A Summer Lull
As a child and this was probably one of the most exciting times of the year. Next weekend would see the start of the big long summer holidays. Six or seven weeks of no school, and long empty days to fill as you would, with all sorts of games and leisure. And, of course, boredom. Inevitably by the end of August, the novelty of lots of long unstructured days had begun to wear off, and one craved a little order and routine.
As an actor long unstructured days are not only the province of the summer, but things can feel even harder when there is a holiday feel all around you, and all you desperately want is work. The dread that if you've not been cast in something by the end of July, then you probably won't be actually working until at least early September is one that can bring dark clouds into even the brightest of summer days.
Yet as an actor you are working all the time, whether it is for someone else, or yourself. It's easier to convince yourself you had a good day when you've been wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, but what have you actually achieved for your career. "Do one thing every day that might lead to work and then get on with living your life" was the best piece of advice I think I got out of three years at drama school. It's certainly something I've tried to abide by. Of course if things are particularly busy, you can do more than one thing, but what you shouldn't forget is going out there and living life.
I've been incredibly lucky over the last year and have just come to the end of 12 months virtually continuous employment in television. Something I thought was unheard of, certainly in my career. After Friday, 25 July, the next job in my diary is 3 September and for once I'm looking forward to the longuers of the August days. not that my time is entirely my own.
I've been commissioned to write a second book provisionally entitled "The Working Actor" which will look at all aspects of running a day-to-day career as an actor, except probably the acting itself. This also links into a season I been asked to curate at the Actors Centre from October to December entitled "The Working Actor", which will introduce 10 also workshops into the curriculum, focused on living life as a working actor.
You may not be part of the mass exodus to what may be the last Edinburgh Festival held in the United Kingdom. You may be in London and making do with the events on the Camden fringe (several of which are at the Actors Centre), but you should be thinking about things you can do for the rest of the year to come.
The summer is a great time to get head shots done, particularly for actors whose Spotlight deadline will soon be upon us in October. There is no reason why you can't spend a long summer's day making sure all your tax affairs are up-to-date. it may not be the nicest thing to do, but believe me the sense of satisfaction at the end of it is well worth it. Treat yourself to a workshop or a class, probably in something you haven't thought about doing before or check what's on offer at your local library.
Have a look online out what Spotlight and Equity have to offer. Most of us pay our subscriptions to both of these august organisations, and never really check out exactly what they're giving us.
So if the feeling of the summer, with the long and days and lazy afternoons is that you have a little bit more time on your hands, then find those extra useful tasks to do now.
And one of them could involve Factor 20 and being horizontal while listening to a play on the radio. on your iPod.
No bad way to spend an afternoon.
As an actor long unstructured days are not only the province of the summer, but things can feel even harder when there is a holiday feel all around you, and all you desperately want is work. The dread that if you've not been cast in something by the end of July, then you probably won't be actually working until at least early September is one that can bring dark clouds into even the brightest of summer days.
Yet as an actor you are working all the time, whether it is for someone else, or yourself. It's easier to convince yourself you had a good day when you've been wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, but what have you actually achieved for your career. "Do one thing every day that might lead to work and then get on with living your life" was the best piece of advice I think I got out of three years at drama school. It's certainly something I've tried to abide by. Of course if things are particularly busy, you can do more than one thing, but what you shouldn't forget is going out there and living life.
I've been incredibly lucky over the last year and have just come to the end of 12 months virtually continuous employment in television. Something I thought was unheard of, certainly in my career. After Friday, 25 July, the next job in my diary is 3 September and for once I'm looking forward to the longuers of the August days. not that my time is entirely my own.
I've been commissioned to write a second book provisionally entitled "The Working Actor" which will look at all aspects of running a day-to-day career as an actor, except probably the acting itself. This also links into a season I been asked to curate at the Actors Centre from October to December entitled "The Working Actor", which will introduce 10 also workshops into the curriculum, focused on living life as a working actor.
You may not be part of the mass exodus to what may be the last Edinburgh Festival held in the United Kingdom. You may be in London and making do with the events on the Camden fringe (several of which are at the Actors Centre), but you should be thinking about things you can do for the rest of the year to come.
The summer is a great time to get head shots done, particularly for actors whose Spotlight deadline will soon be upon us in October. There is no reason why you can't spend a long summer's day making sure all your tax affairs are up-to-date. it may not be the nicest thing to do, but believe me the sense of satisfaction at the end of it is well worth it. Treat yourself to a workshop or a class, probably in something you haven't thought about doing before or check what's on offer at your local library.
Have a look online out what Spotlight and Equity have to offer. Most of us pay our subscriptions to both of these august organisations, and never really check out exactly what they're giving us.
So if the feeling of the summer, with the long and days and lazy afternoons is that you have a little bit more time on your hands, then find those extra useful tasks to do now.
And one of them could involve Factor 20 and being horizontal while listening to a play on the radio. on your iPod.
No bad way to spend an afternoon.
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