Submissions/Auditions

Wow. It's such a strange thing. To just keep sending people stuff and showing up in front of people with your stuff and continually saying over and over, or rather, being WILLING to say over and over: "Hey, do you like my stuff?" Such is the world of the writer and the actor...just continually "putting yourself out there" as they say. Not sure who "they" is, but you get the idea. I realized a long time ago that this is indeed the job. The act of writing or performing is the gift. But the TRYING to get the writing/acting gig...is the actual job. But what I've realized recently, is that instead of focusing on the "Hey, do you like my stuff" strategy, perhaps a better way to think about it might be: "Hey, I can do this stuff, and I think you could use it." Not so much an inquiry as a clear expression of intent and capacity. For me, it somehow reminds me I'm in the business of offering my talent and training as an option, not begging or praying that someone will like me enough to hire me. Because, oh, boy, do I NOT want to go back to dating like I did right after college. Uffda! It's a simple adjustment of language, of thought, but it's really quite huge. To remember that we are the work that we're brave enough to do, not the applause or criticism that we receive. And I'm discovering that that is enough. To do the best I can on any given day. Even if my best is smiling at the Gas Station attendant who's flipping out because the entire credit card system went down...it is enough. Just to do my best in this "human suit" I've been given and maybe help someone else to do their best in theirs. We're enough.