On Sunday, July 1st, I had the honor of being a featured storyteller at Here’s the Story, at Stage 773 on Belmont. 
HtS’s mission  is “to bring together Chicago’s various creative communities, to connect with one another, to foster the art of telling and listening, to provide a platform of support for the work of known and developing storytellers, monologists, and solo performers.”

The program opens with each audience member turning to someone he/she doesn’t know and sharing a two minute story.  Five featured tellers, who get 10 to 12 minutes, alternate with five walkups, who get five to six minutes each.  The audience gets 50 points to vote on the walkups. Whoever gets the most points is invited back as a featured storyteller the next month.

I’ve given many workshops and performed at numerous venues.  I was on National Appellate Team in law school (we came in second nationwide out of around 150 teams) and speech team in high school.  So I assumed telling a story would be fairly easy. 

Storytellers at some other local events read word for word from printed pages.  But HtS prefers no pages.  Not even notes.  Preparing turned out to be more challenging than I’d expected.

My topic was “The Most Rejected Person in America,” because as a writer and actress (who also collected many rejections during 15+ years in sales) on any given day I could be rejected by, among others, casting directors, editors, clients and/or producers.  I wrote a synopsis of the things I wanted to cover, and felt attached to the written page. I didn’t want to go out of order or miss a key point. 

My friend Darren Stephens was also a featured teller.  We got together the night before to rehearse and critique each other’s stories.  That proved very helpful, revealing things that needed clarification, and where to elaborate, add or make cuts.  We still didn’t feel quite ready, so we rehearsed and critiqued by phone on Sunday.  And then again later in the afternoon…in addition to individual work.  We smoothed out our tales, tied sections together with good transitions and developed an emotional ebb and flow intended to keep the many audience members on the edges of their seats. 

The preparation paid off.  Both of us (and other storytellers) got laughs–in the right places–and compliments afterward.  Listen to the podcast, which will be available soon, to hear the final product.

I haven’t taken that many vacations since I became a feelancer. Why? Because every time I have, I’ve missed opportunities for auditions and work. Because I never know when a significant project will pop up. For example, I recently got a large VO project due in July.

For many years I’ve taken a trip to Romance Writers of America’s national conference. I say trip, not vacation, because the conference is so jam-packed with activities (from workshops to keynote speakers to book signings to appointments with editors and agents to catching up with and making new friends) that the day might start with an early morning breakfast meeting and continue through a late-night party. Yes, parties are fun, but because of the need to be “on,” not exactly relaxing. A friend and I stayed for a few days after the New York conference last year to see several shows….basically a long weekend, which was a lot of fun.

This year’s conference is in a few weeks in Anaheim. I’ve decided not to make another trek to California. I’d rather be right on the beach enjoying the setting and restaurants than spend the vast majority of my California time in a hotel near Disneyland.

And to get the most out of the events, I’d miss 4 weekdays. That may not sound like a lot to some who get paid vacation, but a big audition can pop up at any time. If I get a callback, my agent and the casting agency will know, which I might prove beneficial with future auditions. If I book the job, it means income and new/reinforced connections, and shows my agent, the casting agency, the production company and the client that I can do the work.

The occasional weekend getaway is the answer.  On the one hand, I might still miss work.  The Biography Channel pilot I’m working on shoots on a Friday and Saturday. I didn’t know if my character would be needed those days when I accepted the role. On the other hand, everyone needs time off, away from thinking about work and typing for hours on a computer responding to client emails, recording, editing and sending audio files.

When and where will my next weekend getaway be?

Computer technology changes so quickly that it’s easy to fall behind or miss out on useful features.  I confess I tend to put off computer-y things.  As mentioned before, I don’t like trial and error and have found that many tutorials are slow-paced or take too long to get to or don’t cover what I want to know.  In the past week alone, it’s become clear that I need to spend more time learning and utilizing several sites, programs, etc. 

I’m a bit leery about diving into these as yet barely charted waters, but….

1) Twitter.  I already have some followers and keep hearing how this or that person connected with or learned from following some industry professional.  Yet so far, I’ve found reading tweets confusing and mostly uninformative.  And there are so many!  I haven’t thought of anything useful to say.  To me, it’s slightly annoying when tweets go directly to Facebook and you see a bunch in a row.  So I need to learn how to tweet effectively and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

2) WordPress.  So that I (or with a friend’s help) can quickly and more frequently update and add to my voiceover/on-camera site, my designer is transferring it to WordPress.  More than one person has said it’s easy to use, but I had trouble figuring out Weebly and I’ve heard WordPress is more challenging.  The few things I’ve heard have been mentioned people who know what they’re doing vs. explaining in layman’s terms.  

3)  Cloud computing.  I do some, but options and ways to organize are numerous and confusing.  And I’m not sure how to benefit from some of the features of sites I’m on.  

What do you need to learn?

When you get a song stuck in your head, how do you get rid of it? Some suggest thinking of another song, such as the theme from Gilligan’s Island. But that might get stuck in your head, which could be more annoying than the song you replayed before….

