Author: Natasha Younge

Have you ever had days that start off fast, and end up completely off the rails? That’s where I’m at today. I predicted this day would arrive. Everything is due today – and I mean everything. Could it have been avoided? A client is prepping for an event tomorrow, and promo materials must be designed, copied, and organized. A weekly vlog series that I produce must be edited, because the video goes live tomorrow morning. And the blog article I’ve been hemming and hawing about for a month ( this one ) is due – right this minute. But I…

 When we start down the path of the artist, we never know whom we may encounter. I have been fortunate enough to meet people who have become my friends, playmates, teachers, confidants, and even heroes. With this month honoring the 35th Anniversary of the Women’s History Movement, I thought it appropriate to use this year’s theme, “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives”, to highlight one of those special people. An actress, filmmaker, comedian, screenwriter, director, social activist for women’s rights, this woman is also the epitome of the theme for International Women’s Day: “Make it happen.” Her determination for full…

Let’s face it, practicing proper email etiquette can be been a steep, and rocky, learning-curve. Some people were born knowing how to do this – others of us, not so much. There are times when we need to make a personal appeal to our closest contacts. Whether we want to share about a crowdfunding campaign, our latest performance, an upcoming film screening, or even ask friends to purchase a product we have created, it can be daunting to know exactly how to reach out to them. Just trying to send out a “quick” message? Slow your roll! Your perceived time-constraints…

I recently watched the documentary series, MAKERS, which focuses on the achievements of women from varied backgrounds and professions.  After watching the Women in Hollywood episode, however, this nagging feeling of dissatisfaction began.  It gnawed away in the background until I began preparing to write this article. Why did I feel so dissatisfied after watching this documentary?  It was certainly not with the presentation itself.  It was through the realization that women’s roles as capable leaders, and contributors, in Hollywood, seem to have been purposely undermined and subverted, since it’s inception.  The episode might have been better called, Women Obscured…

Part of the job of working as an entertainment professional in Hollywood is being able to walk the Red Carpet.  I don’t know about you, but I have been avoiding this aspect of my career, mainly out of fear. Okay, terror. “Red Carpet” sounds so rarefied and mysterious – only for A-List movie stars.  And it seems like most of the entertainers that we see flashing across- our television screens, and the pages of glossy magazines, were born with two feet firmly planted on that carpet, bedecked with jewelry, teeth shined to blinding brilliance. But, as the demand for new…

Inertia seems a much-loved topic among creative people.  Usually, you will find much advice about how to conquer it.  In fact, I found a super article in Forbes that clearly outlines two ways to defeat this foe, either by facing it head on, or taking a break.  And I found  another article that outlined seven inertia-busting strategies, including shocking yourself into action.  After all, on the other side of our inaction are all the goals and dreams for which we yearn. What about the times when nothing at all seems to budge?  This is where I’ve personally been struggling for…

Three simple words that really sum up my life in general, but shook me to my core about three years ago.  There was so much “feedback” in my life that I was on the wrong track, but I didn’t know how to change course. Let me paint a picture of the whole beautiful mess.  I was in the fight of my life at the crossroads, convinced that being an actor was my “calling.”  I obsessed about it around the clock, and couldn’t imagine my life doing anything else.  I cried Chekhov and Stanislavsky into my pillow every night, railing, choking,…

At the half-way point for the year, I felt like it was important to take stock – and then take a break. The year has been racing by, filled with what seems like endless tasks and deadlines. But in March, I experienced the passing of a dear friend and colleague – and it threw my world into a tail-spin. The experience of this loss thrust me into a space where these three words seem to be reverberating: No more bullshit. Cover your eyes if this is getting to be too much. I can relate. I lived in my own personal…

Want to know five things you can do to ensure promotion success on Twitter?  Whether you have a personal account, or an account related to an entertainment project, using this will make sure you have an audience ready to hear and, most importantly, share your message. Last time, we talked about how to avoid being a “social dumper.”  Now let’s get to the last tip in this series.  It’s so simple that it sometimes gets forgotten altogether. #5.  Be consistent. This might sound similar to tip #4, but there is a subtle difference. While automation is a great tool to…

Want to know five things you can do to ensure promotion success on Twitter?  Whether you have a personal account, or an account related to an entertainment project, using this “ will make sure you have an audience ready to hear and, most importantly, share your message.  Last time, we talked about how to keep your audience interested enough to keep coming back – even while you are promoting hard-core.  Now let’s get to this month’s tip.  How do you avoid going into what I call “carnival barker” mode during your big promotion? #4.  Do the robot. Not the dance,…

Want to know five things you can do to ensure promotion success on Twitter?  Whether you have a personal account, or an account related to an entertainment project, using this “Twitter Cheat-Sheet Series” will make sure you have an audience ready to hear and, most importantly, share your message. Last time, we talked about how to get people to follow you, especially when you have an account that is about a concept, like a film.  Basically, it comes down to actively engaging with your audience by starting a real conversation.  This draws more followers organically over time – so it…

Want to know five things you can do to ensure promotion success on Twitter?  Whether you have a personal account, or an account related to an entertainment project, using this “Twitter Cheat-Sheet Series” will make sure you have an audience ready to hear and, most importantly, share your message.  Last time, we talked about how to build your account organically, and why this is so important.  Now let’s get to this month’s tip. #2.  Actively engage on Twitter daily at least 3 months from a major promotion. Jumping onto Twitter only once you’ve got something to say is usually the…

Want to know five things you can do to ensure promotion success on Twitter?  Whether you have a personal account, or an account related to an entertainment project, using this “Twitter Cheat-Sheet Series” will make sure you have an audience ready to hear and, most importantly, share your message. #1. Build your account organically. You ever heard the phrase, money can’t buy me love?  Well, that genius phrase applies to your social media as well. Whenever the term “organic” is being used in relation to social media, it just refers to the way that new people and businesses have connected…

“By The Numbers” is an assortment of witty articles about the acting profession I’ve collected that have numbers in their title. This time, I’ve got three thought-provoking pieces around the topic of the audition.  Everyone who has ever auditioned (either side of the table) just had a reaction to that word.  I’m sure of it, because I always do.  Whether your feelings are positive, negative, or neutral, the audition is a hugely important part of our work, if not the most important part.  This assortment considers a range of genres, from Broadway, to television, to commercials, to feature film.  Read…