THE DREAMUNLOCKED
  • Home

​​BadAss Actor Blog

Subscribe

How do you deal with walking into an audition room and seeing all the actors who always book the job sitting there?  What to do when you start comparing yourself to others?

2/23/2016

0 Comments

 
Did you ever think to yourself?

Where I am right now really sucks, but I have no idea how to move from point A to point B?

I've been there and I'm there right now in my personal life struggling with issues that have been kicking my butt since the beginning of time.

I talk beaucoup s**t about self-development only because it's a process I am constantly struggling with myself.  

Hence, I love teaching folks stuff I've struggled with ...

and am still struggling with. 

An award-winning actress who I personally admire and who is a fierce transformative force of nature on stage recently asked me, 

**"How do you handle auditions when you arrive and really great actors are sitting in the waiting room and immediately, your confidence shatters, falls to pieces and you begin comparing yourself to them?"**

I laughed and said...yeah...don't i know it...

I spent 4 weeks trying on super expensive Donna Karan dresses (cuz her dresses are the only thing that looks like wonder woman clothes on me with my new generous curves ...lol)...

My personal pilot season strategy is to find the killer outfit, killer hair and banging audition technique.  I mean high end killer outfit....find my size and then try and find it cheaper on consignment, ebay, amazon, etc.  So I went and tried on $3000 peices of clothing and found the right audition pilot season outfits.   

It took a lot of time like 4 months, well, mostly because I don't have a $3000 budget, more like a $100 budget...ha!.  It was sorta amazing going into stores and trying on clothes that are far beyond what I could afford.  The quality of a Donna Karan dress ( I mean runway, baby, like the Urban Zen Collection) is extraordinary.  

There's something really powerful about trying on something that represents where you want to be, not where you are. 
----------

See, because you can't move from where you are right now
========== 
unless you can imagine very clearly where you want to be...
==========

So, I spent many sleepless nights looking for my Donna Karan dress  It paid off...I found the same $2700 dress I tried on for: 

_(drumroll)_

$139.00

And you know I wore the bejesus out of that dress....booked a job in it too!

Do you want to know why?

Because my family and I paid (and still paying) for a $2million education (that would currently cost closer to $5million) for prep school, college and grad school.  All of this was done while living in the hood and working multiple jobs.  (We're Caribbean, we each had 15 jobs, fa'real)

I worked in the regions non-stop for 6 years and made less than $400 a week for a very, very long time.  I worked on off broadway for $200/week for another 6 years.  I paid my dues and learned how to own a stage.  I'm done starving. I've earned the right to make a living as an artist doing the kind of work worthy of my journey...I deserve to be making the kind of money that will pay for that education and then some...(I got to buy my Mama a house, dammit)  

Please repeat that last sentence outloud: 

_I have paid my dues and learned how to own a stage.  _

_I'm done starving. _

_I've earned the right to make a living as an artist doing the kind of work worthy of my journey..._

_I deserve to be making the kind of money that will pay for that education and then some...(I got to buy my Mama a house, dammit)_ 

And keep saying it until you believe it. 



Set goals whose success is measured by what you dream of becoming and doing and not what other people think you should get.
========== 

I wasn't born talented, I was born with a fierce set of dreams and a kick ass work ethic.  My goal was to become one of the greatest actors of my generation.  I did not set out to have a goal of 

'I want to make a ton of money and be famous.'  

**Because being a great actor has absolutely nothing to do with fame or money**.  

The entertainment business does not reward brillant tallent as a rule, it rewards popularity and folks imitating what's already been done.    But most importantly, the business rewards folks with a serious business strategy.  

And that's what I had: a business strategy.  I was going to pay my dues, learn to act/write and produce so that when the time was right and I had all my ducks in a row: my actors arsenal, my agent/manager team, my entertainment lawyer, my brand, I would be fully ready to step into my greatness.  I'm not quite there yet.   But I'm am hustling my ass to get there...and you can bet your bottom dollar on that.

_The most important step is to acknowledge that you are ready to start moving in that direction._

**I was preparing for where I wanted to be: self-employed, self-producing, telling stories I believe in and that truly represent me, running my own business, setting my own hours and traveling the world.** 
========== 

I did readings and workshops for free for a decade for plays that never saw the light of day or they cast someone else in the role I developed.  I love it when folks cast someone in the role you developed and then tell you after the fact, how talented you are and how unhappy they were with who they cast. And how they should have cast you in the first place.  (Seriously lame).  