And how do you let go of or stop thinking about something important going on in your (or a close friend’s or family member’s) life, such as a huge audition, job interview or upcoming major decision? Often the higher the stakes of a given opportunity, the greater the possibility it could change your life or the more you want it, the more fretting or freaking out beforehand. The more dwelling and ruminating afterward…until you find out if you did or didn’t get it, or enough time passes that you’re comfortable that you made the right choice.

Preparation helps ease stress. Having a friend discuss options, approaches or pros/cons, run lines before an audition or ask those “where do you see yourself in five years” questions to force you to rehearse out loud can enhance confidence. Concentrating on enthusiasm instead of nerves, deep breathing and/or keeping busy so you focus on the task at hand are additional approaches.  Believe you’ve done the best you can.

On the other hand, learning from any mistakes may make you feel better about the next time. At recent auditions I’ve heard things like, “I should’ve worked more on those lines.”

So perhaps the most effective approach is to be in and enjoy the moment you’re in right now. Staying in your head, letting nerves get the best of you while auditioning or interviewing won’t help you do better. Neither worrying about what ifs of the future nor living in the past enhance today.

This, of course, is sometimes easier said than done. “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale…”

How can you not think about that song now?

Today is a first…three on-camera auditions at three locations in 75 minutes.  I got the first audition, for a pilot, on the 29th.  I found out about the second, an industrial, at around 1:30 yesterday.  And the third, another industrial, at 4:30.  I never know when the phone will ring or for what.  

Sometimes they offer an audition time range, say 11-1, and you can choose a time.  Other times, especially if the audition is at one of the big three casting agencies, you’re given a specific slot and can’t switch.  Because the time for the third conflicted with the second, I had to quickly see if I could reschedule.  I could.  I don’t know if it would’ve worked out if I hadn’t been available to take the call about #3. 

I don’t want to say no to an agent and miss out on an opportunity.  The bigger the job, the more I want to go. Not only do I have to be available for the audition, but also for the shoot date(s). And if there’s a callback, that too. Sometimes they’ll just say, “The callback is on Thursday,” and not give a time frame.  I’m grateful for my flexible schedule. Though one shoot date may conflict with a VO booking I already have….

The three locations aren’t too far apart, but if one place is running behind, getting to the next might be a challenge.  I can’t let the pressure of being on time interfere with being in the moment.

#1 is a few short lines to memorize, with a Southern accent.  #2 requires the use of my ear prompter…a small tape recorder onto which I record the 2+ minute script.  Then via an earphone like news anchors wear, I play the recording back and repeat what I say, trying not to lose my place or look like a deer in the headlights as I listen to my voice.  Try this with radio news…repeat what the anchor says. 

I’m not quite sure how #3 will work because the script involves several people.  Sometimes they’ll have a reader go through it with me, other times I’ll audition with other actors.  We may or may not have a few minutes to rehearse.   

Stay tuned…

As a Gainfully Unemployed feelancer, each week brings a variety of projects.  Which means I need to complete a variety of tasks on my computer and/or laptop–from recording, editing and uploading voice files to scanning and sending documents, printing in black/white or color, using FTP, the Internet for research or ordering supplies, social media like Facebook (anyone know how to get texts when an organization, such as a casting agency, not an individual friend, updates its status?  I somehow set a few up to do that, but now can’t find the way), email, Word, Excel and/or PowerPoint, business card programs, etc. 

Challenges can arise when I need to do something not in my computer skills repertoire, especially if it requires software I don’t already own.  I’m not great with trial and error, and the plethora of options and online tutorials can be confusing or not have the answer to my question.  When it comes to new technology,  I don’t have a long fuse, and can become frustrated if it takes a long time to get the software to do what I want it to do.
 
Today I need to rip a clip from a (not copyright protected) DVD of a cable TV show I hosted to add to my on-camera reel.  Ripping DVDs can’t be that hard, right?

I thought I already had a program, which I found and opened.  So far, so good.  I figured out how to copy my DVD onto another DVD, but despite visiting the cryptic help center, going online and trying several things, couldn’t figure out how to copy it to my computer or extract the clip I wanted.  I looked for videos, but the ones I found were about copying files from your hard drive to a DVD.  A couple of articles had too many steps I wasn’t sure how to follow.

Too much time later, I still had nothing.  Which, I confess, made me feel a little less smart.  But I knew how to feel smarter: ask a skilled friend for help.  And offer to do a favor in return.

Moral of the story:  Sometimes it’s better to ask someone to do a task for you or show you how than spend your valuable time and brain power trying to be independent.  

A versatile working actor’s schedule can change at the drop of a hat. Take yesterday.

I’d already given my availability Wednesday and Thursday for a job (that might be print, VO and/or on-camera), so they had first dibs. Late afternoon Monday, I got a check avail/put times on hold for a different VO that would record early Wednesday morning.  (I hadn’t even auditioned for it, which means they probably chose me from my demos.) 

I contacted the first opportunity, but they still weren’t sure about scheduling. So I tried to buy time with the second.

