Entries in Mindset (6)

Tuesday
Aug212012

Playtime

(Not gonna lie, I've been REALLY excited to write this blog for months, now!)

Soooo...we're all about plumbing the gifts of social media, right? I mean, chances are you're on Twitter and FB; chances are that you have a blog or a fanpage or a Pinterest. 

And chances are also that you have friended, liked and followed not only your favorite casting directors, but also your dream collaboration team of actors, directors, writers (etc.) whom you admire. You like their posts, you comment on them, you at-reply, you retweet. You rock star, you! 

But what if there was a way to make this even more FUN? Even less schlocky or hammy? What if there was a way to make it, also, 100% about just having fun and building a rapport together instead of marketing?

Oh friends, there is. :D

Who here has tried Words With Friends or Draw Something? Maybe you're addicted to one or both (I totally am). Well, as you may know, it integrates FB friends who have the app--and I'd put money on the idea that you have a few dream collaborators who frequent them--and you can then play loads of games with your targets. :)

Have fun bonding on a whole other level--pure play! 

Ahoy, mateys!
Jen
 

Tuesday
Aug212012

Back from LA!

Ahoy, my friends!

I've been for a while without writing because I recently spent over a month in LA, and I'm writing to share with you the bounty of my trip. :)

As I've shared here, part of my unique trust in ships has to do with the fact that I've been called in from SOLELY those...across the country. By people I've never met before.

While I didn't get to meet those particular offices in person while I was in LA, I DID meet several more who recognized me from my efforts!

At a workshop, one CD stopped in the middle of her speech to a 30+-person class and said, "I know you! I get your postcards!" Another said that she always got my mail and always opened it. While doing drop-offs, yet another peered at me and said, "I know you, you've come in for us before, right?" 

These are just. Ships. Being sent 3,000 miles away to tremendously busy offices. My friends, your efforts will not be wasted--my experiences are totally proof!

I also maximized my trip by shipping every single week to my selected offices; did as many drop-offs as possible, and I also workshopped with 8 of my selected 11. :) Those touch-ins count as ships, too!

Now that I'm back with LOADS more goodies in my noggin, what questions might you have about my experience? Serve 'em up, friends!

Ahoy, mateys!

Jen

Saturday
Apr282012

Answering YOUR Questions: How Important is Getting Focused?

Matt Wilder is one of my very best friends. We talk shop about our careers all the time, and now he asks: 

"How important is it to decide upon your #1 dream genre?"

[To clarify, he means picking hosting, musical theatre, improv, sitcoms, indie films, etc.]

Matt, I think that your focus is EXTREMELY important. And as a heads-up to you all, I'm going to be straight up channeling Dallas Travers right now. 

See, NOT having focus leaves your action very scattered. When you take scattered action, you don't really get anywhere; you put a lot of energy into a lot of areas, and none of them show much progress. I read a great quote today that I am going to totally misquote right now because I can't find it:

"If you want to make a real dent in what you love, stop making tiny taps everywhere else." Dallas' mantra "Do less more often" can also apply here--choose one goal and WERQ THAT MOTHER OUT.

See Matt, because here's the magic in what happens--yes, I want you to get SUPER LASER FOCUSED and pick just *one* goal and put all your energy towards it. Yes. Do that. BECAUSE.

The MAGIC is that--after you've spent so much joy and life force putting yourself out there in bold new ways, you will attract ALL KINDS OF JOBS. A perfect example is that MY big goal is to have my own sitcom--but what do I attract? Indie films, cable dramas, theatre, etc. (AND sitcoms.)

Just because you put all your focus somewhere doesn't mean it's the ONLY bounty you'll reap; the Universe will bring you so much wealth from other areas that it won't matter that they're not your main focus. Was FRANNY *not* the highlight of my life just because sitcoms are my goal?! 

I ask you to have the bravery to focus and take decisive, consistent, bold action on ONE goal. I know that if you do that every day and keep trusting in your journey, you will see beautiful results!

What do YOU guys think? Have you found that laser-focus helps or hinders your career? Please let me know in the comments, FB or Twitter!

 

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen

Tuesday
Apr102012

Answering YOUR Questions: What's the Secret to Positivity?

Super-fan Dianna Craig asks another question:

I'm so impressed by your positivity and what you've manifested in your career. What's your secret?

Dearest Dianna, some things you're just lucky to be born with--and my resilient, positive nature is probably the best natural-born gift I've got. I've always seen the shiny side of the coin and my cup is never half-empty, it's just not in my nature to think that way. Not that I don't have days where I feel like complaining or ranting or not appreciating life (oh yes indeedy, I sure do). But the overwhelming majority of the time I feel lucky, blessed, and optimistic. 

Well, that's just wonderful, you freakin' ray of sunshine. But what about the rest of us?!

You can TRAIN yourself to be a positive, optimistic person--in fact, the training that I did to do that was what I feel really catapulted me from content-off-off-off-Broadway-actor into deliriously-happy-TV-star-on-the-rise. 