But you know what?

I remind myself every time I put on that $3000 dress, walk into ABC, NBC or FOX how much money, time, energy and love I've put into this career.  That I'm not there doing a role that people aren't sure they want me for, paying me peanuts, but rather I'm doing work that I chose and that chose me and shows me what I'm worth by paying me handsomely for my talents. 

Work that is worthy of me.  

And I cannot emphasize this enough.  

**Actors constantly take barely-paid bullshit, poorly written, stereotypical work just for the sake of working and it drives me bananas.  

Unless this role is going to get you a New York Times review and opens doors to other work, then you're not doing yourself any favors.  Unless the work is paying you primetime money, it's not worth it.  In fact, you are blocking the path to your greatness.  So stop doing that right now, dammit!** 

I mean it...

Write down where you want to be every day...and then get rid of all the fear-driven stuff you're doing that's eating up your time, soul, money and energy.

If you stop working on bullshit work for free, then people will get the hint and only call you when they got something for real to offer you.  But if you don't create that space, it will never happen.  

You create the space for your greatness to be born, by accepting nothing less than what you deserve.  Because what you allow will continue.
----------

Every time my manager calls that casting office after and gotten amazing feedback on my work;  

Every time those producers see my tape and say, "One day, we're going to have a role big enough for her."   

Every time I leave that office having left blood on the floor,  

I know I did that for me.  

For me.  

My goal was to become one of the greatest actors of my generation.  That's what I'm working on.  

Every single audition I go in for gets me closer to that goal.  

Every small part that gets my tape in front of directors, producers and showrunners is a win.  Because you cannot get the job if people don't get to see your work.  And getting on camera auditions gets your work in front of 1000's of casting directors, producers, writers, showrunners and directors.  Because when they're casting a pilot, all those folks review the audition tapes because casting for a pilot is a team decision.  So, make no mistake, auditioning is working as an actor.  On camera auditions in particular because so many big decisions are made based on those tapes.

Every time I walk into those auditions and producer callbacks, they know my name and ask about my play or whatever I'm working on, I know I'm doing the work that is getting me closer to my goal.  

And working on small, no money roles is not getting me closer to anything I'm interested in having.  That's why when I put on my $3000 Donna Karan dress, I know I'm preparing for where I want to be, not where I am. 

I'm wearing a piece of art made by a great artist.  It's silk jersey, draped within an inch of my life, cut on the bias like a vintage dress hugging curves I didn't know I had.  It makes me feel powerful, accomplished...because a great artist made the dress.  And Donna is just that...watch the gorgeous lines of her dresses and how they mirror the shape of great works of art and follow the line of luscious feminine curves.  Each of her dresses is a testament to the beauty of womanhood.  

I'm dressing and auditioning for where I want to be, not where I am.  Not where the industry says I should be.  Not for the silly maids, nurses, silent sidekicks, crackheads and whatnot.  I have done those roles.  It's time for something worthy of me.  I walk in the door with a package that says, 

I'm bigger than that.  Bring it.

And if I don't make room for that.  It will never happen. 

Self-Love/Self-Esteem are not affirmations.  They are concrete 
actions you take in your own behalf to change the course of your life.
----------
If I don't have a rock solid business strategy that includes every aspect of my actors arsenal looking like a million dollar brand, then how the hell do I expect my agent/manager team to fight to get me in the door?

If I don't do everything within my power to be great.  It won't happen.  

Because the industry is not asking that of me.  I am asking that of myself.  

When I act in my own behalf by setting my goals, defining what success is for me, I am taking my power.  That's self-love, esteem building in action.  
----------

Every time you do something that gets you closer to your dreams, you are growing fiercer and falling in love with yourself.
----------

Everytime you set a boundary and accept only what you feel is worthy of you, you are walking in your truth, in your power, in honor of your god-given gifts.
----------

And that's how you walk into an audition, see the fierce competition and not get scared.
----------  

Your success is what you deem as successful.   Your choices are the choices that are special and unique to your artistic soul.  They are your song.
---------- 

And each unicorn has a different, beautiful, glorious song the earth has been waiting to hear.


