Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Your First Time

Here we are my second post! I want to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and for becoming a follower of my blog. So to everyone a big hearty Midwest "THANK YOU! I LOVE YOU!"

And now, my story:

The first time is always the scariest. You don't know what is coming, what it will feel like, how it will change you, how it will make you feel. Will it hurt? Feel good? Am I ready? Fears and doubts creep into the mind and produce physical reactions, otherwise known as butterflies, and in my case stomach pain.

So there I am. Cramped in pain at my first commercial audition. Perhaps the pain was intensified by the fact that I didn't actually have an audition appointment but was "crashing" the audition. Not only was this my first professional audition, but an audition that I was going to have to ask for!!

I was blessed to have a dear friend, George, with me for encouragement. While I gathered up my nerves and decided my options (Option 1- Leave Immediately Option 2- Ask for the Audition) George excitedly asked, "Do you want me to ask for you?" I knew leaving without asking for the audition would bring disaster to my self-esteem and ambition. I also knew that using George as my voice would be easier and less painful BUT that deep down I, myself would have to ask if I wanted to walk away from the experience stronger.

I walked up to the front to read through the small cartoon post of the McDonald's commercial to familiarize myself with the audition piece. Once the decision is made somehow fear takes a backseat. As I read, I pictured myself drinking that McDonald to-go cup and eating that McDonald fry, and just as I was about to turn to George and say, "I'm ready! Let's do this!" something unfamiliar caught my eye, words I did not understand. I had come to the realization that the commercial was all in Spanish! And although I think it is a wonderful language, my extent in knowing how to speak it is very very limited. La cosina esta alberto.

George and I had a good laugh and walked right out of that casting office. What did I learn from this? 1. Fear is produced easily by the mind and sometimes is unwarranted. 2. Make sure you know what you are auditioning for before you get your panties all in a bunch. 3. Friends are vital.

And most importantly: Next time will be easier!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

An Actor That Acts

I've been hesitant to put up my first blog, I've even changed the titled of this blog three times! Perfectionism has kept me closed in it's firm grasp.

BUT I know I've found the right title at last: "What If They Say Yes?"
I had just left my MasterMind Meeting of brilliant women, a group where we inspire, release, listen, laugh, create, and hold each other accountable for our careers in the arts. I was talking to one woman about asking Meryl Streep for a short telephone meeting, a guru meeting, and I turned to her and asked "What if they say no?" I was preparing myself for a stream of answers to flow from her mouth, such as "It's Ok, you can then ask someone else" or "Just making the call is worth it" or "Try again". Instead what I got was, a brief pause. Then a face whose smile lit it up as the words "What if they say yes?" escaped from its mouth. Giddiness immediately arouse from me and I knew what my blog would be titled.

This simple change of perspective has inspired me to finally write in my blog. A blog about my life as an Actor.

I welcome You! Thanks for Reading.

Love, Kara Marie