Blue Valentines

Tonight I have filled out a couple applications and sent resumes to jobs on craigslist.  Hit up Counter Burger, Labor ready, and a few others.  I did the abb ripper tonight off of P-90x.  Today got started way to late, but I did scrunch and it get a few things done at its closing, work happened, sort of Id like to improve what it is Im calling work and what constitutes work.  I dont want to talk about what I need to do to much, but tyding up the resume and writing the cover letter need to happen for sending out hard copys.  I sort of got distracted from that, but not by dumb stuff, I have been doing some reading and studying lately and looking more into open calls.  While sending out my stuff is probably a really good idea and I wont second guess it, actually searching and auditioning for things that you can online or in person by just showing up needs to be taken advantage of to(open calls), and it is usually for free if you find it.  I think sending the submissions out is a good idea too, for as many regular jobs Im applying for, I ought to be getting my resume and face in the door of agents and casting directors too.  There are a few things I didnt do tonight, I didnt watch tv or check on fantasy football.  Those are small things and having focus comes with more than just avoiding that, but by limiting my distractions I hope to get much more done.  Focus is needed now, to press on, and to bounce back from things.  Im out of things to say because Im trying to practice doing over planning.  Have a good night everybody, and may persistance, hope, and strength guide the way.
-Blue Valentines

Old School to New

Theres this guy, he smokes a ciggarrette and stands next to his bike every day before he drives home to silver lake. I cant remember his name, I want to say its Dave, but its probably not. Tonight was the third run of our play angels academy. We only had two people in the audience so needless to say that was kind of dissapointing. Ive realized that I have a lot to work on as far as being a team player, smaller roles have always been a challenge for me. Ive done quite a bit of extra work lately, well at least I do get booked on most of the days that I leave available. Tomorrow I start my improv comedy class with Taylor. I think this will be a good way to practice my skills as an actor, and learn how to do long form improv. I have three soccer classes on saturday. Id like to get to know this city better. One of my castmates is in the gayest christmas pagent ever and I think that its awesome. Emily is in a burlesque show at the house of blues next tuesday and I plan on attending that.
I wrote that on 11/1/11.  I dont really remember why I didnt post it this.

I ran into the guy that rides the bike and smokes ciggarrette again.  He is sort of my Max Fisher off of Rushmore.  I hardly know anything about this guy, but when you see him like when Bill Murray saw Max Fisher and says, "Whats the secret Max." He is now looking into getting rid of his bike for safety issues and transferring to a car.  He had some good things to say.  He said that lots of people out here are working odd jobs to make it, a good percent of the population.  And those that are actors hopefully can find some joy in their acting work to keep them going even with all that.  He said a large majority of people have to go home and come back, and theres also a big group of people that are able to just stay out here in the biz.  Now this dude is an immigrant who rides a bike works a full time job and is going to school, he is not an expert in acting or the biz but I value his insight.  He said you have to keep trying, that it is very competitive and it could take 10-15 years to make it, or before you are actually known.  I thought about what he said.  The one thing that Im not so sure I have found trying to work in the business is joy.  But I also feel that all my eggs have been in one basket, and think once I try to contact some new people that might change a little, so i have not lost hope on that.  I dont know what else.  Just glad I ran into the dude.  I ordered some new headshots today that I am going to send to agents and casting directors that I have not contacted before.  Hitting the cd of superbad, knocked up, always sunny in philidelphia, glee, few other shows and  then just some agents that I have seen on the boards at auditions.  I think seeking new representation and hopefully landing my own meeting with some casting directors without the middle man is a good step.  The only thing Im confident on in my mailings is that I will be hitting up some people that may want my type, and it is a type in films or shows that I can play.  Other than that I dont know much, except that by not putting all my eggs in one basket it will increase my chances of getting auditions that fit my type.  The ones I am getting right now just arent the right roles, but thats ok, its why Im seeking elsewhere.

No Name

This is an impulsive blog so I'll make it short and sweet.  Something happened tonight that Im not proud of, (nothing to be concerned about) I wont mention what it was because Im tired of giving a name to idotic things Ive done.  I dont know where this post is going.  Too many people really want there dreams to come true, either do that for yourself or get out of the way.

Now or Never

I start UCB classes.  I havent been doing enough, my new motto has to be now or never.  Im as ready as Ill ever be.  Have to job hunt, find new source to make money, trying to rid of what no longer serves me. Nigh blog.