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    ILove the blog? Consider donating so we can continue to provide great creative content.
    DONATE

    April Yvette Thompson
    is a Tony-winning
    producer,
    writer
    &  actor
    ​working
    across media.  


    FOUNDER/CEO of TheDreamUnLocked: Boutique Coaching for Actors, Writers & Dreamers⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    W/25 years of teaching, acting, writing & advocating for people's dreams, April has the uncanny ability to help her clients find their personal transformation magic. ⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    April is a midwife of genius: helping u give birth to ur dreams & crossing the finish line to ur goals. ⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    The DreamingOutLoud Technique from April's Ted Talk: ReWrite Your Story, is the basis of her teaching method⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    . • Writing is the way to focus ourselves in the present, on what's working & figuring out new ways to get around old problems⁣⁣

    ​ ⁣⁣ •Writing is a way to align the life ur living w/the life uv always dreamed about⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    • Writing is also how u let go of the BS beliefs u have about what ur capable of.⁣⁣ The DreamingOutLoud Technique allows ⁣⁣u to grieve the losses, forgive urself for past mistakes & weave a new story of how ud like to spend the rest of ur life thriving instead of just surviving.⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    HOW I HELP YOU MOVE FROM FEAR TO F🌀CK THIS⁣⁣
    The DreamingOutLoud Technique uses writing exercises, a rigorous questioning process & dismantling of all the limiting beliefs u hold that no longer serve u⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    Like Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction & transformation, I help u root out the dead weight so that u can focus on flying. ⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    I teach u
    How to get⁣⁣
    past FEAR ⁣⁣
    to F🌀CK THIS ⁣⁣
    F🌀CK THIS is that place where even though you're broke & nothing is working & you're afraid of complete failure, you finally decide:⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    I'm doing this sh🦋t by any means necessary because JOY is my BIRTHRITE.⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    TheDreamingOutLoud Technique is what happens next after F🌀CK THIS
    ⁣⁣⁣⁣
    From escaping the Pork N' Beans projects to Vassar, Broadway/Film/TV & doing the fabulous black expat writer thing in Morocco; I've figured out how to ⁣⁣WEAVE a RICH life ⁣⁣
    by RE-IMAGINING ⁣⁣POOR beginnings
    ⁣⁣
    I’ve created a process where u can learn how to change the very fabric of your life. This magic is available to everyone⁣⁣
    It's called ReWriteYourStory, the fuel that drives the DreamingOutLoud Technique

