People.....You've Got To Love 'em

Ran across a little negativity today..started to get me a bit down…but I know better and I shook it off. Nothing major just someone telling me how hard the business is and how I shouldn’t expect to get any work, representation, etc. Oh yeah, another person had to throw in her two cents about how the industry “needs character types like you” and “you can play a heavy” (meaning a thug). Who knows, maybe they did think they were giving me good advice and being helpful…but I didn’t really get that vibe. (With ‘helpful’ advice like that, who needs razor blades?!) To be perfectly honest, I was wondering how long it would be before I started running across negative people. Maybe I was being naïve in thinking it was all just talk or maybe it’s because I try to engage people in convo or the fact that I’m not rude to people….who knows. They must have thought that I’m a rookie in this business or something. I simply listened, smiled, said thanks and went on about my business.

In some of my psych classes I’ve taken years ago (I don’t believe I’m going there) and lessons I’ve learned throughout life in general, I’ve realized that it’s usually the people that try to put others down that are indeed the most insecure and scared. It’s the bully who’s really the scared one and he/she overcompensates by trying to distract attention from their fear by bullying others. Whereas if you’re stable, secure and happy you tend to treat people accordingly. I’ll pray for these two.

Having said that, I do hope everyone keeps underestimating and sleeping on me that way. Then I’ll just sneak up on everyone. Still, whether I sneak up on my success or have to kick the door down and have a knock down, drag out fight to get it….I’m down! I really don’t think anyone knows how powerful my drive and determination is to succeed in this business. More importantly, God is running things and I’m simply following His plan and getting out of the way. It’s a wrap!

Headshots, headshots and more headshots...

I had been doing research on which photographer I wanted to take my new headshots. With sooo many to chose from, I literally spent days upon days going through countless websites and looking at hundreds and hundreds of photos. My goal was to try and narrow down my list to four or five photographers and then meet with them individually. It may sound kind of anal to spend so much time in researching and analyzing but this is very important to me on two different levels:

First, the headshot is THE first and (in my opinion) the hardest part of the audition process. It’s so subjective…do they like it or not, can they picture you in that role, do they have hang-ups about styles of headshots, colors, poses, etc. Still, that shot is what makes the casting director and/or agent turn it over and read the credits on the back. Not to sound too cocky but I’ve always felt if I can just get in the door…..I’ll get the part. Talent + personality + being right for the part = getting the part. BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO GET IN THE DOOR. A good headshot will do that. With a bad headshot……..unfortunately, you’re not even in the game. Of course you have to have decent credits too…but talent + decent credits + a bad headshot = no love. I’ve had headshots that CD’s loved and those same shots other CD’s have hated…go figure.

Second, I’m on a serious budget. I can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars with a photographer only to find that I can’t use any of the shots. (The sad part is that I’ve seen or heard that happen too often.) So having said all that, I feel if I spend all this time and energy now….it will save me time, money and energy later. Back to my research……