Trying to remain a happy-go-lucky and cheerful resting actor has had its ups and downs (as I've documented pretty much on a weekly basis since beginning my Grads' Club blogging.) This week, despite seeing a couple of magnificent and uplifting shows and kick-starting my job hunt for 09 with a course enabling me to be seen by some important casting directors, I feel more frustrated than ever.
Actors tend to throw the word 'unpredictable' around as a very fitting
description of the uncertainty of their career paths. I fear I am
becoming living, extreme proof that 'unpredictable' can also very much
apply to an actors emotions during the tough times. In fact, only last
week was I blogging away blissfully, humming a merry tune as I thought
ahead to a hopeful professional utopia. This week I've felt so
frustrated that I couldn't even concentrate on eating a delicious meal
in a restaurant because my seat happened to be facing a window view of
a stage door in the opposite street. This is when alarm bells really
rang. If I can't eat I'm either very sick or spiraling into insanity...
I hope the latter is a grave exaggeration.
This week a work colleague of mine made an innocent and quite funny (on reflection) sarcastic comment about the state of my career in a quick fire round of teasing banter. Usually I would hurl back some great witticism which would highlight their similar failings as we both passed each other on the way to serve yet another table yet another plate of noodles. Instead I felt my blood boil followed by a flash of panic because I couldn't believe how angry and defensive I'd felt. Maybe its time for a vacation...
The Stage revealed reports last week that less than 50% of adults in England participate in the arts. I couldn't help but amuse myself with the thought of imagining the majority of these people to already work in or trying to break into the industry. For all those on the outskirts like myself, let us continue to remain positive and for anyone experiencing the extremes like myself, let us stay calm!
This week a work colleague of mine made an innocent and quite funny (on reflection) sarcastic comment about the state of my career in a quick fire round of teasing banter. Usually I would hurl back some great witticism which would highlight their similar failings as we both passed each other on the way to serve yet another table yet another plate of noodles. Instead I felt my blood boil followed by a flash of panic because I couldn't believe how angry and defensive I'd felt. Maybe its time for a vacation...
The Stage revealed reports last week that less than 50% of adults in England participate in the arts. I couldn't help but amuse myself with the thought of imagining the majority of these people to already work in or trying to break into the industry. For all those on the outskirts like myself, let us continue to remain positive and for anyone experiencing the extremes like myself, let us stay calm!
I think it's quite interesting to ponder on what exactly people mean by 'participation in the arts' - especially in these internet enlightened times. I suspect a lot of people are participating in some form of artistic expression but it's not necessarily what a professional body would recognise - such as YouTube sketches and cartooning/self publishing comics (or even graffitti) and photostories online. And how many people would forget they sang in the chorus at the local festival or don't consider playing with children and making up songs and plays together 'art, or would forget they helped make costumes for the school plays and painted the background scenery for the local Brownies production etc and wouldn't consider that 'participation in the arts'? Most people probably do think that participation in the arts is being in a proper theatre show, or having a professional gallery exhibition.