You know what you're about to hear, at this point. Yes. My list of fantastic Optimism Flexing Exercises.

1. Dallas Travers, Dallas Travers, Dallas Travers. If you're reading this, you've probably studied with her (or are highly considering it). Dallas is all about taking bold, empowering action....and letting go, without attachment, to results. And supplementing that need for control with mindset. She is ALL about having the right kind of mindset for your own happiness and the prosperity of your career. My favorite tool she uses is something called LIVING MANTRAS. It's downloadable via iTunes, and it's a series of questions you ask yourself to change the way you think about your life. It definitely trains you to use rose-colored glasses.

2. Make optimistic choices. A simple but large part of being positive and optimistic is simply refusing to get involved or invested in people or events that are all about negativity and downward spirals, you know? Listen to fun, upbeat music. Watch more of Jim Henson's work (I'm serious). And for real, pick your friends wisely. Which brings me to...

3. Get into a positive community. Dallas has this wonderful insight--there are Your People, and there are Not Your People (or NYPs). Your People understand you, love you, support you, cheer you, and seemingly always buoy you up when you're down. They believe in you and are drawn to you, and when you see them, you're left feeling BETTER, more whole. People who are NOT Your People? Well, they leave a little much to be desired. Maybe they shoot you down. Maybe they belittle you, or just cast a pall over your energy when you see them. And after interacting with them, it might feel like you were just rained upon. Bottom line? Find Your People. Spend as much time with them as humanly possible. :)

4. Search The Universe. I've been working on a greater understanding and more trusting relationship with The Universe--it's been a journey for me over at least the last month, and I've put all the metaphysical ooey-gooeyness into a simple equation:

Big Dreams + Trusting the Universe + Joyful Action - Attachment or Expectation= BLISS. Need some help with this? Sign up for TUT

5. Visualization Techniques. Dallas is a big proponent of Evening Visualization--getting REALLY CLEAR visions of your ideal gig as you nod off to sleep; imagining where you are, what you're wearing, who you're talking to, etc. I love this, and when I do it, I dream of it all night! The idea is that your subconscious absorbs this information as truth, and it becomes more true and attainable for you. Another exercise I love is writing bhavanas--writting a journal entry or letter 6 months in advance, detailing your life and how everything has come into fruition. :)

6. Listen to these. I'm part of a podcast called Manifesting Mastermind, and we meet weekly to talk about positivity, trusting The Universe and pursuing your dreams!

Dianna, I wish you MUCH happiness and positivity with these! Readers, what other tools do you use? What here has worked for you; what's come up short? Please share with me! Comments, FB, Twitter! :D

 

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen

Wednesday
Mar142012

What to do when you find The Perfect Breakdown

Ah, yes, the elusive projects that we hear of once in a while--a film, pilot, episodic, show that has the PERFECT role for you!

NOW what? Let's pretend this is one of those pick-your-own-adventure books. 

Do you have representation? If yes, take Agent Alley. If no, take Free-Agent Freeway.

Agent Alley: Email or call your rep and let them know that you found this MARVELOUS role, and ask how open they'd be to submitting you for it. Donesies!

Free-Agent Freeway: How comfortable are you picking up the phone and calling a casting director? If so, take Dallas Travers' Phone Parkway. If not, Postal Promenade.

Phone Parkway: Give the casting office a very polite call, and make sure you have a script. Something to the tune of: "Hi, I'm Ladybird McGillicuddy, and I'm calling to request an audition for Dolly in 'Hello, Dolly.' How can we set that up?"

Hold the phone. What if they ask for my agent to submit me?

NOT an issue! Just reply, "Great. I'm currently representing myself, so what's the best way I can get my materials to you?" Donesies!
 
Postal Promenade: This may be the 2nd best way to submit (even better if you drop it off). It's best if you can send a 5x7 H/R, not an 8x10--but if it IS 8x10, make sure the envelope CLEARLY states the role and project it's a submission for! That way it gets sorted with the more immediate mail than the giant pile of general stuffs. 

Other byways to support you: Depending upon how much contact info you have for this CD, you may want to send an email their way--"Hey, just saw that you're working on HELLO DOLLY! I have a headshot coming in the mail for you, I'd love to be seen for Dolly!." If you don't have that, it can't hurt to try FB or Twitter. But please always ask permission and respect boundaries! If you have to send an FB message or you want to friend them, *definitely* make sure they're cool with it:

"Hey Lulu, I see you're on FB! I would love to ask you about upcoming projects here, but I'm not sure if you're comfortable with FB for that purpose. How open are you to discussing business here? If not, no problem--just let me know!" (And then, respect their request.)

And of course, if you know the director or producer or someone? For the love of Pete, reach out to them and let them know you'd love to come in--if they like you and think you're right, they'll request you for an audition!

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen