Find A Home

In my last post at edwardgusts.wordpress.com  I mentioned the need to find a home as an actor.

I would like to explain why.

If you are a professional actor; (which to me simply means that you are working on your career and are committed to it) you will possibly face some rejection.

People may try to disempower you, people may be rude, or they may just be busy.

It is very unlikely that they will be concerned about nurturing your talent.

They are just too busy.


Now, as an actor, your job is to be emotionally available. A thin skinned ball of emotion who must also arrive on time, behave professionally, and then not get emotional when kept waiting, yelled at, mocked, ignored,rejected, stood up, or treated like a moron.


I don't think that actors are the crazy ones.

But the industry is what it is, and it is very rare for us to get the validation tht we deserve for doing such a ridiculously difficult job.

The general rule on many sets is that if the director doesn't speak to you, they like what you are doing.

So, what do we do?

Therapy can get expensive, mom and dad may not be supportive, and eventually your significant other will get tired of you sobbing every time you arrive at their apartment.

I think that we need to find a home.

A place where you can be an artist. A place where talent matters. A place where you have comrades in arms who get it and have been through it themselves. A place where you feel validated.

Your acting home can be anywhere.

You can get together with a couple of friends and do scene study once a week.

Home can be a class. I would, however; recommend a class that is focused on artistic growth over booking technique and marketing. I would definitely avoid using a casting director workshop for an artistic home.

You can become part of a theater company. Make sure that it's one you love.

Hell, you can start your own theater company, or support group, or whatever. Just create a space where you can do your work, and realize that you are not alone.

I'm going house hunting today.

Edward