    TheDreamUnLocked.com
    AprilYvetteThompson.com



    Categories

    All
    12 Step MFA
    26 Things
    9 Times Fast
    Acting For The Camera
    Actor
    Actor Blues
    Actor Bullshit
    Actor Entreprenuer
    Actor Inspiration
    Actor Nudity
    Actor Prep
    Actor Problems
    Actors Arsenal
    Actorsarsenal
    Actor-tip
    Actor Training Programs
    Actor-vs-star
    Agent
    Aisha-hinds
    Alfre Woodard
    April In April
    April Yvette Thompson
    Artistentrepreneur
    Artist Housing
    Artist Shit
    Artists Survival Job
    ASK April
    Asking Permission
    Auditioning
    Audition Jitters
    Badass Actor
    BadAssActor
    BadAssActor FB Group
    Badass Black Womn
    Bald Black Beauty
    Beyonce-badassery
    Beyonce-badassery
    BFA
    Biggest Question About OnCameraAuditions
    Black Actresses
    Black Girl Magic
    Black History Month Special Edition Of The BadAssActors Arsenal Newsletter
    Black-ish
    Black Love On Primetime
    Blackness
    Black Panther
    Black-panther
    Black Women Telling Their Stories
    BOOK IT
    Branding
    Branding And Marketing
    Brene-brown
    Building An Acting Career
    BULL
    Burning Bridges
    Burning-questions-about-acting
    Burningquestionsaboutacting
    Business Of Acting
    Calling Your Own Shots
    Call To Performing Artists
    Case-study
    Center Of Your Emotional Range
    Character
    Character Actor
    Character Actor Vs Leading Actor
    Cherise Boothe
    Clients
    Client Success Stories
    Compassion
    Courage Over Fear
    COVID Wakeup Call
    Danai Gurira
    Dark Brown Girl Problems
    Dark Skin Representations
    Diversity
    Don-cheadle
    Don-cheadle-on-acting
    Dora Milaje
    Dreambuilder
    DreamingMoroccoRetreat
    Dreamingoutloud
    DreamingOutloud Emotional Type
    DreamingOutLoud For Writers
    DreamingOutLoud MiniCourse
    DreamingOutLoud Technique
    Ellen-pompeo
    Emotional Branding
    Emotional Chords
    Emotional Type
    Emotional Type Vs Physical Type
    Empathy
    Epa
    Failure
    Fall-in-love-with-acting
    Fck-it-moment
    Fck-that
    Fear
    Film
    Film-tv
    Financial Security
    Fit-for-a-queen
    Focus
    FOMA
    Fuck-availability-checks
    Fundraising
    Game Of Thrones
    Game Of Throness
    Gene-wilder-on-acting
    Getanagentmanager
    Getting An Agent
    Getting Out Of Your Own Way
    Getting Out Of Your Way
    Getting-out-of-your-way
    Getting Paid What You're Worth
    Get Unstuck
    Gift Certificates
    Goal Setting
    Greatest-actor-of-our-generation
    Greys-anatomy
    Growth
    Growtth
    Happiness
    Harriet Tubman
    Healing
    How To Be A Working TV Actor
    How To Get An Agent
    How To Move From FEAR To F
    How To Move Into TV/Film
    How To Write A Solo Show
    How To Write Your Story
    Idris-elba
    Inspiration
    Intention
    Intention Vs Goal Setting
    It-girl-summit
    Kerry Washington
    Let Go Or Be Dragged
    Life Changers
    Life Coaching
    Life Lessons
    Lord Of The Rings
    Love-art
    Lupita Nyong’o
    Make Your Own Work
    Making Your Own Work
    Maria Bello
    Marketing
    Marketing Strategy
    Mary Boughey
    Masters Of The Craft
    Memoir
    Memorization
    Mentor
    Meryl-streep
    MFA
    Mfae
    Michael B Jordan
    Michael Harriot
    Mini MasterClass
    Modesto-lacen
    Monetize
    Motherfucking-actor
    Musician
    Natural Hair
    Never-ever-give-up
    Newsletter
    Not-show-talent
    Nudity
    Oncamera
    On Camera Acting
    On Camera Auditioning
    Oncamera Audition Technique
    One Man Show
    One Woman Show
    Online Business
    Openhandsopenheart
    Paul Robeson
    Period Work
    Pilot Season
    Pilot Season Prep
    Pilot Season Strategy
    Pissing-people-off
    Play
    Playwright
    Playwrights
    Political Theatre
    Private Coaching
    Process
    Procrastination
    Producer
    Production Company
    Psychological Gesture
    Purposeful Life
    Raise-money-for-your-acting-career
    Recurring Emotional Chords
    Reg-cathey
    Rejection
    Release The Struggle
    Resilience
    Retreats
    ReWrite Your Story
    SAG-AFTRA
    SciFi Fantasy
    Screenplay
    Screenwriter
    Screenwriters
    Self Love
    Self Producing
    Selfproducing
    Self-producingartist
    Selfproducingartist
    Self Submission
    Self-Submitting
    Self-submitting
    Self-Tape
    Self Worth
    Self-worth
    Selfworth
    Setting Goals
    Show-business
    Simonsays-entertainment
    Singer
    Solo Artist
    Solo Performer
    Solo Play
    Solo Show
    Soulfood
    Soul Song
    Start A Coaching Business
    Start An Online Business
    Starving Artist BS
    Stay The Course
    Storytellers
    Storytelling
    Storytelling Circle
    Style Work
    Success
    Sugar Hill Film
    Support Films With Roles In It For You
    TellYourStory
    Theatre
    The Business Of Acting
    The Questions
    Therapy
    Theresa Randle
    The Walking Dead
    TheWritersRoom
    TimeSavingHacks
    Tv
    TV Writer
    Ultimate 30min Aud Prep
    Victimhood
    Viola Davis
    Voice-speech
    Vulnerability
    Wesley Snipes
    What's Your Fuck THIS Moment?
    White Actors Suing POC Projects
    WHY BRITISH ACTORS ARE TAKING YOUR JOBS
    Working Actor
    Working For Free
    Writer

    RSS Feed

  • Home