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If you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance you’ve said some version of: “I’ve always wanted to try acting… but I never knew where to start.” Maybe you’re 22. Maybe you’re 62. Maybe you’re coming out of a job you hated, or a career that’s winding down, or you just woke up one day and

So, you booked your first background role. First of all—congrats. You’re officially part of the business now. You’re getting paid to be on set. And while it might not be a speaking role (yet), don’t underestimate how much you can learn just by being there. This is just how I got started. Now let’s talk

Starting an acting career after 50 isn’t brave. It’s smart. You’ve lived, you’ve seen things, and you’re not here to play games. You’re here to explore something new—and maybe a little wild—that you didn’t get the chance to chase earlier. Now, acting is one of those professions that can look intimidating from the outside. But

Bear with me—this one relates to acting, I promise. Ever take on something new for your acting career… and immediately wonder what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into? Full disclosure: this post has less to do with cameras and more to do with saddles. So here’s the setup: I’m 64 years old. My agent tells

Spoiler alert: it’s not all red carpets and Oscar speeches. So you finally booked the gig. Your agent calls. You scream. Your neighbors worry. You spend 90% of your energy choosing what to post on Instagram and the remaining 10% trying to act casual when you tell your barista, “Yeah, I’m actually shooting something this

Welcome to Showbiz… Now Keep Your Eyes Open Acting is an incredible career—one filled with creativity, excitement, and, if we’re being honest, a fair share of shady people trying to take advantage of hopeful performers. The entertainment industry can be a dream, but it can also be a minefield of scams, toxic work environments, and

The Struggle is Real We’ve all been there – staring at a script, willing the words to magically stick in our brains. Maybe you have an audition tomorrow, and you’re desperately trying to cram your lines before bed. Or you’ve got a monologue that refuses to stay in your head, no matter how many times

Welcome to the latest craze sweeping the cinematic universe—the “No Rehearsal” movement! That’s right, the days of meticulous script readings, awkward table sessions, and endless take-after-take are over. In a bold departure from tradition, a new generation of screen actors is embracing the thrill of spontaneity by ditching rehearsals altogether. Why rehearse when you can

Ever laughed at the quirky best friend in a romantic comedy? Or cheered for the loyal sidekick in an epic fantasy? If you’ve ever thought, “That character is way more interesting than the lead!”—you’ve tapped into the fascinating world of supporting characters. These unsung heroes often steal the spotlight, leaving audiences with unforgettable quotes and

Improv isn’t just for the stage. It’s a vital tool that can enhance your on-screen performances and enrich your everyday life. Whether you’re an aspiring actor, an experienced performer, or someone interested in personal growth, improvisation can unlock creativity, boost confidence, and refine interpersonal skills. Let’s explore the transformative power of improv! Why Improv Matters

Self-tape auditions have revolutionized the casting process. They have converted living rooms into audition spaces making actors their own directors. Imagine this: an actor in their living room, a smartphone balanced on a pile of books, delivering a moving monologue while their cat chooses that very moment to make a theatrical jump across the screen.

“Rejection is just someone’s opinion. And who really cares about those in Hollywood?” quipped a famous comedian. It’s a sentiment that echoes through the bustling streets of Los Angeles, where dreams are made—and often broken. Imagine Tom Hanks, now an icon, being turned down for a role because he wasn’t “leading man material”. Little did

As an aspiring actor, you’re no stranger to the highs and lows of the industry. From the exhilarating thrill of auditions to the gut-wrenching fear of rejection, your emotional landscape is often a rollercoaster ride. However, amidst this whirlwind of experiences, there’s an often-overlooked adversary lurking within; your inner critic! Ever feel like your inner

Auditioning for a role can feel like standing on the edge of a cliff staring into the abyss. Especially for aspiring actors, this experience can be fraught with tension, anxiety, and the looming specter of failure. Yet, behind every colossal audition flop lies an opportunity for growth, personal development, and—most importantly—a whole lot of laughter.

Hey everyone! I’m BAAACK! Yeah, I know it has been nearly a year since I wrote and posted anything, and there is a reason for that (or really several reasons). The past year has been a whirlwind of activity…and problems. First, we sold our home in Virginia in May of 2024, and embarked on a

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! Integrity, a cornerstone of moral character, encompasses honesty, authenticity, and adherence to ethical principles. At its core, integrity reflects a commitment to truthfulness and moral uprightness, regardless of external pressures or temptations. This week, let’s talk about integrity. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! It’s no wonder the younger generations are unhappy. How do we “keep score” in life? Generally speaking, wealth seems to be what we point to, to think someone has “made it” or become successful. But money may be a bad way to “keep score”. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! Acting can be a tough job. Sometimes it just feels like nothing is happening. It can be discouraging at times, and many now well-known actors were at a point in their careers where they were ready to throw in the towel just before they got their big break. An

