The most difficult thing about taking the plunge to be an actor full time is not what most people imagine it to be. The common assumptions are financial instability, cutthroat competition, and/or inability to carry on a regular life (being able to get married and start a family and such). And yes, while these can be very daunting issues that plague the minds of most freelance artists, there seems to be a common denominator. I’d have to say that in my case, along with many other friends in the field, I’ve found that being able to stay driven and motivated enough to feel as though you are making progress and developing yourself as an actor is one of the most difficult obstacles yet.
In general I’d like to think that I’m a very positive person or try to be, at least as often as possible. And while I’ve struggled with many challenges, as I’m sure most people in life, I have to say I never foresaw any of the difficulties that I’ve dealt with thus far as a freelance actor.
One of the realizations I’ve had was that self regiment is key to developing my business ‘self’ and my craft. That’s right, I’m a business and so are you. Many actors don’t look at themselves as anything but ‘artists,’ and while we are in the art world it is imperative to also approach our craft with a business mindset: we are selling our talents, our looks and our time. We are indeed enterprises and therefore must treat ourselves as businesses. This includes realizing that your strength is in your passion and may not lay in digital graphics, web design, marketing or demo reel editing. Investing and trusting in others who specialize in these skill sets, insures that you will get the best quality product for your business…that is YOU!
The second most imperative lesson I’ve learned is that one must rely purely on themselves to motivate and constantly cultivate their own drive. This is much harder than it sounds.
Day in and day out – if you’re lucky enough to have time on your hands- I’ve found that when you’re on the couch it’s so hard to do any time management with the television on along with the flexibility of time. So, how do you motivate yourself to be productive and actually feel as though you are moving forward you ask? The secret is a little day-by-day. Doing at least three things that are relative to the craft has helped me feel the progression of achievement. Its very difficult to explain to those who are not in the industry, such as friends and family, when asked “what have you been in that I might have seen?” that not all independent films have been picked up for distribution or the fact that you audition way more than you actually film. Also, the fact that training is time consuming as is the general self-education and self-marketing. Having to explain this can also effect one’s moral. Therefore, doing as many things such as – reading articles, refining your audition techniques or reviewing yourself on tape- as many times a day as possible, every single day. This will help you stay motivated on a daily basis and help you feel as though you are making progress and moving forward. So the next time your aunt asks you what you do all day at home, you can tell her how your reel is getting edited, you’re reading up on ‘The Power of the Actor’ as well as tuning your audition techniques!
How do you overcome the daily obstacles? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!