The Challenges AND Rewards of Being an Artist

The greatest revelation I stumbled across years after drama school was that every situation we face, both good and bad is temporary. If you understand this you can develop the resources to weather and thrive through the unexpected.  

Rising above adversity is also a unique opportunity to reinvent yourself. And with that green light you can approach your life with a sense of creative artistry and self-mastery that will heighten the overall quality of your days, while deeply inspiring those around you. 

The path of the creator is nebulous at best but harnessing the ability to not be discouraged by the lack of clarity is also what makes the journey so deeply fulfilling. It's like no other and thus offers challenges AND rewards that are simply foreign to other career paths.

Resist Being Bullied

I believe trying to talk someone out of their deepest aspirations is a form of bullying. It's a tactic of projecting fear, doubt, and bitterness on to someone with the hope they won't pursue a dream another didn't have the courage to follow themself.

Unfortunately, such opposition often comes from the people who love us most and claim to have our best interests at heart. And in fairness, maybe they believe that. I'm not suggesting you be closed off to constructive feedback but that you protect your dreams fiercely.

Whether it's the arts or some other less conventional career path, when what we do doesn't align with someone's understanding of the world they feel threatened. But if there's one thing I've learned it's that someone else's misgivings about you and your form of expression isn't your problem. 

You're going to come up against a great deal of resistance in this industry so it's crucial you surround yourself with like-minded people who support your vision, have your back, and will hold you accountable to taking action. 

What I Talk About When I Talk About Artists

Ever felt like there's a hierarchy on careers? A close friend of mine seems almost consumed by which professions are important and those that aren't. Traditionally admired paths like doctor, or engineer get a 5 star rating in his assessment, but less conventional callings rank lower.

Still, it all comes down to the value you attribute to what you do. If a physician saves a life isn't it then about what that life goes on to do? How he or she influences the community, forges relationships, and leaves a legacy? Don't teachers, artists, and actors have the same capacity? Perhaps we don't save lives in the conventional sense, but maybe we lift a spirit, offer a little hope. Who's to say this isn't an equally worthwhile pursuit?

In his memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami says the following: 

"Even if, seen from the outside, or from some higher vantage point, this sort of life looks pointless or futile, or even extremely inefficient, it doesn't bother me. Maybe it's some pointless act like, as I've said before, pouring water into an old pan that has a hole in the bottom, but at least the effort you put into it remains. Whether it's good for anything or not, cool or totally uncool, in the final analysis what's most important is what you can't see but can feel in your heart." 

If it's important to you it's important enough.

If It Were Easy, Everybody Would Do It

It's so important to surround yourself with passionate and forward-thinking people. It's also vital to incorporate helpful resources like great books, podcasts, and online courses into your daily routine. But that can all be a disservice if you don't remember one thing...

one size does not fit all. Apply what applies to you. 

Whether you're trying to make headway in your acting career, trying to position yourself as an expert in your field, or working to launch a business, conventional wisdom tells us if you just follow a certain 12-step program you'll get to where you need to be.

The truth is, those steps were developed by some who benefited from them. They might not be for you. Your experiences, skill set, and philosophies are completely different. 

What's my point? Develop the ability to question everything (even this blog!) and filter out what doesn't apply to your path and implement what does.

But the most important part is you have to possess a fundamental belief in yourself that you're capable of doing it in the first place. If there is not an inherent sense of confidence in your vision, no system, no matter who developed it, will work. 

Weeds Grow Fast

Just a few months ago I walked past a wine bar conveniently situated on the corner of a busy street lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. The sun was out and every patio table was taken as people chatted away carefree over snacks and white wine. 

Today, that place is completely gone. The only sign of life that remains is a placard hanging in the window that reads: "Space Available for Lease." What's more, the place looks as though it was abandoned another decade ago. Most notably, weeds have already taken over what not long ago was an impeccable courtyard full of customers.

What I realized is twofold: things are not always as they seem and you need to always stay on top of your game. You must constantly put in the work. You simply cannot rest on your past accomplishments, or yesterday's revenue.

For years I believed that once you reached a certain level in your career or business it would be smooth sailing. But what I learned as a casting reader, performing opposite some of the biggest names of the stage and silver screen is you never not have challenges, you merely trade your old ones for new ones. But in order to even stay in that position you have to keep getting better. If you don't, others catch up.

Actors especially know this all too well. You're only as good as your last job. But what do you do in the interim? As a mentor once said to me, when you haven't received the break you've been so desperately looking for, whether it's in show business, a job promotion, or finding a partner, you have to continually work on craft.

In other words, you need to stay ready. 

Someday It'll Be You

Last night, I attended a little mixer for an organization where I teach a workshop called, "Acting as a Career." I ran into a young woman who took the class a few weeks back. We were excited to see one another and I could tell she wanted to share what she'd been up to since our last meeting.