Then Monday at 11:59pm, I got an email about a TV commercial audition Wednesday at 1:15, which I’d be able to make if I got the second job assuming my session was early enough, but might not be able to make if I got the first job.

Late Tuesday morning, the second said if they didn’t hear within an hour, they’d have to go with another talent. Fortunately the first got back to me in the nick of time, saying they didn’t need me Wednesday, but would later in the week. I contacted the second and within an hour was booked.

Whew. This time it looked like I’d get both gigs. Sometimes when more than one client checks availability, I end up with neither…because of scheduling issues or because the client (which could be one person or several) is considering a few talents and goes a different direction.

The script arrived around 5pm Tuesday. I found out that I and a male VO I’ve worked with before were to play multiple roles.  We were advised to review them all. I do a lot of straight, serious narration, so this was an opportunity to stretch my comedic character wings and do several within one project.  

Often I record alone, even if my character is having a conversation with another. The guy’s session was first, so we assumed we’d pass like ships in the night. But when I arrived, they had him stay so we could record some dialogue and other bits together.  I also sang a short, funny song with the client.

I enjoy all VO jobs. But it’s more fun to interact with other talent, and I think it’s easier to react and results in better timing for the actors and the engineers.  It’s also easier for  to have different reactions on the second take, because you can respond in real time to the other person/people instead of making up something in your head.
Since we both recorded some of the roles, I’m really looking forward to hearing the final version, fully produced with sound effects and music.

Some of us are more trusting than others.  I think trust is like a bank.  People–whether family, friends, relatives, significant others, clients, or service providers from the cable guy to politicians–add to or delete funds from their  account through their words and actions.

If someone keeps a promise, does what he/she says, perhaps goes beyond the call, the balance increases.  One of America’s basic legal tenets is “innocent until proven guilty.”  We may believe what someone tells us…until we receive proof to the contrary, which results in a withdrawal.  What will that person have to do to restore trust?  What will we have to do if we want to forgive?     

At times people have a good reason for not following through.  If we receive what we consider to be sufficient notice or explanation, their trust balance may remain unchanged. 

Most of us want to believe people have good intentions, are honest and reliable.  Sometiemes life shows us otherwise.  We might trust the wrong people.  Being betrayed hurts, and can make us wonder why we didn’t see it coming.  In some cases, trust is a leap of faith, and only time will tell if we made a good decision.

Feelancers can have trust issues.  New clients may wonder if we’ll deliver a quality product on time.  We may wonder if a client will pay.  Sometimes the more people involved in a project, the more room for misinformation, miscommunication and misunderstanding, which can lead to less trust.   

Has my law degree has made me more skeptical or more realistic?  Unfortunately, I’ve seen evidence that some may breach contracts, lie, and/or commit a crime(s) knowing the pursuit of justice will probably cost more time, money, effort and stress than whatever was lost. Or that, given the vagaries of the legal system, they might win any legal proceeding and not be penalized.  Others knowingly manipulate by taking advantage of weaknesses.  How do these people look at themselves in the mirror and sleep at night?   

A recent example: the Dixon, Illinois comptroller who embezzled millions. 

Since the first Olympics, which supposedly were circa 776 BC, or perhaps before, society has rewarded the best.  The proliferation of awards shows such as the Academy Awards and the Grammys, reality TV shows such as American Idol  and the vast amount of publicity surrounding them, show that while being successful in your field is great, more value is placed on the finalists and the most on the winners.  America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway even had an All Stars cycle to honor the best of the best.

I remember wanting to be best at something from a young age.  Many might say just enjoy the journey, it’s doing your best, not being best that counts, etc.  But then there’s also winners never quit, quitters never win.
Last year my medieval At His Command won Romance Writers of America’s® Golden Heart® award for best unpublished inspirational manuscript.  What an amazing night.  But being the best can be fleeting.  My name/picture is still on the website, but now there’s a new crop of finalists.  Some 2011 finalists finaled again this year.  A good number of my fellow finalists have acquired an agent and/or sold, some more than one book.  I’m still working on that.  What can I be the best at right now?

Maybe it’s helping friends edit and finish their manuscripts.  There’s no award that I know of for best critiquer, but many thank me in their books, though that’s not my goal.  I truly enjoy critiquing, offering suggestions and especially finding typos. 

But I wonder who’s been thanked the in the most books for contributions and/or support and encouragement?  Among the authors who’ve thanked me are NYT and USA Today bestseller Simone Elkeles and NYT bestseller Tracy Anne Warren, who thanked me in The Husband Trap.  Simone has thanked me in many of her books, and even dedicated Leaving Paradise to me.

Recently I critiqued a proposal for another multi-published friend Terri Reed, who thanked me in The Secret Heiress.  And after commenting via track changes, I’ve been talking through things and motivating another friend to finish his first book.  I’m expecting a couple of more projects to critique.  It can be time consuming, but also rewarding.     

Of course, some friends have helped me in return by reviewing parts of my manuscripts.  I just don’t have any published novels to thank them in yet.  I look forward to the day when I can.