Get out in front!

Over the weekend, I led a seminar for the Theatre Bay Area ATLAS program, and it reminded me of this idea.

For longevity, for sanity, for finding things that we can control, we've got to get out in front of our careers.  This is about being active rather than passive, initiating rather than reacting.   It's about the fact that they may be auditioning you, but you're also using that audition time to learn more about a company or a director and whether or not you want to work with them.

It's about reading plays as they get their first productions in London or New York, so that you know what parts are out there for you to be watching for when those shows are produced in your region.

Making your own films, writing your own monologues, creating solo shows also fit in here.

You don't need to wait for them to contact you or post an audition notice.  You can contact them, compliment their work sincerely and let them know that you're out there.

It's about knowing what kind of work you want, rather than taking anything that gets offered to you, just because it got offered to you.

Does this make sense?  If you're not sure you've got what I'm talking about, read this. Blogger/actor Virginia Wilcox is applying to MFA acting programs, and doing a great job of getting out in front of that process.