Perseverance

“It all started when I accidentally gave him the finger”

Day jobs.
If there’s one thing about the actor’s life I still haven’t meshed with it’s giving up my day jobs. I know it’s ruining my availability to audition but not having one also destroys my ability of having enough money for rent.

In the late afternoon my second job has me monitoring several preadolescents. With that comes many hilarious quotes.

“It’s called Sharks and Meadows, duh!”

Seeing these mistakes on a daily basis only leads to me believe that my position as a young actress is very similar. In a recent letter to a dear friend I wrote that post graduation is like becoming a freshman all over again. Only this time you’re a freshman in life. You’re awkward, you’re lost, and for the first time you are truly on your own.

“I hope we end this war with the Vietnamese”
“You mean the Iraqis?”
“Same thing”

Trying to explain agents and casting directors to my parents amounts to little more than the discussions my preteens have. I have no clue what I’m saying and even as I’m pretending to know what this business is all about I find myself explaining only what I’ve heard other people saying.

“They asked me to spell IHOP. I. H. O. P. I don’t get it?”
“Do you mean ICUP?”
“Maybe…”

A friend of mine who works in the business gave me a gem once, “Never trust ‘what they say’” This meaning that people talk all the time but until you experience it you never truly know what’s going on.
So on I trek through all the muck and mire trying to figure out what it is that will get me into a real audition. But I can’t help but feel everyone is trying to prey off of my youthful innocence. Audition after audition all I hear is how I need to pay for participation. I had a notice for an audition sent to me about a stand up gig. I was excited to get working on the new project when suddenly I started reading the fine print. Ah I see.
“There are monthly dues required to be apart of this program”
Great. The last thing I need to be doing is paying someone else to get me onstage.

“Miss Katie if you were a warrior cat what would your name be?”
“Wha-...uh…Shining Phoenix”

The only solution I can think of is to commit. Fully commit. Throw myself out there into the thick of comedy clubs, auditions, and talent shows. Maybe I’ll get back into background work. I really don’t know. And I have no clue if I’m going to regret it in the end. But I guess the whole point is to keep trying and grow beyond paying dues physically and financially.

~Goof