When I ask actors in my classes, “What would you like to accomplish in the next twelve months of your acting career?” or “What’s a role you’d love to book?” The answer I receive is often, “I’ll take any role! It doesn’t matter. I just want to be on set (on stage).” In my mind, I hear the orphan Oliver Twist on the food line with his plate outstretched, “Please sir, may I have some more?”
I get where this answer is coming from – a desire to be flexible, adaptable, to finally work as a paid actor! But I also hear the scarcity and doubt behind the words. “Is this actually possible? Maybe I shouldn’t expect much. Maybe I don’t deserve it.”
It is a scary thing to claim what we really want…to say in front of other actors, or our friends or family members, “I’d love to have a recurring role on a political show like The Diplomat.” “I’d love to be in a horror film that shoots in Europe.” “It would be a dream come true to be in a comedy series written by Issa Rae.” What if they laugh or look at us funny? What if it doesn’t happen and we look like a fool? What if everyone thinks we’re delusional and secretly pities us?
Our desire to belong is one of our most primal needs, so all of these fears make complete sense. The problem is, fear can keep us from clarifying for ourselves and others what we really want. And a fuzzy target is easy to miss. If I don’t really know what I’m aiming for, it’s easy to get off track, to lose motivation and momentum and to let doubt creep in.
When we get clear on what shows, actors, writers, directors, etc. make our heart beat a little faster, whose work excites us to the point where we want to go down a rabbit hole and watch interviews and read articles about the making of the movie or the actor’s journey – we can begin to follow the bread crumbs that are leading to our North Star. Our curiosity and enthusiasm point us to people who want to make the same kind of work we do, who get excited to tell the same kind of stories we do. Now we know what research to do, and who to target, and what to do with our free time to get us closer to the world of our dreams. The reticular activation system (RAS) in our brain begins to point out people and things that match, begins to feed us ideas and inspiration.
This is jet fuel for our journey as an actor. It keeps us engaged. The target is energizing and motivating, rather than nebulous and depleting. We can more easily envision ourselves on this set, in this scene, in this costume, talking with this person. The identity of Professional Actor begins to solidify as we take action in service of what we love.
I believe if a desire has been put in our heart – to act, to create, to make things – it’s because it will make us and the world better in the doing of it. Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. When we own our power, identify our joy, proceed with love, and go full force toward our dreams, the whole world benefits.
What’s better than a world fueled by joy, connection, and love? That’s the world I want to inhabit and create…one story, one character, one stage, one set at a time.
Let’s get busy!
– Tricia
Upcoming classes with Tricia include Acting: Creating a Thriving Career II starting 4/26, and Acting: Creating a Thriving Career I starting 4/27.
Check out TBG’s full schedule of classes, including youth options!