Since the last time I posted to my blog, I've been on NBC's, "Today Show" as a part of the recurring segment "Guys Tell All" and my T-Mobile commercial has started running. I've also auditioned for a TV Pilot as well as more commercial auditions and TV auditions.
As usual I've been observing the world and people as I navigate the terrain of showbiz and artistry. We live in a culture where everyone feels like they have a pretty good understanding of what it takes to be an artist and the inner workings of show business. It's similar to being a Doctor, Lawyer, or Cop because there are so many shows about "The business", that everyone feels like an insider. But just like shows about Doctors, Lawyers and Cops, the shows about "The business" only scratch the surface and only share the most exciting parts and not the day-to-day of the showbiz grind.
I find that most people know just enough about what it takes to pursue a career in the arts to be very insensitive towards people in the arts without even knowing it. The other bad thing about this "just enough" knowledge is that many people pursuing the arts are victims of this insensitivity and actually look to insensitive people for the encouragement they need to keep on pursuing their goals and living their dreams. I've found that in order to keep moving forward as an artist it takes an irrational belief that no one else knows what they're talking about. It's tricky because whether you're good at what you do or not, you have to have that belief to be succesful. That should also help you to understand why you see people who are awful at something but never quit. And why should they if they're happy? Who says that everyone has to be the best at what they do in order to do it? If that were the case there would only be one person doing any given thing in life.
Having said all of that, it's important for people who have a goal, dream or vision for their life to realize that it's no one else's responsibility to keep you moving forward but yourself. You have to encourage yourself. Whatever it takes to encourage yourself, figure it out and do it. Sometimes you have to tell yourself, "those people are crazy, they don't know good singing when they hear it, even Luther Vandross got booed at the Apollo. I should've warmed up before I went for those high notes". Or you have to say,"these people don't know what funny is, I determine what's funny not them"! Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it. See yourself as what you aspire to be. Speak it and act it. Make it happen!!!
As usual I've been observing the world and people as I navigate the terrain of showbiz and artistry. We live in a culture where everyone feels like they have a pretty good understanding of what it takes to be an artist and the inner workings of show business. It's similar to being a Doctor, Lawyer, or Cop because there are so many shows about "The business", that everyone feels like an insider. But just like shows about Doctors, Lawyers and Cops, the shows about "The business" only scratch the surface and only share the most exciting parts and not the day-to-day of the showbiz grind.
I find that most people know just enough about what it takes to pursue a career in the arts to be very insensitive towards people in the arts without even knowing it. The other bad thing about this "just enough" knowledge is that many people pursuing the arts are victims of this insensitivity and actually look to insensitive people for the encouragement they need to keep on pursuing their goals and living their dreams. I've found that in order to keep moving forward as an artist it takes an irrational belief that no one else knows what they're talking about. It's tricky because whether you're good at what you do or not, you have to have that belief to be succesful. That should also help you to understand why you see people who are awful at something but never quit. And why should they if they're happy? Who says that everyone has to be the best at what they do in order to do it? If that were the case there would only be one person doing any given thing in life.
Having said all of that, it's important for people who have a goal, dream or vision for their life to realize that it's no one else's responsibility to keep you moving forward but yourself. You have to encourage yourself. Whatever it takes to encourage yourself, figure it out and do it. Sometimes you have to tell yourself, "those people are crazy, they don't know good singing when they hear it, even Luther Vandross got booed at the Apollo. I should've warmed up before I went for those high notes". Or you have to say,"these people don't know what funny is, I determine what's funny not them"! Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it. See yourself as what you aspire to be. Speak it and act it. Make it happen!!!
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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I love the entry. If you have a chance, log on to youtube and check out "Encourage Yourself" by Donald Lawrence. It's a beautiful song with a simple but powerful message.
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