Then, This Happened...

What an awesome summer!  Fun times with friends of course, and I had the pleasure of traveling with my hubby.  We went up to WA to visit extended family, and had a much needed weekend getaway in Provincetown for some yummy seafood and awesome sandy beaches.

After months of praying and patience, both my husband and I got great boosts in our incomes and careers.  On top of getting some celebrity pub for AntiBling, my husband got a new job as a Project Manager at a Architectural Millwork firm, and one of the 5 huge projects he's working on is Carnegie Hall.  As for me, from August til now, I've received some great career surprises:  I discovered that I'm on the cover on a bridal webzine;

featured in a SamsungTV web promo;

I was called in by Jodi Angstreich from Laura Rosenthal Casting to audition for a Time Warner Cable commercial;
and a sketch video I did with a couple of my FLW castmates is featured on FunnyOrDie.com, Cheezburger.com, CollegeHumor.com, HuffingtonPost.co.uk, and is nearly at 1 million views on YouTube.

Also, I've made it my main focus to network and build relationships with the heads of network TV.  This past week, I just completed a 2-week class with Clint Alexander.  And later this month, I'll will be taking a 4-hour workshop with Clint, Trey Lawson, Janet Murphy-Butler, and Rori Bergman, and then a 2-week class with Trey Lawson.

Last year, a fellow actor, who is doing really well right now in the indie film circuit, gave me some awesome advice, which has really stuck with me. I know there are a lot of actors who spend so much money on 1-day workshop intensives, and then complain about not getting anything out of it. My actor friend told me to save my money and take the classes with the casting directors that are two weeks or more, because they'll have a better chance of remembering me and the work that I can do, and if I'm on point, it'll boost my chances of being seen and/or cast in future work.  He also said it'll make a world of difference between it being a 20-year journey to make a mark versus a 5-year journey. Guess which path I'm choosing... :-)

Everything is falling into place in the most awesome way, and I'm in a constant state of joy and gratitude. And I know as long as I keep pushing through the way that I have, that this time next year, I won't be trying to get work, I will be balancing my schedule with all the work I've gotten and will be getting.

Happiness is this!

60 degrees in December

Ok, definitely no complaints about the weather here. Although, it is a bit scary for it to be 60 degrees, with winter just around the corner.

Despite what's going on outside, it definitely feels like spring in regards to my career goals & dreams.

I've been back in NYC for 6 1/2 years, and I can't believe I hadn't learned before what I've learned in the past few months.  Man, if I had known then what I know now -- Woo!  Total cliche', I know. And I also know nothing happens before it's time.  Maybe it's an extra boost of confidence and determination that wasn't there before.  Whatever it is, it's got me on fire.  I have 3 steps to complete before getting to the next level.  I know there's quite a few actors who don't realize the work they must do on their own outside of their agents and managers.  I also know some actors who don't feel that they must invest in their career.  I heard an actor say they weren't gonna pay to see any agents, managers or casting directors, and that all the workshops, classes and seminars were scams.  Just how some actors need "day jobs" to supplement their income, agents, managers and casting directors teach classes, workshops, and seminars to supplement theirs.  After doing a LOT of research, I learned it takes more than just having a headshot, resume, website and reel, it also takes one-on-one, face-to-face time to build strong working relationships.  Make yourself known.  Let people see the real you.  If you're likable and pleasant to work with, you'll have a good chance of getting cast.

I had some awesome meetings last week.  I met with Josselyne Herman-Saccio and Emily Gipson of JHA Management, and David Bellantoni (Beth Melsky Casting), Erica Palgon (Erica Palgon Casting & Beyond) and Scott Wojcik (Wojcik/Seay Casting) at the Diversity Fest at The Network NYC.

I was terribly nervous when I met with Josselyne and Emily, and I'm sure it was pretty obvious. They asked me questions, and I asked them questions, and I left the meeting knowing that I was on the right track, but still had quite a bit of work to do.

One of the things that stuck with me that Josselyne said was, "less is more". I have all the links to all the sites I'm on in my email signature, on my business cards, and on my postcards.  All I need is a one-stop shop for people to go to if they want to learn anything about me.  Thanks to Uncle Scottie to telling me about http://about.me.com. It's a one-page website where I can link to my pics, videos, resume and other sites, until I get my full website going, which of course I can't wait to do.

I FINALLY found the last piece of footage I was searching for to add to my reel. After months of going crazy trying to figure out what happened to it, I found the DVD while looking for something else all together, wedged in between two DVDs on our shelf with all the others. Well, everything does happen for a reason.

Another thing I learned from Josselyne and Emily was to increase the number of casting directors in my "roster". In the past, I've heard some people say just focus on 5. Josselyne said I need to know 10-12. I'm half way there.  She said if TV is my goal, then I need to get in front of the heads of networks, and make them part of my fanbase.  And of course, I need to build my credits. I want to get into comedy, but most of the comedies are out in LA. Since I don't want to go out to LA just yet, I need to focus on getting in front of the casting directors out here, build the relationships, build my credits, and then go out there when I have to. The first network CD I'll be meeting with is Janet Murphy-Butler at The Network NYC on the 8th.

I'll just continue my course on this track, and they'll be no place else to go from here, but up. :-)