Last Leaf

Well.  Im not in a particular blogging mood.  But I do feel that at some point and time, I should revisit the month of september and whats happened in october so far.  You know I feel like I havent moved anywhere.  But lets look at what happened.  I went to at least 5 auditions this month one of them being a callback.  I have worked 4 or 5 extra jobs after that, i didnt have availability with all the auditions going on until about the 15th so thats not too bad, and two of them just gave me back the rent I paid today.  Alright, Id be lieing if I say my pursuits havent had there fair share of negativity.  But in a more positive light, I am letting some of the stuff thats not good about my current situation and L.A. get to me, but there is some beauty to that.  The beauty is, is that there are people in my position who would be content, and would not even be aware enough to know that there pursuits are not enough, or that there is tons of work to be done, the journey has really only just begun, and I would say Ive had a stroke or two, or probably more than Im aware of or being thankful for, but I am at the begginning, the very begginning of my journey out here.  Now I have joined a gym for two months.  Heres the truth, I dont like it, but i was getting a little chubby, so I am forcing myself to work out making it to the gym 5 or 6 times so far.  Unfortunatley its not helping my energy like I thought it would.  I will stick it out make the membership worth it, but am certain that my life has just surpassed the gym life, I felt it along time ago and just need to make it a point to find ways to stay in shape.  You know, this is the hardest pursuit Ive ever chased, but Im here because I know that the struggle is worth it, and its a blessing that I get to have it, not everyone gets to do this.  So I need to turn it around, learn how to appreciate it more, and get to work so I can rise to my potential.  Im not waking up with the same joy I used to wake up with.  The morning hours start to seem to hang longer and my anticipation has been shriveling up.  I just dont want to miss my moment, and there is a still a chance to turn it around.  Like I said, Ive done more than I realized I had over the last month and need to give myself a little more credit, but Ive hit a dry spell where it feels like any plan would be better than no plan.  I really am fried, thats just what it is, I dont remember the last time i was this fried, but, haha, who sits around and trys to relish on times like that.  Just got to find a way to get out there, and it will all be worth it.  I know, takes a step at a time.
Night Blog   

Audition callback

Did my callback this morning, felt it went well, the guy was laughing a lot and it seemed genuine, ive been in some rooms where im like,  yeah they just do that for everyone but this was fun and i did a good job.  After that, man the day just seemed incredibly long haha, nothing new.  Probably not the best way too spend my time but after my audition i checked out the beverly hills area today a little bit, i havent walked around there since ive lived here, so i went and saw all the little places I wanted to see and took some pictures.  Its a really chill area, man if you had like a crazy week and were really busy and wiped and actually needed a break unlike me who is kind of dazed and confused trying to find productive steps to take and ways to stay busy, that would be a great place to relax i think.  I dont know much about the hills and im sure its not perfect, but there are definetly some sweet spots to just chill it looks like.  After that i went on probably a fifteen-thirty minute bike ride.  I made two very small purchases today but ate all my food primarily in the house.  I caught a little bit of seinfeld debated whether i was going to check out some improv at UCB and decided against, idk, get tired of going to all these places just me and idk, thats all i guess.  Well i stayed home and I didnt use the computer but i wrote in one of my notebooks kind of story notes for hopefully a short story, its about a drifting man which i didnt base on my current exploits, but kind of, it is certainly a part of me, while ive always had drive and direction, there has always been a wandering around, seeing what the hells going on with eric haha.  Im thinking about diving into my film making book.  Ive also been doing research online about auditing classes, improv classes, the industry and what not.  Well something I can think about from that is perhaps i should audit a class, just to see what scene study is like, and maybe thats a venue that its actually possible to network at.  Before I forget, i think it is my cousin Calebs birthday on thursday, trying to think of something to do for him or get him.  I know he likes cars, and if hes like his dad which i think he is, he likes comic books and reading.  Well, I am just kind of exhausted, im not sure exactly why, i think its just because i dont feel like i have any real direction right now, been like this for awhile, its tough, but hopefully i can snap out of it.  I could be wrong but i feel like it would be a really good thing to make a friend out here, have a wing man or something.  I mean I know its all got to be me, but, dam, were not in kansas anymore.

