Be where you are.

By now we all know that I relocated to Atlanta from Los Angeles. Recently I encountered an actress (one I have grown to truly respect), who heavily encouraged actors in Atlanta to project their energies towards bigger markets, such as New York and Los Angeles.

Because I’m from the streets and I know what it looks like, I can completely understand why she wants to prepare her students for the “real world.” However, I think it’s valuable to also find the significance where you are present. I won’t ever claim that Atlanta will be equivalent to LA or NY, but this city/region definitely has opportunities for performers. We do have to work harder at finding these fabulous opportunities, but that can be true for any city.

Actors in Atlanta aren’t competing with big name stars. New Orleans actors aren’t up against A-listers. Productions will always need actors for smaller roles. When you live in a smaller city, you get a better chance at booking these jobs. They aren’t going to fly in a SAG actor for an under-5. They will cast someone locally. Also, when you’re in NY or LA, you have be SAG to book these roles. Georgia is a work for hire state. I’m not suggesting you don’t pay your SAG dues, but if you can’t pay them, you still get to work SAG scale and get paid like a SAG actor. THIS IS A BENEFIT LA ACTORS DO NOT GET!!!!

The bottom line is this: Location will never be enough to make it in this industry. And fortunately, your hustle is a transferrable skill. Don’t wait to exert yourself in a new city. Be present where you are and make the most of what God has already blessed you with. Get involved in local theatre. Do some independent projects. When you make it to the big apple or the city of angels, you’ll be ready.

Lastly, I promise you, the big cities aren’t going anywhere. 

Let me tell you a thing or two about working for free.

As an actor, there will be plenty of times (especially in the early days of your career) when you will work for free. I am a seasoned newcomer at this point and I am still working for free from time to time. As writer I wrote for Essence for no monetary compensation. I wrote for HOPE for Women magazine for no money. I have done plays that didn’t pay. I have written for another blogger for no pay. I have done countless film projects for no money, including one just this past weekend, which brings me to the premise of this blog.

IF YOU AGREE TO WORK FOR FREE, WORK LIKE YOU’RE GETTING PAID.

This past weekend, I knew the project was unpaid when I submitted for it. I figured it would be a ten hour day, because filming can take a long time. The call time was 6am (I wasn’t expecting that), but I showed up on time as if there was a clock for me to punch. We didn’t wrap until 9p. You got it. I worked for 15 hours on set for no pay, and as a stand-in. That means my face will never even be seen on the footage. Let me tell you why it was worth it:

·        I moved from LA to Atlanta. So I’m in a new city. I have to start from scratch with networking. I don’t know many filmmakers here so being on this set gave me 15 hours of making around 30 first impressions with people who work in Atlanta and know other Atlanta filmmakers.

·        The director is award-winning.

·        Columbus Short of Scandal was the lead actor.

·        Columbus Short of Scandal was the lead actor.

·        Columbus Short of Scandal was the lead actor, like dude. It was hours of free acting class.

·        One job leads to the next. It’s too soon to tell right now, but I can guarantee that working on that set will lead to a job in the future.

Don’t believe me?

After serving as a stand-in for My Black is Beautiful on BET, I was brought back to work on the show as a model, networked with a photographer and got a free photoshoot, and the casting director cast me in several paid projects after that. Because I have written/write for Essence, I am invited to exclusive events with just the hopes of gaining exposure. After writing for HOPE for Women as nutrition writer, I landed a paid job with a publication due to having that experience. Not to mention that years later, I am now the Online Content Editor for HOPE. I wrote for a blogger, and now I have a bigger (paid) position in her company. After doing an unpaid play, I learned from the playwright and wrote my own show, which generated income.  I did a couple of unpaid shoots for another director and we became friends and now she does all kinds of stuff for me for free, including film/edit my comedy reel. I’ve met people on set who tell me about jobs, opportunities, and casting directors, etc.

Networking is not an activity you set aside time to do. Networking is the result of putting yourself in amazing situations to meet people with similar goals.

I take business cards to set and events (with my face on them) so that people can find it in their pockets later and learn more about me. Everything anyone wants to know about me can be answered at this website. That is the way it is designed!!!

Understand that there is more than one way to be compensated. I believe that education costs. I’m willing to pay with my time, which is why I will work for free. I will act for food.

So if you show up for a job that does not pay you in cash, behave like it’s the biggest paying job you have ever had. Submit your work on time. Show up to set on time. Behave professionally. Be excited to be used. Your performance and enthusiasm will lead you to other projects. I promise you! And if it doesn’t, you haven’t done enough free jobs yet.  

This is one of my favorite songs ever. I think The Dream wrote it for Beyonce. And with it being a new year and all, I figured I'd help you get kicked off to a good start. To my actor friends, keep your pledge for greatness alive. Don't be outworked by a bright-eyed newbie, and use everything you've learned to get to the next level. We've only just begun!


"Schoolin' Life"

This is for them 20 somethings
Time really moves fast, you were just sixteen
This is for them 30 somethings
That didn't turn out exactly how your mom and dad wanted you to be
This is for them 40 somethings
Well raise up your glass and laugh like a motherfucker
This is for them 50 somethings
Hell, you're halfway there, baby take it to the head

Mom and dad tried to hide the world
Said, the world is just too big for a little girl
Eyes wide open, can't you see
I had my first heels by the age of 13
Mom and dad tried to hide the boys
I swear that just made them want me more
At 14 they asked me what I wanna be,
I said "Baby 21, so I'd get me a drink."

I'm not a teacher, babe
But I can teach you something
Not a preacher
But we can pray if you wanna
Ain't a doctor
But I can make you feel better
But I'm great at writing physical love letters
I'm a freak, all day, all night
Hot, top, flight
Boy out of sight
And I'm crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you're schoolin' life?

Oh oh oh
Schoolin' life...
Oh oh oh...
Schoolin' life...

This is for them pretty somethings
Living in a fast lane, see you when you crash babe
This is for them sexy somethings
That body ain't gon' always get ya out of everything
This is for them bitter somethings
Stop living in regret, baby, it's not over yet
And this is for them trippin' somethings
That's high on life, baby, put me on your flight

I'm not a teacher, babe
But I can teach you something
Not a preacher
But we can pray if you wanna
Ain't a doctor
But I can make you feel better
But I'm great at writing physical love letters
I'm a freak, all day, all night
Hot, top, flight
Boy out of sight
And I'm crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you're schoolin' life?

Oh oh oh
Schoolin' life...
Oh oh oh...
Schoolin' life...

You know it costs to be the boss
One day you'll run the town
For now make your life what you decide
Baby, party 'til the fire marshalls shut this sucker down

I'm not a teacher, babe
But I can teach you something
Not a preacher
But we can pray if you wanna
Ain't a doctor
But I can make you feel better
But I'm great at writing physical love letters
I'm a freak, all day, all night
Hot, top, flight
Boy out of sight
And I'm crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you're schoolin' life?

Oh oh oh
Who needs a degree when you're schoolin' life?
Oh oh oh...
Who needs a degree when you're schoolin' life?

There's not a real way to live this... for real
Just remember stay relentless... oh yeah, oh yeah
Don't stop running until it's finished, yeah yeah... yeah
It's up to you, the rest is unwritten
Yea
Yea
Yea