"I'm writing a monologue," she told me. "And here's a video clip of a presentation I gave in class." She beamed with pride as she showed me the performance.

I told her I was immensely proud of the initiative she'd taken into getting her voice out into the world. "You're doing everything right," I told her. "You're meeting new people, taking classes, and really putting yourself out there." 

Just before I left I told her one last thing: "One day, you'll be the one people come to for advice. Someday people will look up to you and ask you to share all the lessons you've learned on your journey." She smiled as we parted ways. I could tell she was up to the task.

Pass on what you know.

A Word to the Actor

Fill your life with as many meaningful people, relationships, and experiences as possible. Each will serve you in unimaginable ways and infuse your work with a heightened sense of awareness and purpose. Remember to live a life and not just a career.

Rich relationships will also provide you an honest and reliable soundboard where you can get the feedback you may or may not want to hear, but may still need to make strides toward your goals.

Seek Mentors

It's been several years now since I wandered into the Center for Career Education at my old grad school. I'd felt rudderless for quite some time and was looking to find a place where I could be of value in addition to the daily grind of pursuing an acting career.

Little did I know the man I would meet that afternoon would become one of my most influential mentors. He helped touch up my resume, offered pointers on how to make a great cover letter, and made suggestions on how to approach the different organizations I was interested in working with.

But the most important thing he did that afternoon was he listened. He was compassionate in his tone, non-judgmental in his assessment, and genuinely cared about what it was I was trying to do and who I hoped to become.

To this day he is someone I can call upon when I need guidance, but perhaps most rewarding, he has also become a dear friend.

Look for mentors whenever possible. Take advantage of the great and often untapped resources at your school, or community center. It just may end up changing your life.

Protect Your Spirit at All Costs

As you progress through your career you will likely come to a crossroads. You may suddenly struggle to find the meaning of your work, or redefine your relationship to it, and discover even your values and what you want have changed. None of theses are bad things by the way. In fact, it's often a sign of growth.

But in the midst of transition can come a sense of a weariness, even apathy. Uncertainty can influence us in funny ways.

But whatever road you decide to take or career you may pivot away from, make sure you protect your spirit at all costs. Approach any new endeavor with the same eagerness and conviction you once had when first starting out. Remember the first time you stepped on stage, shot a film, or dotted the final "i" of your screenplay.

There's no telling exactly where this fervor will lead but chances are it will be good a place.

One

Everyone can agree pursuing a career in the entertainment industry is incredibly challenging. It is perhaps the least meritocratic line of work on the planet. In so many other professional endeavors hard work, expertise, and kindness will eventually offer the opportunity to advance. That formula is less flexible when it comes to being an actor.

Still, I've tried to nudge my actor and artist friends to empower themselves in the few ways they can: 

-- by creating their own work and thus opportunities

-- building a community of like-minded artists

-- and defining success on your own terms.

Understandably, there are other hurdles to getting a serious look from industry movers and shakers. As Viola Davis recently noted in an award acceptance speech, "The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” 

I've had my own hurdles as an actor of color. This certainly doesn't make me unique as many of my talented and hardworking friends have to.

But, I've observed that each group that feels marginalized or underrepresented in the entertainment industry speaks up passionately for their own cause. And understandably so. We tend to talk about what we know and directly affects us. It's human nature.

But what if instead of an Asian American actor advocating solely for his own opportunities he spoke up equally loud for more female filmmakers? Or if female filmmakers voiced their concerns with how Arab Americans are so frequently misrepresented in film and media.

Can you imagine the influence we could have if we all stuck up for one another? The movement to make an "unfair" industry "equally unfair" would be less fragmented, easier to mobilize, and create unbreakable bonds in the process.

And if it could work in the entertainment industry the possibilities beyond a film set would be limitless.

Cost and Benefit

For a few weeks now I've been raving about a book called, Grit by Angela Duckworth. The book has resonated with me on many personal levels and I've found it a particularly useful resource for actors. In no other industry that I can think of are the words, fortitude, grit, and determination more applicable - unoriginal as it may seem.

But this morning I came across a passage about, "Cost and Benefit." In other words, we have a tendency to weigh the amount of time, effort, or finances a project will entail and what we hope to gain as a result of our efforts.

As actors, more times than not, we fail to see our return on investment. How many hundreds of hours have you spent strengthening your voice, breaking down a script, or perfecting a monologue only to see the part go to another actor, or the project go through setback after setback?

I realized two things:

1. You do the work because that is the reward.

2. Showing fortitude, determination, and "grit," is often less about where it will get you, but more a representation of who you are at your core.

Both are respectable reasons and arguably more noble than simpy trying to gain something.