Eric     

Acting 101

I have been tentative about blogging.  But wont go in to detail. Straight to the point. I have been doing extra work and figuring stuff out with my agent, that is more than some people tend to do, it is still very bare minimum.  I dont want to live a life of bare minimum, thats not who i am, thats not who i have ever been, go big or go home has to be the tale for me, its the only thing that gets me excited and going.  No more excuses, there are too many actors out here trying to do exactly the same thing that I am doing, some struggling more, some less, who cares.  Now I just need to seek or figure out, although i dont think figuring out is neccessarily the best strategy, I am not a psychic and there is really no idea to know exactly what works, but you can put your best attempt out there, go with your gut, and eventually get to that point where, ya, maybe you do have it figured out and know whats best for you, my goal is to get to this point.  Whether this means getting a better job, sticking with the same job, marketing myself more as an actor, doing stand up, improv, or whatever really, sag contract ects i believe really has to be a journey of trial and error.  I have an audition on tuesday, so what I need to do is go in there and absolutley kill it, know what i am doing as far as sides, get in there and let loose in front of the camera, do my best, go home, look forward to more opportunities to perform.  Stay proactive, stay attentive to whats going on around me, go for it, go for it, and go for it some more.  I had a conversation with my uncle Mike tonight, it was literally just talking to my Uncle Mike about WWE seeing whats up, catching up.  I really want to strive to be my own boss/entrepenuer.  Have a standard, set goals, get in touch with my spirituality and make some serious shit happen, or let it happen, being prepared.  There are just too many ways to be a proactive actor, a successful actor, there is no excuse for not getting the job done.  I have to have a plan, i have to attack that plan.  If i wanted to be comfortable, i would have just stayed at home, i didnt want that, and thats why i didnt do that.  I chose to come out here, i chose to do it, its a new season, and its game time, so it is absolutley neccessary to go to practice.  I had thought about not blogging until i had got to where i wanted to be, but right now i feel it could be important and i dont know about vital, but a tool to keep me on track to get me where i want to be.  Where do I want to be, i usually say commercials, well commercials are great.  I audition and maybe a book a few and make some money, also important to keep in mind that it really could be my start, thats how a lot of actors or so they say really get started in this industry, so it may be wise to invest in that.  But it is important to look at the big picture.  I think everyone finds where there gift is most useful but right now I want to have a speaking part on a big show, or a pilot that makes it big, or just somewhere to be seen, and by golly so does everyone else haha.  One thing i know, but can never be sure, but at least this i have figured out.  Ok, its me, I am the one that needs to find a way to do this, it doesnt matter how successful other people are, or who i know, i mean that does all matter, definetly, but i cannot tag along.  I have to lead, i am leader, so i have to do that.  Am i being a bit hard on myself, maybe.  But damn, this is a tough industry, whos gonna kick my own ass if Im not kicking my own, but i have to keep a positive outlook, with positive vibes along the journey.  So maybe sometimes i find myself in a place i dont want to be, that is no reason to quit, but it is even more reason to explore and find those niches about myself and hidden gems that will help me get to the top.   I have to be more friendly, start meeting people, i dont love the people im interacting with all the time, so what, meet new people.  If anyone can do it is you, and that is me.  I feel like this is all reasonably good stuff now I am just going to start naming off stuff that could be important and vital to my search, also before i forget, i also think what will really be vital, is learning how to take one thing on at a time.  It could be vital to join improv classes, i want them to be meaningful, and i know they look good on resumes, especially if you dont have a lot of prior experience in the industry to show off.  I keep hearing commercials that sound similar to the class i was in, it may not be a bad idea to get back into that as well.  Before I go on, it is important to remember that these things i want to do, cost a hell of a lot of money, especially if you are taking 2 things at once.  So I need to find a good way to make money.  So hopefully i get lucky with a booking, making some national dough, thats not guarnteed though.  Find a very steady part time job, or a full night time job.  While keeping up with writing, acting, and networking, cooking, doing my thing, learning how to live in my own environment comfortably, without geting comfortable, or settling for what i can get.  I could sit around and start booking things, thats totally possible, do i want that to be the extent of my career? NO.  So I might as well start going after it now before i wait on that one special job.  Ok this has been a long blog and i feel that it may be starting to drag, so i will edit and go to bed.  Goodnight Blog.