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! If you’re an actor, you know very well what rejection feels like. The question is, how do you handle rejection? A better question is: IS it really rejection? This week let’s talk about rejection and how to handle it. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! Moving sucks. There I said it! We are presently in a transition period, moving from Virginia to South Carolina. And while I look forward to our new home (someday) the transition period is pretty chaotic. And it definitely impacts an acting career! This week let’s talk about chaotic life

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! Leaning Forward. It’s one of those little business jargon sayings like Circling Back, floating it back to the top of your inbox, taking it offline, and others that have come into vogue. While I understand how they came about, most of them drive me a little crazy, but this

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! What is in a name? After last year’s strikes ended, we thought the industry would come roaring back. Well, think again!  The industry seems to be in some sort of contraction or correction this year. Looking through the few available roles can be discouraging, especially when many of them

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! As actors, we are told over and over that in order to be successful, we need to be reliable and easy to work with. If not, productions won’t want to call us back. What we never hear is that productions, and more correctly, producers also need to be reliable

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! Times have changed, auditioning has changed! When COVID sent workers home to work remotely, it pushed auditions from the casting director’s office to the actor’s home and added some complexities that didn’t exist previously. This week I’d like to talk a bit about the new audition landscape. REMEMBER: Just

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! Slumps. Don’t you hate them? I do, and I am in one now. No, this is not a post to whine about not working, or how hard it is to get cast, or…well…whine about anything. This week let’s talk about what things you can do while you’re in a

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! I’ve been reflecting lately on getting older and what that means for …well…life in general. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about major life changes, not just due to aging and things like retirement, but also changing locations, losing a job and having to find a new one; basically redefining ourselves

Welcome back! And thanks for reading! This week I’d like to talk a little bit about what I’ll call “overcoming inertia”. What do I mean by that? I mean, (to use a few cliché phrases) – getting the ball rolling, a rolling stone gathers no moss, you can’t get where you are going If you

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!   Here we are in the second week of my renewed writing, and finding topics is no easier than when I started my very long break. I will NOT let that deter me though! This week I’d like to talk about what a typical week looks like for me. Sort

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!   Again. Hopefully. This week I’ll just ramble on a bit about taking a break writing and what happened over the last 8 months. This one is going to be only marginally about all things acting. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  It’s said that you have to go through 1000 nos to get to a yes, or kiss 1000 frogs before you find your prince.  The idea of rejection has been with us for a long time.  This week let’s talk about rejection and how to deal with it. REMEMBER:

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  For the vast majority of actors, a “survival job” is a reality.  On top of that we have family obligations, and let’s face it we need to take a break from time to time too. Working a 40 hour a week job and staying connected to family & friends

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  I know I’ve written a bit about this in the recent past, but as the deadline for negotiations looms at midnight May 1, it bears talking about again.  What follows are my conclusions drawn from a myriad of news sources. They do NOT necessarily reflect the positions of the

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  I don’t know if it is just me, but MAN it sure seems pretty slow around here these days.  I mean, I’m still working, but not nearly as much as I’d like to, and future jobs are slim pickings.  This week let’s talk about what you should do to

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  Since I’ve been doing this work, I’ve developed several “Pet Peeves”, so this week I thought I’d share them with you.  Do any of these resonate with you?  If you have some others, I’d love to hear them! REMEMBER: Look!  It’s BACK! Just a reminder here that when I

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  This past weekend there were two film festivals going on in my local area, AND a film I acted in was screened in one of them, so I thought it might be fun to write about film festivals this week! Look, ma – no warning paragraph (again)! I know,

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  So those of you who pay attention will note that I did not post a blog last week.  Sorry.  Anyway, as I was beating myself up about that this week and wondering what I might write about, I thought it might be fun to talk a bit about how

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  On the heels of last week’s discussion of SAG-AFTRA, this week let’s talk a bit about the looming threat of a Writer’s Guild (WGA) strike. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage,

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  This week let’s talk about the union (SAG-AFTRA). REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah, I know I say this every week, but it falls under the heading of

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  Let’s have a bit of fun and think about what we might be able to do if we had a time machine. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah,

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  If you like reading this blog, here are a few more you might consider following as well! REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah, I know I say this

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  Let’s just have some fun this week.  Here are some useless facts and a bit of trivia that actors should enjoy. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  So, you’re an actor or want to become an actor?  Consider these Top Twelve Acting Skills an Actor Needs to Develop. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  So, you want to become an actor?  If you are not yet familiar with the film or VO industry, consider these Pros and Cons before jumping in. REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  There is a lot of mythology surrounding acting and most of us believe at least one of them.  This week let’s debunk some acting myths! REMEMBER: Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage,

Welcome back! And thanks for reading!  Wow, here we are on day one of 2023!  Yes, that’s right, posting my blog for the week on New Year’s Day…that’s dedication, right?  Well, kind of…I am writing it the Friday BEFORE the Holiday…hey, work smarter, not harder…ya know!?  Also, I did some research and have discovered that