%50 Perfect!

My acting coach use to always say, "You are %50 perfect every time if you can just simply talk and listen."  Well, guess what?  Majority of people are not listening to you when you speak with them.  Majority of people are else where in their mind, or thinking about what they would like to say when you are finished yammering on.  Here is a read about Mindful Listening..

MINDFUL LISTENING

A great time to practice mindfulness is when listening to others.  By remaining completely present to what they are saying and avoiding the tendency to be distracted by our anticipated responses or judgements we can notice subtle cues we would normally miss.  Paying full attention to the person you’re talking with allows the best quality of communication to happen and also avoids what’s known as ‘communication anxiety’. The practice requires ‘on the go’ introspection to ascertain whether you have become distracted or preoccupied with thoughts and judgements.Similar to formal mindfulness training, simply bring your attention back to mindfully listening as soon as you discover you’ve been distracted, without any further internal dialogue about your distraction.As Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh suggests, “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like FLOWERS.

“When your attention moves into the Now, there is an alertness.It is as if you were waking up from a dream, the dream of thought, the dream of PAST and future.
Such clarity, such simplicity. No ROOM for problem-making. Just this moment as it is.”
~ Eckhart Tolle

SCAMS.. A LOT IN THIS BUSINESS..

AGENCIES, PHOTOGRAPHERS, COACHES,  and any other way of making money in this industry can open you up to a possible scam.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

AGENCY-
They should never require you to have to purchase classes from them or the person they recommend.  You should not have to use only their photographers for headshots.  The agency can recommend and/or give you lists of people they recommend, but never force you to use anyone specific.  They can require that you stay in classes; but you should do your own homework, and find the right class for you.  Any acting class you sign up for, should allow you to come audit or observe the class and meet the coach before you pay for anything.  Also, check the market price for acting coaches and/or photographers and headshots.

If an agency doesn't ask you to audition or get to see your resume or reel, then they may be ... well, to put it nice ... FULL OF SHIT.

If an agency plays on hopes and dreams and tells you about your potential and then tries to make you purchase any classes from them, then they are ... FULL OF SHIT.

No agency should require you to buy or pay anything to them or from them.  The only time you are required to pay your agency is when you book a job that you booked from them.  They receive a percentage of your check after you receive the check.  Agents should only be taking 10% from a SAG actor.  Some agents may take 15% if you are not SAG (screen actors guild - actors union).

Please do your home work and keep an eye on your checks.  Some agents do what we call double dipping.  That is when they take their 10% and then figure out a way to tell you that the check that you received also has their 10% from the client (the company who booked you for the job).  They should receive that separately - it should not be included in YOUR check.

For acting coaches, agencies, and photographers, you should do your own homework..  Check IMDB.com, google search the name of the owners, the agency, the coach, the photographer.   Make sure they don't have any scam warnings.  Ask other actors, snopes.com is also a site that lists scams.

As usual, any questions feel free to post them.  Anyone you have been scammed by, feel free to leave a warning on this site...

*******VOTE********

Actors, if you've been a studying and or working actor for more than 4 years ongoing, please put a comment below..

QUESTION:  
 If you had a choice, would you wish that your passion in life turned out to be something other than acting?   And, would you follow your dream if it changed from acting in the future?

I will share my answer after a few others step up.



I would like to do this so that new and or green actors can see the thoughts of "veterans. Tell us about career and or following your passion?  Actors should always know clearly what drives their career? WHY are you doing this?

The reality of our Industry.

As you guys know I focus on TV and Film. That being said, the reality of our industry is that we move quick. Fast. The term we like to call it is "Hurry up and Wait." We are not shooting a play, so you can not take 20 minutes to prepare for a scene then 15 minutes after to get ready to reset and shoot that scene again. Our preparation as actors should be done at home before we even get to the set. Methods devised specifically for the stage that have you using a Sense or emotional memory that you have not dealt with yourself is not going to be sufficient. We need you to be able to control your emotions so that we can reset and shoot that same exact scene over again. A percent of an actors job is knowing your industry. The circumstances of the actor must eventually be left at the trailer. If you are using a emotional memory that you have no control of then you can not do that. Before you hear action you must be living in your characters circumstances.. The Craft has been devised to do away with itself..

One of Dean West's Reels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgikE76q4SU