Perseverance 🧗🏼♂️
#AsIWriteThisNewsletter I am listening to Heathers The Musical after a lovely chat with my new friend Davidé, a 78 year old Chilean who is just delightful. I love meeting interesting folks on my travels…
Monday 18th July 2022 - 18.45 GMT London to Leeds
Happy Monday everybody,
How’s it going?
As you know I’ve been somewhat quiet this past week what with a course I was doing - which was epic!
And today was also epic. I met up with two of you students in London, is 3D; in real life! So interesting gradually meeting you all in person. Some of you are taller and shorter that I imagined haha.
And I want to talk about the exciting things that are in the pipeline that I mentioned on my IG. I’ll have to wait for now before I divulge the details ;) however, it has inspired me to talk about perseverance.
This is a sign that you simply must carry on.
Perseverance by definition means:
continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition
It’s easy to see people who look like they have their shit together and think “it’s easy for them”.
Truth is, you never know what is going on for someone else.
When you see that person “make it” or hit their “big break” they often aren’t either of those things.
When you see the “stardom” and that actor leaping from job to job, it can be infuriating.
Before that egotistical reaction occurs, or once it has and you’ve had you’re little pity party, remember these two things:
They’ve probably have countless emails unanswered or hundreds of auditions not come through before this time…
You have no clue what else is going on in their life.
Success to me is about enjoying the journey rather than stomping through trying to get somewhere or get something.
Patience is a virtue.
Sometimes you have to wait.
And I don’t mean sit-on-your-ass-and-binge true-crime-documentaries kind of waiting, I mean work-your-ass-off-and-simultaneously-wait-patiently waiting.
Developing an non judgemental attitude of patience and despite the knock backs, the rejections (or redirections, remember ;)) and embracing every single bit of the process, is going to help you keep going. Persevere.
Last week I did a course, looking into my voice in more depth. There were open sessions where we could get up individually and have a sing, then work 121 with our mentor for the week.
I got up, and kind of sucked 🫠
There were people there who know what they’re doing when it comes to belting and singing MT… I wasn’t one of them.
I hadn’t sung in front of anyone in a “professional” context since before Covid. I hadn’t sung the song I had chosen with a piano since my own drama school auditions.
My breath was jittery. I was out of tune. I was probably going red, I can’t remember, I was nervous.
BUT. I knew it was a chance to learn, a chance to improve, and a chance to learn with my peers. My being poop would undoubtedly help me and help the folks watching.
So, I thought f*ck it. I genuinely thought I would have a bit of an emotional 121 to be honest, but I didn’t.
And I’m confident that is because of the work I’ve been doing on myself the past 6 years - I’ve been coaching myself to see every single opportunity to f*ck up as an opportunity to f*ck up.
Not to say getting emotional in these instances isn't okay - there was a wonderful 121 the next day that was charming and vulnerable and powerful and beautiful... but for me, on my journey, I didn't need to go there that day.
Not a win or lose. Not a success or failure. Not a good or bad.
Simply an opportunity to f*ck up.
Afterwards, I thought, great. I didn’t die. If anything I learned something. Something that can help me move along on my beautiful journey through my amazing acting career.
I haven’t worked professionally in a show/play/film, apart from the odd workshop, since before Covid.
I ain’t moping about it.
I have kept making connections. I have kept doing my #ASpeechAWeeks. I have kept doing vocal warm ups and am getting back to my usual fitness regime. I’m always learning and striving to improve.
One of the best ways you can improve is by being brave enough to fuck up.
And guess what happened? I got an audition out of it. FOR A MUSICAL. I mean come on. I can guarantee that was nothing to do with my singing and a hell of a lot more to do with my attitude and willingness to see what happens.
As always, not tooting my horn here, just sharing what I have learned recently.
So, getting back to perseverance: it is easier to persevere if you view the poop times, not as poop times, but simply opportunities to… you know by now surely… say it with me: F*CK UP!
People don’t see the times you’re bummed out and crying and not believing in yourself. But you must keep going.
Otherwise you’ll never see the good times and have those opportunities to f*ck up, because you gave up.
If you give up, you’ll never know what you’re really capable of. And I want to see what you’re capable of.
So never judge someone else’s journey, or your own - we never know what storm another actor’s theatre ship has sailed through before reaching the golden shore of WORK ISLAND.
Or what storms keep chasing them in their personal life...
And if you’re seeing others winning - basque in it with them and celebrate their success, without expectation.
Look forward to the time you’re in that West End show or Channel4 drama and can buy your pals or acting coach a bevvie ;)
Good luck this week, with your rehearsals, line learning and 121s - can’t wait to see so many of you!
When was the last time you f*cked up? Get to it!
See you all soon xxx
Over and out 19.14 GMT