In the early days of my career in NYC, I was constantly trying to fill idle time. I was green - no agent, no manager.castings were far and few between. I wasn't really a model type so the thought of being a glorious food waiter was out of the question. Doing extra work one day on a commercial I met someone who turned me on to a whole new idea. His premise? All successful people, no matter what their career choice, need to work a minimum of 40 hours a week to succeed. Was I working 40 hours at acting? Well, even if I added everything together I was coming up really short. It got me thinking.
I started keeping track of my hours first, then my days. What was I doing hour wise to further my career. As I started to examine my week, time became more precious. Was I wasting time here, using it wisely there? I started by making a list of all the things I did daily that would help my career - reading the trade papers, going to the gym, acting classes, dance, and yoga. All these things add up, but I still was not coming to 40 hours. Maybe you have a part-time or full-time job. If in fact you are waiting tables, the truth is, that isn't helping your acting career.even if they reshoot "Alice."
Just add up what is helping. Yes, television watching and going to the movies count. That's research. How about volunteering for a theater company? Try production assistant work for commercial houses. Working for an outreach program would also be a good idea; maybe volunteer for Broadway Cares (an organization that raises funds for AIDS services like Equity Fights AIDS), or GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis). All these organizations are filled with people in the entertainment industry who, in many ways, are there just like you, filling time and donating their services for a good cause. The networking possibilities are endless.
Once I got my week down pat, I started to organize. I found some days were better than others. I needed to check the trades on these days, go to the gym on others. Soon everything started making sense. The organization actually gave me more free time. Most of us grew up with parents that worked a forty-hour week but they still had time to pursue hobbies, sports, and even relax. Organizing your time and keeping busy is the best advice I can give. You may discover talents and interests you never expected you had. Who knows where that could lead?
Good luck!
Barry Godin, President, R&L Model Management spent over 30 years in the entertainment world, acting as a casting director and talent manager to a designer and decorator. As a talent scout, Godin placed young actors and models with top firms in New York and Los Angeles, as well as on the cover of major fitness magazines. He was named as one of the 87 people to watch in 1987 by "Atlantic City Magazine," and produced major theme parties for Atlantic City's top casino.
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