Monday I woke up w/a tickle in my throat, and by the end of the day, to quote my 8 year old niece "I couldn't feel my swallows". Tuesday the stuffiness, vocal fatigue and weird body temperatures kicked in and by Tues eve, I was sending emails and texts to everyone who was on my calendar for Weds so i could take a day of rest and healing. It wasn't easy for me to do this. I really resisted taking the day off.
But I did, so I spent today spacing out, reading, catching up on my hulu queue and getting plenty of fluids and vitamins. But also thinking about two things, two things that I think are somewhat related to each other, and to why I resisted taking the day off.
First, I don't get sick day pay. I have a lot of different kinds of jobs right now, but none of them pay me if I'm not there to do the work.
Second, how important showing up is in what we do. Whether it's showing up to act, to teach, or to witness a live performance, you've gotta be there to do it.
Stay healthy my friends. So that you can show up!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Resource of the Week: Your Best Year Yet!
YBYY is a book by Jinny Ditzler. I got it from the library a few years ago, and I really liked it. It guides you through a set of questions to evaluate the year you've just had and what you'd like to accomplish in the coming year, and gives you a sort of blueprint for the upcoming year.
Just did a quick google search and found that there's also a website. Looks like they want a lot of your money though, so the book is probably an actor's best bet.
Just did a quick google search and found that there's also a website. Looks like they want a lot of your money though, so the book is probably an actor's best bet.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Tools: Fun with Spreadsheets!
In 2008, I started to track my auditions in a spreadsheet. In the document, there's a page for each month where I record the necessary audition info - where, when, who my contact is, as well as what I did at the audition, what I wore, and if I got a callback or a booking from the audition. At the end of the year, I collect all of that info into a year end 'report'
And I just wrapped 2010. 66 auditions. A 19% 'success' rate (where the audition led to a callback or a booking). I also know how many times I auditioned, got a callback and/or booked in theater, film/tv, commercial, industrial, voiceover and print. So I know that my success rate for theater auditions is pretty high (30%) and for commercials it's terrible (0%).
I can also track where my auditions come from - a listing, my agent, etc. And it turns out most of my auditions come from referrals (a casting person contacts me, and asks me to audition).
I'm looking forward to collecting more data in 2011. Tracking bigger picture trends (what's the busiest audition month of the year? The slowest?). And, I need to figure out how to track the jobs I get without an audition. Because there were several of those this past year.
Resolutions? Nah. But goals based on my tracking, sure! Here goes:
And I just wrapped 2010. 66 auditions. A 19% 'success' rate (where the audition led to a callback or a booking). I also know how many times I auditioned, got a callback and/or booked in theater, film/tv, commercial, industrial, voiceover and print. So I know that my success rate for theater auditions is pretty high (30%) and for commercials it's terrible (0%).
I can also track where my auditions come from - a listing, my agent, etc. And it turns out most of my auditions come from referrals (a casting person contacts me, and asks me to audition).
I'm looking forward to collecting more data in 2011. Tracking bigger picture trends (what's the busiest audition month of the year? The slowest?). And, I need to figure out how to track the jobs I get without an audition. Because there were several of those this past year.
Resolutions? Nah. But goals based on my tracking, sure! Here goes:
- 70 auditions in 2011
- overall success rate of 20%
- book a commercial
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)