What a week. A busy, crazy week. I remember, less than a year ago, when I would spend 40 hours a week working my 9-5 job, how often I would see my beautiful husband looking consternated (I had to google if that was a word...I'm still not sure if it really is), and wonder how, with his seemingly less time consuming work, he could be so frazzled. Now I get it. Last week I didn't work 40 hours. Maybe I worked 20. But I had acting class, I had my singing lesson, I had practice for my acting class, I saw a play, read two more plays, I learnt lines, I had to arrange to get new headshots done, hunt for auditions every day, sign up to a new audition website, keep writing our screenplay and meet some friends for budget-friendly brunch and coffee. Now, understandably, this may not seem like a lot of stuff. But when you try to cram a to-do list of all of those things into one person's head, it's more difficult than it sounds.
My busy week began last Monday with my first actual acting class - after the acting class I missed but kind of feel I caught up on cause of helpful classmates. It was such a joyful experience, I really don't have the words to describe it. But here goes. It was like all of a sudden, everything I'd ever thought I could be and doubted I could be was being offered to me. And all I had to do was try. They don't expect you to be anything you're not, or criticize you for not being talented enough. All they ask is that you come and you listen and you absorb and you try. And where I once felt that having no strong acting training was a setback, here it's actually a good thing. There's nothing to interfere with what they're teaching me. It's an experience...I wanted to write a 'humbling experience' but it's not that. It's a kind voice telling me that I've got what it takes. And who doesn't need that?
Tuesday was weird. I had a 'trial' at my local 24 hour diner. After an hour I told them that I wanted to leave, cause it was too busy (only two waiters and around 40 tables...come on!!!). They convinced me to stay until more waiters arrived at 11am, and it was definitely better. I had three tables, and everything went ok. I even learnt how to carry plates (one would think I should already know this, but at Outback we use big trays that you lift over your shoulder, so I never learnt!). But, after working a full day, when the owner's wife told me I'd passed my trial and to come in tomorrow, I realized I should have discussed hours with her before I started. Turns out, she wanted me to work five 10 hour shifts a week. Umm. No. Waste of a day...aside from my new plate carrying skills and a few tips.
Wednesday was another Outback day, much better than the previous week, mostly due to the fact that it was a lunch shift and the crazy people mainly come out at night.
Thursday was interesting. I had my first ever commercial audition. In front of a camera and everything. They even made me sign a confidentiality agreement, so I could be in jail right now for posting this. But I sat in front of a camera and they told me to look a certain way and say a certain thing and I did it and it was fun. SO much more fun than singing for people...well...so much more fun that audition singing for people! I didn't get the job, but now I've done a commercial audition, so that's pretty cool. That night I saw a play at Atlantic Theatre Company called 'Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling'. I loved it. It was funny and bizarre and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It's on until Sunday if anyone is in New York and gets the chance to see it.
Friday was Repetition practice, singing lesson and Outback. Saturday was Outback. And Sunday was a blessed day of nothingness...except some screenplay writing with the hubby and watching the next Oscars movie in his project (http://mattvstheacademy.blogspot.com/): Saving Private Ryan. Now THAT'S a tearjerker!
And then we're back to Monday and another acting class. And thus begins another crazy week in the life of another frazzled New York City actor. (Yes, I am an actor. Take that self-doubt).
Go get em Kat!
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