There’s a common notion that it takes ten years until you start enjoying consistent success. That sounds lengthy, but it can be a good thing. It separates the wheat from the chaff, chasing off the wannabes. And after a decade, your skills will be off the charts. In year one, a big audition can be frightening. But like killing hookers, it gets easier each time.
The tricky part of delayed gratification is finding signs along the way that you’re headed down the right path. My mentor, acting teacher Stuart Robinson, likes to say that an acting career can be like being invited to an amazing wedding, only you’re given vague directions to get to it. You know have to exit off the highway at Third Street to find the church, but you don’t know whether you need to go east or west. You choose east, and start driving and driving and don’t see a church until you finally make a u-turn and try the other direction. Meanwhile, you were only a half-mile before the destination, only you didn’t know it.
When you do get a sign, it’s really nice. There are the obvious ones, like booking a role, but others can be almost as special. Last week, I attended what’s called a “talent blast,” in which I performed a scene for eight casting directors all at once. The casting directors took notes, which were later emailed to me. Here are the comments I received:
“Great timing really enjoyed it… really funny, good timing… enjoyed your environment well… great straight man… really listened and reacted.. good pacing, great job very well done...”
It’s nice to find out the career you’ve chosen is not only something you love but something that’s right. You’ll find out the same. God will give you signs. He’ll also occasionally toss a water balloon at you, but you’ll hang in there because there’s nothing else worth doing, and nothing nearly as fun.
Bottom line: I like to think of all my little failures as part of a larger victory. Come out here and win.
