Category Archives: Uncategorized

“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best of yourself?” -Epictetus If not here…where? If not now…when? If not you…who? What are you waiting for? Remember. Memento Mori.

“It’s heart, not head. Thought will f-ck you up.” – Bob Dylan Don’t try to change anyone’s mind with your art. You got no shot. It’ll come off as preachy. And no one wants to be preached to. Instead. Aim for their hearts. Open them up. And then maybe, just maybe, they’ll change their ownContinue reading “Heart, Not Head”

Kevin Kelly, founder of Wired magazine and polymath, wrote this fantastic essay. It’s one of my all time favorites. An absolute must-read. Talk about empowering! If we can go make art, and get 1,000 people to love our art, so much so they’re willing to consistently engage with and pay for it…we can have aContinue reading “1,000 True Fans”

My old Chicago acting teacher and mentor, Kurt Naebig, warned us early on to never complain about the industry. Never, ever moan and groan about jobs or the lack thereof. His words, “The industry didn’t choose you. You chose it.” He was right. So why do we stop choosing? If we chose to be artists,Continue reading “You Don’t Get To Stop Choosing”

Beware. I’m attempting an original metaphor. Wish me luck… Picture yourself at a beach. You stand near the ocean, looking out. Tide rolls in. Tide rolls out. That ocean is the universe. When the tide rolls out, bend down and quickly dig a hole in the wet sand. That hole is your life. There areContinue reading “Metaphor Alert!”

In his best-seller Start With Why, author Simon Sinek argues that the best companies and organizations, the ones we remember, are those that have a clear sense of purpose. Their “Why” supersedes their “What.” Their products and services exist because of their “Why.” Mission before Action. What if we did that for ourselves? As artists,Continue reading “Start With Why”

A useful exercise…Write down these four words: hobby, job, career and vocation. After each, reflect and write down what each word means to you. Next, watch this video from bestselling author, Liz Gilbert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7ARarFNnw Once you clarify what you’re currently doing and what you want to be doing, then you’re free. Free to create artContinue reading “Hobby, Job, Career, Vocation”

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do, say and think.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Memento Mori is an ancient practice of reflecting on our own mortality. Reflections manifested in all art forms–paintings (like the image above), songs, writings (the Stoics and others), etc….even Walt Disney made his own personal MementoContinue reading “Memento Mori”

What happens when you find a play you’re passionate about and commit to producing it with excellence? You create an incredibly meaningful experience for a whole lotta people. You start the virtuous cycle. You create a meaningful experience for yourself. For the playwright. For the cast. For the designers and crew. For the audience. OrContinue reading “The Virtuous Cycle”

I bet you got… …one magical play inside of you. …one phenomenal role you’re dying to play. …one meaningful experience you must create. I’m betting on you. Now go bet on yourself.