Hi Bonnie!
You are such an encouragement to me. Thank you for the hours and hours of your life that you give to us: people who learn and grow from your knowledge every day, and people who you’ve never met.
I have a big question that I’ve wanted to ask you for a while, but I didn’t know how to position it in light of Six Weeks To LA. I completely understand the benefits of being in Los Angeles, and I appreciate all your passion and knowledge on the subject!
But Bonnie, I just don’t fit in here in LA. I’ve given this town almost a decade of my life, counting UCLA, and I still don’t feel like it’s home. The never-changing weather, the physical expanse of the town, traffic, smog… I get sunburned in two minutes and don’t enjoy lying on the beach. It saddens me when friends flake out last minute because of traffic. I miss rain!
Living in NYC has been a goal of mine since I volunteered there after 9/11. But I’ve never gone through with the big move because I was afraid I’d lose opportunities and connections in film and TV. I have no theatre experience and am not interested in being a theatre actor, which is obviously huge in NYC. But Bonnie, it’s been very difficult for me to stay consistent and be positive about my acting here in LA with this feeling of not belonging. I have friends, I have a wonderful husband, I have an acting class and acting network. But my heart is somewhere else. And, as you know, that has helped my acting career 0%.
If I move to NYC, I know the film and TV opportunities will be fewer. But I’m hoping that if I’m a happier, more whole person, I’ll be able to translate that to my auditions and performances.
I’ve done a buttload of research, as you’ve taught me, and I know there are a handful of casting directors and shows working out of NYC. But Bonnie I need your honest opinion about this. Would I be shooting myself in the foot by leaving the Mecca of film and TV? Or could a richer and happier personal life lead to better acting?
Thank you again for everything, I mean EVERYTHING, that you do for us. For me. 🙂
Tiffany
Oh, Tiffany, my heart hugs your heart, after reading your emails. Hey, I understand LA not clicking. It didn’t click *for me* when I was here at 23, experiencing my first earthquake (the Northridge Quake), first time I’d ever lived more than a tank of gas away from my mom, first time I’d ever lived ALONE. LA was awesome, but its bits of awesomeosity wore off quickly and soon I was feeling very much like you seem to be feeling today: NOT in love with LA.
Of course, I would boomerang *back* to LA four years later, and I am more in love with my home every day. I can’t believe it was 20 years ago last month I *first* moved to Hollywood. This is truly my home.
But there was a time when it wasn’t. And as much as it sucked to pack it up and leave my acting career (I — like you — was certain opportunities would dry up in my new market), I did it. And I’m so glad I did.
You’ll be glad you do it, too. And you’re going to do it. I can tell from every word you’ve used in the emails you’ve sent me about this issue. You’re moving. It’s just a matter of when. And one thing I know for sure is that you’re going to land on your feet in New York, because you’re going to research the heck out of your new market! You’ve already learned the skills to do so.
Interestingly enough, one of the things that sometimes happens with our students in Six Weeks To LA is that they decide they’re so happy having learned how to master their *current* market, just by getting their tools to their LA best, that they stick where they are, enjoying being big fish in smaller ponds.
I have no agenda for getting actors to live in LA. It’s not for everyone! What I want is to see actors (and all humans, really) living their dreams. For many folks, that means being in LA and having a go at that whole Hollywood thing. But for others, it means being happy with seasons and variety and culture and friends who don’t flake. I get that! Seems you do too.
But you’re concerned about lack of opportunity. Well, I’ve written before about the various markets and the importance of being happy, wherever you live. Basically, being miserable in a place with millions of opportunities doesn’t help you get cast. However, as you’ve suggested, being blissed out in a place with hundreds of opportunities absolutely can lead to a huge career.
It’s not like New York is some far-off land with no acting opportunities! It’s the second largest market on the planet. Now, it’s *much* smaller a market than what you’re used to, here (and it’s definitely more theatre-based than LA), but there is plenty of production going on in New York, daily. Getting plugged in with SAG-AFTRA, the SAG Foundation events, great classes, networking organizations, and actor accountability groups can help you hit the ground running.
Researching your targets works the same in NY as it does in LA (there are fewer targets to study, that’s all). There are half the number of actors in New York, half the number of agencies and management firms, and ten times fewer casting directors than we have here in LA. So, sure, probably fewer opportunities with fewer people engaged in populating projects, but what does that matter? No matter where you live, you don’t need to know 600 (or even 60) casting directors in order to have a thriving career. And, frankly, with so much of what *is* cast in Los Angeles shooting ELSEWHERE, the numbers may be even more encouraging for you.
But who cares about the numbers?
You know you get cast when you’re right for the role and the right vibe for the project and you have strong relationships and the timing all lines up… and isn’t that more likely to happen when you’re happy? When your life feels good? Yeah. I think so. I think you think so too.
Go. Be happy. LA will always be here if you decide to come back.
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/001711.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.