I’m leaving for a trip on June 18th, so June has been a month of no auditions and that’s alright. I’ve seen several casting directors at reel pros and am continuing to do scene study classes with Peter Holden. I did score a paying photo shoot as a result of being on www.ModelMayhem.com. If you have done some print work or are interested in doing print work, I highly recommend that site. Of course as a person with common sense, you should do all your due diligence and reference checking before you run off to shoot with just any photographer. I sent the clip from the Click It or Ticket campaign to Actors Access so they can add it to my account. I have five clips right now, this last one I’m really happy with. As I get newer and better footage I will remove some of the older, not so great ones. What is really cool is now Actors Access is accepting video files through www.yousendit.com, you know longer have to go to one of their offices to get reel clips uploaded. Welcome to the 21st Century Guys!! 
I came across an interesting thread on Twitter today. Bonnie Gillespie, a long time casting director and author gave some very non-sugar coated tell-it-like-it-is advice to actors from her perspective. You can check it out here http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/ I wanted to address this advice from my point of view and reassure the actors that were upset by her entry that it isn’t the bible and that you have to learn to control ruffling of your feathers. We have very sensitive feathers, I know, we’re actors for God’s sake! This business is absolutely brutal, let’s practice building our alligator skin as difficult and as impossible as it may seem at times. I think that’s what she was trying to say, along with the whole “Just Get Better” thing. I’ve read her book – it has wonderful advice, and I know she is a well meaning person who wants to help, not knock people down and squish them into the ground so they can never recover. Now take this quote and let it sink in, print it out on a sheet of paper and tape it to your forehead. “The difference in winning and losing is most often…not quitting.” – Walt Disney. Bonnie gave her OPINION on mass mailings, Casting Director Workshops, Pictures that Don’t Work, Finding your “Type”, Showcases, Agents not getting you out, etc. Let’s repeat that one more time, Bonnie gave her OPINION from her perspective and unique point of view. I’ve had each one of these things she mentioned fail for me and work for me, countless times, again and again each time the successes bringing me a little bit further. Some of you would puke if you knew how many times I kept trying until something happened, or how much money I’ve spent on mass mailing, head shots, etc. My last mass mailing to agents got me 5 responses which was tremendous, I’ve had earlier mailings result in zero responses. The key is consistent and persistent effort. Research can only do so much, sometimes it’s just timing and repetitive action. Don’t blame the world when you don’t see results immediately or even after many attempts. The questions are , “How bad do you want it?” “Are you willing to put in the time, effort and resources until you do see the results you want to see?” There are no absolutes in this industry, there is no sure fire way to success. Inaction is the only surefire way to failure. The only sure way to see results as Bonnie mentioned, is you have to keep getting better and you have to keep looking for and trying the things that could make a difference for your career. The thing is, the 1st or 2nd time you try them they may not work, it may take time and continual attempts. If your agent sucks, get a new one. If your pictures suck, get new ones. The wonderful thing about knowing something isn’t working is that you have the power to move on and do something different! I know it can seem like we’re victims, but victim mentality will just never ever get us to where we want to be. I know this, because once I shook my shitty attitude, things started looking up drastically. Create a business plan. Plan your work, work you plan. Rinse and repeat! The silver lining is there, you just have to be willing to bleed and get bruised a little to find it sometimes. No body said it would be easy.
