One Week In.

(My mother reads my blogs regularly and told me I should post a pic of myself as a little girl, so here I am!)

Sooo... this week got away from me.  I can't believe it's already Friday! 

I did pretty well with my office hours this week (3 outta 5 ain't bad), and was very productive.  I haven't yet finished my goals, but that's okay, it usually takes me a while.  I HAVE been thinking about them and writing down lots of notes.  I've been working on my reel, and putting together a marketing plan.  I'm giving myself a week to get that done, but whenever I start to feel anxious (i.e. "OMG, it's FRIDAY, it's 9 days into 2009, and I haven't completed ANYTHING!")  I just stop and breathe.  Everything is exactly as it should be.  Breathing deeply is like pressing the 'reset' button.  In...Out...

I had my first audition of the year yesterday - a commercial audition for 'Off!' insect spray.  A lot of times I see the same actors and actresses in the waiting room (esp. if they are looking for black people), but I saw a whole 'new' (well, new to me) crop of black actors and actresses this time.  There was only one that I had seen before (and see in two commercials that are running right now).  We are with the same commercial agency, but totally different types.  The audition was fun.  Anybody's game.  We'll see...

I will NOT be going to Washington D. C. for the inauguration.  I got a formal job offer for a production gig that would place me in the city during the event, but they wanted me to work as a local hire, which would have meant paying my own airfare & finding somewhere to stay.  If I wanted to pay my own airfare and find my own place to stay.  Forget the fact that finding somewhere to stay is impossible right now, it would TOTALLY not be cost-effective for me to do that, and if I work, I'm not trying to lose money.  So I'll be here in Los Angeles, watching our new president take the oath on TV, which is fine because this allows me to take Holly Powell's audition workshop starting next week.  I'm really excited about it because I feel like this will teach me some skills that I didn't even realize were missing until I took her free workshop and the light bulb came on.

Because it's a new year and lots of people make resolutions or re-evaluate their goals, I've gotten several phone calls/ emails from people asking me to help them take their career to the next level.  People have helped me, and I certainly want to share with others, but knowing that there are 4 people who want to have lunch next week (even if they pay) to discuss how they can move ahead in their careers and 'pick my brain' is a bit daunting.  I don't purport to be an expert and while I can share what I do know, I really don't have that kind of time to just shoot the breeze at Olive Garden, or wherever.  I'm still trying to take myself to the next level.  Plus being in 'people person' mode makes me tired.  That's the biggest issue.  I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it.  Maybe I can do phone conversations with a couple, and email conversations with the other two.  I don't want to be rude or anything - these are people that I like, but I think it's gonna throw me off-kilter.  It's too much.  Probably strange in an industry where everyone assumes everyone else likes to "see and be seen", but I would be perfectly happy to act, go home, and get paid.  I'd like to get dolled up and look pretty on a red carpet, but I think an interview would need to be followed up with a Xanax and a glass of Ballatore (yes, cheap champagne - I think "Cristal" tastes like what I imagine pee tastes like).  It's neurotic, but it's neurosis I can live with.

Alright, I HAVE to go to the grocery store.  Pretty much all I have are raisins, and Cupid and Gherkin might beak me to death in my sleep if I eat those, so I have to go shop.

Talk tomorrow!

--Nicole J. Butler

Comments

[Sis Ivd]

Really cute picture! Put what you have learned about the acting process in a book and sell it to these people. :)

[WhenIGrowUpCoach]

Good for you in recognizing that you need to say "no" to those lunches - although I hope you acknowledged yourself that you got asked by so many to begin with!