This is in relation to a conversation I had with my agent. She met me at a gig recently and we got to talking about the industry.
A little background. Without going into it sounding arrogant - I was and still am a professional performer - in music, theater, and film.
What's a professional? Someone who gets paid. Period.
I can go on. I won't. The Lord has a means of making us all humble. For teenagers and young adults who believe the apex of high art is twinkies and beefcakes playing fruity vampires and whatever else on the silver screen, this will be completely incomprehensible.
Here is the stark reality in numbers, and this is not meant to sway the young reader or the dreamer, because the world is full of them - including myself aspiring to be an author of not just any novel, but a classic as big as MobyDick, a motorcycle racer as fast as King Kenny Roberts, an actor of great renown of which there is not.
The reality is however, that while I may very have all of the traits of having these characteristics, the likelihood of ever becoming rich and famous is small. And for you, perhaps even smaller and I have been wrong many time before.
By the numbers, using the very popular and often generous 80/20 rules:
But the world is made of dreamers, and in order for those dreamers to live on, they must love what they do, and live humbly. Be extraordinary. Attend a class or two, and a seminar. Do public and free stuff, because agents in all fields need to know that you are serious, knowing that you are "out there"
A little background. Without going into it sounding arrogant - I was and still am a professional performer - in music, theater, and film.
What's a professional? Someone who gets paid. Period.
I can go on. I won't. The Lord has a means of making us all humble. For teenagers and young adults who believe the apex of high art is twinkies and beefcakes playing fruity vampires and whatever else on the silver screen, this will be completely incomprehensible.
Here is the stark reality in numbers, and this is not meant to sway the young reader or the dreamer, because the world is full of them - including myself aspiring to be an author of not just any novel, but a classic as big as MobyDick, a motorcycle racer as fast as King Kenny Roberts, an actor of great renown of which there is not.
The reality is however, that while I may very have all of the traits of having these characteristics, the likelihood of ever becoming rich and famous is small. And for you, perhaps even smaller and I have been wrong many time before.
By the numbers, using the very popular and often generous 80/20 rules:
- 80% of everyone would love to be rich and famous.
- 20% of those 80% doing something about it.
- 80% of those are involved in their craft and not making money.
- 80% of those who are not making money do not attend classes or seminars.
- 80% of those who do attend seminars in their crafts are socially awkward.
- 20% of those who are not believe they deserve to be rich and famous.
- 80% of those people, due largely to their egos never work in this town again.
- 20% of these people go back home to mama with their tails between their legs.
- 80% of the professionals keep doing it while working other jobs.
- 80% of those who do not are still living at home.
- 20% of these have accepted reality.
- 100% of the Universities that have advanced degrees in theater, film, literature, dance will never ever refund the tuition that the banks forked over to them on your behalf.
But the world is made of dreamers, and in order for those dreamers to live on, they must love what they do, and live humbly. Be extraordinary. Attend a class or two, and a seminar. Do public and free stuff, because agents in all fields need to know that you are serious, knowing that you are "out there"
Which reminds me that i need to "take a meeting" with your agent . . .
ReplyDeleteI never finished this BS and was tempted to not even write it. I do not wish to diminish the dreams of others. Scare them out of a potential nightmare, yes.
ReplyDelete