The play is still the thing.

This is a tough business. For some odd reason, maybe the vibe I was giving out, I had two separate conversations with two different groups of actors today, all of whom were experiencing a work drought. These were seasoned, excellent actors all and yet many of them hadn't worked in a long time. One of whom was, for the first time in a twenty-five year career, considering throwing in the towel. It was quite disheartening. Especially, of course, since I actually have been working. That's another one of the weird little quirks of show biz. You feel cruddy when you're not working and then you feel guilty when you are. Takes a very thick skin and a remarkably positive attitude. I suppose that goes for just about any entrepreneurial endeavor but I think even more for what we do. Most actors and writers and artists that I know don't do it because of the money or the fame or even because they're good at it. They do it because their spirit won't let them not do it. They are born to it. Their craft, their art is like air to them. Which makes it doubly hard when you have conversations like today...where friends are having trouble breathing.

Comments

[Ron Potter]

I am a salesman and most of my income is commissions. When I hear about an audition it sounds like myself running a call. Sometimes it's tight. This is when the Abraham stuff is huge for me; relaxing into the flow and allowing the escrow of my vibrational contrast flow into my experience. If you know what I mean.

[Cher]

Hi Neil!

I too, am experiencing the drought. I am a member of a community theatre and have auditioned at every play the past 6 months. The last one I got a call from the director saying,"It was really a hard decision between you and the other girl but because she has a little more experience in this genre I had to choose her." Well.....how do you get experience unless given the chance. I love acting/performing. I do alot of behind the scenes work too, sound, props, makeup/hair, but it would be nice to catch a spotlight once in awhile. Well...off I go to find a pithy 3 minute monologue to hopefully catch a director's interest at my next audition.