Celebrate these Next Tier success stories with us!
Amy Price

Since Get in Gear, my stress levels are way less, because I have a plan to follow. Nothing feels impossible anymore. Everything leads to my true north with purpose.

Tracy "Twinkie" Byrd
Bonnie's fabulous class changed my life. My energy is different! Bonnie is awesome and I'm so thankful for her genius of motivation.
Ari Stidham
Once I met Bon, I started realizing I love casting directors. And that made a difference in my auditions. So I'm singing the praises of Bonnie Gillespie wherever and whenever I can.
Mercedes Rose
Much of what I've learned about showbiz is from you and now I have a deal with TWC. Just sayin'. I credit any success I've had, am currently having, and will ever have with SMFA and the ninja moves you teach.
Mike Pusateri

I have an MBA from the University of Illinois with a marketing concentration and have about 20 years experience marketing and advertising. And Bonnie, I have to tell you, you have more marketing savvy, wit, and knowledge than just about anybody I've ever known or worked with. And I'm talking about some of the top creatives in Chicago and CMOs of Fortune 100 companies.

Chandra Ryder
For a long time, I wasn't embracing the depths of who I am as an artist because I didn't feel like I could be myself in this industry and make a career out of all my skillsets. Now, I am at peace with who I am and I'm embracing all my skills as a creative instead of trying to hide one or more of them out of fear that doing too many jobs will push people away from me.
Tanya Perez
I had been working in this business for 10 years and only got so far with little knowledge of the business side before I met Bonnie Gillespie. Her specific approach to marketing yourself as a viable commodity in show business is by far the most comprehensive skill I have taken away from this work, in an environment that is supportive and creative.
Matthew Jordan
I now unapologetically trust myself. I've done the work, I am fully capable, and will continue to work 'til I get to where I want. And through it all there is no self-doubt and no questioning. At networking events, I've been meeting brilliant people who I would normally be intimidated by. But now, that sense of security in who I am and what I am here for resonates and people love it!
Rosalie Tenseth

This work has changed my life. And not like losing weight or selling Amway. Like, going from wanting to throw in the towel on this business to directing a new series and creating another new series.

Steph Gaudreau
I freaking love you. "Produce the story you want to see told." Brilliant! I am so happy we met. You make my life better.
Tonya Kay
Before joining Get in Gear for the Next Tier, I was an actress, dancer, and specialty artist who just flowed. I trusted my instincts on what was interesting and positive and let that guide me. After GIG, I felt I had a method to my madness!
Jen Ponton
I found Bonnie Gillespie in 2004, searching what pro actors did. She's been my Yoda ever since. Thank you for always lighting the way to my best self.
Want to learn more about how to join us for 100 days of up-leveling your creative career?

Jonté LeGras

There is so much magic, I do not know where to begin. It's difficult to talk about my experience without sounding woo-woo. It's the type of course I wish I had right after college. I love that we get to do a deep dive into the work all the while using self-care every step of the way. I always believed that what separated people at the higher tiers is mindset. This course is proof. A huge portion of the work is your mindset and how significantly personal that is to you. You truly have to experience the 100 days yourself to fully understand the incredible impact it has.

Natalie Scott
The biggest things GIG gave me are patience and the ability to not give a single fuck what people think of me. This combo removed the unattractive desperation I was carrying into every part of my life. For the first time in my life I started to honestly believe that I am enough exactly as I am. I realized I already had everything I needed to go get what I want and I didn't need to rely on anyone else to give it to me. Now when I meet new people, I have a confidence that lets me be myself, completely and unapologetically. I find the people who vibe with me and move on from everyone else.
Raechel Wong
This course has opened up so many arenas for me that I thought weren't possible. The book gave me the keys to reverse engineer my path and my career doesn't feel as mysterious or frivolous as it once did. The 100-day program is kicking my butt and really drilling in the specifics of targeting, finding an agent, managing my time, managing my image, and so much more! From mindset to career guidance, Get in Gear for the Next Tier will launch you in all the areas necessary for this business! It's obvious that this course will be helpful for anyone at ANY tier. I wish I had found the book and the program earlier!
Rex Bressler
Our work transformed my view of myself and the industry. Whereas I had been hypercritical of my own shortcomings and intimidated by the odds against success, I learned to reposition myself in a positive, forward-thinking manner. Instead of beating myself up for every missed chance or mistake, I turned those experiences around so that they became part of the foundation of the new, more competent and more confident me. I was cast in a new series that won an Emmy and I can attribute a good portion of my progress directly to Bonnie and her Get in Gear for the Next Tier program.
Sarah Carey

Before joining GIG, life was very much going through the motions... at least what I thought the motions should be. GIG helped me really hone in on my weak spots, but ALSO reminded me what my strengths are. I now have confidence. I know I'm on the right track and now I have the tools I need when my confidence wanes. This last year, I booked two HUGE jobs. Without the extra boost of confidence this program helped give me, I don't think that would have happened.

