Feedback on Just Get Better

I got more feedback on Just Get Better than for any single column in over five years of weekly topics. Wow! Thanks, y’all. Here are some of my favorites. 🙂

First email:

Just get better.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I had not put in the time on my craft that I wanted to. So, I went to graduate school to be a filmmaker. Now, I put in the time on my craft. And it shows. I am getting better by leaps and bounds.

My path may not have been as an actress. But, by god, I will put in my time and be the filmmaker I want to be.

Thank you. I am rising to that challenge and far surpassing it.

Maria Biber-Ferro

Second email:

Oh god, thank you for writing this out!

As an actor who also works at my representation’s office, I spend so many hours on the phone with clients or other unrepresented actors who voice those types of complaints ALL THE TIME! When faced with our questions about whether they’ve tried new headshots, new classes, new workshops, etc., the answer we almost always receive is, “…no.”

!!

My boss/agent has already forwarded your column out to our entire roster. I think it is well worth reading by anyone getting frustrated in their career. There’s always something more an actor can be doing!

Thanks, Bonnie.

Michele Boyd

Third email:

Hi Bonnie,

I wanted to share that my daughter Lauren just got cast in the play Blackbird at Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago. I’m sharing this not only out of pride, but to also let you know because I had submitted her headshot and resumé to the artistic director, Dennis Zacek, after reading your book.

There was no open call nor big extended audition. Dennis Zacek — who is also directing the play — immediately considered her for the role since he had the headshot and resumé on hand and asked around about her.

As you write time and time again, actors must take their careers into their own hands and take initiative. I’m glad that I did this for her. She had to follow up with her talent and abilities to land the role, but she would not have gotten in the door if the picture was not submitted and relationships were not forged with other people in the business.

You just wrote in your column about the people in “category three” that say that nothing works. I can say that taking initiative does work with the combination of working on your craft. Hard work will put you on the path toward success.

I enjoy reading your columns and watching your Facebook videos because you are always so encouraging. I felt I should write you to encourage you that what you write and say puts performers and actors on the right path.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Kathryn Delfs

Fourth email:

Why hello. It’s Malcolm (again).

I’m only writing to send you some good vibes. That’s it! I said before that I find your column to be helpful, and I appreciate that. I didn’t see why today’s column was so “outrageous.” As actors, shouldn’t we already be all about getting better every single day, whether we’re booking jobs all the time or not?

If I had booked a pilot this season (which I didn’t) and it got picked up, I’d definitely be thinking about how to continually get better at my craft, if only so I could feel good about myself when I went home at night. Look at Friends. They never phoned it in once, and that show was hugely successful for ten years. Heck, when it began to “lose its audience” it went all the way down to 14 million viewers every week! Why? Because the actors were continually finding new things, getting better.

And if I hadn’t booked a pilot this season (which I didn’t) I’d be thinking about how to get better every single day at my craft. Luckily, I love my craft and working on it doesn’t feel like “work.”

As actors, one of our jobs is to be confident enough to also see where we could improve. And that objectivity is a blessing.

So thank you for reminding me of this today. It’s on my radar every day, but it’s always nice when the universe confirms your way of thinking.

And the day after the Tony Awards? You go!

Malcolm Devine

Fifth email:

Dear Bonnie,

Although I have followed your videos on Facebook (How cool is this world we live in to have Facebook in it?), and referenced your book on many occasions, I haven’t felt the overwhelming urge to respond until your latest diatribe, “Just Get Better.” You know what? I couldn’t agree with you more.

For the last four years I have been applying many of the principles you discuss in your column and I have seen tangible and quantifiable results. Aside from the results on my resumé and the money in my bank account, an even greater result has occurred from “taking charge” of my career. Empowerment. I may not be able to control casting decisions that are made, directors’ tirades on the set, the political machinations of a theatre group, or the choice of agents “to submit or not to submit.”

I can, however, work on that St. Crispian’s Day speech from Henry V every day with the goal of doing it better than Kenneth Branagh, get in and stay in class no matter how frustrating it may be at times, go to friend’s plays and support their efforts (while learning and networking at the same time), and most importantly push myself beyond my “comfort zone” in thinking and doing outside the box in my career and life.

I too am a big fan of Outliers. It is amazing and wonderful to watch people becoming great in their fields by tracking the time, effort, and energy they put into doing what they have passion for. I feel especially blessed to be living in an age where there are so many ways to practice what we love to do; so many sources of information, outlets for expression, and relatively inexpensive tools to build the realization of our dreams with. I’ll keep following what you have to say in all of the many ways you get to say it. Thank you for all the “extra” time and effort you put into what you do.

Sincerely,
Kevin McCorkle


Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!


Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001039.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.

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