Over the years, I have had a number of former students tell me that they are no longer pursuing acting professionally. Some have become therapists. Others have gone into psychology, social work, education, writing, business, or entirely different professions. The conversations are often complicated because underneath the decision to move on from acting, there can be a profound sense of loss. After years of training and sacrifice, there is often an unspoken question: Was all of that time...

Actors spend an enormous amount of time waiting for permission. Permission to work, permission to be seen, permission to call themselves professional. Permission from an agent, casting director, director, producer, or somebody else sitting on the other side of the table. Over time, this can create a terrible relationship wtih auditioning. Instead of walking into the room as an artist with something to offer, the actor walks in hoping to be chosen. An audition is not a tryout. You are not...

Talent is not enough. It is actually low on the importance scale. Actors don't always like hearing that because talent feels important. It is the thing we associate most closely with artistic potential, and of course, talent matters. But this profession is filled with talented people who never work. It’s also filled with untalented people who work all the time because they bust their ass and are excellent collaborators. This trumps talent all of the time. Over the course of a career, what...