You’re Still Here

One way to deal with uncertainty is to fully embrace it with all your heart. Lean into it. Love it.

And if you need support for your decision to lean in, just remember, you’ve survived every single thing you thought you couldn’t handle up until this point.

You’re still here.

Why would the next hard or uncertain thing be any different?

Developing Taste

Taste is talent. And like any talent, you need to develop it.

How to do this?

First, figure out what art you really love and why. What about it really speaks to you? What moves you? Perhaps keep a simple “artistic journal” where you can write down your thoughts about the art you just consumed.

Then, after you’ve compiled your thoughts, share your love for that art. You can write a blog or social media post about it, or even just call a couple of friends and tell them about it. In the process, be prepared for some people to disagree with you. Great! This is a gift. Get curious with their reasons. See if your perspective deepens or changes. Actively seek out more criticism. Read reviews. But do it all after you’ve already shared your original opinion about the art.

Do this over and over again and your taste will develop.

(P.S. – By sharing your love of the art, you’re also doing a very generous thing for the artist(s). Word of mouth is the most valuable marketing and is needed now more than ever.)

Asking For What You Want

Once you really know what you want and why you want it, chances are that you’re going to need to ask a lot of people for help.

Asking is never easy, but it is necessary. Some tips that might aid your asking:

(1) Be clear and specific with your ask. Know exactly how the person can help you or your cause.

(2) Ask now. Don’t wait. And don’t worry if you haven’t done some certain number of favors for that person person. There’s no magic reciprocity number that you have to hit before you make the ask. Ask now.

(3) Remind yourself that most people want to help. Including you! There’s actually a chemical release of endorphins when we do good things for others. (Interestingly enough, we don’t get that same endorphin release from asking. Which might explain why we don’t ask.)

(4) Detach from the result of your ask. The ask itself is the win. If the person doesn’t get back to you or can’t help, no sweat. Don’t take it personally and don’t hold it against them. Have empathy for people’s time and circumstances.

(5) It’s a numbers game. You’re gonna have to make a lot of asks. (Which might help you with number four.)

(6) If you’re in a position to help someone else, please help them.

Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. The result you’re looking for could be one ask away. How tragic if you’re too afraid to ask for it.

P.S. – This post from Justin Welsh.

Be Happy Now

Choose now to be happy.

Because now is all you can count on to choose to be happy.

So be happy now.

Listen Like You’re Hitchhiking

For the actor…

Having trouble listening in a scene?…Pretend like you’re hitchhiking on a dark night on a desolate road. You’re thirsty and starving and your feet are aching from walking all day. Because no one offered to give you a lift. You’re exhausted.

A dirty semi-truck pulls over and the driver tells you to hop in. He’s friendly, but a little scary-looking too. Your instincts tell you not to get in, but you do so anyway. Because you’re so damn tired. You climb into the cab and start driving off.

How would you listen to the driver under these circumstances?

Now go put that back into your scene.

P.S. – This post was inspired by a post Vs. show conversation with John Hawkes. An exceptional actor and listener.

Follow Your Bliss

When you follow your bliss, you’re not only making your life better, you’re also making life better for those around you, and potentially for the world at large. In a way, you should feel responsible to find and follow it because it helps others.

If you don’t know what your bliss is yet, here’s a meaningful step you can take: keep a daily energy journal or calendar.

At the end of each day, write down the things that make you felt most energized and alive. Also write down the ones that are most draining. Do this every day for a week or two or perhaps a month. You’ll start to see a pattern. Once you do, put more effort towards those things that are energy creating, and eliminate (as best you can) those that are energy draining.

Go forth and be energized and blissful!

P.S. – This post has a little more detail on the energy calendar ritual.

The Inspired Choice

You’ve got two choices:

Complain about the fact that no one wants to do the un-fun but necessary work of practicing or baking.

Or inspire them to do it with you.

If you’re a producer in a collaborative medium like theatre, you only have one choice.

No Is All You Need

The best thing you can get to your request (or audition, proposal, interview, etc.) is YES.

The second best thing you can get is a NO.

Why?

Because now you can close the loop and move on.

You don’t need to look for a reason. You won’t get a satisfying one anyway. It’s a waste of time.

No is all you need.

Play It With All Your Heart

You may not get to choose the role.

But you do get to choose how you play it.

Play it with all your heart.

P.S. – This metaphor isn’t just about acting, but it applies to all of life.

P.P.S. – The Vs. Studio core mission and a major point of focus for this blog, is to help artists find and manifest their passion project. And to do so with excellence and generosity. The beauty of committing to this is that when you do, you actually do get to choose your dream role.