BWW Blog: An Actor's Guide to Waiting

The waiting, the waiting, THE WAITTTTINGGGGGGG. Shrek The Musical am I right? Best thing about being an actor is BY FAR the waiting. It's a never-ending cycle of dying, crying, having a sliver of hope, and then dying again. What does one do to cope in this painful part of being an actor? How can you keep your spirits up? Make money? Have a life? Well hello world! My name's Carissa and I've participated in this waiting game longer than I can remember. Here to give you some tips on what you can do, and also what I do. This article will explain it all.

First thing I'll go over is spirit. Alright, quiz for you. How many actors do you think there are in the world? Next question, how many good actors do you think there are in the whole world? The answer? A LOT. I know you've probably heard this ten thousand times, but not getting a role does not mean in any way that you are not a good actor or could not play the role. It just means it wasn't the right opportunity for you. Everything happens for a reason, that is something I firmly believe in. We might not understand it at the time, but we'll learn to one day and appreciate it for happening. When one door closes, another opens after all. Who knows... maybe it's a better door ;)

How the hell is it even possible to stay happy though? Also, make money? Tons of ways. Getting a hobby, part-time job, starting up your own business...the possibilities are endless. For me, I love working out. It makes me feel like Supergirl. I get more energy, look better, feel better; I'm just addicted. Working out is also proven to help produce happy hormones. It's a hobby legitimately made to make you feel better. Now that I found something I love, how can I make money from it? Simple, currently I'm working on becoming certified to be a Personal Trainer. I'll be able to make money using my knowledge to help people accomplish their dreams through doing something I love. Also allowing me to go by my own schedule and be my own boss. That's just one of the many possibilities on what you can do, but it's a great example. Find your niche and go for it!

You've auditioned for how many acting gigs? Didn't get any? Or wait. No. You're waiting for your agent to find you something and haven't heard from them in ages. Or you don't have an agent? The key is...you've got to take initiative. If you truly want something in life there's two rules you have to follow. The first one is to never give up. NEVER. EVER. If you do then that only kills any possibility for yourself, no matter how small. Secondly, you got to chase it. If you just stand still while someone's running from you, they'll only get further and further away. MAKE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF AND NEVER STOP APPLYING. There are tons of casting sites out there. My personal favorite is Backstage. Also, you like theatre? Look up local theatres and go to Job/Casting Opportunities directly from their website. You like film? Look up casting calls for local student films. YOU DO NOT HAVE AN EXCUSE. The opportunities are endless; you just got to start chasing them.

That's all from me this week, never give up on your dreams... and till next time xx

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