Being an actor requires a lot of flexibility. In your
schedule, in your creativity and in your mind. Most of our job (especially in
the beginning) is like being a doctor on call. You never know when that phone
will ring from your agent with an audition. It can be after you’ve already
planned your day or even while you’re right in the middle of something. Our
first instinct is to be annoyed. Now we have to change our plans, make some
calls, disappoint someone. Actually that’s OK. For a second. Take a beat, take
a breath and re-group. The audition is an opportunity to get acting work which
is our ultimate goal. It’s the major part of the process until you get to that
level where you are offered roles and scripts to read based on your track
record.
Also, if you have a negative attitude about what you’re
doing it will show up in your work and in the audition room. Directors and
producers hire people not only based on their talent, but they prefer to work
with people who would be pleasant to have around for those long and sometimes
arduous hours on set. Someone with an attitude of gratitude.
Be prepared to “flip the script” at any given moment. Sing
Patti LaBelle’s song, New Attitude
if you have to, but remember what it takes to stay in the game.
When’s the last time you had to make an attitude adjustment?
