Your acting career doesn’t follow the rules.
It’s an “I can't breathe I’m so excited” joyride that body slams you with an unexpected, hairpin-turn email that says they’ve gone in a different direction.
It’s as fickle as a cat who only wants to snuggle when you’re sitting on the toilet.
It’s as brazen as Prince’s raspberry beret-wearing crush who walked in through the Out door.
In through the Out door! Who does that?
You do. Because you’re an actor. And the unknown is totally thrilling.
You know the statistics and you’re doing it anyway.
You’re all glittery, sunny and full of high hopes until you don’t book for a while, or can’t find representation, or your agent drops you, or the traffic takes its toll, or, or, or.....
Maybe you gave yourself a year to “make it”.
Maybe your money is running out and you hate your day job.
Maybe your family is encouraging you to come home and get a “real” job. The “real” job that’ll suck out your soul through your sensible shoes.
No. Don’t fall for it.
Because, “I did that” crushes “I wish I had” all day, every day. And especially 20 years from now.
But if your resolve ever wavers, even just a little bit, then you need an Actor’s Manifesto to clarify and distill your ‘why.’
Because if your ‘why’ is strong enough, nothing can stop or deter you.
Your manifesto should be a tug–at–your–own–heartstrings reminder of why you’re doing this in the first place. It can be your touchstone for anytime the going gets rough. So when you’ve had your fouth ‘no’ in four days, you can read it and remember, “Oh yeah, that’s why I’m doing this.”
Here are some questions to get the manifesto juices flowing.
1. Why are you an actor?
2. What do you love about acting?
3. How does acting make you feel?
4. How do you react to the way others feel about your dreams, or when you tell them you’re an actor?
5. What are your non-negotiables as it relates to your career and your dream?
6. What are you willing to give up to make your passion a reality?
Write from the heat and write from the heart.
And as for your day job?
Keep working part-time at the five and dime... because it’ll be different than the day before.
Just like your acting career.
And that’s exactly why you keep coming back for more.