Pressing Onward

I'm currently reading "Acting Professionally: Raw Facts About Careers in Acting" by Robert Cohen and James Calleri. It's a well needed kick in the butt. I love its direct and honest approach about an acting career. The book never tries to dissuade you from a career in acting but it lays out very clearly what the career entails and what you need to do to survive. It's very sobering.

These are some of my favorite quotes from tonight's reading:

"Work out regularly. ... If you are student reading this, hey, don't delay- do it now! Don't wait until you hit the big city casting offices. Get in shape, lose the weight, gain the muscle, just do it! Then you can hit the ground running, not plodding."

"The specifics of personal physical appearance are not individually critical. What is important is the effect that your person and your 'image' create-and the power of that effect, which should be enormous."

"Cultivate a distinctive appearance. ... Extravagance and propriety are not worth a dram in this business, but distinction in your own terms is. Find yourself, and find in yourself a unique appearance that will intrigue others."

"Every actor must have training and experience. ... Training is the foundation to your career. ... No one should think they are too good to train."

"Many theatre departments project a back-patting coziness that cal lull student actors into a false sense of security, preventing them from developing their craft in a disciplined manner and encouraging them to rest on ill-deserved laurels."

"Remember: Whatever your training, academic or professional, you'll learn as much or more from your fellow students as from your teachers, and you'll be in touch with them further down the road."

"College, acting classes, and the local community theatre can be very comfortable places. A lovely security envelops you. You are known, liked, respected, and well reviewed by the locals and by your teachers. But check your goals. If you want to move on, you better go when you are ready rather than hang around merely because it's safe. ... When you are ready to take the plunge, take it. Only you can decide on the proper time."

It's a tough industry! I've got to make sure I have solid goals and plans in place to achieve those goals. What do I want? What am I striving for? What am I willing to sacrifice to get what I want? What am I not willing to sacrifice? Why? Am I willing to do what it takes?