You can check out Angela Duckworth's TED Talk below:

https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance

Fleeting Motivators

We're all driven by different motivators to create - to succeed in our chosen careers. For some, it's the desire to make their communities a better place to live. Others are driven by extrinsic factors like fame, money, or notoriety. Some are even galvanized by anger; a commitment to proving the naysayers wrong.

I'm not placing judgement on what drives you. But in my own observations, I've noticed that all are fleeting. They come and go because their foundations are built on emotion. And emotions by nature are capricious - ever-changing.

Seeing something you care about all the way through from beginning to end will be require reminding yourself of your, "Intrinsic Why," over and over - through thick and thin.

How does what you want line up with your values, core principles? In other words, what does what you want say about you?

Figure that out and it'll be hard to stop you.

Taking Ownership

Last night I attended a wedding celebration in San Francisco in a part of town commonly referred to as SOMA. (South of Market) The ride there was not as seamless as I'd hoped. The rain poured down mercilessly and my digital map had a mind of its own.

When I finally arrived it was a completely different world. Everyone was dressed stylishly devouring the comfort foods of my friend Jason's native Louisiana.

I spent much of the evening speaking with a very kind young woman who'd traveled all the way from Washington D.C. We spoke at length about photography and her love for the medium. "I like photography too," I chimed in. "Do you shoot?"

I then noticed a familiar reluctance to take ownership of a craft she took great joy in. I'd noticed even within myself a growing apprehension over the years to talk about acting, particularly among people advancing in careers one might consider more conventional. It was something I'd never felt when I was a young actor. I practically beamed when I told people about the shows, monologues, or scenes I was working on.

I later realized, how you speak about what you do can actually inform how you do it -- that it's important to take ownership and pride in what you do even in the face of misunderstanding, or ridicule.

As long as it matters to you -- It Matters.

Seek the Insight of Non-Artists

Last night I spent about an hour speaking to a good friend from high school who now works as an attorney in Austin. Despite being in a completely different line of work he'd always shown a strong interest in my career as an actor.

We'd often talk about films we'd seen, new and exciting television shows, and actors we admired. At the end of our talks I was convinced he knew more about the industry than I did. I half wondered where he found the time to keep up all the various mediums while juggling a full-time job and the responsibilities of having a family.

Our conversation also reminded me of the importance of reaching out to folks who have nothing to do with your creative pursuits, or even any real knowledge of your medium. His insights on the story I was trying to write were poignant, introspective, intelligent, and unique. It reminded me of the times I'd asked non-actor friends to read over a pair of sides with me as I prepped for an audition. Invariably, non-actor friends would offer a point of view that seemed so obvious, yet frustratingly hidden to my actor sensibilities.

I discovered the longer you're an actor and the more training you have there is a propensity to start looking at the work as just an actor. You think in terms of "objective" and "obstacles," while your friends are simply looking at the work as human beings.

Try and seek feedback beyond your immediate circle of artists. They may surprise you with what they find.

Living a Life and Not Just a Career

"Your happiness is not predicated on your art," a friend once told me. It was a seismic shift in roles. Here, was a young man I once affectionately referred to as my "younger brother," now schooling me on the importance of living a life and not just a career.

It was a realization he'd stumbled upon after being fired from a job at a theater company. During the long plane ride home he had time to consider all the ways he'd said no to life for the sake of advancing his career. "People were always inviting me out to parties after shows and I always said, 'No.' I really regret that."

How many times had I too declined an engagement, cancelled an invitation, or sought solitude to rehearse the same monologues for hours on end? I wondered. It wasn't until I was physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted from the daily grind of being an actor that I was nudged, or rather, shook into remember there was more to life than deciding which blazer to wear for my headshots.

In time, I started to slowly engage with the world I'd neglected, choosing instead to participate in every way I could. Slowly, the world was once again three dimensional, my priorities re-calibrated, and acting somehow became a joy again.

More Than One Way

For years I'd hear high productivity experts say things like, "Work smarter, not harder," or "Efficiency is doing the thing right, while effectiveness is doing the right thing." They all sounded good to my ambitious ears and invariably I'd take a closer look at how I was approaching my career goals and wonder if I could be doing more.

Still, it would take years before I actually understood what it meant to work smarter. I enjoyed working hard and was strangely afraid of losing the identity of someone who gave his all to each worthy pursuit. I didn't particularly care if there was a better, more practical way of doing something. I just needed to sweat while doing it.

As I got older, I grew to appreciate two things: (1) there is no substitute for hard work. (2) working smart and working hard are a potent force when combined. The two should co-exist.

I learned however stubborn I was about my goals I still needed to be flexible in my thinking. If one method wasn't working, however diligent I was, I needed to reconsider how to storm the fortress walls. My target was still the same, but I now had enough self-awareness to realize there wasn't just one way to reach it.