Kodi Saint Angelo
WOW has life changed. I would like to thank Bonnie for being a major catalyst in changing our lives completely. Jerry has been a BOOKING MACHINE and has a 50-80% booking ratio, which is INSANE. And it all started with us sitting in the front row hanging onto every word that Bonnie said. Thank you, Bonnie, for changing the course of our lives. Whenever people ask us how everything has been changing so quickly for us, we always point back to you.
Stef Dawson
I highly recommend anyone take classes with Bonnie. It's the best thing I could've done when I landed. I say that to everyone because it was exactly what I needed. It bridged the gap for me. I arrived to LA with training and work behind me, but what I desperately needed was knowledge of the business and how things work. Work with Bonnie. You'll hit the ground running like I did!
Rachael Ferrera
I think more than anything, Get in Gear shifted the way I THINK about the industry. It made it feel smaller somehow... in a GREAT way! It made me realize how close I already am to a lot of the people I dream of working with in this industry. And simply recognizing that created an energetic shift that I believe contributed to me very quickly getting an appointment for a major project involving one of my target buyers.
Getting the sense that these 100 days are transformation-filled? Yeah. They are.

Ashley Jackson

Bonnie Gillespie is THE TRUTH! Before her, I was pretty lost in my career. I wasn't sure how to take control of my acting career and I felt like I was floating in the wind. I always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles and I understood that the entertainment industry is a business. Unfortunately, I didn't have the tools. From Brandprov to my website, Bonnie changed my life so much. I now live in Los Angeles and I secured my agent within MONTHS of moving to LA. I no longer feel stuck! Because of her and her amazing team, I feel unstoppable! Thank you so much for changing my life! I even bought the book for my niece (she's only 16!). I found my power and you helped me realize that, Bonnie! Love and power to you and the SMFA team! <3

Stacy Beckly
Before I joined GIG I cared too much what other people thought about me and I didn't feel like I was enough just as I was. I was teased and bullied horribly in middle school. That's why I've always been concerned with what people thought of me. Until taking your course that is. You helped me deal with that past trauma and learn to love and accept myself as I am and not care what people think. It's made me the happiest I've EVER been in my life!! <3 I don't get affected by positive comments or negative comments. I just keep doing me and working toward my goals and loving my life. People will think what they think and that's okay. I'm no longer affected by it and that's an amazing and life-changing thing for me. Thank you so much for this.
Selena Vidya
GIGFTNT kicked my confidence to new heights! A lot of the work allowed me to merge my analytical and creative mind together, and it made me realize I could approach my acting/creative work like I approach business in general. It made everything not so overwhelming. Once you start working in GIGFTNT you identify your blocks reaaaaaaal fast and can work to clear them out. I realized I wasn't breaking down my creative goals in the same way I would in all other areas, which was 100% me avoiding the *real* work because I didn't know how to have all parts of me confidently work together. Now I do.
Emma Chelsey
Bonnie is like a mindset coach, encouraging us along the way with specific exercises that really help me to have the confidence to keep going but also to reach out to people, stand up for myself, ask for what I want, or even remove myself from negative situations which has holistically improved every aspect of my acting journey. For example, I booked a huge theatre gig (something I didn't think was possible), I got my working visa (another super difficult achievement), and I signed with a manager because I followed the Get in Gear steps. The main takeaway is actually an improved relationship with myself because I feel I deserve a seat at the table now and that is huge.

Okay... you want a little more?
All right, but this is getting ridiculous.
Just come join us already! ;)

Ciara Curran

Life before GIG was a just a bit more chaotic. GIG provided structure to what was previously a very structureless lifestyle as a creative.

Lucy Russell
You are amazing. I have been talking to literally every actor I meet about what you're teaching as I'm finding it so useful, scary, liberating, challenging, and thorough.
Vernisa Allen
I cannot begin to tell you the wonders this did for my mental health. And my credit (score raised over 100 points)! GIG really inspired me to do what's best for me.
Judy Kerr
All that you do and the heart that you do it with has captured me since first reading your columns in 1999.
About Bonnie (she/her)

Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. As a weekly columnist, she began demystifying the casting process for actors in 1999. Her most popular book is Self-Management for Actors, the curriculum upon which much of her teaching is based. As a producer and Emmy-honored casting director, Bonnie specializes in indie darlings. Whether casting, coaching, or putting the WOO in Hollywood via Chart Harmony, she is passionate about leaving this world better than she found it. Bonnie lives by the beach on unceded ancestral Tongva land with her partner, Keith Johnson, the luckiest man in the world.

Join these folks in celebrating the Self-Management
for
Actors work of excavating enoughness!

Bonnie Gillespie ~~ Enoughness is an inside job... and sometimes you need a guide to find your way there. ~~

© 1998

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