Will act (or coach) for food

The “rent job” is ending in two weeks and Sami is in full on crisis mode.

For the past 10.5 months, I have been working with the US Census as a Partnership Assistant. It has been a positively kick-ass, perfect-for-me job as I got to work from home, would get assignments and would then be trusted to get them done on my own plus it paid decently. And it is about to be over.

Now what?

Normally I wouldn’t panic because I have always had my coaching students to fall back on. I have been an acting coach for over a decade now and have been fortunate that they always seemed to fall from the heavens just as I needed some extra fundage. But thanks to the awesome “real job” I have had for the past almost year, I have not had much time to coach nor advertise my coaching and therefore have next to no one lined up. Couple that with the toilet the economy has been swirling in and the prospects for new students seem as likely as my being asked to the Prom next spring.

But a girl can dream, can’t she?

In my panic-driven work frenzy today, my brain was working on all the ways I can increase my student base while still being able to help out my buds and somehow ending up ahead (financially speaking) in the process.  Then I remembered something I had actually learned in Real Estate training years ago; no one will come to you for your expert advice if they don’t know they need it.

Just a few weeks ago, I was coordinating auditions for GFS and I saw actor and actor making STUPID mistakes that potentially hurt their chances of getting cast before the audition even started. Are these people moronic divas? Probably not. Most likely they just don’t know any better.

That is where I come in.

I have decided to write a monthly newsletter (aimed mostly at “newbie” theatre artisans) that will address the whos, whats, whys, wheres and for-the-love-of-god-don’t-do-that’s of acting and auditioning. And it will be free.

Then how are you supposed to pay your rent, Sami, if you don’t charge for the newsletter?

Well, honestly, I am not sure. I hope that I generate enough interest in the newsletter that maybe someday it pays for itself. Maybe it will be just a form of advertising. Who knows? What I do know is that this is the most “right” any crazy idea I have ever had has felt. And I have had a few. So now I get to interview directors and actors, compile audition tips, gather some monologue choices and write the bejesus out of this bugger.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to research how much great ideas are going for these days.