George Bruno's Lounge Discussions

I am on "first refusal" for a bank commercial in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is NOT a confirmed booking. FYI for my younger/new commercial acting friends: What that means is simply that the client is interested in using you, isn't sure if they will use you, but would like for you to hold the desired day/time for them. However, as the talent, you are not committed to the project and, if something comes up for you, it's okay. You just call to indicate you are no longer available. This is where a bird in hand is worth more than two in a bush. A sure-thing booking would take precedence over a first refusal in the sense that it is sure income,...HOWEVER you roll the dice by keeping those days blocked out if it is great pay. Sometimes it's worth it to take the chance depending on your risk comfort level.

BOOKED! Training film as older experienced exec. Honestly....about a year of NOT coloring my hair has been a great business decision. I've always had great audio (voice) and it's really fine tuning since I hit 50, now the viusal is catching up; the grey, the deeper character lines, etc. Don't fear aging. It really does get better and better every year if you take care of yourself. Now you just play the parent of all the hot people, lol. I can't wait for the grandparent roles in about 10 years. When I turned 50, my agent said I have a good 20-25 yrs of solid work ahead of me and it's been all uphill since. Guys: Don't color. Ladies: I'm not a fan of color, but it all depends on your goals in the visual industry. I tend to think change makeup, hair, and clothing styles. I havent met many women who stopped coloring who longed to go back to color.

It's MARKETING MONDAY! You're Chips & Salsa person in various supermarkets for 35 hrs a week and may be on set for 2 hrs a month if ur lucky, but when someone says "What do you do?" You say "I'm an actor or mode"l? I mow grass and weed wack 2 hrs a week. By those same standards, I must be a landscaper. That's the delusion of acting. It's not going to happen just because you keep saying it, post it on facebook, or that's your title on your LinkedIn page. Again people hoping they're going to be found, but not based on reality. To go from hoping to being, the actions have to be there along with the hope. I know people that have had that "method" for ten years and they keep getting the same result. They get invited to "act" in every bad, free, or deferred film project with a red carpet and backdrop at a Holiday Inn. There is nothing wrong with any of that if that's your intention. But the "I'm an actor or model" people in every city who hang out with the "I'm an actor or model" people are the ones I'm addressing. How is 2013 different? How's that agent workin' for ya? New agent? I bet they're just kickin' your door down, right? Offended? Good. That's a start, because it's W-2 & 1099 time of year now. That calculator is not exactly on fire is it? Now take that frustration and reality check. Sick and Tired of the same results can be a good place to begin. I'll ask again; How will 2013 be different? What is different on your calendar today, than one year ago today? two, three, four, five years ago? I already know the answer. Challenge your limits. Is a geographic move in your future? Is a "type" change feasible? Just a couple things to consider. No, it's not your agent. No, it's not that you need to take more/better classes. No, it's not more LinkedIn friends, happy hours disguised as networking events, or better business cards. I think you know what you need to do.

Never quit because of a bad day. Have a bad year? ..then maybe stop and re-think. Sometimes it's not you. Sometimes it's the market. Picture yourself on Shark Tank trying to sell YOU to a consumer. It changes your perspective. The market couldn't care less if you're an "artist" following your passion. What do you have that the market wants or someone (artist, manager, producer) could sell or utilize. Put that in your "Do what you love and the money will follow pipe" and smoke it. I smoked that nonsense for years and got the same result and had to work a thousand jobs to make end meet.

Draw a circle on paper. List inside that circle that which is normal, comfortable, easy, not much of a challenge. The circle populates pretty quickly, right?. Outside that circle are the things that you are not good at yet, things that scare you, relationships and business decisions that you aspire to, etc. You are inside that circle and the closer to the line you get, the more uncomfortable you become. Travel over the line for an hour or two, to get the feeling of being in a foreign land, then scoot back inside and wipe the sweat off. Pitch a tent there and spend the night there every now and again. Your goals and dreams are on the other side of the line, not within your circle. Last year, I "sold" my house and moved across the line in faith to at one time, wouldve been total discomfort, edgy, unfamiliar territory. Now that is all "normal" to me and my original circle is magically larger now. What scared the sh out of me is now normal, familiar, and easy. But as my circle got bigger, I developed a desire to always be looking beyond my new lines and pitch a tent on the other side of that line. For me, real growth began at 50. I mastered things that were completely foreign as little as three years ago. I live in a tent now that I can pitch anywhere I want. I can leave the campground and move on, but I take with me the new confidence, skills, competence, and ice-breaking ability that'll equip me for a new land. I sleep well now with uncertainty, can rest well in a foreign land, and realize the only guarantees I have are the ones I create. I take my kids and friends with me everytime I "move". They witness insane goal making, but are there as well to see those goals realized. When I am witness to others doing that, it inspires me to pack it up and "move". Growth and goals are outside that circle called the comfort zone. There is no other way.