expanding madison's struggle

In response to Madison's blog--it's true. Too True. 2-2ru. this is an interesting point and i'd like to expand on it a bit further, let it soak on an applicable 'fieldwork' basis. Everytime i'm at an audition for so-and-so commercial (Coca-cola for example) and i'm in the lobby next to fellow (and often older) actors and actresses, we engage in a light chitchat. Some call this the part in which each actor tries to psych the other out by talking incessantly about their careers and how far along they've come and asking how many auditions they've been on, if they've booked, etc (industry gossip). i would say this is the 'struggling' part of my 'currently in progress' career. And then they get to asking YOU questions. Cool. I often respond with "well, great. I just got a callback for so-and-so director, currently doing the acting thing but still in school, about to graduate, exciting stuff ahead..blahblahblah", just something kind after my curt introduction, and then i'll get back to memorizing my sides and prepping individually.

And then 'reality' hits. These mid-20 to 40 yr olds are trying to book this commercial to pay the rent while I am a college student AND actress just dipping my feet around before fully plunging into it [the madness]. I think it is safe to say that everyone is struggling "IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES", but maybe we use entertainment careers as an excuse. For example, by telling people how exclusive it is, how hard the 'struggle' is to get in, we are inadvertently strengthening the perception of "prestige" in the business and thereby hopefully lessening the competition into said career (by disheartening our fellow actors and screenwriters etc.). I feel like entertainment is just as accessible as any other job (though this is only from having met a lot of people in the business). If you really want to do anything, you will do it regardless of how hard it is.

I kind of really believe this. Especially with all of the interviews of industry professionals that I have been conducting over the past two yrs of college. Once you hear their opinions and stories of 'how they made it' you realize it's not really about "the struggle" or pursuit. And it's definitely not listening to the downside of 'entertainment careers' because there are downsides to every career. It's about figuring out what you want and being confident in it.

I can't say that acting is any more difficult to book jobs in than journalism or medicine. A low-paying job as a writer is probably equivalent to Extra work (no one really likes doing it, but its a job). Perhaps I'm disillusioned, insane, or really out of my league here (at least my parents would say so), but I firmly believe that if you really are passionate about something, anything (be it job, or living situation, etc) you will pursue it. Change what you don't like. "Life is what you make of it"...yada? I know, I'm a genius.

Anyway, I absolutely find it ridiculous when the actors 'banter' about in the pre-audition lobby for whatever reason..it's just so unnatural the way they (we?) speak to one another. But secretly, I love how so many different people, different ages, etc. are present, and how many stories they have to tell (actors, take it from me, have so many stories. Sometimes i make mine up). They've got agents. They've made it to the audition. And even if they seem so unlikely to succeed in the business (who are we to judge?) they know what they want, and they keep going on these auditions regardless of whether or not they book (that's the first step). There's just something so incredibly exciting about acting (for me) that I know i'll always be doing it.

Here's to booking in the New Year! *champagne clink*
-Kimberley

One more thing: It's very strange that people assume you will perform for free, whenever, instantaneously. When they find out you're in entertainment they want to judge immediately: "you do improv? let's see you improv!" What am i a monkey? Nay' suh! For a pretty penny, perhaps. but would i ever ask a surgeon to show me how to perform his surgery? A magician never reveals his tricks.