It’s the creed of entertainment. Run as fast
as you can when the opportunity presents itself (or someone else might beat you
there) . . . and then wait forever for the next step, next opportunity,
or next piece of direction. It can make even the most stoic talent go
mad. (To quote Tim Burton’s movie, Alice, “But all the best ones
are . . . “ mad, of course!)
You’ve delivered all the packages to their respective
destinations. You’ve check off every item on your to-do list. And
now you must sit . . . wait . . . hope. How can you keep from going
insane? Simple – keep working and growing! Talent who “run &
wait” are never going to make it in entertainment. No one is going to
knock on your door or ring your phone to offer a career to a professional coach
potato! Get out there and continue the path that you started several
weeks back. Active talent meet active industry professionals all the
time, but you have to be OUT in order to meet someone new.
A close friend of mine recently proved this
philosophy when she was let go from a major agency downsizing its staff.
While other former employees were depressed and licking their wounds at home,
my friend (we’ll call her Jane) gave herself one day to wallow in misery.
After her day was up, she was back out hitting the streets, being seen, doing
what she loved to do and what was required in her career. Within weeks,
she had landed a brand new job that she loved all the more than her prior
situation. She was working in the specific part of the industry that
interested her most; she got a phenomenal new boss who valued her skill set;
and she was pulled into a company whose operating philosophies matched her
heart. Despite the downer situation, Jane chose to take the bull by the
horns and place herself strategically to be a sought after commodity . . . and
so she is!
Follow Jane’s lead! Get out there and
continue to build your resume, gain footage for your reel, challenge your skill
set, and grow your network. If your focus is on becoming a more sought
after commodity, you will be found before you know it!
How do you deal with the “wait” part of your career
. . . . are you active?
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