Last night I overheard two women at the bar. They were talking about quitting their jobs and changing their priorities (see QUIT IT for a recap of my thoughts on that subject) and how much happier they were now. Unable to contain my enthusiasm on this issue I joined in, and the tone became unanimous: We’re so much happier now, and we can do anything! We’re so awesome! Hear us roar! While I hugged my new friends (like you do at 1am) I said the wisest thing I’ve ever said: “Go on out there and get your life, girl.” OMGIAMTHEWISEST!…
Author: Silvana Gargione
Silvana Gargione
Silvana Gargione is a New Jersey-born, Emerson College-educated, and Meisner-trained actor and comedic improviser. She is also a walking stereotype - a 1st generation Italian-American, she grew up working in her family's restaurant and convincing everyone that her family wasn't in the mafia (seriously though, they're not). In June 2012, she authored and published her first non-fiction children's book about the 1000 islands region of upstate New York, St Lawrence ABCs. Silvana has been involved in a variety of independent projects, as well as generously contributes her legit chops to the advancement of America's commerce (see: books commercials on the regular). She keeps a large vegetable garden year-round, and can pickle, saute, roast, or stew anything she grows. Her religion is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
I clearly remember the thrill that came with my first audition. I was scared stiff, but I was happy as a clam – I was DOING it! I clearly remember my first booking, too – I was doing it, and it was actually WORKING! YES! Unfortunately, I also remember the first time I went to an audition…and waited a long time…and started to feel ungrateful…and started to feel entitled…and then got in the room and totally blew it. Yep. We’ve all been there, yes? When I sign in at an audition, I insist on reminding myself that – yes! I’m…
I used to work in a fine dining restaurant with a great reputation. I filled a typical actor/server stereotype. The job allowed me last-minute audition flexibility, brought quick money, was something I was good at doing… I know this is familiar to many of you. I also used to spend a lot of time complaining about my job. I complained about my feet hurting, feeling overqualified, the commute, the people, the bureaucracy…the list got pretty long. I grew accustomed to feeling a mixture of under-appreciated, over-worked, not rested, and unfocused. I was pretty convinced I simply had to stay unhappy…
I was stopped in my tracks with a single question last month. A woman asked me, “When you aren’t working here, do you do acting on the side?” WELL, SHIT. Several instinctive choice responses raced through me. 1: Burst into tears. 2: Use my quick thinking skills to reply “No, actually I’m an actor that works here on the side”. 3: Declare her dead to me and forever ignore her. 4: List off my training and accomplishments to show how silly that question was. Wanna know which I did? I chose number 5: none of the above. I fumbled through…
There are many people, me included, that showed up in LA with a car full of belongings and a brain full of aspirations. While many friends vacillated on the idea of leaving the familiar comfort of home, I pulled the trigger and started my pursuit. I remember the first year of being in LA – whether I was grocery shopping or getting those first headshots taken, every single day felt like a series of near-humiliations and incredibly hard-earned personal successes. Not getting lost! Receiving my first audition notice! Having my name remembered by anyone at all! These were major, life-affirming…
Do us both a favor – don’t spaz out about the title. This is not a post where I talk about how I live in a world where appearances don’t matter (humans are judgmental by nature – for better or worse), or about how the entertainment industry should open their scope of beauty (thanks to the internet, our first impression is usually our photo), or how advertisers need to back off and let women just age already (botox and wrinkle creams wouldn’t sell so well if they didn’t work). All those things are true, but let’s be real: those are…