This week’s Your Turn is a quick request for help on a future column. Later this month, I’m going to be doing a piece called “What We Learned in 2008.” I’d like to focus on, well, the lessons we’re all taking away from this year we’ve just experienced.
Did you learn that your agent is a brilliant negotiator? Did you learn that walking picket lines with writers was a wonderful experience? Did you learn how to put your own material online and build a fanbase via email promotions? Did you learn what your “type” really is? Did you learn that the most expensive headshots aren’t necessarily the best fit for you? Did you learn that a manager is a great addition to your team?
Did you learn it takes a looooong time to get your copy on a feature film “copy, credit, meals” deal, but a short amount of time to get your copy on a short film? Did you learn that first agent you had was operating a kickback scam with photographers or acting coaches? Did you learn that the theatre company you were hesitant to join was actually the best group of people you could’ve asked to connect with in town? Did you learn that you joined a union sooner than you probably should have?
Did you learn you can be funny? Did you learn how to take risks and improvise? Did you learn that your website is actually helping you generate leads for work? Did you learn that doing a little Resumé Feng Shui made a huge difference in how you were teaching the industry to perceive you? Did you learn that simply by staying in town when other friends packed up and went home, you’ve advanced in your career? Did you learn to trust yourself more?
Lay it on me. What did you learn this year? Heck, let’s not limit it to 2008 lessons. If you can look back on your time in this business — whatever amount of time that’s been — and share some lessons with me (and the readers of The Actors Voice, of course), let’s hear it! You can remain anonymous if you’d like, just say so in your email. Oh, and that’s my email address, right below this paragraph. Thanks in advance for your help in pulling this fun year-end column together!
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/000955.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.