Hi all,
Just wanted to share my recent experiences with you in the hope that it might motivate or encourage someone/anyone (even if it's one person) to go after what they really want. Life's no dress rehearsal after all!
So I'd been in a dead end job for 3 years. I mean really, really bad. Going nowhere, no motivation, no incentive, no nothing = Bad times.
Then I stumbled across this acting thing in 2010 and was hooked. I did it in my spare time, whenever/wherever I could fit it around my crappy job, family etc, trying to build up as much experience as I possibly could. I had no formal qualifications/education so experience was to be my way in.
I worked for nothing but the sheer enjoyment of it, as most of you no doubt do, with the eventual aim of making a full time career out of doing something that I really enjoy (who doesn't want that, right?) It was all about the CV... build the CV! And networking. Lot's and lots of networking. I'd say 70% of the work I've had has been from knowing a guy who knows a guy. (or a girl!)
Where was I?... Ah yeah. So I worked at it, anything and everything that came along, weekends, evenings, booking days off where I could. Not always under the best conditions, and a lot of the time, (particularly where students were concerned) never even getting to see the end product, although you do come to expect this and be wary. All part of the learning curve! Though saying that, the best filming experience I've had so far was with a bunch of students! ("The Mind's Wood" screening at the Leeds International Film Festival this year).
So I kept at it, eventually getting some paid work here and there. I got myself on Spotlight in the last few weeks through this.
While all this was going on, I was still stuck in my crumby job, but saving hard. Every penny that I could hold on to was being put away every month. My aim was to save enough, that I could jack in my job and... act.
This is something I have done in the last week... I quit my job.
Even though I hated it, even though I detested every moment I was there, it was still a very hard decision to let go of a secure job that brought in a guaranteed monthly income. I ummed and ahhed for weeks and eventually just thought... sod it. I've got one life, one chance to have a proper crack at it.
I had saved enough to live comfortably for say, 6 months or so, without any kind of work, acting or otherwise, taking into account my usual monthly outgoings, and just get stuck in! If in that time, I was getting nowhere with my "acting career" I could always start looking for work to keep me going.
Since handing my notice in on Friday, I have paid acting work booked in this Sunday, and two auditions for panto, both touring the UK.
Who knows, I may well fall flat on my face, and never get any work, but at least I'll have tried. I mean really tried.
Obviously everyone's circumstances are different, don't just go and quit your job... that'd be crazy! ;) I did my sums and planning first and know how far I can go on what I've got.
So the best advice I can give is... go for it!! One life. Enjoy it. Eat, sleep, act and be merry. Plan ahead! Whether it be in acting, as I presume it is for anyone reading this, or anything else in your life.
Peace,
Xander
