button below and download your free Voiceover starter kit today!  Are you ready to audition for your first Voiceover gig but you’re not sure what to expect? We’ve all been there… new experiences can definitely be intimidating! So that’s why Amy Russ, from the Actor-Webs, and I discuss What to Expect at a VO Audition as we begin to wrap up our #VoiceoverCamp series. Of course, every audition is different. So, for this episode we discuss the differences between an in-person vs. recorded audition, how to prep, and some resources to check out before auditioning. Pro Tip: An improvisation class can be very beneficial in order to crush your first audition. We get into that and a whole lot more! Check it out! So give these tips a try and let me know how it works in practice at your next voiceover audition!
And remember, if you need a little refresher on what we’ve covered so far, you can check out the full Voiceover Camp Series here! The Free VO Starter Kit is still up for grabs! Be sure to download it now!  How’s your voiceover game coming along? The past few weeks via #VoiceoverCamp we’ve been discussing how to get started in this lucrative branch of acting. This week we talk agents. Do you have commercial representation? How about legit? Check out this week’s video to find out if you need separate representation and more. Likewise, we want you to know your worth as a VO artist and will be sharing some GREAT resources to help you negotiate and be aware of your rate and how much you should be paid for various gigs! Let’s get in to it! So what do you think?
Is it time to look for a VO agent? OR are you ready to be your own agent? Need to catch up on our last few videos? You can check out the full Voiceover Camp Series here! PLUS, I have created a Free VO Starter Kit just for YOU! Get it BELOW! NOW!  So, you’re ready to get serious about a career in VO, yeah? Do you wonder about the different types of gigs you will be auditioning for? In Episode 4 of #VoiceoverCamp - a summer-long #AskAnExpert series with Amy Russ, from the Actor-Webs, we get into it! If you missed our first few videos, check them out here. So what excites YOU? The world of commercials, audiobook narration, animation?
Let us know in the comments! Remember, VO isn’t just reading out loud. It’s a medium that allows you to get creative, play, and guys, it is SO MUCH FUN! Stay tuned for next week's blog as we continue to share even more about VO. Be sure to grab your complimentary copy of the VO Starter Kit now!  I’m guessing you’ve taken your fair share of scene study classes, dance classes, voice lessons, Shakespeare training--- the list goes on--- at this point in your career. You may be thinking... “I feel like I should have enough training by now! Can’t I just do the actual work?!” The good news is that if you’ve received any vocal training (singing, breathing, etc.) it will likely serve you as a foundation in your voiceover work. You’ve made it to the third week of #VoiceoverCamp- a summer-long #AskAnExpert event w/ Amy Russ, from ActorWebs and yours truly. If you missed our last video, 3 Steps to Take to Take Now to Start Your Voiceover Career, check it out here. This week we answer the question ... “Is a voiceover class necessary?" Let’s dive in! So what do you think? Are your dreams of having a VO career actually starting to sound like a reality?
Just remember… research, research, RESEARCH! Thinking you need a little extra boost before starting a class? I’ve got your back! Grab your complimentary copy of the VO Starter Kit now!  Do you want to have a career in VO, but aren't quite sure where to begin? Not sure you can add a new branch of acting while balancing a busy schedule? Then you're in the right place... You’ve made it to the second video of Voiceover Camp - a summer-long #AskAnExpert series with Amy Russ of Actor-Webs. If you missed our first video, check it out here. In this video, we'll dive into 3 easy steps that take no longer than 10 minutes for you to pursue daily.. It gets better...You can conduct these steps on your commute to work, in the shower, even scrolling through your social media in the morning! Have I caught your attention, yet? FANTASTIC! Check out this week's episode of Voiceover Camp and learn these 3 easy steps! What do you think? Easy, right?!
Ready. Set. Practice. Why not start here?! Scroll right on up to the beginning of this blog and try reading it out loud like you were talking to a friend. Then to a kiddo. Maybe to a group of co-workers! Go, Go, Go! And, as always, if you are feeling EXTRA inspired, please grab your complimentary copy of the VO Starter Kit now! |
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