I wonder does she like me?

It's okay that everyone doesn't "like" you.  It's okay that everyone doesn't want to be your "friend".  It's okay if everyone doesn't "approve" of what you do.  AND...it is rather fantastic IF everyone does "like, friend,  and approve" of you.  Who is this mysterious everyone -- actors, writers, casting directors, directors, producers, acting teachers, voice teachers, singing teachers, the audience viewing your work...and this list is infinite.  It doesn't matter if they like ya (have I said it enough?!) 

What matters is that you go and do your job.  My definition of job -- performing or executing your skills to the best of your ability based on your current level of experience.  Emphasis on current level of experience.

Why wait until...."you get better" or "you train longer" or "someone says great" or "you're back in shape" or "you've returned to where you USED to be".  All that that thinking does is stop your growth and progress.  I am guilty of the above statements and 100 more and I am learning that if I just do my job I will get better.

I attended a workshop a couple of weeks ago and the CD could have cared less about being anyones friend.  She was there to do a job.  Her job is to cast tv shows, not make actors feel good or valid them. She had a no bullshit attitude yet she wanted us to all win.  She wanted us to do our best; and did a great job in communicating how best we could do our jobs better.

Knowing that all she cared about was the work made it easier to do the work.  I didn't get all sensitive and wonder does she like me? Oh shit, am I not talented enough?  It was much easier to do my job by focusing on my job and out external crap that I can't control.  I nailed the first reading of the scene and for fun she gave an adjustment and I took the adjustment and nailed that too!  Yes, I did receive positive feedback and yes positive feedback aided in ability to take her direction. But the scene went well because I did MY best and I felt great about what I executed.  I had a certainty about what I was going to do.

As artists we desire a career in a field that is overgrown with opinionated folks and its a career that cannot, nor should, be done alone.  So we train and study and audition and invite professionals to critique what we do in efforts to grow and become the best we can.  Problems arise when we (sub)consciously also seek validation from them.

Don't look outward for validation.  Having certainty in the skills you have and having certainty that you will grow and excel is what's important.

All the gurus and masters we look to to get us to the next level in our journey ain't worth a dime if we don't lead with certainty and self-assurance.

 

DKT