OH! THE PLACES YOU WILL GO AND THE MANY JOBS YOU WILL HAVE

A couple years ago when I was living in NYC, I volunteered at a career day for high school students. The students, for the most part, seemed eager for someone to just tell them about a job that wasn’t too difficult and would afford them a large income. Seems simple enough.

All the other adults very simply stated their job titles: “Investment Banker”, “Real Estate Broker”, “Financial Sales”, “Marketing Rep”, etc. But when it got to me, I had about three jobs to support my one job that didn’t pay crap at the time – an actor/artist! I had two Master’s degrees in anthropology and was a Ph.D. drop out. I actually paid my bills through modeling, part-time market research ethnography, and being an editor for a scholastic publishing company. But being a broke ass artist made it all worth it! I promise! -- I’ll never forget, the kids’ eyes became wide open…“This chic is cray, next please!”

(And BTW, it’s no different being an artist in Dallas, TX. I still have three jobs as a producer of KFM Productions and De/Anne, an actor, and cocktail/bottle service at night.)

When I come across resistance from people that think I’m insane, like these kids, or family that know I could be making six figures if I actually used my degrees appropriately, I just smile because I know that my chosen artist profession gives me priceless joy that no one can take away from me because it’s a lifestyle and a way of being first and foremost. Money is just the result of other people finding your art relevant to them. But I am stubborn and humble enough to know I am one of the few that put up with crap just in order to be able to do art and therefore be one of the few to ‘make it’. I know damn well that I’m not going to be ‘discovered’ in a bank like Charlize Theron or a club like Cameron Diaz. Determination, hard work, and play will.

I say play because, as I learned through Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way”, play is a necessity for artists to explore, imagine, connect, and grow. How is someone going to get inspiration and learn about other human beings if they’re always in their same circle of habits and friends? I try to take myself on an Artist’s Date once a week to open up and see/listen: Walks downtown and in nature, seeing foreign and indie films, taking new classes (got an orange belt in Tae Kwon Do!), and listening to new grooves. My boss at the restaurant job I currently work at recently told me “you’re a Renaissance woman!” Yes I am, and I love it. The best compliment anyone has ever given me!

Now looking back, I wish I had said more to those students. Embrace Dr. Seuss’ advice and live an imagined life. Don’t be afraid to go places (both physically and epistemologically) you never thought you would. What’s the worst that could happen? You had fun along the way? You met new people and learned something? Your parents didn’t like your 7x8 NYC apartment that costs $1,000/mo? I’ve lived in five states and feel I have squeezed the marrow out of life so far, and it’s all been worth it – from the tragedies to mania.

Sometimes I feel like those high school students are like green actors I meet on set. People can be so scared to step away from stability and the ‘known’ because they desperately seek validation from others. But being true to ourselves and expressing that through our creativity teaches us self-worth and confidence, but it is a journey and a process of embracing it.

One of my biggest pet peeves to be on set and other actors have nothing else to talk about except themselves and acting: “Oh, what films have you been in?” [me: look it up on imdb], “Oh, yea? Where do you study?” [me: Everywhere and everyday! And so should you]. Etc.  I so desperately want to just hand them this quote on a slip of paper and silently walk away:

There's nothing more boring than unintelligent actors, because all they have to talk about is themselves and acting. There have to be other things.
~ Tim Robbins

So, now that I’ve introduced myself and so as not to be a hypocrite, this blog will strive not to be about myself or acting entirely – but as it relates to broader insights of life and art through play.